The mothership hovers over Seattle
Slimy? Mudhole? My home this is! (Olympic National Park)
Capitol Hills, near Olympia in Washington State
Grand Coulee Dam. You check in to the Columbia River Inn, walk across the street to a park, and watch a laser light show tell the whole story of the river. Falling water makes a huge movie screen.
Anacortes
Gasworks Park, Seattle
In the state of Washington ferries are an important part of the state highway system.
Whidbey Island in Washington lies in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains. So there are fewer trees, and different trees, than you usually find in the western part of the state. That makes for great views.
Some really big sticks in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington State. Admittedly, Cali has bigger ones.
Sugarloaf Mountain, Fidalgo Island
Thirty miles east of Seattle on the front of my beloved Cascade mountains.
Olympic National Park
Granite Falls, Mt. Loop Highway in Washington State
Columbia River
Grand Coulee Dam, in Washington State. You check in to the Columbia River Inn, walk across the street to a park, and watch a laser light show tell the whole story of the river. Falling water makes a huge movie screen.
Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State. Only Mount Rainier is a bigger draw.
Dash Point
West Point
This is the lighthouse from the 1991 “Hunger Strike” video by Temple of the Dog. I’m still in the Seattle city limits, but it’s a big empty green space that doesn’t make noise or smoke, and thus has infinite value.
Palouse Falls
San Juans
One-lane Fairfax Bridge, 250 feet over the Carbon River in Washington State, leading to the northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. You get here you in the woods.
Westport
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park in Washington State is a big honking 3,000 acres between Renton, Bellevue, and Issaquah with no roads, no apartments, no WalMarts, nothing but fifty miles of trails and good stuff.
Steptoe Butte on the Palouse in Washington State (a big beautiful quilt of alternating wheat and alfalfa fields). Fifteen miles away is Idaho under a rain squall.
Twin Falls, Washington
Moulton Falls Regional Park, near my hometown of Vancouver, Washington.
Silver Star Mt. near Vancouver, WA.
You see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams. Behind you is Mt. Hood, Mt, Jefferson, the Three Sisters, the Coast Range, and all of Portland/Vancouver. This was my backyard. I know every road, every trail, every waterfall.
It looks higher than it is (4,390 feet) because it was denuded by the Yacolt Burn early in the 20th Century and many of the trees haven’t grown back. Rockslides removed the good soil. So you have a timberline situation some two thousand feet lower than it ought. But that makes for great views.
The Cascade front from Rattlesnake Ledge near North Bend, Washington
| Seattle | King | 737015 |
| Spokane | Spokane | 228989 |
| Tacoma | Pierce | 219346 |
| Vancouver | Clark | 190915 |
| Bellevue | King | 151854 |
| Kent | King | 136588 |
| Everett | Snohomish | 110629 |
| Renton | King | 106785 |
| Spokane Valley | Spokane | 102976 |
| Federal Way | King | 101030 |
| Yakima | Yakima | 96968 |
| Kirkland | King | 92175 |
| Bellingham | Whatcom | 91482 |
| Auburn | King | 87256 |
| Kennewick | Benton | 83921 |
| Pasco | Franklin | 77108 |
| Redmond | King | 73256 |
| Marysville | Snohomish | 70714 |
| Sammamish | King | 67455 |
| Lakewood | Pierce | 63612 |
| Richland | Benton | 60560 |
| Shoreline | King | 58608 |
| Olympia | Thurston | 55605 |
| Lacey | Thurston | 53526 |
| Burien | King | 52066 |
| Bothell | King | 48161 |
| Bremerton | Kitsap | 43505 |
| Puyallup | Pierce | 42973 |
| Edmonds | Snohomish | 42853 |
| Issaquah | King | 40051 |
| Lynnwood | Snohomish | 38568 |
| Longview | Cowlitz | 37818 |
| Lake Stevens | Snohomish | 35630 |
| Wenatchee | Chelan | 35508 |
| Mount Vernon | Skagit | 35219 |
| University Place | Pierce | 34866 |
| Walla Walla | Walla Walla | 34060 |
| Pullman | Whitman | 32901 |
| Des Moines | King | 32888 |
| SeaTac | King | 31454 |
| Maple Valley | King | 28013 |
| Camas | Clark | 26065 |
| Mercer Island | King | 25748 |
| Tumwater | Thurston | 25350 |
| Moses Lake | Grant | 25146 |
| Bainbridge Island | Kitsap | 24825 |
| Oak Harbor | Island | 24622 |
| Kenmore | King | 23914 |
| Bonney Lake | Pierce | 22487 |
| Tukwila | King | 21798 |
| Mukilteo | Snohomish | 21538 |
| Mountlake Terrace | Snohomish | 21286 |
| Mill Creek | Snohomish | 20926 |
| Covington | King | 20777 |
| Battle Ground | Clark | 20743 |
| Port Angeles | Clallam | 19960 |
| Arlington | Snohomish | 19868 |
| Monroe | Snohomish | 19699 |
| Ellensburg | Kittitas | 18666 |
| Centralia | Lewis | 18183 |
| Anacortes | Skagit | 17637 |
| Washougal | Clark | 17039 |
| Aberdeen | Grays Harbor | 17013 |
| Sunnyside | Yakima | 16375 |
| West Richland | Benton | 16295 |
| Lynden | Whatcom | 15749 |
| Port Orchard | Kitsap | 15587 |
| Ferndale | Whatcom | 15048 |
| East Wenatchee | Douglas | 14158 |
| Snoqualmie | King | 14121 |
| Lake Forest Park | King | 13630 |
| Cheney | Spokane | 13255 |
| Woodinville | King | 13069 |
| Newcastle | King | 13017 |
| Kelso | Cowlitz | 12720 |
| Enumclaw | King | 12543 |
| Sedro-Woolley | Skagit | 12421 |
| Edgewood | Pierce | 12327 |
| Gig Harbor | Pierce | 12029 |
| Liberty Lake | Spokane | 12003 |
| Poulsbo | Kitsap | 11975 |
| Fife | Pierce | 10999 |
| Grandview | Yakima | 10907 |
| Airway Heights | Spokane | 10757 |
| Sumner | Pierce | 10621 |
| Yelm | Thurston | 10617 |
| Shelton | Mason | 10371 |
| Ridgefield | Clark | 10319 |
| DuPont | Pierce | 10151 |
| Port Townsend | Jefferson | 10148 |
| Snohomish | Snohomish | 10126 |
| College Place | Walla Walla | 9902 |
| Burlington | Skagit | 9152 |
| Orting | Pierce | 9041 |
| Toppenish | Yakima | 8854 |
| Hoquiam | Grays Harbor | 8776 |
| Milton | Pierce | 8697 |
| Othello | Adams | 8549 |
| Ephrata | Grant | 8477 |
| Selah | Yakima | 8153 |
| Duvall | King | 8034 |
| Sequim | Clallam | 8024 |
| Stanwood | Snohomish | 7705 |
| Quincy | Grant | 7543 |
| North Bend | King | 7461 |
| Chehalis | Lewis | 7439 |
| Pacific | King | 7235 |
| Clarkston | Asotin | 7161 |
| Fircrest | Pierce | 7156 |
| Normandy Park | King | 6771 |
| Steilacoom | Pierce | 6727 |
| Ocean Shores | Grays Harbor | 6715 |
| Union Gap | Yakima | 6568 |
| Brier | Snohomish | 6560 |
| Woodland | Cowlitz | 6531 |
| Prosser | Benton | 6062 |
| Blaine | Whatcom | 5884 |
| Connell | Franklin | 5441 |
| Sultan | Snohomish | 5146 |
| Buckley | Pierce | 5114 |
| Colville | Stevens | 4917 |
| Medical Lake | Spokane | 4874 |
| Omak | Okanogan | 4860 |
| Black Diamond | King | 4697 |
| Wapato | Yakima | 4607 |
| Granite Falls | Snohomish | 4450 |
| Deer Park | Spokane | 4383 |
| Moxee | Yakima | 4326 |
| Chelan | Chelan | 4222 |
| Montesano | Grays Harbor | 4138 |
| Granger | Yakima | 3624 |
| Benton City | Benton | 3479 |
| Goldendale | Klickitat | 3453 |
| Elma | Grays Harbor | 3438 |
| La Center | Clark | 3424 |
| Forks | Clallam | 3335 |
| Mattawa | Grant | 3335 |
| Algona | King | 3290 |
| Cashmere | Chelan | 3248 |
| Zillah | Yakima | 3179 |
| Clyde Hill | King | 3126 |
| Raymond | Pacific | 3081 |
| Kalama | Cowlitz | 2959 |
| Medina | King | 2915 |
| Everson | Whatcom | 2888 |
| Eatonville | Pierce | 2845 |
| Colfax | Whitman | 2782 |
| Friday Harbor | San Juan | 2613 |
| White Salmon | Klickitat | 2485 |
| Chewelah | Stevens | 2470 |
| Warden | Grant | 2449 |
| Dayton | Columbia | 2448 |
| Castle Rock | Cowlitz | 2446 |
| Gold Bar | Snohomish | 2403 |
| Okanogan | Okanogan | 2379 |
| Rainier | Thurston | 2369 |
| Leavenworth | Chelan | 2263 |
| Westport | Grays Harbor | 2213 |
| Cle Elum | Kittitas | 2157 |
| Carnation | King | 2154 |
| Bridgeport | Douglas | 2141 |
| Newport | Pend Oreille | 2114 |
| McCleary | Grays Harbor | 1997 |
| Brewster | Okanogan | 1983 |
| Mabton | Yakima | 1959 |
| Coupeville | Island | 1942 |
| Napavine | Lewis | 1888 |
| Millwood | Spokane | 1881 |
| Tenino | Thurston | 1870 |
| Oroville | Okanogan | 1795 |
| Royal City | Grant | 1776 |
| Ritzville | Adams | 1767 |
| South Bend | Pacific | 1746 |
| Davenport | Lincoln | 1703 |
| Soap Lake | Grant | 1691 |
| Long Beach | Pacific | 1688 |
| Yacolt | Clark | 1668 |
| Cosmopolis | Grays Harbor | 1638 |
| Kettle Falls | Stevens | 1636 |
| Sumas | Whatcom | 1583 |
| Stevenson | Skamania | 1491 |
| Winlock | Lewis | 1472 |
| Nooksack | Whatcom | 1471 |
| Darrington | Snohomish | 1462 |
| Kittitas | Kittitas | 1438 |
| North Bonneville | Skamania | 1397 |
| Pomeroy | Garfield | 1389 |
| Tieton | Yakima | 1389 |
| Entiat | Chelan | 1326 |
| Woodway | Snohomish | 1318 |
| Rock Island | Douglas | 1279 |
| Coulee Dam | Okanogan | 1211 |
| Asotin | Asotin | 1204 |
| Waitsburg | Walla Walla | 1166 |
| Langley | Island | 1147 |
| Waterville | Douglas | 1134 |
| Yarrow Point | King | 1134 |
| Tonasket | Okanogan | 1103 |
| Ilwaco | Pacific | 1087 |
| Naches | Yakima | 1084 |
| Ruston | Pierce | 1055 |
| Morton | Lewis | 1036 |
| Palouse | Whitman | 1015 |
| Republic | Ferry | 992 |
| Twisp | Okanogan | 992 |
| Grand Coulee | Grant | 972 |
| La Conner | Skagit | 965 |
| Electric City | Grant | 956 |
| Roslyn | Kittitas | 950 |
| Odessa | Lincoln | 896 |
| Wilbur | Lincoln | 895 |
| Tekoa | Whitman | 817 |
| Roy | Pierce | 816 |
| George | Grant | 809 |
| Concrete | Skagit | 801 |
| Bingen | Klickitat | 778 |
| Mossyrock | Lewis | 768 |
| Carbonado | Pierce | 734 |
| Oakville | Grays Harbor | 715 |
| Pe Ell | Lewis | 642 |
| Reardan | Lincoln | 637 |
| Toledo | Lewis | 631 |
| Vader | Lewis | 629 |
| Bucoda | Thurston | 600 |
| St. John | Whitman | 599 |
| Rosalia | Whitman | 598 |
| Pateros | Okanogan | 593 |
| Fairfield | Spokane | 589 |
| Harrah | Yakima | 585 |
| Garfield | Whitman | 562 |
| Cathlamet | Wahkiakum | 560 |
| South Cle Elum | Kittitas | 559 |
| Albion | Whitman | 550 |
| Coulee City | Grant | 549 |
| Lind | Adams | 535 |
| Rockford | Spokane | 522 |
| Winthrop | Okanogan | 504 |
| Wilkeson | Pierce | 499 |
| Sprague | Lincoln | 495 |
| Hunts Point | King | 457 |
| Harrington | Lincoln | 429 |
| Ione | Pend Oreille | 428 |
| Lyman | Skagit | 423 |
| Colton | Whitman | 401 |
| Oakesdale | Whitman | 395 |
| Uniontown | Whitman | 389 |
| Mesa | Franklin | 385 |
| South Prairie | Pierce | 373 |
| Prescott | Walla Walla | 372 |
| Riverside | Okanogan | 329 |
| Mansfield | Douglas | 326 |
| Almira | Lincoln | 318 |
| Beaux Arts Village | King | 317 |
| Endicott | Whitman | 312 |
| Hamilton | Skagit | 299 |
| LaCrosse | Whitman | 297 |
| Northport | Stevens | 297 |
| Spangle | Spokane | 280 |
| Metaline Falls | Pend Oreille | 272 |
| Elmer City | Okanogan | 239 |
| Springdale | Stevens | 234 |
| Malden | Whitman | 216 |
| Marcus | Stevens | 216 |
| Creston | Lincoln | 213 |
| Washtucna | Adams | 211 |
| Wilson Creek | Grant | 204 |
| Conconully | Okanogan | 193 |
| Latah | Spokane | 185 |
| Hartline | Grant | 180 |
| Nespelem | Okanogan | 180 |
| Metaline | Pend Oreille | 162 |
| Skykomish | King | 161 |
| Index | Snohomish | 155 |
| Cusick | Pend Oreille | 153 |
| Kahlotus | Franklin | 147 |
| Farmington | Whitman | 131 |
| Waverly | Spokane | 121 |
| Starbuck | Columbia | 119 |
| Hatton | Adams | 79 |
| Lamont | Whitman | 79 |
| Krupp | Grant | 49 |
Terminal Cruise 