Date: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 16:33:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: Puget Sound area (daytrips, hikes, art, night)
*Vancouver, BC
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.__ Is. }.*Everett |
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[ Pen.// / *Snoqualmie |
| } [ * *Vantage |
| { / Roslyn |
; ~*Olympia |
: ^Mt Rainier |
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Your Seattle Guide Service has developed the following list of proposed
activities for you to consider prior to your arrival in Seattle. Of
course, we realize you won't know what everything is, but most things
are self-evident.
Here is a link you can follow to a Map of Washington with Travel and Lodging Information
Below is a list of activities that can be done any day of your visit.
WHERE: To the EAST * To the SOUTH * To the WEST * To the NORTH * HIKING - CAMPING - BEACHES
OUTSIDE SEATTLE TO THE EAST................
I'd recommend, if you do go, combining it with a visit to Snoqualmie and North Bend (30 miles east of Seattle, also just off the Interstate I-90), where "Twin Peaks" was filmed. Did you ever watch that? If so, you'll understand what I mean when I say you can see Twin Peaks (Mt. Si), the Mar-T cafe ("damn good cherry pie", for real), the railroad tracks, the police station (really the Weyerhaeuser office), and the Great Northern Hotel (really the Salish Lodge) overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. Now the falls are an attraction in and of themselves, "Twin Peaks" or not. They are very impressive, especially in winter after much rain. They are also sacred Indian space. The lodge is great for dinner or drinks overlooking the falls.
No, it's not ludicrous! It's a neat place, and not TOO touristy either.
(The interiors, btw, are shot in a studio in Redmond, WA, also home of
Microsoft). If you recall, the founders of Cicely, Alaska were 2 lesbians
by the names of Cicely and Roslyn. Well, the real Cicely, AK is really
Roslyn, WA. It is a neat little place (I do mean little) which I've been
to 3 times, most recently on June 19, as a matter of fact. It is
about 80-85 miles east of Seattle, just a few miles off the interstate.
You can see KBHR radio station ("Chris in the Morning"), Dr. Fleischman's
office, Ruth Ann's store, the Roslyn Cafe ("Roslyn's Cafe" on TV) with the
famous mural, and go to the Brick, the oldest operating bar in Washington.
There are other stores, too, most selling some sort of No. Exp.
merchandise, and there's a brewery too. It's pretty much all on one
street. It's not very tacky at all. But now that the series has ended,
a lot of the stuff has been auctioned off, and I'm not sure what all is
left. It's a pretty place nonetheless, and if you're a fan, you'll
enjoy it.
Further out, you might consider going to VANTAGE, on the Columbia River Gorge. Aptly named, it features a terrific view of the Gorge. The terrain out that far resembles Arizona in the summer, and there is even a petrified forest (Ginkgo Petrified Forest) nearby. Dress lightly!
OUTSIDE SEATTLE TO THE SOUTH...............
Several visitor centers will explain the momentous eruption of May 18,
1980, which transformed the landscape for miles around. It is just now
coming back to life. The volcano's face has been altered forever.
OUTSIDE SEATTLE TO THE WEST...............
Olympic Coast - dayhike or campout: 2 mile easy trail through old growth forest to rugged beach with sea stacks, bald eagles, otters, seals and sea lions. Could tent camp at beach or stay indoors 2 days min. (3 is better) due to long (but scenic) drive, including ferry. Vast stretches of beautiful and rugged beach. The coast is often cloudy when the interior is clear.
Olympic Natl Park: lots to do: great view from Hurricane Ridge, hotsprings at Elwha, camping on the Hoh River, etc. etc.
Port Townsend: a lovely but small Victorian town on the northeast tip of the Peninsula. Take the ferry from Clinton. Not too far is the Dungeness Spit on the coast, and an odd collection of lawn dwarfs in Gardner (hard to explain).
OUTSIDE SEATTLE TO THE NORTH...............
It's 2.5 hrs by car from Seattle (border crossing is very busy, though!) and is very international/cosmopolitan.
Downtown reminds me of New York, (bustling!) but nicer. Lots of good food and stuff to do. It is also very beautiful inasmuch as the mountains rise right up into the sky from the bay, while in Seattle, "our" mountains are 1/2 to 1 hour away (beautiful to see nonetheless). Also Vancouver has long beaches and a huge park (Stanley Park)---1000 acres of rainforest on the edge of downtown--it's quite amazing. Also recommend English Bay Beach, and Kitsilano Beach, which are long and lovely to stroll along. The gay beach (clothing optional) is Wreck Beach, near UBC.
There's a great science museum (Science World BC) and I'm told great things about the Museum of Anthropology at UBC; across the Lion's Gate Bridge from Stanley Park, there's a terrific view from Grouse Mountain. Stop by the Capilano Suspension Bridge on your way there. Best shopping is on Robson St; food, art, music and theatre an be found on Granville Island near downtown. Also there's a lovely old historic district (1880s) called Gastown. Chinatown is nearby and very orderly with plenty of good restaurants; also there is the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Garden for peaceful contemplation. Consider a bus tour, which takes you around and allows you to get off an on all day.
Davie St is the gay area and there are numbeorus good restaurants and a variety of bars in this vicinity and others scattered around downtown.
Ferries to Victoria (the BC capital, a small very British city, with lovely quaint B&B's and the majestic Empress Hotel and nearby world-famous Butchart Gardens) can be had on the hour from Tsawassen, 1/2 hr to the south of Vancouver, near the US border.
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 1995 00:18:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Vancouver, BC places to stay and things to do
I spent a night in Vancouver in October '94 (my 4th time there); stayed at the Dufferin downtown (900 Seymour; very central, not far from the gay district). A room for two was $65 (Canadian) which I think is reasonable. The room was quite satisfactory; nothing extravagant. They had parking too and a restaurant and two bars in the hotel. Walking distance to Robson St (shopping) and Davie St (gay bars, etc). The # is 604 683 4251.
Other possibilities: [area code 604] Burrard Motor Inn 681 2331 Sylvia (very popular) 681 9321 -English Beach/downtown Buchan 1 800 668 6654 -1906 Harrow Colibri B&B 689 5100 -downtown Albion Guesthouse 873 2287 -592 W 19th Columbia Cottage 874 5327 -205 W 14th Heritage Hse 685 7777 -455 Abbott/downtown Nelson House 684 9793 -977 BroughtonAlso try Town & Country Central Booking 731 5942
Specific suggestions include (but others could be made): * Fay Peak and Knapsack Pass loop, Mt. Rainier Ntl. Park (4-1/2 mile total with spectacular views, a little scramble, and a ridge walk along the way: this is one of my favorite day hikes). * Pinnacle Peak, Mt Rainier Ntl. Park (also spectacular views and about 4 miles total length, but with a longer, more difficult scramble tothe summit). * Silver Peak (very good views; 5 or 7 mile options - closer to home = shorter drive). * Mt. Persis, North Cascades (7 miles round trip. Totally spectacular 360 degree view at the top. 2-1/2 miles each way is very steep trail. A real workout.) * Eagle Lake (easy 4 mile trail through old-growth forest to a fairly warm mountain lake where one can skinny dip. Very nice surroundings.)
I definitely recommend going to the Triangle Campground; it is a GAY campground. And it is very campy! It is isolated in the deep woods, very lush, and very popular in the summer. Gays only. It has recently relocated to Bender Creek (21 mi. outside Granite Falls, WA on the Mtn. Loop Hwy; 90 (?) mins. NE of Seattle) after 20 years at Index, WA. You you can pitch a tent for a few days if you like, for $10/person/day. (No services provided except outhouses).
There are also a few gay beaches in Seattle (one, Denny Blaine, near Yesler on Lake Washington, is mostly for lesbians; Madison Park, at the end of Madison on Lk. Wash, is mostly gay men but draws a mixed crowd). Two others--Carkeek (100th at the Sound, walk north along the train tracks) and Richmond (200th at the Sound; ditto on the tracks)--are secluded gay nude beaches. BEWARE of trains on the tracks and police!
Compiled by Richard Isaac and Ken
Comments? Write me at rmisaac@gmail.com