Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1972 because of the difficulty of
building any sort of road through
Washington's glacier-carved North
Cascades. Even now it is closed for
half of every year due to heavy
snows and avalanches. See “Mount
Baker & the North Cascades
Scenic Highway” in chapter 9.
•
The Columbia River Scenic
Highway:
Wash. 14 parallels the
Columbia River from Vancouver,
Washington, eastward through
the Columbia Gorge, and along
its length provides some of the
most awe-inspiring vistas in the
Northwest. Visible across the river
in Oregon are not only the basalt
cliffs of the Gorge but also the
snow-clad summit of Mount
Hood. See “The Columbia Gorge
& the Mount Adams Area” in
chapter 9.
•
The Yakima River Canyon:
Wash. 821, which connects
Ellensburg with Yakima, is a little-
known gem of a road. This route
follows the Yakima River through
a deep canyon bounded by rolling
sagebrush hills and is a memorable
alternative to I-82, which also
connects Ellensburg and Yakima.
See chapter 10.
•
The Palouse:
This wheat-farming
region in southeastern Washing-
ton is a convoluted landscape of
steep hills and narrow valleys, and
a meandering drive through the
region is a trip into another time.
Small towns and boldly striped
hillsides make this the most fasci-
nating farm country in the state.
See “The Palouse: A Slice of
Small-Town Rural Washington”
in chapter 10.
•
Soap Lake to the Grand Coulee
Dam:
Although today the land-
scape of central Washington is
that of a desert, vast floodwaters
once poured across this landscape.
Today a drive up the Grand
Coulee provides a glimpse into
one of the most fascinating events
in Northwest geologic history.
Canyons, mineral lakes, caves, and
a huge dry waterfall provide the
roadside distractions. See “The
Grand Coulee Dam Area” in
chapter 10.
6 The Best B&Bs & Inns
•
The Gaslight Inn
(Seattle;
&
206/
325-3654
): Beautifully decorated
with lots of original Stickley furni-
ture, this inn consists of two houses
in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
One house is done in a more con-
temporary style if you don't happen
to be a fan of Arts and Crafts style.
There's also a swimming pool. See
p. 81.
•
Spring Bay Inn
(Orcas Island;
&
360/376-5531
): This secluded
waterfront inn is a luxurious island
retreat, and a stay here includes not
only bed-and-breakfast, but brunch
and a daily sea-kayak excursion as
well. In-room fireplaces and a hot
tub right on the beach add a touch
of romance. See p. 171.
•
Willcox House
(The Kitsap Penin-
sula;
&
800/725-9477
or 360/
830-4492): This 1930s Art Deco
mansion, set on the shore of Hood
Canal, is straight out of an old Hol-
lywood movie (and indeed many
movie stars did stay here back in the
'30s and '40s). Because it is located
in such a secluded spot, the inn also
serves dinner. See p. 197.
•
Chinaberry Hill
(Tacoma;
&
253/
272-1282
): Located in Tacoma's
Stadium Historic District, this
grand Victorian is as impressive as
any of the historic B&Bs in Port
Townsend. The inn is steeped in
classic Northwest elegance and
abounds in beautiful woodwork.
See p. 207.
