Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Accommodations
Lodging options are few and far between in this area. The best choice in town is Quality Inn (808 E. Simcoe Dr., 509/773-5881 or 800/358-5881,
$89 s or $99 d), which sports a seasonal outdoor pool, continental breakfast, and clean motel units. The price is a little over the top, mostly because
they know they've gotcha.
A cheaper alternative is the Ponderosa Motel (775 E. Broadway St., 509/773-5842, $60 s or $70 d), which is not quite as nice as the Quality
Inn, but makes up for it with friendly and attentive service.
Out in the pine country north of Goldendale, Pine Springs Resort (2471 Hwy. 97, 509/773-4434, www.pinespringsresort.net ) is a neighborly
retreat offering small cabins ($89), RV hookups ($22) and tent camping ($13). The social center of the place is a cozy snack bar with a rustic pine
counter and stools and a big-screen TV. Also on premises are a game room, laundry room, grocery store, and gift shop. Dogs are welcome, and
rates include free wireless Internet access.
Camp at Brooks Memorial State Park (509/773-4611, www.parks.wa.gov ), 15 miles north of Goldendale on Highway 97. Tent ($19) and
full-utility RV ($27) sites on 700 forested acres are available year-round. Enjoy the nine miles of hiking trails through cool coniferous forests and
good trout fishing in the Klickitat River. The park has great cross-country skiing in winter, too.
Food
Tucked away into a restored Folk Victorian cottage on a quiet downtown Goldendale street, The Glass Onion (604 S. Columbus Ave., 509/
773-4928, www.theglassonionrestaurant.com , 11 A.M.-4 P.M. Wed., 11 A.M.-9 P.M. Thurs.-Sat.) is a secret little treasure that foodies will want
to take a detour to visit while rambling the vineyards of the Gorge. The seasonal menu is short, but every dish is an artfully plated symphony
of flavors, such as the from-scratch pea soup and the grilled pork tenderloin served with ratatouille. Don't skip a salad with that entrée—they
are as fresh as it gets. Check out the fine-art photos displayed on the walls while waiting for your dishes—they're taken by the chef 's wife, a
professional photographer.
For more day-to-day fare, Gee's Family Restaurant (118 E Main St., Goldendale, 509/773-6999, 10:30 A.M.-9:30 P.M. Mon.-Sat., 11:30
A.M.-8:30 P.M. Sun.) has decent Americanized Chinese dishes. Interestingly enough, it also grills up Goldendale's best burgers. These suckers
are big enough for a couple of lumberjacks to split.
Sodbuster's Restaurant (1040 E. Broadway, Goldendale, 509/773-6160, 6 A.M.-9 P.M. Mon.-Sat., 6 A.M.-8 P.M. Sun.) is also a reliable
choice with its versatile diner menu. It's got the best breakfast fare in town.
Information and Services
For local information, stop by Goldendale Chamber of Commerce (903 E. Broadway, 509/773-3400, www.goldendalechamber.org , 9 A.M.-3
P.M. daily June-Sept., Mon.-Fri. only the rest of the year).
Emergency medical services are provided by Klickitat Valley Hospital (310 S. Roosevelt, 509/773-4022), while ailing pets can find succor at
Mid-Columbia Veterinary Clinic (417 E. Broadway, 509/773-4363).
MARYHILL
Named after the daughter of businessman Sam Hill, the little settlement of Maryhill now boasts just 38 permanent residents. Hill dreamed that his
town would one day become a thriving Quaker settlement, a wish that never materialized. The railroad man and campaigner for good roads left
his mark nevertheless.
Although many of his original town buildings burned, Hill's mansion and the scale replica he built of Stonehenge as a war memorial still stand
as a symbol of his hopes. The dusty intersection of Highways 14 and 97 may be remote, but it offers the wandering traveler some unique sights
and some wonderful wines to add to the mystique of this place.
Sights
MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART
You'd be hard-pressed to find a collection more wonderfully eclectic than that of the Maryhill Museum of Art (35 Maryhill Museum Dr., 509/
773-3733, www.maryhillmuseum.org , 9 A.M.-5 P.M. daily Mar. 15-Nov. 15, closed the rest of the year, $7 adults, $6 seniors, $2 ages 6-16, free
for kids under 6). The beautiful 1914 concrete-and-steel home was originally built as a mansion for Sam Hill but now houses exhibits ranging
from an extensive selection of Auguste Rodin sculpture to hundreds of international chess sets to a full gallery of memorabilia related to Queen
Marie of Romania, a close friend of Sam Hill's. Along with the surprisingly large permanent collection, Maryhill attracts top-notch traveling ex-
hibits as well. Be sure to enjoy a moment on the patio watching the peacocks roam the grounds while enjoying the Columbia River vistas that
brought Sam Hill here.
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