Wide World Books and Maps in Wallingford should have copies of the British Columbia Recreational Atlas, a large format book covering the entire province. Or maybe one of the other equivalent atlases; there's one for just SW BC. None of them are as good as the DeLorme atlases for US states. Tear out the pages with the island on it. It's not going to be a whole lot better than the International Travel one, though -- I think it's 1:200,000, while the IT is 1:250,000.

I've looked at the IT maps, and I would think they'd suffice for cycling. Once you get out of Victoria, Vancouver Island is pretty simple. Alternately, you could print screens of Google Maps of the tricky parts to supplement the atlas or IT maps.

Best of all would be to buy the 1:50,000 topographical sheet maps from the Canada Map Office (the equivalent of our USGS sheets), but that's going to be expensive. It looks like Vancouver Island is covered by parts of seven different sheets, at $12 a pop, ouch. Wide World can order them for you, though. A cheaper way is to print them yourself, for free, but you'll have to figure out how to navigate the remarkably obtuse system here:

http://geogratis.gc.ca/geogratis/en/product/search.do?id=08F1CB77-F351-0F8A-EF30-CA081CA0CE61

Could it be Guaymas? That's a town in Mexico, on the Gulf of California. There were a few other Mexican destinations on that list. Guaymas isn't a big tourist destination that I'm aware of--at least not these days--but some of the Mexican resort towns that are popular now weren't as developed pre-1980 (when Hughes Airwest was bought out by Republic), so maybe it was more so back then.

The Hallmark in Cannon Beach is fantastic and super dogfriendly. Gorgeous views and a nice location. (They're more on a cliff, so there are many stairs down to the beach, in case anyone has knee issues. One childhood summer an uncle was on crutches. eep!). http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51790-d95946-Reviews-Hallmark_Resort_Cannon_Beach-Cannon_Beach_Oregon.html

The Surfsand Inn in Cannon Beach is also really nice and dog friendly, too. It's on the same level as the beach, so no stairs (if that's a concern). I've only stayed here sans dog, but I see lots of pups around. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51790-d95948-Reviews-Surfsand_Resort-Cannon_Beach_Oregon.html

Both of these properties are at the south end of town. The whole town is cute popular seaside village. Lots of little knickknack stores and candy/taffy places, ice cream, variety of retail and restaurants. The Bakery is tasty. There are several ice cream scoop shops. There's even an adorable community playhouse.

The Lumber Yard is my favorite dog-friendly restaurant. http://www.thelumberyardgrill.com/ They've ample outdoor seating and a nice menu.

My sister's favorite place is The Driftwood Inn http://www.driftwoodcannonbeach.com/ She thinks their french dip sandwiches are the best in the world. I'm not that impressed, but we always end up eating here at least once. They only have 2 or maybe 3 outdoor tables, so dining with the dog can be harder to accommadate.

The beach is gorgeous and Haystack Rock is beautiful. Fun tide pools to examine. Lots of room to run around. Great for kite flying, too. There are lots of nearby state parks and beaches worth exploring. There's a lighthouse you can go visit.

Hoo boy, ok lets start North and work around clockwise.

Moran State Park on Orcas Island is very cool, Mt. Constitution is the highest point in the islands and you can see forever. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Moran Moran is pretty well known, however, so it might be booked.

The San Juan County Park on San Juan Island is kind of a "hidden gem." It's on the shore of Haro Strait and not a lot of people know about it. http://sanjuanco.com/Parks/sanjuan.aspx

If you have a boat or are willing to hire a water taxi, there are dozens of wonderful boat-in campgrounds in the San Juans. I won't go into too much detail on that because I'm thinking maybe you are looking for a car-camping opportunity, but Stuart, Jones, Clark and Sucia would be high on my list of recommended boat-in campsites in the SJIs.

On the mainland, Larabee State Park up in Bellingham is a great one. It's at the foot of the Chuckanut Hills on the shore of Puget Sound, some people say it's the only place where the Cascades touch saltwater. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Larrabee&subject=all

Also to the North, my cousin swears by the Burlington KOA. I hear Burlington, I think strip malls, but this is out on the Eastern edge by the Skagit River. Apparently it's quite nice. http://www.koa.com/campgrounds/burlington/

Silver Lake is another "hidden gem" off Mt. Baker Highway in Eastern Whatcom County. One of the few places you can rent a boat for cheap, and the trout fishing is top-notch. http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/silverlake/silverlake.jsp

To the East, if you're willing to cross the North Cascades, the KOA in Winthrop is actually pretty nice. I spent last 4th of July there and enjoyed myself. The trout fishing on nearby Peregrine Lake just might be the best in the entire state. That's pushing past your three hour mark however.

Another great spot in that direction is Lake Osyoos. This is bigtime "hidden gem," I know I am overusing that phrase, but this one is for sure. It's a five hour drive from Seattle, but nobody from Seattle goes there, so it often has reservations available when all the closer campgrounds are booked http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=osoyoos%20lake

Closer to Seattle, Lake Kachess is a fun spot not too far past Snoqualmie Pass. I had a lot of fun summer weekends up there as a teenager, and managed to stay out of the Kittitas County Jail. http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?subTabIndex=0&&contractCode=nrso&parkCode=kach

On the other side of Puget Sound, check out Kitsap Memorial State Park. This is a great park that I just discovered, they have yerts and cabins, and a nice waterfront on Hood Canal. It is also one of the few public places where you can harvest oysters with a WA fishing license in most years, although it is currently closed. http://www.parks.wa.gov/yurtsandcabins/kitsapmemorial/

On the coast, the "numbered beaches" in Olympic National Park are a lot of fun too. They are just identified as "beach 1, beach 2" etc. You can camp right on the beach, no reservations, just find a spot and plop a tent, but be prepared to hike a few miles in to camp, and no dogs allowed. I got kicked out of there last time for having a dog (I didn't know). http://wikitravel.org/en/Olympic_National_Park

Hope this is useful. Washington is a beautiful place, get out there and enjoy it! Sorry for my un-embedded links. The last several times I have tried embedding links on Qland it hasn't worked.

And remember if you do cross the mountains or take a ferry, pack your patience. Passes close, ferries run late, shit happens. Remember that half the fun is getting there!

They make it really clear, if you're up and out of your seat. They also direct people into cars according to their destinations when they board, so you won't have to move when the train splits--so if you're in your assigned seat, you'll end up where you should be.

Another source, the Associated Press:

http://www.ap.org/washington/pron.html

There is no mention of a store on the Our Lady of the Rock web site.

I visited Lopez Island late spring 2011 and remembering reading in a brochure on the ferry that the nuns had retired from running the store. Agree that it would have been very cool to buy beer from a nun, but alas, no longer possible, it seems.

Perhaps staying in the monastery and joining them in prayer would be an acceptable substitute for a cold beer -- check with the boyfriend.

My mother-in-law lived there, so we visited a few times. Tucson has awesome thrift shopping, because old people move there with all their finery and winter clothes and then just live in Tommy Bahama. Seriously, minks and cashmere and good mens suits. I can't recall the name of the neighborhood with all the vintage shops, but if you ask around and find it, there are fun bars and restaurants around there. I don't recall any microbrews, but Google says there are some, so there you go.

The Arizona Desert Interpretive Museum is fun, and an medium/easy walk for seniors/olds. A great way to see and learn about the flora and fauna of the desert. You may just see a javelina - they smell terrible. The folks here would be good people to ask about hikes - where to go and what to bring with you.

Mission San Xavier de Bac is a 200+ year old Spanish mission church out on the 19. It's in the process of being restored, so check to see if it's open the public. We went one year at Christmas and it was very beautiful and with an interesting (colonial, troubling) history. It is an active mission for the Tohono O'odham people, so be respectful. You can buy frybread and Indian crafts in the parking lot.
http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

The peak window for larches varies year to year depending on weather / moisture, but is usually mid-October.

The best way to track the progress of larches is to keep an eye on hikers' trip reports at Washington Trails Association's website, wta.org: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports

There aren't any reports that I can see of larches yet; it's too early.

Larches are pretty high in elevation, so the best viewing is done by hiking up to them. The Enchantment Lakes Basin is one of the best hikes in the state for larches if you time it right. Carne Mountain st Stevens Pass has a big stand of larches. Lake Ann / Maple Pass Loop off the North Cascades Highway is one of the easier hikes to see larches.

See this piece on Fall Color Hikes at wta.org: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/seasonal-hikes/fall-destinations/copy_of_fall-hikes

Two words: Sod Farms. Oregon is the sod capitol of the world. If you are allergic to grass you shall be miserable periodically.

Is there a seasonal variation?

I know Everett has free parking, though you have to check in with security if you're going to leave a car there for longer than 72 hours. Edmonds also has free parking, but I think whether you can park there long-term is ambiguous. We always used to leave a car there for up to a week when we went hiking on the Olympic Peninsula, but that was back before the Sounder and Cascades services had really taken off.

I'm not familiar with the Tukwila station, but the website says it has free parking too.

Richard McIver recommends the Four Seas. Although I don't know if he is much of a Bloody Mary man.

See some tips here:

http://questionland.com/questions/12724-whats-a-girl-about-san-francisco-to-do

Basically I like to walk around and enjoy the street vibe rather than head to specific destinations.

Valencia Street is in the Mission -- loads of coffeeshops, bookshops, restaurants, etc. Have breakfast at Boogaloo (corner of 22nd) (if you don't mind waiting). Mission has loads of trendy white hipster bars now but still has plenty of old Chicano flair. Eat tacos here, or the burritos for which the Mission is famous.

Haight is in the Haight-Ashbury and is a bit grisly BUT it has Amoeba Records if you like records. If you don't, skip the Haight. Fat Slice pizza is a good classic punk rock pizza joint.

Another place you should definitely go if you like records but probably not otherwise is Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. For out-of-towners the fun sci-fi BART ride under the Bay might be attraction enough.

One place you MUST go is Caffe Trieste, at the corner of Vallejo and Grant just off Columbus in North Beach (just to the NE of Chinatown). Not only is it the best coffeehouse in America but it has been since the beatniks were unironic. Buy coffee beans to take home, too. If you end up in Caffe Greco on Columbus instead you won't be sorry, either. While you're there be sure to stroll around the corner to Columbus and Broadway, to laugh at the wonderfully ridiculous neon signs of the strip clubs.

Another place that will blow your mind and make you realize how bland and boring Seattle is is Swan Oyster Depot, on one of my favorite streets and very off the tourist track, at California and Polk. You can take the cable car there and not feel like a tourist gomer -- it's an actual transit line used almost entirely by locals (in other words, it doesn't go to Fisherman's Wharf). Get off at Polk, and go in and have the best clam chowder in the city. Get crazy and do it at 8 AM. Go ahead, have the oysters too -- best in the city. You sit at the counter and watch the guy slice the lox freehand thin enough to read the newspaper through. This may not sound that fascinating but it IS -- it's like living history. Polk Street is a wonderful stroll, too, with shops and neighborhoody stuff. Royal Ground Coffee up past Vallejo is a good spot.

If you're more of a bookstore person than a record store person, run out to Clement Street out in the Richmond district, which has turned into a new Chinatown now but still has many holdovers, making for a fascinating mix. The bookstore is called Green Apple, at 6th, and it's great.

Is "BPL" bonneville powerline?

Rent a wreck, Handy Andy, Penske - all maybes that will tag you for damages and mileage.
If you need a camping truck, why not rent a camper or winnebago??
If you need an offroader, rent a jeep or 4x4 - maybe from Express4x4truckrental.com

But if you need a truck you can just beat the shit out of, buy one from craigslist, dude: much easier and likely cheaper:

I mean, here's a mazda 4x4 for only $1500, with a new engine!
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2520978897.html (If I don't beat you to it)

If tent camping is fine, I recommend taking the ferry up Lake Chelan, and camping right on the lake. My favorite is Refrigerator Harbor, which is a 15-minute hike from the Lucerne stop. You may also be able to get the boat to drop you off at Prince Creek; there's plenty of camping there as well.

If you want a roof over your head, there's no need to pay $300/night. There are inexpensive inns, B&B's with value-priced rooms, and last-minute deals to be found on Craigslist.

http://riverwalkinnchelan.com/?page_id=2
http://www.thewellmadebedandbreakfast.com/rooms/

As a Portlander, I use "PDX" all the time, and refer to some other cities the same way if it's clear in context where I mean (SFO, LAX, DEN...) But I've never run across natives of other cities who refer to their own that way.

One thing to consider, too, is this seems to only be done in print/type. I don't recall anyone ever calling Portland "PDX" while speaking. If I heard that, I'd be more likely to think that they're referring to the actual airport.

Aw, of course! It really wasn't like you, so I figured you were probably just having a bad day :)

I appreciate the apology, though. My mom's in the hospital right now and I've been bumming out a bit, and this message just cheered me up a lot.

Thanks and take care.

"Yakima" was an attempt to phonetically spell their name with Roman letters during contact in the nineteenth century. In 1994, the tribe officially changed the English spelling to "Yakama" to reflect the way it is traditionally pronounced better.

It depends what you're into. But here are my basic suggestions: Pike Place Market, Gasworks Park (stop into nearby Ivar's Salmon House for fish and chips on the water), downtown Ballard then out to Discovery Park for a little hike through the woods, and beers and lunch at The Jolly Roger to experience a Seattle microbrewery and damn fine little mahi sandwiches.

Go see a show at The Tractor or The Crocodile and enjoy the shopping and art galleries in Belltown. Stop into the SAM Sculpture Park, then head down the piers to Ye Olde Curiousity Shop and The Aquarium. Take an Underground Seattle Tour in Pioneer Square and enjoy the shopping down there too.

And be sure to visit the Fremont Troll, the statue of Lenin in Fremont, the rocket, and take the Theo Chocolate Tour. If it's summer, catch a film at the Fremont Outdoor Cinema and get some Thai food.

Oh, and explore the International District-go to Uwajimaya and buy lots of Japanese candy. Go to either Green Leaf or Tamarind Tree for lunch in the International District. Get pho or bun. Have fun!

one of the cheapest and most satisfying cabins i've ever stayed in is at alfred loeb state park in brookings, oregon. it's the southern-most park on the coast of oregon, so it'd have to be a long weekend to make all that traveling worth it. the cabins are camp-like but electric-ified and are on the river, so you wake up to nothing but the sound of rocks tumbling.  $39 a night, no tubs, no fireplace.

if you want to be on the ocean but don't wanna drive for 8 hours, i've stayed at the cabins at kalaloch a few times and they're a winner. they're clean and semi-cute, and sometimes you have a neighboring cabin 50 feet away, but who cares - you're overlooking the PACIFIC!  also - you're super close to kalaloch lodge, so you can go get grand marnier marscapone french toast and a pile of bacon without going very far. $140 a night, no hot tub, but it's got a fireplace.

the three bears cabins up in rainier are nearby but super remote.  some of the cabins near rainier are in residential neighborhoods and you get all disappointed when you pull up and you realize you're overlooking someone's backyard.  not these ones - you're in the middle of nowhere and it's delightful.  $160 a night, private hot tub, no fireplace.

i've also stayed at the cabins at beaver creek last year - completely fantastic.  the cabins are right on the river and even though there's four cabins next to each other, the river's so loud that you'll never hear them.  the property is awesome - an ancient moss-covered stone bridge, a creek and river, a pasture full of friendly cows and horses.  they'll lend you a farm dog to show you guide your way on hikes.  it was a quick drive to rialto beach. i don't remember the price, but it was worth it.  no hot tub, gas fireplace and they build you a bonfire every night.

if you like adventure, you can always go rent a fire lookout!  i've always wanted to stay up at desolation peak overlooking ross lake.  no guarantee you'll be alone, but it's guaranteed it'll be cool. as in actually cold. 

and the cabins & yurts at washington state parks are actually pretty decent, though not as remote as you'd like them to be.  i've stayed at a yurt in grayland beach, a cabin at perryginn lake, and a cabin at wallace falls.  all lovely. variable price, no hot tub, no fireplace, but there's a firepit!

Movies at the Capitol Theater. Double feature nearly every week night. If you're there this week, I recommend Summer Wars, the new Studio Ghibli joint.

Drinks at any number of bars:
Brotherhood = hipster bar with incredible happy hour, McCoy's = rock and roll dive bar, Reef = reformed hipster dive bar, Jake's = gay bar + dancing, 4th Ave = Jocks, Vault = White hats, etc

Food is good.
You can get it cheap (Olympia Hot Dog Company, Old School Pizza, Nammy's [$3 homemade bahn mi], Quality Burrito)
You can get it fancy (Basilico, Trinacria, Cielo Blue)
You can get it Asian (every other restaurant in town - I like Thai Pavilion for curry and Angel's for everything else)

If you like reading, you should probably go check out Orca Books, Last Word Books, or Fireside Books.

If you like coffee, you can pick your own poison... Sizizis is an amazing space that is open 24 hours downtown with free wifi and a pretty incredible interior.

You get the idea.

Take the ferry over to Bainbridge, have lunch and poke around there, then drive up to the Hood Canal Bridge and go across to the peninsula, drive up to Port Townsend, have dinner there (and preferably stay there - lots of nice places to stay), then drive back around the long way (Bremerton/Narrows Bridge).

My answer would be very different in summer, but my favorite drives mostly are either routes that are closed or very snowy right now.