Audio Tour From Seattle to Spokane, Washington

Northwest Heritage Resources Interstate 90 East Heritage Tour Guide

Aug 27, 2008

From Puget Sound in Seattle over the Cascade Range and across the Columbia River Basin to Spokane travelers explore the culture and heritage of Washington and its people.

This audio tour from Northwest Heritage Resources and the Washington State Arts Commission celebrates the culture and heritage of Washington along the drive from Seattle east to Spokane. The Interstate 90 East audio tour is number seven in the series of heritage tours produced by the organizations.

Covering a vast expanse of the state, with diverse climate and culture, the audio tour gives a great introduction to the state's history, geology and cultural heritage. This audio tour contains clips from local musicians, poets, Native American spiritual leaders, agricultural workers and others from the region. Northwest Heritage Resources delivers another valuable travel resource in the Interstate 90 East Heritage Tour.

The drive from Seattle to Spokane is 281 miles along Interstate 90. This drive takes a minimum of five hours, not counting breaks and side-trips. Side-trips are encouraged, in order for visitors to obtain the best experience. The audio programs is 2.5 hours long, with specified breaks and pauses along the way. Consisting of three CDs, the sections are broken into tracks, which make it easy to find the spot where travelers leave off. The tracks are also noted on the maps.

The guidebook contains 43 pages plus a bibliography and contact information for chambers of commerce, and tourism and recreation offices. This guidebook provides a general overview of the route with a regional map, and each section map.

The audio tour begins with a warning that winter road conditions may affect winter drivers from October to May, when travelers may be required to carry tire chains. This tour contains some of the most impressive geological sights in Washington, with basalt bedrock, lava flows, deep canyons and mesas. Travelers will also notice the white ash along the road, from the May 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.

Interstate 90 East Driving Tour

The route begins in Seattle, as the interstate moves along passed Lake Washington. The audio tour includes clips from Seattle's international community, such as a South India violinist, Austrian American accordionists, Snoqualmine drumming and Old World Russian singers. The tour quickly climbs the Cascade Range, over Snoqualmie Pass, telling of settlers' trials over these mountains. Among the mountains of the pass lies Roslyn and Cle Elum, where several popular TV shows have been filmed, such as "Northern Exposure".

Over the pass, travelers begin to notice the agriculture of the Yakima River and Kittitas Valleys, near Ellensburg. This region is known for its fertile farmlands, cattle and sheep ranching and Western art. Passed Ellensburg, the sagebrush of the plateaus becomes a constant feature of the landscape.

Coming down the road to Vantage, travelers see their first glimpse of the mighty Columbia River, flowing through the basalt bedrock. Near Vantage, the Wanapum State Park is home to the Ginko Petrified Forest and petroglyphs. Visitors stop to take in the sights of the past. The Quilomene and Schaake Wildlife Areas are also near Vantage, home to Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer and numerous waterfowl species. Throughout this portion of the tour, Dr. Eugene Kiver gives lessons on the region's geology.

Nearing Moses Lake, travelers view the miles and miles of winter wheat fields. A great agriculture center, Moses Lake is also home to the largest Hispanic group in the area, comprising a quarter of the city's population. Music clips of "Wylie and the Wild West" are included throughout the audio tour. The area is surrounded by the Palouse Hills, important to the wheat industry. The tour emphasizes the importance of the railroad and its history. The Railroad-Depot History Museum in Ritzville is a great place to stop on a side-trip.

Once arriving in the "Inland Empire" of Spokane, visitors may be interested in exploring Riverfront Park, home to the 1974 World's Fair. Spokane is also home to great diversity in ethnicity and culture.

Where to Find This Audio Guide

The copyright of the article Audio Tour From Seattle to Spokane, Washington in Washington State Travel is owned by Aurae Beidler. Permission to republish Audio Tour From Seattle to Spokane, Washington in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.