Family Road Trip: End of the Road

Time to wrap-up our week in Washington... Before we continue, though, we need a little end of vacation music to accompany us as we head back home. Here's Lindsey Buckingham's "Dancin' 'Cross The USA" from the end of one of my favorite films, National Lampoon's Vacation.

Thanks for sitting patiently through my boring vacation slide show! As always, click on the pictures for a larger view.

After saying farewell to the beautiful beaches of Kalaloch, we drove further north on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, following Highway 101 through mile after mile of lush forests. Eventually we found ourselves at the Lake Crescent Lodge restaurant just in time for lunch.


This 90-year-old lodge is about as picturesque as you could ask for. The lake, surrounded by the Olympic Mountains, is gorgeous but very cold. Great for sitting and looking, but I don't think I'd even dip my toe in those glacial waters. Not sure we'd stay there with the kids, as the ocean beaches are so much more fun for them.



Like I said, an inviting place for just sittin' and starin'... I gave this one the sepia treatment because it looked like a scene from the past. You know, back before TVs and radios, when people used to just sit and talk and breathe deeply.

While at Lake Crescent, we hiked the one-mile trail up to Marymere Falls. This is a great little hike for kids. The falls are actually kind of anti-climactic because the hike to get there is so easy and enjoyable. Well, the last few hundred yards are kind of steep, but a relatively easy climb with handrails to grab onto.

After that we drove non-stop to catch the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island. The kids enjoyed the ferry ride and couldn't believe our car was actually on a boat.

My original plan was to leisurely drive down the southern end of Whidbey Island, maybe stopping at a lavender farm. But we were running late and realized we had just 28 minutes to drive the 30 miles from Kingston to Clinton, where the ferry would take us to the mainland. I didn't want to miss it as we were expected for dinner at a relative's house in Everett and it was already 7:30pm. So we failed to observe the posted speed limit, hit every green light, and made the 8 o'clock ferry with literally 30 seconds to spare.

I should've known we'd never make the dinner, though... After leaving the ferry, we drove past the huge Boeing plant, found the Interstate, and came to a screeching halt in the never-ending gridlock that is Seattle traffic. Eventually we found our hotel and a Mitzel's.


The next day we drove home on Highway 2, stopping in Leavenworth, a mock Bavarian town that is basically one big tourist trap. I found the place to be a little disappointing, as shopping is not my thing. The food, however, was delicious...


I don't know what all was on this family platter at King Ludwig's Restaurant. A whole chicken, something from a pig, spicy sausages, several types of sauerkraut, a potato concoction. We scarfed most of it down and then had to listen to polka music for an hour (we had no choice, we couldn't move).


Bob Otto's Polka Pals were rockin' the joint. I almost did the "Chicken Dance" but, as I said, I couldn't move from all the food in my belly. Good thing too, as my son would've died from embarrassment if I'd stood up and bawked like a chicken in public.

We arrived home to a pair of very lonely cats. It was good to be back. This trip was most memorable for discovering a place - Kalaloch Beach - to which we'll return for more family fun in the years to come.