Washington Cascades - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 336

Most of the South Cascades are protected by an interconnecting patchwork of national
parks, forests and wilderness areas. The largest and most emblematic of these is Mt Rain-
ier National Park, inaugurated in 1899, while the most unusual is the Mt St Helens Na-
tional Volcanic Monument, formed in 1982, two years after the mountain's eruption.
While development inside the parks is refreshingly light, keen downhill skiers can find
solace at Crystal Mountain, just outside the limits of Mt Rainier National Park. While it's
no Whistler, it is the largest ski resort in Washington state.
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Snoqualmie Valley
East of Seattle's Eastside, the Snoqualmie Valley has long been a photogenic backwater
of dairy farms, lush orchards and produce gardens surrounded by steep alpine peaks. Al-
though suburbs are quickly taking over the valley, there's still enough of a rural, small-
town ambience to make for a beautiful drive or bike ride.
North Bend , on Hwy 202 just off I-90, is Twin Peaks country, the setting for David
Lynch's surreal TV series from the early 1990s. The former Mar T's Café, now called
Twede's (137 W North Bend Way; burgers from $11; 6:30am-8pm Mon-Thu, to 9pm Fri & Sat, to
7pm Sun) , was the diner with the famous cherry pie (not so good nowadays) and cups of
joe; a fire gutted it in 2000, but it has been rebuilt and is still a good place to try one of
the 50 types of burger. The decor is so much as it was in the show - down to the waitstaff
- that it's pleasantly eerie.
Continue along Hwy 202 to the little town of Snoqualmie , where you'll find antique
shops and a store devoted to Northwest wines. Just north of town, Salish Lodge & Spa (
425-888-2556, 800-826-6124; www.salishlodge.com ; 6501 Railroad Ave; d from $229) is a
beautiful resort that sits atop 268ft Snoqualmie Falls . Twin Peaks fans know the hotel as
the Great Northern; the exterior of the lodge appeared in the opening credits, and an ob-
servation point near the parking lot offers the same view. Visitors can also see the falls
from the lodge's dining room or hike to them along a winding trail.
Hwy 203 branches off from 202 at Fall City; follow it north to Carnation, where the
Snoqualmie and Tolt Rivers meet at John McDonald Park . This is a great place for a
riverside picnic, swim or hike. Carnation was once the center of the valley's dairy in-
dustry, and several farms here sell fruit and vegetables at roadside stands.
Duvall , about 25 miles north of North Bend along Hwys 202 and 203, has a rural
small-town atmosphere despite its recent growth spurt. Wander Main St and check out
the shops and nurseries. From here, head west on Woodinville-Duvall Rd for about 10