Hit the Road: Funky Family Road Trips From Seattle
Photo:
Grand Coulee Dam. Photo: iStock
7. Grand Coulee
Distance from Seattle: 263 miles one way, 4.5 hours of driving time
Eastern Washington provides a stark landscape for a family road trip, but the craggy, sage-dotted hills are punctuated by oases, from flood-carved lakes to the mighty Columbia River running through Vantage, and a smattering of interesting rural towns. This trip also showcases the chance to learn about the region’s renewable energy sources.
The route: From Seattle, head east on I-90 over the Columbia River as far as the tiny town of George, where you’ll turn north toward Quincy. From Quincy, take SR-28 East to Soap Lake, where you’ll change to SR-17, and then follow SR-155 North to the Grand Coulee Dam.
Stops along the way
Mile 83: Cle Elum Bakery (Cle Elum): Refuel with a maple-frosted cinnamon roll at this family-run favorite.
Mile 101: Thorp Fruit & Antique Mall (Thorp): From the highway, look for the giant barn that screams “Cherries! Peaches!” Stock up on locally grown fruit and other goodies for your afternoon hike.
Mile 115: Olmstead Place State Park (Ellensburg): Take a step back in time to Central Washington’s pioneer history on this 217-acre farm homestead, first settled in 1875 (Discover Pass required).
Mile 135: Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center (Ellensburg): You’ve seen the giant wind turbines, now you can tour this modern visitor center to find out how wind and sun are sustainably turned into electricity. The visitor center is open April–October, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. You can pick up a self-guided tour packet near the front entrance, or join a free guided tour daily, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Mile 155: Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (Vantage): This ancient fossil forest fronts the western shore of the Columbia River. A short trail leads to petroglyphs, and inside the interpretive center kids can see and handle real petrified wood (Discover Pass required).
Mile 163: Wild Horses Monument (Vantage): On a bluff above the Columbia River sit these huge wild horses, a sculpture installation made with welded steel plates by Chewelah sculptor David Govedare.
Mile 185: Ancient Lakes Trail (Quincy): This network of trails features scalloped hills of sage and coulee walls surrounding azure lakes that connect via stream waterfalls. Read the Washington Trails Association description to determine a route of appropriate length for your crew (Discover Pass required).
Mile 264: Steamboat Rock State Park (Electric City): Visit this popular state park and take a short hike through desert wildflowers with fragrant sagebrush whipping in the warm wind (Discover Pass required).
Mile 274: Grand Coulee Dam (Grand Coulee): Kids will love learning about the ins and outs of hydropower and the massive dam’s unique history at the interactive visitor center. Stay until sundown to see the phenomenal laser light show. Tours and laser shows resume in May 2024.
Where to stay
Sunbanks Lake Resort (Electric City): This vintage resort is known for family fun in the sun, from sandy beach strolls to golf. Choose from lakeside cabins or villas.
Sagecliffe Resort & Spa (Quincy): Book a desert yurt at this pretty spot, formerly called Cave B Resort.
Steamboat Rock State Park Campground (Electric City): Pitch a tent on the shores of Banks Lake in the shadow of a columnar basalt bluff; a few of the sites are first come, first served.
Bonus: B.C.’s Sunshine Coast
