Washington--Gold Medal Drive
Date: 2004-12-18
This route is a mountain-lovers dream with scenic overlooks, roadside
picnic areas, parks, and even a car ferry. Make sure to pack plenty of
film, your hiking boots, and some rain gear as it rains a lot! Your trip
starts in Olympia and heads north on U.S. 101 for about 85 miles before
heading east on Route 104 to Port Gamble. Here you will head south to Route
305 to Bainbridge Island and take the ferry across Puget Sound to Seattle.
Olympia is the gateway to the Olympic Mountains and Olympic National Forest.
While in town, stroll around the State Capitol buildings or check out
some of the many antique dealers.
Drive out of town on U.S. 101, and make a short detour to Tumwater, where the Olympia Brewery is located. Driving up to Shelton, you'll skirt around the finger river streams including Totten Inlet. At Shelton, you'll continue north to the town of Hoodsport. Along the way, you'll pass the Skokomish Indian Reservation and Potlatch State Park. Just outside of Hoodsport is Hoodsport Trail State Park, which offers some excellent hiking and camping facilities. Back on old U.S. 101 north, you'll run right along the bay as you head deeper into the Olympic National Forest. There are several more state parks on the way to Brinnon. From Hoodsport all the way past Quilcene there are many places to pull over and take memorable photos. The town of Quilcene (pop. 1,200) is a good place to gas up, eat up, and use the restrooms (hurry up!) before you continue. Once you go past Leland, keep your eyes open for Route 104. That takes you across the bridge (short stint) to Route 303, then on into Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge is where you'll drive onto the ferry, and you're off to Seattle. In Bainbridge, you will be able to tour a winery, rent some bikes, or have a meal in an authentic diner, circa 1948. Expect to be on the ferry for a good half-hour or so. Note the unique tennis ball "seaweed" floating in the water.
On shore again, you'll pick up I-5, and minutes later you'll be in the heart of Seattle. While in Seattle, take a monorail ride or venture down to the waterfront for a kayak tour of the harbor.
Starting Point:
Olympia, WA
Distance of Drive:
127 miles
Must Eat:
Ray's Boathouse
6049 Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone:206-789-3770
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For:Salmon
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Spring and summer
Points of Interest on Drive:
Experience Music Project--Seattle
Space Needle
Pabst--Olympia Brewing
Olympic Flight Museum
Pacific Science Center
- Washington--North Cascades Highway
- Washington--the better half-way around Olympic
- Many more Great Drives on Drivers.com
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