No need to go anywhere.  You’re already here.  Wild Thyme Farm has an extensive network of well-tended trails throughout its 150 acres of forested hills, grassy meadows, creeks, and ponds.  Please enjoy the grounds by hiking throughout.

However, please exercise proper caution and safety that one would observe in hiking in wild environments.  Pay close attention to trails and routings so you don’t get lost since the trails are not marked with signage or directions.  Generally, heading down will bring you back to the Farm campus, but not always, as there are adjacent ravines and valleys that do not directly lead back to the Farm campus.  Always bring water.  And be sure to know your physical limitations before embarking on your hike.  While you likely will not encounter major animals during your day hikes (they will mostly avoid you), please know that this is a natural setting and exercise common sense in animal encounters and care for the environment.

As an extra, if you would like a guided educational tour of the farm, forests, and meadows, please inquire through the Host or co-hosts.  This can provide you with a full appreciation of the farm and forests, its trees and flora, its unique sub-ecosystems, and even its history.  Moreover, you will get a full guided coverage of the 150 acres without concerns of where to go or even more, how to get back.

The Chehalis River is a beautiful river that wends its way through southwestern Washington, from the Willapa Hills until it empties into Grays Harbor in Aberdeen.  It flows very nearby Wild Thyme Farm.  Some of the official access points are in nearby Oakville, in Elma, Montesano, and in Chehalis.  Unofficially, the river can be accessed by walking a short distance down Mattson Road from Wild Thyme Farm.  Please note that this access point is on private/tribal land.  So access might be frowned upon, although this has not seemed to present difficulties in the past.  The river can be treacherous and fast flowing so caution needs to be exercised at the river’s edge.

The river has both steep forested banks and flat gravelly sand bars along its course.  Agate hunting on the gravelly sand bars is a favorite pastime.  Bald eagles, swallows, and many other birds soar above the river.  Kingfishers dart about their burrows in the banks of the river.  Steelhead salmon swim the river.

Balck River Canoe Trips in nearby Rochester has guided canoe and kayak trips and kaya rentals as well.  Please contact them for more information.  (https://blackrivercanoe.com/) (360) 273-6369

The Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel was created by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.

If gaming is your thing, you’re in luck!  The Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel, owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, is located very nearby Wild Thyme Farm.  It sports a full floor of blackjack, slot machines, craps, poker, and other games.  Good luck!  But remember, you win some and you lose some.  Gamble responsibly.

It sports several restaurants inside. At the Room 188 Steakhouse, enjoy grilled steak and a Northwest cabernet with freshly-baked, buttery rolls.  This is a place to indulge in an intimate space where you can savor every bite. At the Crafthouse, you can find wood-fired pizza, along with American pub fare, hearty salads, juicy burgers and breakfast all day.

At the Cedar Café, you’ll find deli-style food from the kitchen, hot and cold espresso drinks, non-coffee drinks, frozen treats, baked goods, breakfast, and grab & go foods. At the Legends Sports Bar, there is a rotating beer selection on the self-serve beer wall and state-of-the-art Sportsbook kiosks that feature real-time odds.

McMenamin’s Olympic Club Pub is a classic Pacific Northwest pub, restaurant, and game room.  As stated in their website, it occupies the former card room of the Olympic Club Hotel & Theater, where the likes of Tacoma Iron Mike, Honest John, and One-Eyed Tony once convened nightly for spirited games of poker.  Here splendor surrounds you: dark wood, Art Nouveau stenciling, Tiffany-style lights, beveled glass and one of the most beautiful period bars we’ve ever seen.

Grab a table at The Olympic Club Pub next to the massive Round Oak wood stove during chilly months and take in the view of the hotel’s classic-styled pool hall which features seven original Brunswick pool tables.  A great place to while away the hours at the pool tables and other game tables.

The Pacific Coast

Only 45 minutes drive from Wild Thyme Farm.  There are many places to go up and down the Washington coast, many of which are wild and primeval.  Here are a couple of suggestions:

Westport Light State Park is a 560-acre day use park with 1,215 feet of shoreline, making it a popular destination for surfing, beach exploration, saltwater fishing, crabbing and clamming.  The park is located at the end of the peninsula on the south side of the opening to Grays Harbor.  It is only minutes from the City of Westport and its marina, boat launch, maritime history museum, restaurants, and other attractions.

At the park, there is one outdoor shower and two indoor accessible showers for surfers and beachgoers.  There are also restroom facilities.  There is a one-day entrance fee of $10.  Discover Pass holders have free entrance.

Ocean Shores Beach is a long, wide, and expansive beach popular for surfing, beach exploration, saltwater fishing, and long beach strolls.  The beach is located along the west side of the northern peninsula of the opening to Grays Harbor.