kittitas county - central washington

[the dufferz]

While the weather and terrain in Washington varies considerably, the largest impact on the weather in washington is the cascade mountain range.

Nestled just on the east side of the cascade range is the edge of Kittitas county.

Interstate 90 begins it's country wide journey at the foot of safeco and quest field, seattle, home of the Mariners and the Seahawks.

From Seattle, a 45 minute drive east will take you past Bellevue, Issaquah, snoqualmie, North Bend... to the foothills of snqualmie pass to the summit of snoqualmie pass. If you are taking this trek, there are many areas to hike are hang around. Be aware that some areas require a use permit to park.

The summit of snoqualmie has several good ski resorts, a small town and a store with a good bathroom. That's important if you have kids.

Passing the pass you will find yourself skirting the edge of a very large reservoir.

soon you will find yourself passing easton (great place for camping and snowmobiling (not at the same time of course, unless your really tough).

You will then arrive at Cle-Elum Nice little town that is the first of three towns that make up that are of Cle-elum, Roslyn, and Ronald. This is a side trip that will get it's own thread.

Another 25 minute drive will bring you to Ellensburg. Ellensburg's claim to fame is the university (central washington U) and the rodeo.

Taking place in September, Ellensburg is alive with cowboys! this is a huge event. The area around Ellensburg is farmland that is flat and very rural.

When in Ellensburg a must "eat" is the Ellensburg Pasta Company. On the main drag of town, this converted car dealership has great food at great prices. Try the greek salad. They have a lemon garlic dressing that is to die for! For me it is worth the two hour drive from seattle.

This is a wonderful area to live or visit. Kittitas has all four seasons with summer highs in the 90's, winter lows to the single digits. Not much rain, not a ton of snow, but what snow they get is very dry, so driving around there is easy.

[scirocco22]

Oh, probably my favorite county in the state. I graduated from Central (back in the days when it was called Central Washington State College) and Ellensburg was then the quintessetial little college town. Probably not as much nowadays but back then it really was.

The climate is much more to my liking than "the coast" (as people on the east side of the Cascades refer to anywhere on the west side; even Seattle), and just as the dufferz described.

I can't understand why Ellensburg hasn't blossomed even more than it already has.

--'rocco

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

I can't understand why Ellensburg hasn't blossomed even more than it already has.

--'rocco

You know, that is a good question. With a 2 hour drive to Seattle, the area having good weather, and it just being so nice there, it is hard to understand. But I think that they like it that way, though.

[MyAzi]

You should have seen it today.. driving through there WHITE... and I mean ALL WHITE. There was that foggy ice all over everything. Sure was pretty!!!

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by the dufferz

While the weather and terrain in Washington varies considerably, the largest impact on the weather in washington is the cascade mountain range.

Nestled just on the east side of the cascade range is the edge of Kittitas county.

Interstate 90 begins it's country wide journey at the foot of safeco and quest field, seattle, home of the Mariners and the Seahawks.

From Seattle, a 45 minute drive east will take you past Bellevue, Issaquah, snoqualmie, North Bend... to the foothills of snqualmie pass to the summit of snoqualmie pass. If you are taking this trek, there are many areas to hike are hang around. Be aware that some areas require a use permit to park.

The summit of snoqualmie has several good ski resorts, a small town and a store with a good bathroom. That's important if you have kids.

Passing the pass you will find yourself skirting the edge of a very large reservoir.

soon you will find yourself passing easton (great place for camping and snowmobiling (not at the same time of course, unless your really tough).

You will then arrive at Cle-Elum Nice little town that is the first of three towns that make up that are of Cle-elum, Roslyn, and Ronald. This is a side trip that will get it's own thread.

Another 25 minute drive will bring you to Ellensburg. Ellensburg's claim to fame is the university (central washington U) and the rodeo.

Taking place in September, Ellensburg is alive with cowboys! this is a huge event. The area around Ellensburg is farmland that is flat and very rural.

When in Ellensburg a must "eat" is the Ellensburg Pasta Company. On the main drag of town, this converted car dealership has great food at great prices. Try the greek salad. They have a lemon garlic dressing that is to die for! For me it is worth the two hour drive from seattle.

This is a wonderful area to live or visit. Kittitas has all four seasons with summer highs in the 90's, winter lows to the single digits. Not much rain, not a ton of snow, but what snow they get is very dry, so driving around there is easy.

Sounds like a very nice area. I will have to visit someday. Maybe take a camping trip there or something.