Follow the Yellow Brick Roads

In honor of DailyCandy Seattle, we went road-tripping around the Pacific Northwest. What lies beyond the Emerald City? Mountains and forests and charm, oh yes.

NORTH: Port Townsend, an old railroad town with Olympic mountain views.
Heart: Cozy nights at Manresa Castle.
Courage: Fort Worden, a WWI coastal stronghold where The Ring was shot.
Brain: Tahuya’s welcome sign: “What’s it Tahuya?”
Picnic Basket: Microbrews and oysters at Water Street Brewing & Ale House (now closed).
Yellow Brick Road: Seattle ferry to Bainbridge Island. Highway 305 North to Highway 3 North, across the Hood Canal Bridge. Then Highway 19 North to Highway 20. Two hours from Seattle.

EAST: Snoqualmie Falls — think Niagara in an old forest.
Heart: Post-hike treatments at Salish Lodge & Spa.
Courage: Goldmyer Hot Springs, sans culottes.
Brain: Bavarian village Leavenworth, two hours east.
Picnic Basket: Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Oatmeal.
Yellow Brick Road: I-90 East to Snoqualmie Parkway (exit 25). Thirty minutes from Seattle.

SOUTH: Paradise, Mount Rainier, year-round snow on an active volcano.
Heart: Paradise Inn (5,400 feet) or National Park Inn (2,761 feet).
Courage: Take a guided ski tour.
Brain: Lower elevations are better in the winter, though maybe not this season — rain damage has shuttered everything. Check the snow anyway.
Picnic Basket: Pack up at Tacoma’s made-to-order Antique Sandwich Company (253-752-4069).
Yellow Brick Road: I-5 South to Highway 7 to Highway 706. Three hours from Seattle.

WEST: Cannon Beach, OR, Lewis and Clark’s last stop.
Heart: Harrison Street Inn is a doubloon’s throw from The Goonies’ Haystack Rock.
Courage: Rent beach tricycles at Mike’s Bike Shop.
Brain: Fort Astoria, fur traders’ spot on the Oregon Trail.
Picnic Basket: Pizza à Fetta. Get the Montrachet, with oregon-o.
Yellow Brick Road: I-5 South to Highway 101 South, ending at the Oregon Coast Highway. Four hours from Seattle.