It is weird. It is PNW weird. Basically, it is someone's yard full random objects turned into what some may call junk but others call art. All I can say is it is more interesting than a well mowed lawn. The best thing is that it is just kiddie corner to the Yellow Church Cafe which has great local beers and the best mac and cheese you ever had.
The Treaty Rock is basically tucked away behind some horrid looking apartment buildings on one side and a huge warehouse on the other. I was a bit worried that the car was going to get broken into while we walked up the rock searching for the treaty that is protected by a sheet of plexi. Honestly, the only thing more depressing would be for it to be cut it out and put in a mall. That said I am really glad I stopped. Despite being depressing, it was interesting to see one of the first agreements between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the first settlers in the area. I guess given how things turned out, maybe the location is fitting.
One of the most beautiful and unique beaches in Vancouver. It is a clothing- optional fare, so you have to be comfortable with nudity. It is quite busy during the summer but virtual empty during the winter months. As another reviewer mentioned, you do have to climb a rather long stairway down to the beach, so not great for anyone with mobility issues or anyone that put too much sunshine in their thermos.
My grandfather took me here as a child and read off the names of all his childhood friends that died at the Sunshine Mine disaster. If you are in the area it is worth a visit to remember those 91 miners whose lives were lost in one of the worst mining disasters in US history.
I do not think you can call yourself a true Pacific NorthWesterner until you have taken this drive. It truly showcases the beauty of what it means to live here. The views are stunning! Not to mention, there numerous state parks, interpretive centers, waterfalls and trailheads along the way. You could probably spend weeks if not months just travelling this short stretch of highway if you stopped at every location. We drove though in a day which was way too short, but it gave us a taste of what we would like to do next time. A few of the highlights were the Gorge, Ross Lake and to top it off Diablo Lake which sparkles the colour of jade.
I know that the Sprag Pole Museum is not everyone's cup of tea, but it is mine. I love this place! If you are like me and have a fondness for small town museums full of eclectic objects and the occasional poorly done taxidermy, then this is your place! It also has a replication of Molly B’Dam’s bedroom (her room of ill repute). It is all one family's collection created though local contributions. And I guess you never know what is going to get donated. The place has a lot of heart and a taxidermy frog. I love this place! I can not give this place enough stars.
The town of Winthrop, Washington is a themed town, similar to Leavenworth, but instead of being a Bavarian village it is themed after the American old West. I honestly had no idea this place existed, let alone has been a theme town since the 1970s when the highway was built. Every building in the town (in some cases both inside and out) is themed to resemble the old west. It somewhat resembles a disney version of an a cowboy movie but real people live and work here. I can only imagine the town meetings when the community made the decision to all become tourist cowboys and open a saloon and replace sidewalks with wooden boardwalks. What is not to love?
The Ginkgo Gem Shop is located just before the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park. The store had just closed when I arrived so I can not comment on it's offerings. Truth be told, I was mostly there to see the tacky roadside dinosaurs, so it's closure did not bother me too much. I found the dinosaur sculptures rather hilarious, especially the brightly painted velociraptor. Each one even had a tiny little gate that I assume was to protect it from vandals, but made it appear they were caged in by a knee high fence. It is a good place to get out an Rawr!
The Wanapum Viewpoint, which also goes by the name, Columbia River Scenic Overlook is located just off the I-90 in Washington, USA. The landscape is completely breathtaking. There are two viewpoints on both sides of the river, but this one in my opinion is the most majestic. If you are driving west on I-90 from Spokane WA it is not a viewpoint that should be missed. It offers an incredible view of the Columbia river, the Vantage bridge and the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park on the other side.
My great-grandfather and his father before him were all miners in this area. It was a great tour to show the younger generation a little bit of what their great-great grandparent's lives were like. The tour guide an ex-miner himself, was frank, informative and had a great sense of dry humour. It should also be added that it was an educational mine, that was used to teach high school youth mining up until the 90s when it was turned into the current tourist attraction that exists today.