Recreation – Port Angeles is an Outdoor Enthusiast’s Paradise
For seniors who love the great outdoors, what could be better than living in a town that serves as the gateway to a world heritage park encompassing three diverse eco-systems? Opportunities abound within Olympic National Park for walking and hiking (a number of paths are wheelchair accessible), camping, kayaking, birding, fishing and simply enjoying the work of Mother Nature, including some of the many geographically diverse cascades along the Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail.
Hurricane Ridge, a mountainous area within Olympic National Park, lies 17 miles to the south of Port Angeles, offering panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains along with downhill and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. In August, senior cyclists can participate in the Ride the Hurricane event, a recreational 18-mile ride on the famed Hurricane Ridge Road.
Those preferring less strenuous terrain will enjoy peddling through scenic pastures and lavender fields, across historic bridges and along coastal waterways on the Olympic Discovery Trail, which passes through Port Angeles’ historic downtown waterfront and City Pier. The Pier is the lively site of outdoor summer concerts, shopping, the Feiro Marine Life Center, and ferry service to historic Victoria, B.C., nicknamed the “City of Gardens.”
Golf is another of the area’s many year round-outdoor attractions, with four regulation courses located between Port Angeles and the neighboring city of Sequim. Peninsula Golf Club, located on Port Angeles’ east side, is an 18-hole, par-72 semi-private course with spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The course is open to the public every afternoon except Thursdays, with a club house that is available to members and playing guests. The club’s affordable rates are attractive to retired seniors, who comprise 85-90% of the club’s membership.
In Sequim, 17 miles to the east of Port Angeles, golfers can choose amongst The Cedars at Dungeness, a public 18-hole, par-72 course that is home to the Washington Senior Open; Sunland Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole, par-72 private club offering public play on weekends; and SkyRidge Golf Course, a public 9-hole links style course with an extra 18th finishing hole for 18-hole rounds. All of the courses host a variety of tournaments and events throughout the year.
Arts & Cultural Events
Port Angeles is home to a talented and enterprising artist population that integrates art into everyday life for everyone to enjoy. Art on the Town is an outdoor gallery showcasing the work of a variety of artists in the pedestrian friendly downtown core. The work of one local artist transformed a single street into the Avenue of the People aligned with 16 abstract steel sculptures depicting ordinary folks doing ordinary things. The outdoor exhibits are ongoing and ever-changing, with guided and self-guided tours available.
On the second weekend of each month, 16 local galleries open their doors and offer hors d’oeuvres and music for visitors to enjoy while viewing special exhibits and permanent collections.
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is a creative and cultural hub consisting of Webster House Gallery, featuring original exhibits of contemporary art by recognized Pacific Northwest masters and emerging artists, as well as concerts, readings and live performances, and Webster’s Woods Art Park, a vanguard in the integration of art and nature. Each year 20 new artists are selected to create works that seamlessly integrate into this five-acre microcosm of Olympic National Park. Visitors who walk the rustic trails throughout the park delight in discovering the more than 100 artistic interventions that have accumulated over the years.
The Fine Arts Center offers many volunteer opportunities, few of which require an art background. Most of its 40 active “docents” are retirees, and their connection with the center provides the opportunity to socialize with other seniors.
In addition to its wealth of visual arts, Port Angeles offers a full-time symphony, a community playhouse, and a Light Opera Association. The annual Memorial Day Weekend Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts brings to the city more than 125 performances of music, dance and theater from around the world, and includes musical workshops, a street fair and public art.
An active Senior Center offers classes in art, music and dance, and Port Angeles’ unique Arts Cooperative provides seniors and others interested in learning an art form the opportunity to work alongside professional local artists in customized workshops.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Daily ferry service connecting Port Angeles to Seattle via the Kitsap Peninsula offers easy access to Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, and Qwest Field, aka Seattle Seahawks stadium. WNBA fans can drive or catch a bus to the north end of town to see the Seattle Storm play in Key Arena.
Wine & Culinary
Four of eight artisan wineries that comprise the Olympic Peninsula Wineries Association are located in Port Angeles, offering year-round wine touring and tasting opportunities and special events. These boutique family-owned and operated venues depend on volunteer help at harvest and bottling time, offering wine enthusiasts or seniors with an interest in learning how wine is made with a fun opportunity to get involved!
A small culinary industry advocating the benefits of eating local has sprung up around the wineries. Local growers, fisherman, shellfish harvesters, creameries, cideries, breweries, bakeries, chocolatiers and more are establishing an authentic “culinary sense of place” in and around Port Angeles, providing residents with year-round access to fresh, organic local fare. Restaurants featuring local fruits and vegetables, fish, meats and more are pleasing palates and supporting the growing locavore population.
Each October, Port Angeles hosts the highly anticipated Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, drawing visitors from around the state for the freshest crab around – all locally caught. The festival features an old-fashioned crab feed, a line-up of local restaurants offering a variety of crab dishes, cooking demonstrations, a Catch-A-Crab Derby, and much more.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Seniors interested in taking non-credit community education classes, in learning a new skill through year-long certificate programs, or even in earning a two-year Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree will find plenty of opportunity at Peninsula College.
Quarter-long community education classes in subjects ranging from arts and creativity to languages and culture to health and fitness to computers and technology are available at the main campus and at nearby extension sites. Other classes are available online, including writing, languages, business and computer applications.
The Workforce Education Department offers 17 Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs, 11 one-year certificate programs and a number of short-term proficiency certificates in disciplines such as welding, massage therapy and Computer Applications Technology (CAT) for workforce re-entry, skill enhancement and college transfer.
Peninsula College further serves seniors and the broader community with a new library that provides online access and books to all residents of Clallam and Jefferson Counties. A free, ongoing midday lecture series, a quarterly Magic of Cinema College Film Series featuring unique and critically acclaimed cinematic works from around the world, and the college Jazz Ensemble, open to seniors who play an instrument and are enrolled in a music class, may also be of interest.
Maier Hall, the brand new Arts & Humanities building scheduled to open this fall, will feature a state-of-the-art performance center for school and public events, as well as music, art and ceramics studios to enhance the student learning experience.
State-of-the-Art Medical Center
Retiring to a rural destination like Port Angeles does not mean having to forego top-notch medical care. Award-winning Olympic Medical Center is located in PA. Its 80-bed acute-care facility includes a level-three trauma designated emergency department and surgical services. Outpatient services include cardiac, imaging, physical therapy and rehabilitation, laboratory, sleep medicine, surgical services, home health, and comprehensive regional cancer care at locations in Port Angeles and Sequim.
Of potentially significant interest to seniors:
- Olympic Medical Home Health is a Medicare-certified home health provider. Medicare patients comprise approximately 54% of OMC’s overall patient mix.
- Cardiac patients benefit from comprehensive on-site care spanning from board-certified cardiologists to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and risk reduction programs.
- OMC’s Cancer Center offers radiation oncology and medical oncology under one roof and is the only U.S. facility on the West Coast, north of Stanford, to offer the Varian TrueBeam™, the latest in cancer treatment technology.
- Therapists highly trained in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation are available to help patients regain strength, movement and flexibility with the use of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
A Friendly Community Proud of Its Heritage
One of a community’s best assets is the people who live there. Port Angeles residents share a friendly, down-to-earth nature and a commitment to making their town the best it can be. One example of the overriding community spirit that makes Port Angeles a great place to live is the 2009 Our Community at Work initiative, an unprecedented all-volunteer drive to makeover Port Angeles’ downtown core.
The Right Mix of Factors – Getting Down to BusinessWhile location, climate and recreational attributes are key factors in selecting a retirement destination, equally or even more important, of course, are “business items” such as the tax structure, cost-of-living, and strength of the local economy. Here’s how Port Angeles measures up.
Tax Structure
Kiplinger rates Washington as one of the 18 most pension-friendly states. The absence of a state income tax means that retirees pay no tax on pensions, social security benefits or other forms of retirement income.
Property tax accounts for approximately 30% of Washington’s total state and local taxes and is the state’s most important revenue source for public schools, fire protection, public libraries, parks & recreation and other special purposes. In Port Angeles, residents are taxed approximately one percent of the assessed fair market value of their homes. Housing prices in the city have fallen 10-15% over the past few years, but appear to be leveling off at present.
Port Angeles’ median home price is $180,000 based on residential sales figures provided by the Port Angeles Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service for the period of May 2010 to May 2011. This places the estimated median property tax at $1,800.00.
Washington offers a property tax exemption program for senior citizens who are at least 61 years old and have a combined disposable income of $35,000 or less. A tax deferral program enables seniors age 60 and above, as well as individuals of any age who are retired due to a physical disability, to defer property taxes and special assessments up to a total of 80% of the equity in their home. More information at Clallam County.net.
Washington has a state sales tax rate of 6.5% and allows counties and cities to charge up to an additional 3% local sales tax on all non-exempt purchases within their jurisdiction, to a maximum combined sales tax rate of 9.5%. Port Angeles’ general sales tax rate is currently 8.4%.
There is no inheritance tax in Washington, but estates in excess of $2 million must file a Washington Estate-Tax return.
Cost of Living
As of January 2011, the cost of living index in Port Angeles is 87.9, lower than the national average of 100, according to City-Data.com.
Local Economy
Formerly a logging industry hub, Port Angeles’ economy has diversified to include motor yacht building, airplane parts manufacturing, and service jobs in healthcare, education, local and federal government. Tourism has become particularly important with Olympic National Park’s headquarters located in the city and major attractions nearby.
Population: 18,912 in 2009 (increase of 2.8% from 2000 census).
Approximately 22% of the population is retired per 2000 census.
Median Income: $39,815.00
County-Wide Unemployment Rate: 9.6%
Sources: City-Data.com, ESD Workforce Explorer
Transportation
The recently completed Gateway Center serves as the downtown hub for the city’s comprehensive bus service, as well as a public forum and site of the year-round Farmers’ Market.
Port Angeles is located approximately 130 miles from SeaTac International Airport in SeaTac, Wash. Driving time is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Kenmore Air Express offers a shuttle service from Port Angeles’ Fairchild International Airport, located approximately two miles west of the city, to Seattle’s Boeing Field three – six times daily (depending on the season) with complimentary shuttle ground transportation to SeaTac airport.
For additional information about the city of Port Angeles contact Deborah Anastasi Black.
Deborah Anastasi Black
for Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce
deborah@anastasiblack.com
