PNW Part II: Not Sleepless in Seattle + Mt. Rainier National Park
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PNW Part II: Tri-Cities, Yakima, Seattle, Mt. Rainier
This is Part II of my PNW vlog from Washington State.
From Hood River, Oregon, we continued onto the Tri-Cities region, namely Pasco and Kennewick in Washington, to conduct interviews. While driving on I-84E and I-82W, one can’t help but notice all the wind turbines lining the hills. Yuck. Talk about eyesores. I noticed some oil leaking from a few turbines and regret not getting footage. So much for being carbon-free. LOL. But I digress.
After arriving in the region, we knocked out a couple interviews and found a great dinner spot called Proof Gastropub in Kennewick. I got Honey Pecan Shrimp Bowl.
The next morning, we trekked to Ice Harbor Lock & Dam - one of four lower Snake River Dams - to get a couple interviews for our video report. This place runs 24/7 and is actually carbon-free. Per the Army Corps of Engineers, this facility includes “a dam, a powerhouse, navigation lock, two fish ladders, a removable spillway weir and a juvenile fish bypass facility. It provides navigation, hydropower, flood risk management, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation and incidental irrigation.”
Our time in Tri-Cities was productive, so we headed back to Seattle-Tacoma-Mt. Rainier to film a few more segments. The drive was dotted by wineries and gorgeous landscapes—including the 12,000+ ft Mt. Adams Summit. We stopped in Yakima for lunch and opted for Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Ice House, a modern American tavern that prides itself in sourcing local ingredients. Keeping up with eating healthy, I got the Prawn and Avocado salad.
Leaving Yakima Valley, the landscape became more mountainous as we traversed the North Cascades Range and Snoqualmie Pass. Words don’t do the views justice, but trust me when I say it’s beautiful. By early evening, we arrived in downtown Seattle and parked near Pike Place Market - the city’s original farmers market - to eat some local fare and do some sightseeing.
I had to eat something from the famed Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, a favorite spot of the late Anthony Bourdain, because the cuisine is very familiar. Unlike the West Coast, Eastern European shops are scarce in the East. I got the Beef & Onion Piroshky. Verdict: DELICIOUS. Madison and I walked on the waterfront until we spotted Ivar’s Acres of Claims and split a halibut dinner. Ivar’s is the namesake of Ivar Haglund, a Seattle native-turned-restauranteur who ran the first Pier 54 aquarium. No matter where you turn in Seattle, one can see Mt. Rainier in the distance. We were spoiled last week with optimal viewing. This is from Pike Place.
For our Seattle stay, I found an Airbnb in the town of Burien - a location close to downtown and a gateway to Mt. Rainier National Park. I liked how secluded it was and Burien Press in downtown Burien was a breakfast go-to. While charming and quaint, one can’t avoid seeing homeless encampments across the street. The city is apparently facing lawsuits - from homeless people, no less - after it narrowly banned overnight camping in city limits.
Mt. Rainier National Park has been on my list to visit and it didn’t disappoint. I was initially worried about snow conditions, but roads were clear. We stopped and filmed at Henry Jackson Visitor Center. As you can see, lots of fun was had! If you’re traveling to/from Mt. Rainier, you must stop at Mill Haus Cider Co. in Eatonville. It’s a hidden gem with delicious food and serene settings.
It was back to downtown Seattle to film more segments for our video report. Madison needed some new camera gear and got what she needed at Glazer’s Camera that, funny enough, is located on Republican Street.
To cap off our film trip, we drove to Kerry Park—hands down, the best viewpoint in Seattle—and Gas Works Park just north of the city. I can’t forget about Damn the Weather as a dinner option. Highly recommended.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned for our PNW-themed Conservation Nation report dropping soon!
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—Gabriella