Life Between The Mountains And The Sea

Tales From The Pacific Northwest

I was a travel writer and photographer for many years…so when it came time to look for a place for my daughter and I to live, there was no other choice than the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in the Midwest and lived in Colorado before moving here. Although I had never spent time in Washington state, or knew anyone who lived here…I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. It was one of my best decisions ever!

We really do wear socks with sandals…we do put on shorts the minute the thermometer reaches 50 degrees…we love moody gray days because we are readers and writers…we are dedicated beachcombers and lovers of mountains…and we WILL actually go out and touch and hug a tree. We are REI and Eddie Bauer through and through…we live between the mountains and the sea…we are surrounded and encompassed by nature! But we also love the arts! We are Northwesterners!

It’s only fitting that we begin our journey at Mt. Rainer…the ‘queen’ of Washington state and the Cascade Mountain Range. Hiking this trail to the base of the mountain is a rich reward in the summer as its wildflowers are considered ‘iconic.’

An active volcano, Mt. Rainier first erupted 150 years ago. It is considered the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United State with 25 major glaciers. The 93 mile Wonderland Trail completely encircles the mountain. The mountain can actually form its own weather and when the top is clear against our brilliant blue skies, it’s considered to be a very good day…a day to smile because ‘the mountain is out.’

The Olympic Peninsula is one of the most diverse areas in the world with its combination of seascapes…mountains…plus world class rain forests…the Hoh and the Quinault. The Hoh is considered a biosphere reserve, protected by UNESCO, and features trees over 1,000 years old. Some grow 7 feet in diameter and as high as 300 feet.

In the Quinault Rain Forest there are many beautiful hikes and walks, but one of my favorites is Maple Glade…so lovely it’s like a scene from a Disney film. The entire area is said to be reminiscent of ‘a land before time.’ It’s also near a pasture where you are likely to catch a view of the Roosevelt Elk herd that resides here.

Roger Tory Peterson tells us that the Olympic Rain Forests are weighted down with more living matter than any other place on earth.

“There are occasions when you can actually hear the mysterious language of the Earth, coming through the trees, emanating from the mosses. Moss teaches us to embrace stillness and find strength in quiet growth…grounding us in nature’s embrace.” Unknown

“Rain forests are not just places on a map…they are the heart of soul of our planet.”

We’re talking waterfalls when we are talking Washington state. With 3,000 waterfalls in every size and shape, Washington has more waterfalls than any other state in the country.

A scenic path leads through the woods to a lovely cascading falls near the Lake Quinault Lodge…one of my favorite destinations on the peninsula.

Tranquil Lake Quinault Lodge…perfect for any season…we’ve spent many a winter night in front of their big cozy fireplace.

Lake Quinault is a deep lake formed and fed by glacial runoffs from the Olympic Mountains. It’s the largest natural lake in the Olympic National Park and home to the largest Sitka spruce in the world. A haven for wildlife and Pacific salmon, its breathtaking trails offer stunning panoramic views, along with its temperate rain forests.

Majestic Mt Baker…a glacial wonderland with over 600 inches of a snow a year; drawing skiers and snowboarders from near and far. Considered a sacred place by the indigenous people, it’s part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc and an imposing landmark as it soars into the skies.

A beautiful Olympic Mountain hike begins behind the Hurricane Ridge Visitor’s Center…

as you climb higher and higher, it will remind you of the meadow scenes from The Sound of Music.

Connecting our state with its many islands and ports of call, is the Washington State Ferry System. It’s the world’s third largest system but rates number one in terms of passengers and vehicles carried. With 20 terminals…it’s many scenic routes are actually considered to the part of the state highway system.

A view from the top of Mt. Constitution in the beautiful San Juan Islands…an archipelago of 743 islands, reefs, and rocks at low tide…but 428 at high tide. Twenty of the islands are inhabited and they boast of 247 days of sunshine a year.

From Friday Harbor on San Juan Island to Eastsound on beautiful Orcas, the towns are charming with wonderful restaurants and shops…laid back…inviting destinations for a weekend or a week long stay…so laid back that there isn’t a traffic light on any of the islands. Beautiful drives…great vistas, often including a glimpse of an Orca whale…the perfect place to vacation.

The lighthouse at picturesque Port Townsend…at one time called the City Of Dreams due to the speculation that it would become the largest harbor on the West Coast. Located at the entrance of Puget Sound, traders began to pour into the town as early as 1851, leaving a rich legacy of stories and Victorian architecture that gracefully adorns the streets today.

We originated the world’s first espresso cart that became the home of Starbucks…despite its many nicknames it gets less rain than many major cities…it’s the home of Amazon, Boeing and Microsoft…it boasts the first city- built monorail that still zips throughout downtown…it has bridges that float…it’s the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix and Grunge…it can only be Seattle!

A visit to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a few hours watching them toss fish and strolling through the vendors and shops at Pikes Place Market.

The space needle and Seattle Center still offer highlights of the World’s Fair of 1962…everything from the Space Needle…to the Chihuly Garden of Delights.

Seattle is such a sports city that one time, during a Seahawks game, the crowd actually started a small seismic earthquake.

Whether boating on Lake Washington or cruising Puget Sound…Seattle has one of the largest per capita boat ownerships in the country, with approximately 90,000 boats in the metropolitan area alone.

Home to the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, top seafood exports include salmon, halibut, cod, and rock-fish along with crab, shrimp, mussels and oysters.

Point your car in any direction for a weekend drive…a wonderful one or two day excursion is the Hood Canal region…a fjord-like natural body of water forming the western lobe of Puget Sound. A natural waterway, it’s known for its diversity that includes dense forests, tranquil rivers and streams, majestic mountains and breathtaking waterfalls.

Picturesque farms on the way to Western Washington…

lead to the rolling hills and wheat fields of the Palouse…looking like a surreal watercolor painting.

Bountiful Skagit County…home to one of the largest migration of snow geese in the world during the winter months…

while decorating an entire valley with daffodil farms and

tulip fields in the Spring.

“Those born under Northwest skies are like daffodils, achieving their beauty anywhere they happen to be…even after a long, cold soak in the rain,” Daisy Prescott

It’s a good day overlooking the Port of Seattle…the mountain is out.

The seasons of change only adds to the beauty that surrounds us. Snoqualmie Falls in the winter is as stunning as the fresh spring cascade.

Picture Lake in the Cascade Mountains adds a touch of fall color to the crisp autumn air…

and Mt. Rainier celebrates early autumn with vibrant sunny days.

The desert country to the south of Seattle with its wineries and vineyards, boasts of golden splendor…

while the reflection of the Japanese Garden in Seattle reminds us that beauty comes in all patterns and designs.

The coast beckons with its rocks…its sea treasures…and its storms.

We will never get tired of roaming our beaches…where every tide-pool is said to support 4,000 living ‘things.’

The poetry of nature…from mountain wildflowers…

to the wildlife along the rivers and estuaries…it’s all here.

“Here in the corner attic of America, two hours’ drive from a rain forest, a desert, an empty island, a hidden fjord, a raging river, a glacier, or a volcano…is a place where inhabitants sense they can do no better, nor do they want to.” Timothy Eagan

As Northwesterners, we really don’t own umbrellas…we’re tougher than that…

we put on our hooded jackets and roam the beaches in any weather we are blessed to have.

We live between the mountains and the sea…we love the gray mists that roll in…we anticipate our rainy thought filled days…we wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When you truly sing, you can sing yourself free. When you walk in the mountains or swim in the sea, then, once again, you set yourself free.”

Jay Woodman

Photographed Throughout Washington State

Special Note: The Pacific Northwest extends to our friends and neighbors in Oregon. There is so much to explore down to the Columbia River and beyond. We’ll continue our travels in a future post. Meanwhile, spend some time in this beautiful place we call The Evergreen State, where you can ski in the morning and beachcomb that same afternoon.

“The Pacific Northwest is a symphony of misty mornings, ancient forests, and sparkling lakes. It’s where nature whispers its secrets and invites you to be part of its story. A place where one can feel truly connected to the natural world…where every breath is filled with the refreshing scent of pine and every step brings you closer to a hidden waterfall or a secluded beach.”

Next Week: Very Special Post On America

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