Seattle has to rank as the prime city of the Pacific Northwest with Portland close behind.

There are a multitude of interesting things to do in Seattle and first among them is to take a ferry ride. The ferry system is part of the highway network of Washington State and thousands commute daily from Bainbridge or Vashon Islands or from Kitsap County across Puget Sound.

For a leisurely trip, try the Bremerton Ferry. You can take your car, but it's easier and less expensive to leave it behind. As you near Bremerton, observe the gray fleet at Bremerton Navy Yard. You could explore Bremerton, visit the retired destroyer moored there, or just stay on the ferry for a return trip.

For a more exhilarating ride, take the "passenger only" ferry from its dock just south of the Bremerton ferry, to Vashon Island. It does not take cars, and reaches thirty knots as it travels south down the Sound.

There's also a Harbor tour that starts in Elliot Bay (the waterfront of Seattle), tours the waterfront, goes through Lake Union and into Lake Washington. On the way the boat, passengers and all, is lifted from salt water to fresh water in the Chittenden Locks. At the end of the trip you are bussed back to the waterfront. Alternately the trip is done in reverse, depending on where the boat is. In fact, just driving over to the Locks to "people-watch" is rewarding in itself.

Underground Seattle is a very interesting tour beneath the streets of Seattle. As will be explained (better than I can),during the tour, Old Seattle had a disastrous fire, and was partially rebuilt above the original streets. The tour starts in Pioneer Square, which is in itself a tourist destination, being the entry way to Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush. If time allows, visit the Smith Tower nearby, and take the elevator to the Chinese Room for a gorgeous view of the waterfront.

South of Seattle, on the west side of Boeing Field, is the Museum of Flight. For anyone with an interest in flying or aircraft, this is a "must" visit. Hundreds of planes of all types are displayed, indoors and out, and many of them suspended over your head.

There are many more things to see and do in Seattle, but it's time to move on.

In Tacoma, south of Seattle, is Point Defiance Zoo and Park. This has one of the better zoos, and an excellent aquarium, complete with fearsome sharks. If you are lucky enough to be there at Christmas time, there is also one of the best outdoor lighting exhibits in the country. (IMNSHO)

In Everett, north of Seattle, is the Boeing Commercial Aircraft plant. Tours can be arranged through the main assembly building. Ten years ago, it was the biggest enclosed building in the world. Recently, when Boeing began building their 777 models, they more than doubled it! The building is impressive enough, but there are all those little 747's and 767's being assembled on the main floor.

To start at the beginning of the North Cascades Highway(S/R20), you would need to go on the Olympic Peninsula to the small town of Chimacum, board a ferry to Whidbey Island, drive the length of Whidbey, pass Anacortes and meet the I-5 freeway at Mount Vernon.

Most people, however, prefer to drive north on I-5, then turn east on S/R 20. This takes you through fertile farmland to small towns like Cedro Wooley, Hamilton and Concrete, where you start your climb to the most amazing collection of mountain peaks and valleys in this country. The mountains in this area are much younger than, for instance, the Sierras of California, or any of the Appalachians on the East Coast. Consequently, after being pushed up by the action of tectonic plates (a fascinating subject in itself) they have not weathered down very much and rise up to sharp peaks and ridges. They do show some of the effects of weather in the numerous rock slides you can see from the highway.

Washington Pass is the high point on this road, at 5477 feet, then you descend to neat little towns like Winthrop and Twisp. (No that's not a mistype). Winthrop has an interesting story. At one time it was a languishing lumber town. Then some enterprising Chamber of Commerce type had bumper stickers printed up that said "WHERE IN THE HELL IS WINTHROP? Now you'll see them all over the west, and Winthrop, on a summer day, is crowded with tourists.

Highway 20 continues clear across Washington, but most people turn south on US97 to Wenatchee. On the way, Lake Chelan is a very popular summer destination.

You can complete a loop by turning west on US2 over Stevens Pass to Everett. On the way, stop at Leavenworth, another town with a story. A few years ago, it was a little mountain town with nothing in particular to recommend it except skiing. Then some bright person convinced the store owners and residents that it would make a good pseudo-Bavarian town and a few began decorating stores and buildings in German mountain style. The idea caught on to such an extent that on a summer weekend parking space and sidewalk walking space is almost nonexistent.

This loop could be done in one day by hard driving, but would be much more enjoyable over two or three more leisurely days.