Carmel: Driving the Pacific Coast Highway

A Beautiful Drive to Carmel

Carmel, a small city in California, is a must destination for those traveling the West Coast.  The image that is conjured in my mind is the sole tree swept by the winds of the Pacific Ocean. The pine tree is on its own, but, it's not lonely. It's accompanied by the waves, the flavors of the town nearby, and the golfers at Pebble Beach.

 

I can still remember the drive from San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway as if I took it yesterday. I was so in awe of the natural beauty of Monterey Bay. From downtown on Union Square, the drive took about 2 1/2 hours, counting the numerous picture taking stops along the way. 

Memorable moments included discovering a gem of a restaurant which offered you a fresh cup of coffee instead of refilling your coffee cup, and the 1920's English cottage with the beautiful gardens enclosed behind a decorative wooden fence.

For ideas on what to see and do in Carmel, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce has a list of itineraries at http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/things-to-do/Itineraries.aspx.

North Cascades and Mazama: A Natural Gem

One of the beautiful areas we discovered during our travels this summer is Mazama, Washington, located along the North Cascades National Park.

 At 5,020 feet, the Goat Wall, part of the Goat Peak trail, starting from the small town of Mazama, you will see breathtaking views of pasture lands along the Methow River. The picturesque site is surrounded by jagged peaks that surround Washington Pass. As icing to the cake of natural beauty, were the bountiful wildflowers of blue, yellow and orange.

The quaint town of Mazama, which means "mountain goat" in Spanish, with a population of 230, is part of the Methow Valley trail system of nordic skiing, mountain biking, and hiking.

To get there from the Seattle area, one goes on the North Cascades Highway, a scenic route along the Cascade Loop, passing through 'Lord of The Rings' scenery as the Liberty Bell of the glacier-clad Washington Peak. National Geographic calls the North Cascades National Park the "American Alps".

Map of Goat Wall: http://www.trailbehind.com/Goat%20Wall/#get_map_from_node/2294316