Washington: Home Sweet Home
Oh the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
“Here in the corner attic of America, two hours’ drive from a rain forest, a desert, a foreign country, an empty island, a hidden fjord, a raging river, a glacier, and a volcano is a place where the inhabitants sense they can do no better, nor do they want to.” - Timothy Egan, The Good Rain: Across Time & Terrain in the Pacific Northwest
There is a love, love-less relationship with the PNW. It can be cold, it can be wet, it’s not always the most diverse place to be, but there is so much the PNW has to offer.
So, what is the PNW? Well, if you’re us, it really only consists of Washington, Oregon, parts of Canada, and a small part of western Idaho- Which is actually ABSOLUTELY WRONG! It actually is made of not only Washington, Oregon, Idaho, the Canadian Province of British Columbia, but if you are feeling extra brave, parts of Alaska, California, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian territory of the Yukon. We completely undersold the PNW – which is a little disappointing because there was a whole high school class focused on Pacific Northwest history and geography. Alas, episode two is really just our Love Letter to Washington State with some nods to Oregon and Canada.
We would like to show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Muckleshoot People, past and present, on which these recordings and our experiences have and will continue to take place. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, located in South King County, is the Seattle area's Federally Recognized Indian Tribe and successor to Duwamish and Upper Puyallup Peoples who were party to the Treaties of Point Elliott and Medicine Creek. Please, if you get a chance, check out the websites listed in our resource guide to learn more about the various tribes and how you can support them.
Again, we spend most of the episode diving into what we love and not so love about living in Washington, the places we either have had a chance to explore in our youth or learn about as adults, and that, for us at least, there is such a thing as “bad weather.” In the land where you don’t use umbrellas, and everyone has at least one North Face jacket, and you drink/eat lots of apples, hipster culture is alive and well, where grunge was formed, where some incredible artists have recorded albums, where Sasquatch lives and breathes, and where you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens off in the distance, we give you the PNW- aka- Washington in all its glory. However, Kirsten would like to admit that she doesn’t own anything North Face and she probably never will. It's like wearing socks with sandals. She just doesn’t believe in it.
We give you insight into some of our favorite places and a wish list of places we would like to visit.
Local Tribe Information:
Seattle Indian Health Board- “We continue to provide a safe cultural space for our relatives as we provide culturally attuned healthcare, Traditional Indian Medicine, rental assistance, nutrition services, and beyond. Nationally, we are shaping the dialogue on Indigenous health equity through policy, data, evaluation, and research services by and for Indigenous communities.” If you can, please donate to help them continue their great work.
Duwamish Tribe teaches you more about the Tribe, past, present and future. It also discusses their fight to be federally recognized as a tribe in the UW. Lastly, it will let you know all the amazing work they do in South King County and upcoming events that you may want to attend! If you are able, please consider donating to them!
Chief Seattle Club is “dedicated to physically and spiritually supporting American Indian and Alaska Native people. At our Day Center in the Pioneer Square district of downtown Seattle, we provide food, primary health care, housing assistance, legal services, a Native art job training program, and opportunities for members to engage in cultural community-building.” Please check out their site, learn about they do and how you can support their efforts!
United Indian’s “mission is to provide educational, cultural and social services that reconnect Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people.” Please check out their website and learn about all the exciting events, check out their shop, and support in any way you can!
We Are Muckleshoot provides more information on the Muckleshoot People, past, present and future. It will also link you to wonderful artworks and historical artifacts.
Destinations mentioned in this episode:
Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Forest, 18113 Upper Hoh Rd, Forks, WA 98331 – it is open 24/7. It is beautiful! Wear good shoes!
Cannon Beach is beautiful all year round with wonderful sights to explore. There is a retraction from the podcast where Kirsten said Cannon Beach has a shipwreck on the shores. The Peter Iredale shipwreck is near Cannon Beach, but is actually located in Fort Stevens State Park (which is also a pretty amazing place to explore for all the history-buffs out there)
Catch 122 A Vancouver Cafe with an amazing brunch. Check out their Instagram if you want to drool over beautiful dishes.
Hobbit Inn in Douglas County, WA is a great little getaway for all our fellow nerds, or you know, for people who just want an untraditional experience with a good friend, a significant other, or an individual getaway.
Hurricane Ridge “the most easily accessed mountain area within Olympic National Park. In clear weather, fantastic views can be enjoyed throughout the year.” If you’re not an experienced snow hiker, it is best to visit these amazing vistas during the summer when snow is not a factor. You can drive up to the visitor’s center for awe-inspiring views and hike various trails. If you want to admire the views from a distance - check out their webcams!
Lake Crescent “a stunning 624 feet deep, glacier-carved lake, is one of the iconic destinations of Olympic National Park. The crystal-clear lake is outlined with a stunning forested mountain range and offers a variety of hikes, activities, lodging, and viewpoints. One of the top destinations is the Lake Crescent Lodge, which is a top lodging venue within Olympic National Park and serves as a trailhead for popular hiking trails like Marymere Falls and Mount Storm King.
Maria highly recommends the Washington Trails Association Hike Finder Map for locating hikes inside Washington State. You can filter hikes by trail features/views, distance, elevation, accessibility, kid and/or pet friendliness, and permit requirements. WTA users are great about leaving timely reports about trail conditions and provide awesome tips on how to make the most out of your trek.