2024 Northwest Adventure Episode 8: Homeward Bound

On August 14, 2025August 13, 2025 By LToddIn RV Travel, Travel, Washington1 Comment

Our first stop on the route toward home was American Sunset RV and Tent Resort in Westport, Washington, on the Point Chehalis Peninsula. We arrived around 3:00 pm on July 16, 2024, leaving plenty of daylight to explore before turning in for the night.

The Port of Grays Harbor’s Westport Marina is the heart of Washington’s seafood business. They claim to have the biggest fishing fleets on the West Coast for both charter and commercial use. That’s quite a feat for a town with a population of only 2,200 people within an area of 4.50 square miles (11.65 km²).

Westport Marina lands, on average, 130 million pounds of commercial seafood by volume, ranking it 10th in the nation. Measured by value, they come in at $72 million, or 19th in the nation. Seafood landed includes: Dungeness crab, salmon, albacore tuna, shrimp, oysters, prawns, and much more. The marina welcomes commercial vessels from 35-feet long to over 100 feet.

We walked on the Fishermen’s Boardwalk, where several families and couples held fishing poles and crab ring nets as they waited for fish to bite or crabs to crawl into the nets. Many of their buckets contained a dinner’s worth of seafood. Some children joined their parents in the fishing activities, while others stood off to the side engrossed in a separate world.

View of jetty and Point at Westport Harbor condominiums. Some units are short-term rentals.

Harbor with Westhaven Street in the background

This boat’s name reminded us of our friend Marylou.

Other amenities for visitors at the Marina include the Centennial View Tower, a public boat launch, a plaza, and restrooms. People not interested in catching dinner or who have had no luck can always purchase directly from the fishermen and fish markets.

The Town of Westport

Nearby Westport is the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. They are descendants of the earliest known settlers on the peninsula, the Lower Chehalis, Lower Chinook, and other people who called the area home.

We had their clam chowder and split half of a Dungeness crab. Should have ordered a whole crab. Jon had to eat leftovers when we got back to the trailer.

In 1857, Thomas Barker Speake arrived with his family and other white settlers and named the place Peterson’s Point. Westport’s history, which began in 1914, is a story of economic booms and busts impacting various industries over the past century or more that include: whaling, fishing, military installations, the rise of commercial and sport fishing, harbor safety improvements by the Army Corps of Engineers, introduction of pilot boats, fishing controversies, hard times, recovery, and renewal. For a more detailed discussion, go to: Experience Westport/History of Westport Washington.

One tidbit that piqued my interest was more current event than history: the building of a second tsunami evacuation tower. Made possible through a FEMA grant with a 10% match by Westport, the tower, with an expected completion of 2026, will hold 2,000 people. Long-term plans call for the building of an additional tower. Then, plans changed. The current administration canceled many of the scheduled federal grants on April 4, 2025, including the Westport Tsunami tower.

Because $13.7 million was already “obligated,” the community gained hope the project will move forward. Then at the end of May 2025, the grantee extended the period of performance until December 2027, further raising hopes of completion. Those in charge must feel like they had climbed aboard a roller coaster that had lost its brakes.

Ocosta Elementary School was the recipient of the first tsunami tower as part of the construction of a replacement school. This tower has a dual purpose. Classrooms, a library, kitchen, and administrative spaces occupy the structure, which can hold 1,000 people, withstand a 9.2 magnitude quake, and resist tsunami waves. The tsunami that resulted from the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia on July 30, 2025, failed to reach levels requiring the use of the tower.

Westport has more to offer besides fishing and crabbing. Visitors can enjoy beach activities, wander through the history and maritime museums, or learn about growing cranberries at the cranberry farm and museum. Unfortunately, our days in town didn’t coincide with the museums’ open days. We’ll plan our trip better next time so we’re there Thursday through Sunday.

Westport Light State Park

With the museums closed, we settled on visiting the lighthouse at Westport Light State Park, even though it was also closed. The 560-acre park is day use only and includes 1,215 feet of shoreline for surfing, exploring, saltwater fishing, crabbing, and clamming. An outdoor shower and two indoor accessible showers are available for surfers and beachgoers.

Our search for the lighthouse took us on the trail from the parking lot east, then south, then west for four miles around an extremely lengthy block. We should have gone south from the parking lot, then east, and it would have only been one and a half miles.

The following photos depict the views on our trek to the lighthouse.

Although most of the way was enjoyable, parts of it were not, so we had to ask for directions. We contemplated calling an Uber. Unsure the small town had one, we persevered and made the loop. Had we gone the short distance, we would have missed out on the magnificent views and photo opportunities.

Short sleeves and bare legs as if the weather was warm. Maybe they were from Canada.

Jon and I bundled up in our winter outerwear.

Memorial plaques graced the benches we passed.

On August 9, 2025, I read on The Daily World website that someone had pried off and stolen several memorials embedded in cement and on the benches. Apparently, it’s the State Park’s responsibility, not the city’s. Either way, what a shame for the people who had them placed there to honor their loved ones.

We would have missed this deer had we taken the shorter trail

Built in 1897 and lit in 1898, Grays Harbor Lighthouse stands at 107 feet, the tallest lighthouse in Washington State. At that time, the lighthouse replaced more primitive gear to light the way for ships entering Gray’s Harbor.

The RVs next to the lighthouse belong to work campers who volunteer 20-25 hours a week, depending on the season, for a full hookup site. If interested in joining the ranks, check out the park’s website.

When the lighthouse began service in 1898, it stood 400 feet from the high tide line. Thanks to sediment from the rivers and streams that flow into the Pacific, accretion over 127 years has moved the shoreline 3,000 feet to the west.

The shape and colors of this building cried out for a photo. It sits across the street from the lighthouse and used to be a restaurant. I’m not sure what it’s used for now.

We enjoyed walking around the harbor, and visiting the lighthouse was the highlight of our walk. We got up close enough for more detailed shots of the buildings without disturbing the work campers in their RVs. No one came out, so we guessed they were off having an adventure of their own.

Next Up: We drop into Oregon and stop for a visit at the Tillamook Creamery

Safe Travels

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 7 Tacoma Glass Museum

On July 31, 2025July 30, 2025 By LToddIn RV Travel, Travel, Washington6 Comments

On July 12, 2024, we headed back to Gig Harbor for a few days. The time had arrived for us to prepare to leave Washington and head home. We spent the weekend washing clothes, cleaning the trailer, completing other tasks, and visiting one more attraction. When I read about the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, I couldn’t imagine what it looked like. So off to Tacoma, Washington, we drove.

The cone-shaped structure houses the Glass Hot Shop. The top lights up at night. The East 21^st Street Bridge in the background carries four lanes of SR509.

It took us a while to find the place. We passed under the bridge and drove off in different directions, on this freeway and that one several times until we found the Museum of Glass and a place to park. While doing so, we wondered what hid inside the huge cone-shaped structure pointing toward the sky.

Museum of Glass

We had seen plenty of museums during this adventure. Was I ready for another one? I’m so glad we paid the entrance fee because the Museum of Glass was more than just a museum. The museum describes itself as a contemporary art museum with glass and glassmaking as its focus and so much more.

*Gathering the Light*, by Cappy Thompson, installed in the Grand Hall near the entrance.

A sign titled, A Leaf A Life A Legacy accompanied this sculpture. On the green leaves, names and quotes led me to think the artwork is a tribute to a person. Not sure of the title and don’t know the artist’s name.

We stepped into the Hot Shop on the upper level of stadium seating and thought we had stumbled into a theater where actors might appear on the stage below. A screen hung from the ceiling on the opposite side above a wall of furnaces blasting red hot. The video captured the activity on the stage, giving the audience a closeup view of the work going on down below. In the middle of the furnace wall, hung a thermostat pegged at 100 degrees.

A glass artist stood outside a furnace, holding one end of a pole that stretched inside the flame. Other people stood a few feet away, watching and talking. They all wore short-sleeved T-shirts and shorts. One woman wore a tank top. Given the heat, they may have thought beachwear more appropriate.

We watched as the artist removed the pole with a glowing glob of glass at the end. Two other folks helped to turn the poles while the artist worked to shape and form the piece of art into his vision.

When we could no longer tolerate the heat, the air-conditioned gallery cooled us off allowing us to enjoy wandering through the exhibits.

*Blue Black*, by Radcliffe Bailey. According to the placard, “The sculpture speaks to the harm done to Black bodies and psyches by the transatlantic slave trade.”

*Movement IV: Sonata in Eight Notes*, 2021, by Mildred Howard

The Museum of Glass structure, opened in 2002 at a cost of $48 million, was the first building completed on a Superfund site as part of the Thea Foss Waterway restoration. Since then, five other museums within walking distance have sprouted. We only had time to visit the one.

A Citizen Science Workshop of The Salmon School brings together the Tacoma Public School District, educators from the Museum of Glass, and the Foss Waterway Seaport to work on the Puyallup River watershed to save the salmon.

*Gibson Chandelier*, 2000 by Dale Chihuly

This museum isn’t just a place to walk around and look at the exhibits; it also offers a variety of programs:

The Hot Shop – Artists can apply for one-day and week-long residency programs at the museum, where they can experiment with new ideas and techniques.
Kids Design Glass – Children age 12 and under can submit their designs via email. If selected, an artist will create the design in glass at one of their Hot Shot presentations.
Science of Art – This is an outreach program for K-8 students enrolled in the Tacoma Public Schools or other local schools.
Virtual Science of Art – Beginning in 2020, the museum expanded access to school classrooms across the State of Washington.
Hot Shop Heroes – A program for soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
Junior Curator Academy – This virtual series, geared toward middle and high school students, consists of six 45-minute lessons led by Museum of Glass educators.
Curator High – Teens work with each department to conceive and develop an exhibition by working with each of the museum’s departments. At the end of the program, the exhibit is installed in the Grand Hall.

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass opened in 2002 along with the Museum of Glass. Design, building, and art installation expenses cost $12 million. The steel and concrete pedestrian bridge spans 500 feet (150 m) over a rail yard and Interstate 705 at a height of 70 feet (21 m).

The covered portion of the Bridge of Glass, *Seaform* *Pavilion*, and *Crystal Spires* in front of Union Station from afar

View of Union Station from the roof of the Museum of Glass

From atop the Museum of Glass roof, we walked up a series of ramps to the bridge. The first Chihuly installation we encountered was the Venetian Wall. On either side of the walkway, steel-and-glass walls for a length of 80 feet (24.4 m) display 109 blown glass sculptures. Natural light illuminates the sculptures during the day. When the sun goes down, fiber-optic lighting does the trick at night.

More glass creations in the *Venetian Wall*

Toward the center of the bridge rise the Crystal Towers. Each 43-foot-tall spire supports 63 crystals. Polyvitro, a polyurethane material created by Chihuly, is the material used to give the crystals their blue coloring and transparency, without the weight of glass. Although the crystal’s appearance changes during the day as the sun shines through, I suspect they are more impressive at night when lit from below and join the city’s skyline.

*Crystal Towers* by Dale Chihuly rises 43 feet above the bridge

The Seaform Pavilion is the third installation. The 49-foot (15 m) covered portion of the bridge delighted us with a colorful display of 2,364 glass sculptures inspired by marine life on the ceiling.

I worried about the safety of the artwork up there on the bridge in all kinds of weather and open 24 hours a day. Then I remembered Chihuly had created other outdoor installations, so he must have done this before. And after twenty-five years, the art still stands. Still, I kept my ears open for the tinkling sound of broken glass announcing the destruction of a piece of translucent art. The noise never came.

My camera failed to capture the feeling evoked by viewing the pieces in person. I sense a facsimile of that feeling when I look at them, except it’s not the same. We highly suggest visiting the museum when nearby. We would love to see the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle if we ever get back to the area.

Dinner time had arrived by the time we returned to the trailer. Not wanting to cook, we chose El Pueblito for our last meal in Gig Harbor. Another fine meal to enjoy before we waved goodbye in the morning and turned the truck south toward home.

Up Next: We take our time making our way home, stopping to explore a few more attractions.

Safe Travels

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 6: Leavenworth, Washington, and Wanatchee State Park

On July 24, 2025July 27, 2025 By LToddIn Photography, RV Travel, States, Travel, Washington5 Comments

City of Leavenworth

On July 8, 2024, we arrived at Leavenworth/Pine Village KOA Holiday RV Park around 3:30 pm, and settled in during a heat wave. First order of business? Turn on the A/C. Pronto.

I guess July wasn’t the best time of year to have our Bavarian Getaway. The morning hours were the best time to get out and about. When temperatures rose above 100 degrees, we sought things to do inside.

The Wanatchee River wraps around the KOA

The Greater Leavenworth Museum was one of those air-conditioned spots we enjoyed for about an hour. While there, we learned how Leavenworth got its start as a Bavarian-themed travel and vacation spot.

Ted Price and Bob Rodgers sparked the idea of a Bavarian-themed town to the economically depressed Leavenworth in the early 1960s. They believed the town’s transformation would bring in tourists, as it did for them. They were the owners of the alpine themed Squirrel Tree Inn 20 miles outside of Leavenworth.

To demonstrate their belief, they sold their inn and invested in Leavenworth property. Their renovations inspired others to create Bavarian-themed storefronts on their buildings. And to use a cliché, the rest is history.

Even today, strict regulations exist to retain the Bavarian look of signs, buildings, and other infrastructure. Even McDonalds had to abide by the design requirements.

Exhibits include how Leavenworth was settled and who Charles Leavenworth was.

Soon the town committed to three festivals: Maifest, Oktoberfest, and the Christmas Lighting Festival. Other outdoor and sports activities also drew people to the area.

Curious to know how Leavenworth got its name, I searched for an exhibit that told the story. Known as Captain Leavenworth, Charles Frederick Leavenworth was a prominent businessman who settled in Santa Rosa, California, from Rochester, N.Y. in 1871. He married Kate Mead two years later.

Capt. Leavenworth may have used a survey transit c. 1900 like this one when he surveyed the town.

Displays on indigenous peoples and other topics

While in California, he designed and built a steam-operated flour mill and a municipal water system for Modesto, California. In 1883, he moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he invested in a sawmill. He built a larger sawmill in Gray’s Harbor, so he could ship lumber to California. His shipping business is where his nickname, Captain, came from.

Deserted town?. No, the people are hiding out in the shade or inside buildings.

The building on the left contains the Historical Museum and the Nutcracker Museum.
Next door is a building under renovation.

On October 13, 1892, Leavenworth filed a warranty deed for Leavenworth. He surveyed and platted the new town, and with a group of financiers sold town lots. The Panic of 1893 caused a depression that lasted several years and put an end to their enterprise. He returned to Western Washington until his death on February 2, 1909. He never returned to the town of Leavenworth to live. Apparently, there wasn’t much to see after the local mill closed and the Great Northern Rail Road pulled out. I wonder what he would think if he could see it today.

**Stein** in Leavenworth serves 55 beers on tap
Or pick up something sweet at **Big Foot Donuts at Steins**

The museum’s display of baskets created by Julie Edwards began in 2021. She twists the weaving process by using yarn instead of traditional materials, using the designs to tell a story. In April 2025, she held a book signing for her book titled, *Weaving: Baskets and Stories*.

One might think the pole on main street is a totem pole. Actually, it is a 96-foot tall Maibaum, or Maypole. The blue and white stripes are traditional Bavarian colors. Attached to the pole are placards that depict the town’s history.

The placards highlight key industries in the community’s history and today. These industries include logging, railroading, skiing, and a few more. At the base is a traditional Bavarian blessing, which in English translates to, “Maypole rise to the blue-white sky so our homeland may forever prosper.”

I have to agree with Bob and Ted. It may have taken a few years for their vision to take hold, but from the looks of what we saw, the community persevered and created a thriving community. We had a pleasurable visit despite the heat.

Lake Wanatchee State Park

One day during our visit, we drove about 30 miles to Lake Wanatchee State Park and Campground. The campground includes 197 campsites for tents, camper vans, truck campers, and small trailers under 20 feet. Too small for our 30-foot fifth wheel.

Lake Wanatchee, a glacier- and snowmelt-fed lake, feeds into the Wanatchee River. At an elevation of 1,873 feet (571 meters), the length of the lake is 5 miles (8.0 kilometers) with a surface area of 2,480 acres (1,004 ha) and a maximum depth of 244 feet (74 meters).

While poking around the park’s lake area, we kept hearing planes flying over. And then I noticed a plane glide along the lake’s surface, filling its tanks and flying off in less than a minute. About every 15 minutes, they came back for more water. I had to take a video. It was my first attempt with my new camera, so ignore the jerky first few seconds.

Super Scoopers Work at Lake Wanatchee

They must have been fighting the Shoofly fire, which was 20 miles west of the state park. Their skill in piloting the planes to skim the surface of the lake amazed me.

That wraps up our Bavarian getaway. Perhaps we’ll make our way back some day during fall so we can experience Oktoberfest.

Next Up: The Glass Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

Safe Travels

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount Vernon Street Fair, and Sites along Chuckanut Highway

On July 18, 2019July 17, 2019 By LToddIn Photography, RV Travel, Travel, Washington6 Comments

Our look back on our 2014 Pacific Northwest trip continues with our arrival at the Burlington/Anacortes KOA on April 23.

It looks like we had the place to ourselves. We did at first. Then the rain came. And then other travelers came with their trucks and campers, fifth wheels, trailers, and motorhomes. Outside our dinette window, we watched as pets and their owners ventured out to take care of business, protected by hooded jackets and umbrellas.

We shook our heads when two large German shepherds jumped out of a camper followed by their humans and wondered how they all fit in such a small space. We could barely ward off claustrophobia in our 23’ trailer. Having to share with a dog or two was out of the question. Maybe we should have opted for the model with the slide.

Everyone gets into the tulip spirit in Skagit Valley. I found these in the gardens around the KOA park during a walk in between the drizzles.

The next day we hit the roads in search of the fields and fields of tulips. What we found were fields of wet earth newly turned under, fields of green plants with the blossoms lopped off, and fields that still bloomed bright under the dark skies.

Tulip Town and RoozenGaarde are the main growers in Skagit County, planting the majority of the 450 acres of tulips in the valley. RoozenGaarde is open year round. At their 3-acre show garden, they plant three hundred thousand spring-flowering bulbs.

Tulip Town is open from March 30 through May 1. They dedicate about 10-acres of farmland to tulips in a rainbow pattern. Hop on the trolley for a ride through the fields. An International Peace Garden is also on display as is a windmill. Inside is an indoor flower and garden show, which allows visitors to get their tulip fix even when rain falls from the sky. Wander around and enjoy the art and gift shop or buy a bulb or two or twenty to display in your yard.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs the entire month of April with activities throughout the county. Don’t miss the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair held on the third weekend in April.

If going, pick up a Skagit Valley Tulip Festival brochure at tulipfestival.org. Knowing when and where the events occur will ensure arrival at the best time.

Music, music, everywhere at the street fair.

Vendors and artists of all kinds display their wares at the Street Fair. Jon bought his first Big Skinny wallet at the fair. I bought a beanie, and the Chinook salmon he is holding in the photo below swims around in one of our empty raised beds.

Jon stopped planting a vegetable garden when we started traveling so much. No sense doing all that work just to see it all go to waste when we leave.

Musical Band at Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair

We took a drive along the Chuckanut Scenic Highway (WA 11) to Bellingham one day, which has great views of the sound and San Juan islands.

View across the sound from Chuckanut Highway

While we were in Bellingham, we found the Whatcom Falls Park. Referred to as the Picnic Ground in the 1890s the park grew to its 241 acres by the 1930s through the generosity of local philanthropists, volunteers, donations, and federal grants.

Stone bridge built in 1939 of Chuckanut sandstone arches reclaimed from a burned-out building.

Moss and roots make for an interesting formation.

In Fairhaven Historic District, we came across the 1924 Zodiac Sailing Schooner. Top on my list of things to do during my next visit to Skagit Valley is a cruise throughout the San Juan Islands on the tall ship. Choose a sailing cruise ranging from a few hours to multiple days. Sign me up for the 3-day history or maybe the 4-day lighthouse tour.

I can hear the flap of the sails and feel the spray on my face just thinking about the tall ship slicing through the waters.

At Marine Park, we couldn’t beat the view across Bellingham Bay toward Lummi and Portage islands. It was the perfect setting for our picnic lunch, especially when the train passed by.

Before we left Burlington, we made a trip to Camping World to pick up some kind of gizmo for the trailer. “Hey, let’s take a peek at their trailers,” I said.

So we did. The Cougar half-ton towables looked nice. “But, wait, what about the fifth wheels? We never did look at those when we bought the Aluma-Lite.”

As we drove back to the KOA Jon asked, “What do you think of the one with the kitchen in the rear?”

“It sure had a lot of counter space, plus a couch and a swivel recliner where we can sit, not just a dinette like we have now. And we wouldn’t have to get dressed in the living area.”

“We’d have to buy a new truck.”

And so the next day we headed to our stop in Port Angeles, with the Cougar brochure tucked safely in my backpack.

Safe Travels

The Traveling Todds

Category: Washington

2024 Northwest Adventure Episode 8: Homeward Bound

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 7 Tacoma Glass Museum

2024 Pacific Northwest Adventure Episode 6: Leavenworth, Washington, and Wanatchee State Park

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount Vernon Street Fair, and Sites along Chuckanut Highway

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