MOUNT HOOD, Ore. - When President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge in September 1937, he praised the skilled workers who assembled the extraordinary building in record time under the auspices of a federal Depression-era work program.
Just 40 miles away, on the banks of the Columbia River in Hood River, Ore., the once proud Columbia Gorge Hotel, which opened with much fanfare in 1921, languished at its spectacular site as a retirement home during most of the Depression. It wasn't until 1977 that work began to restore its original luster.
By Jeff Larsen | December 11, 2003
Unfortunately, trying to schedule my first-ever Amtrak train trip was a bit of a logistical nightmare. But in the end, train travel turned out to be just as pleasant and entertaining as train riders have described it to me over the years.
My goal was to travel by train from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., and to Portland in relatively leisurely fashion in three days. Most importantly, as a novice I wanted to get in touch with the basics of train travel, especially with the busy holiday travel season here.
By Jeff Larsen | December 4, 2003
PORT RENFREW, B.C. Some publications call the 60-mile stretch of coastline on Vancouver Island, between Sooke and Port Renfrew, the "Undiscovered Coast."
Undiscovered might be stretching the truth, but the southwest coast of the island along the Strait of Juan de Fuca is one of the most extraordinary, rugged stretches of Pacific Northwest pristine coastlines easily accessible to the public. The "undiscovered" tag might refer to how few people visit there, even though it's easy to reach and relatively close to downtown Victoria.
By Jeff Larsen | November 30, 2003
KIRKLAND -- Along the bustling Lake Washington shoreline between Carillon Point and Kirkland's downtown today, it's hard to imagine what the area looked liked even 30 years ago.
Over the years, high-tech has gradually displaced the town's once proud manufacturing economic base that was centered on the waterfront. Kirkland's Lake Washington shoreline is now mostly oriented to leisure and residential. Public parks dotting the milelong stretch are popular year-round haunts for residents and visitors.
By Jeff Larsen | November 27, 2003
TACOMA -- The motor was barely audible as we pulled out of Tacoma's Convention Center light-rail station headed for the Tacoma Dome. The sleek, 66-foot-long, $3 million metallic-finished car smelled newer than it looked.
By Jeff Larsen | November 13, 2003
When it's dark by 4 in the afternoon and the high temperature for the week is supposed to hit only 45, it's time to start thinking inside the box.
To help stimulate that thought processes, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau officially kicks off its annual downtown hotel Super Saver program tomorrow. A luxurious hotel room at a discounted rate for a night just might be the cheery winter break you were looking for.
By Jeff Larsen | November 6, 2003
VICTORIA, B.C. Fall weather is in full swing. Last week's storms dumped record rainfall on parts of Vancouver Island, including this provincial capital city.
Regardless, Victoria still soaks up the least amount of rainfall on the west coast of the island. It's also the only city in Canada that has recorded winters when temperatures never dipped below freezing.
By Jeff Larsen | October 23, 2003
WALLA WALLA Karla Broughten, tasting-room hostess for L'Ecole No. 41 Winery, hoisted a bottle of chardonnay over an array of other wine bottles on the counter and carefully poured Jeff and Susan Lyon from Tacoma each a splash.
Like good wine tasters, Jeff and Susan each sniffed the wine first to check its bouquet and then sloshed it around the inside of the glass for a few laps before drinking it. It was Jeff's 51st birthday and the couple had flown to Walla Walla to celebrate for two days.
By Jeff Larsen | October 16, 2003
CASHMERE Here's a good example of the most balanced diet of the new century: During my first day in Cashmere, for breakfast I had a cup of coffee, followed by a tasty confection called an Aplet topped off with two Cotlets (the Aplet's apricot counterpart). For lunch I ate two Golden Delicious apples along with a Bartlett pear, then chased both fruit varieties down with a strawberry soda at Doan's Valley Pharmacy's soda fountain.
Problem was, it felt almost normal in Cashmere to eat like that.
By Jeff Larsen | October 9, 2003
LEAVENWORTH This town in north-central Washington is always a fun destination, no matter what time of year. But for a Bavarian-theme town like Leavenworth, Oktoberfest takes on special significance. This year's beer festival, which begins Oct. 3, is set to be bigger and better than ever.
Last year in Munich, Germany, 5.8 million people showed up for the annual Oktoberfest celebration and gulped down 5.7 million liters of beer during the two-week celebration. Apparently that's why Munich calls its Oktoberfest the world's largest beer festival.
By Jeff Larsen | October 2, 2003
