“Top left of America” is how a sticker advertises the Pacific Northwest, often abbreviated to PNW. Some stickers explain that Idaho is not part of it, but so be it.
My first visit in the 1990s was a round trip around Olympic National Park, home to the only rainforest in the northern hemisphere. I was fascinated by the rainforest and the snow-capped mountains. At Lake Quinault Lodge, I stumbled across the book “The Dark Place” by Aaron Elkins, whose story is set right there. I’ve been a fan of the Gideon Oliver series ever since.
Over the years, PNW has become a special place for me. In 2012 and 2013, I spent several weeks in Redmond and Bellevue to earn a master’s certification in Exchange Server from Microsoft. When you are in a place in the world for reasons other than tourism, it becomes a kind of home. For me, home is not just one place but rather many places. It’s the places where there are people who are important to me and do me good. Friends live here.
David Lynch’s Twin Peaks series, based in the Snoqualmie and North Bend region, also significantly influenced my love of the PNW. When you visit this area, you realize that such a series cannot be set anywhere else. It’s like being in Maine. When you wander through the towns and nature there, you know why Stephen King wrote the books he did.
I value a few places in the PNW; there is no one favorite place.
I love Bellevue, on the east side of Lake Washington, where I stay when I visit the region. With King County’s public transport and the Orca Card, I can quickly get to Seattle and the Microsoft campus in Redmond. The city is less noisy and hectic than Seattle.
I have been aware of Seattle since the 1990s and have seen its change over time. This week, it became clear to me what a positive change the demolition of the Alaskan Highway and its relocation into a tunnel has brought. The double-decker concrete ribbon had cut the harbor off from the city. Now, the waterfront and the city are growing together again. This is particularly evident in the new stairs architecture north of the Seattle Aquarium.
Seattle is also a problem city. Society is leaving people behind. Homelessness and tourist consumption come together openly, especially near Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. You have to be able to deal with that when you visit the city.
The Space Needle is usually a must-see for me every time I visit the city, as is the Experience Music Project. I skipped both this week. It would simply have been too stressful. My focus was elsewhere. I chose the Lock Cruise from Lake Union, the Salmon Way Waterway, and the Hiram M Chittenden Locks to find some peace and quiet.
The afternoon route from Lake Union to Elliott Bay was exactly the right decision. It was hot for a March day at 21°. The clear, cold air in the morning provided a splendid view of the surrounding islands and the peaks of the Olympic Mountains. Even Mount Hood was visible to the north. This cruise gave me a different view of the Seattle skyline than the Harbour Cruise. You approach the city differently.
In contrast to Seattle, a harbor city with a varied history since its foundation, Bellevue is more of a business city characterized by tech companies from very different sectors. This is particularly noticeable in the retail offering. This year, I noticed vacancies in Bellevue Mall and the surrounding streets. However, this is not as evident as in downtown Seattle. There, at least to me, the city is fighting what feels like a hopeless battle.
As mentioned, I mostly use public transport to move around the cities and between them. If this is not possible or just not convenient (in terms of time), Uber is always a good choice. I can’t remember when I used to hire a car in Seattle. For a trip to Snoqualmie and Snoqualmie Pass, hiring a car for a day or two is definitely worth it.
I’m really looking forward to my next visit to the Pacific Northwest. My list of things I definitely want to do (again) includes
- Visit the Boeing manufacturing plant in Everett
- Visit Port Angeles and hike in the Olympic Mountains
- Visit the San Juan Islands with extensive offline time
As someone who is a bit of a flight nut, I believe seaplane trips are exceptional. Kenmore Air has just the suitable options on offer. Even if it didn’t work out this time, a trip should be on the list again next time.
I’m looking forward to the next trip.
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