About My Port Angeles


About My Port Angeles: The history of the My Port Angeles website and website team, and our mission of helping you plan and enjoy a fabulous Port Angeles vacation.


About My Port Angeles: Why This Website


4-Story Port Angeles Observation Tower4-Story Port Angeles Observation Tower

Port Angeles is located in the northwest corner of Washington State in the United States.

I have lived in Port Angeles for more than 17 years. We spend weeks every year traveling and photographing the area. The proximity of so much diverse beauty in a single geographic area is captivating.

I'm certainly not the only one who is so captivated. A huge number of travelers and tourists have gotten wind of this amazing area, and pass through Port Angeles every year.

Creating a website is a great way to publicize the desirability of a location as a vacation destination. The idea appealed to my love of the area, my love of writing and photography, and my considerable prior experience with website writing and building.

I hope the pages about My Port Angeles will be enjoyable to read and engage with!

About My Port Angeles: Five-Pronged Mission

View into Elwha Valley in the Olympic National Park from Madison Falls, Port Angeles.View into Elwha Valley in the Olympic National Park from Madison Falls, Port Angeles.
  • First: To be a useful resource for both Port Angelenos and visitors, providing up to date info on events, attractions, activities, restaurants, hotels, and tourism-related businesses.

  • Second: To whet one's desire to visit by providing photographic glimpses into the reaches of Port Angeles and the ever-popular areas of the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park where beauty is literally everywhere.

  • Third: To demonstrate the uniqueness of the area by presenting the rare natural features of this corner of the world, including temperate rain forest, flora, fauna, rain shadow, demographics, and beauty. (Does rain have a shadow? Click the link to find out!)
  • Fourth: To simplify your vacation planning process by providing an experienced local point of view, including suggestions, itineraries, and recommendations. Among other resources, see Beautiful Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide.
  • Fifth: To leave you with the blessings of indelible, precious memories. 

Hopefully your visit to Port Angeles will check off every one of your vacation goals and wishes!

Port Angeles Pier, Hollywood Beach, Red Lion Inn, Feiro Marine Life CenterDowntown Port Angeles: Pier, Hollywood Beach, Red Lion Inn, Feiro Marine Life Center

About MyPortAngeles: Then to Now

Olympic Game Farm Bus in Port AngelesCatch a Tour of the Olympic Game Farm from downtown Port Angeles!

This website started out in 2012 with the name Beautiful Pacific Northwest. The vision of my original website was the same as described above, though the name was too broad.

Starting in July, 2019, I shifted gears and began the process of transferring all the information and photos to this new domain: MyPortAngeles.com. All the info and beautiful photos have now been moved to the My Port Angeles website, and we're in the process of creating the itinerary planning tools, some of which are already in Beautiful Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide. 

Thank you for your patience through this process!

About My Port Angeles: It Takes a Whole Team

I've been a true solopreneur for years, traveling around the Olympic Peninsula, capturing an abundance of photos, researching the info, and writing each page. It's fun stuff!

But, being a one-man-band is not always the best plan. I now have some wonderful help. Meet the team, below.

Salt Creek County Recreational Area, Port Angeles, WASalt Creek County Recreational Area, Port Angeles

About My Port Angeles: The Team

Karen Patry

Hi! I'm Karen, owner, author, webmaster, and photographer of MyPortAngeles.com. I live in Port Angeles with my hub, François. Our 4 kids have flown the coop, leaving us plenty of time to travel around, overwork the camera, and explore the restaurants, attractions, and hotels both here in Port Angeles and also around the Olympic Peninsula, all the attractions you'll be likely to visit.

Karen Patry, owner, author, webmaster of MyPortAngeles.comKaren Patry

I didn't always live in Port Angeles. It was the jaw-dropping beauty throughout the Olympic Peninsula that captivated me years ago.

I first visited Port Angeles with our 4 small children in 1992. (Hub was home working.) We had three days to spend on the Olympic Peninsula, so we headed to the Hoh Rainforest and camped in the Hoh Campground. The children loved the hot dogs over the campfire and the trio of begging raccoons, but I was completely in awe of the elk, moss and ferns, the enormous trees, and the primordial, even magical rainforest. It was like nothing I had ever seen; who knew that such a place even existed?

Two of those three days were glorious - blue skies, puffy clouds, snow-capped Olympic Mountains on the horizon, and green, green forests with mossy creeks. The rain set in on day three as we packed up the gear, stopped for one last ranger’s talk, and then pulled out.

Years rolled by as vivid memories faded only slightly. In 2004, we moved permanently to Port Angeles. We now live just 2 hours from the Hoh Rainforest, 45 minutes from Hurricane Ridge, and an hour away from La Push and Rialto Beach. The spectacular Elwha Valley is about 30 minutes away. Neah Bay and Cape Flattery are only 2 hours away.

Leia Clark, Admin AssistantLeia Clark, Admin Assistant

Leia Clark

Writing and managing an entire website is more than a full time job!

Leia Clark, assistant extraordinaire, ably researches, writes, and manages the details that overflow my work list.

If you happen to notice the nom de plume, Suzy Scribbles, that was her idea, and now you know who the real author is! 



Ruth Ouellet, Social Media Manager for MyPortAngeles.com

Mrs. Ruth Ouellet, Social Media Manager

We love what we do, and we want you to know about it!

Which is why Ruth Ouellet joined our team.  Ruth manages all aspects of our social media presence on Facebook and Pinterest.

We aren't stopping there, of course. Twitter, and Instagram programs are coming.


Port Book and News in downtown Port Angeles.Port Book and News in downtown Port Angeles.
Dyar Fountain and mural in downtown Port Angeles during autumnDyar Fountain and mural in downtown Port Angeles during autumn.
Mossy Big Leaf Maple trees in winter near Madison Falls near Port Angeles WAWinter in Port Angeles is still mossy green! Photographed near Madison Falls, Port Angeles.

Port Angeles street art near Hollywood Beach and the Port Angeles pier.Port Angeles street art near Hollywood Beach.

YOU Can also Contribute to My Port Angeles!

In a kind of 'by-the-people-for-the-people' sort of way, My Port Angeles invites YOU to share your experiences in Port Angeles, the Olympic Peninsula, or the Olympic National Park.

At the bottom of many pages you'll find an invitation to tell your own story or experience, including the ability to share several of your own photos. 

This is because your own personal stories, experiences, or photos may be helpful to others who are interested in researching Port Angeles and the surrounding areas, especially for vacation planning.

We hope you'll feel free to contribute in this fashion to this website!  

Are you a hobby or professional photographer?

Sometimes timing is everything, especially when it comes to capturing the essence of landscape or wildlife. And perhaps it all came together for you. If you have caught a remarkable event, location, landscape, flora or fauna, then please do share!

  1. You can contribute your story and photos at the bottom of many of our website pages. We'll add links to your website and/or business Facebook page, ensuring you get full attribution for your work.

  2. Contact us for other ways we can help support local professional photographers. 
Lake Crescent at the Devil's Punchbowl. Photo taken by Roger Mosley.Roger Mosley's magical capture of Lake Crescent and the Devil's Punchbowl, a favorite Port Angeles spot for locals and visitors alike.



Featured Photographer

Our current featured Photographer is Roger Mosley Photography.

We LOVE his work, and we think you will too - click through to his photography website and peruse his portfolio at your leisure. 

About My Port Angeles: Our Web Host

My Port Angeles uses a web host called Solo-Build-It!, or SBI! for short. This is a turn-key service which enables the success of my website, just like My Port Angeles will give YOU tools for a successful vacation in Port Angeles and the surrounding areas.

I highly recommend SBI! to anyone who is interested in building a website. If you want to know more, see my SBI review here (link coming soon).

Thank you for stopping by MyPortAngeles.com. We appreciate you!

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