After suffering a quiet spell as its previous mall style went out of fashion, The Gateway is taking a turn as unique restaurants and bars are now calling the space…
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Park City après shines whether homegrown or highfalutin. We put together a list of the best spots in Park City for après drinks.
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We’ve been watching carefully with a cynical eye the places and spaces the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) go to as locations and backdrops for the show’s main purpose: shade-throwing fights. Thus far, we’ve seen a lot of fast-food pit stops from Lisa Barlow who calls herself #fastfood queen, been underwhelmed by the unglamorous home of Whitney Rose in Day Break and nodded approvingly at a few local restaurants stops, like Handle and Table X. (We also suggested places that Lisa could find good local food instead of Taco Bell.) Along the way though, we kind of started losing track of the and spaces so we started this map so we could all play along at home.
Read More: Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Morning at the Rabbit Hole might as well be midnight: The gas lamps flicker, barely lighting the dim corners. It seems an apt atmosphere for Utah jazzman Alan Michael, who cradles his gleaming saxophone as he talks about the jazz that is his life.
Of course, he’s from New York City. But he moved from that jazz habitat to Utah in the mid-nineties at the urging of his wife, Shannon. “She wanted out of the city and loves the mountains,” he says.
He loves them too, so he exchanged the jazz scene for the natural scenery. But, “I still get back there,” he says. In fact, he recently returned from the city where he went to have the mouthpiece of his sax reshaped.
He has a whole other life and a different name in New York. There, he uses his real name, Alan Michael Braufman. “Here, I was always calling up and talking to a receptionist who couldn’t understand “Braufman.’ So I dropped that and changed it to Alan Michael a year ago.” He also plays a different kind of music in New York—still jazz, but more experimental, edgier. It’s the kind of music he made his name with, ever since playing with the Psychedelic Furs, among other bands.
That sound doesn’t play well with audiences here, but he loves the music he does play with his quartet, Friday and Saturday nights at the Bayou and as often as possible at the Rabbit Hole, a space downstairs from Lake Effect where Kelly Samonds books jazz. “It’s a listening room, not a loud jazz room,” says Michael. “I’ve learned not to mind talking; if the music is good enough, they’ll be quiet and listen, unless they’re drunk. Kelly won’t allow a synthesizer here. He’s a purist, so there’s no amplification. Michael also plays at the Garage, Jazz Vespers at First Unitarian Church and Jazz at the Gallivan but Rabbit Hole is one of the only places in Salt Lake City where he plays his own music.
Indian Navigation Company put out an album in 1975, Valley of Search, that focused on Michael’s avant-garde jazz. Out of print now, copies sell on eBay for $150. There are plans to reissue the album, but, remember, jazz (like most music) is always best live. —Mary Brown Malouf
See more Small Lake City Concerts here. Salt Lake Magazine’s Small Lake City Concerts were produced by Natalie Simpson of Beehive Photography and Video.
Cannabis Delivery? In Utah?!
Following the Utah Medical Cannabis Act enacted in 2018, cannabis has become extremely accessible for Utahns with qualifying conditions. WholesomeCo, a medical cannabis pharmacy located in West Bountiful, now offers delivery to 99% of patients across the state of Utah. WholesomeCo has created an online ordering and delivery service that meets requirements set by Utah lawmakers. After following the steps to obtain a medical cannabis card, patients can conveniently receive orders right to their door, for free! As the only licensed pharmacy in Utah offering free statewide delivery, WholesomeCo strives to make medical cannabis accessible for anyone who needs it.
The Medical Card Process
Want to experience the convenience of WholesomeCo’s online ordering services for yourself? There are over 40,000 Utahns with a medical card using cannabis to treat a variety of conditions and improve their quality of life. As of now, there are 16 medical conditions approved by the Utah legislature that allows patients to be treated with medical cannabis. The first step is to meet with a qualified medical provider who will determine if cannabis is the right option for you. Try our locating feature to find a QMP near you! Next, register with the State by visiting id.utah.gov. After you have created an account, log in to evs.utah.gov with the same username and password and begin the patient application process. Your medical provider can assist you with any of these steps.
Simplifying and normalizing the process of using medical cannabis is one of WholesomeCo’s top priorities. The pharmacy has implemented an instant verification for medical card holders. Once you have met with a qualified medical provider and completed the registration process, WholesomeCo can instantly verify your medical card online. You are then eligible to shop and utilize the free delivery service!
Safe, Reliable, Wholesome Delivery
Medical cannabis can be a tricky product to distribute due to its seed-to-sale tracking system. Luckily, WholesomeCo’s co-founder and CEO, Chris Jeffery had past experience building an online ordering system similar to what WholesomeCo needed. Prior to the establishment of WholesomeCo, Jeffery co-founded a company called Order Up, a food delivery service similar to Uber Eats. WholesomeCo facilitated their goal of cannabis delivery by working with the Utah legislature to create an interface that interacts directly with consumers, while being overviewed by state regulators. The system is now used to safely deliver medical cannabis to patients, ensuring the right products for a patient’s personal needs. Additional requirements of the service include background screenings for drivers, discreet delivery vehicles, GPS monitoring and security systems. These regulations help guarantee products are kept safe until they reach the doors of Utah medical cannabis patients.
Next Stop, Salt Lake City!
WholesomeCo has worked hard to expand their unique and convenient online services. The pharmacy is excited to offer free, same-day delivery options all along the Wasatch front and to many other locations throughout Utah.
WholesomeCo is there to help each Utahn along their health and wellness journey, even those who may not have the ability to utilize in-store, pickup or drive-thru shopping at their West Bountiful pharmacy location. Think medical cannabis could be right for you? WholesomeCo offers free consultations with expert, doctorate-level pharmacists to help start your medical cannabis journey! Schedule your consultation here today.
Times available for delivery in the Salt Lake City area are as follows:
Open days/times:
- Monday-Saturday: 11-1 p.m., 1-3 p.m., 3-5 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
- Order same-day until 3 p.m.
- Sunday: 11-1, 1-3 p.m. (place order by 10 a.m.)
Organizers of live-music festival LOVELOUD announced the artist lineup and date of the festival Monday. After taking two years off because of the pandemic, LOVELOUD is happening this year on May 14, 2022 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
The festival benefits organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, such as Encircle, The Trevor Project and Equality Utah.
Imagine Dragons frontman, Dan Reynolds, founded the festival and will headline the daylong event this year. LOVELOUD is the culmination of Dan Reynolds’ confronting the LDS Church’s treatment of LGBTQ people as well as his own beliefs, which is the subject of his 2018 documentary Believer.
Neon Trees, a group that got its start in the Provo music scene, will also perform. Tyler Glenn, Neon Trees frontman, has been vocal about his own journey as a gay man and ex-Mormon (see his solo album Excommunication).
Filling out the LOVELOUD lineup is The Aces, an indie group that also came out of the Provo scene, WILLOW, a pop-punk musician and child of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, locals Mat & Savanna Shaw and Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta.
Tickets for the event will go on sale Wednesday, March 9, at 10 a.m. on the LOVELOUD website, loveloudfest.com.
Check out Salt Lake magazine’s reviews of LOVELOUD 2018 and LOVELOUD 2019 and the Dan Reynolds’ documentary Believer (2018).
The Twilight Concert Series is returning to Salt Lake City’s Gallivan Center this summer, revealing just some of its 2022 lineup Monday. This is the 35th year of the concert series, which endeavors to present a diverse range of artists and musicians—some well-established, some up-and-coming—with every lineup.
“Twilight has been an integral part of Salt Lake City for 35 years now, and we can’t wait to present this incredible season,” says Felicia Baca, the Executive Director for the Salt Lake City Arts Council. “The 2022 Twilight Concert series features a lineup which is diverse, exciting, and is sure to be a season with something for everyone, contributing to the vibrancy and vitality of Salt Lake City and making it the best place to live, work, and play.”
While more artists are yet to be announced, this is the current Twilight Concert Series 2022 Lineup:
- July 14: alternative rock indie band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, alternative blues band Houndmouth and local act Dad Bod
- Aug. 6: singer-songwriters Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Julien Baker and musician Spencer.
- Aug. 11: Portland-based indie rock band The Decemberists and Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Brigid Mae Power
- Aug. 16: singer-songwriter Cuco
- Sept. 2: blues/folk/country/rock musician Shakey Graves, bluegrass artist Sierra Ferrell and local Americana singer-songwriter Michelle Moonshine
According to organizers, the 35th-year celebration will cultivate a sense of belonging to local communities by attracting attendees from all over Utah and neighboring states, stating, “This year, the concert series will not only support the local creative economy of musicians but it will also contribute to the economic recovery of other industries downtown such as local restaurants, businesses and venues that have been impacted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
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Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Julien Baker -
Sharon Van Etten -
Cuco -
The Decemberists
Twilight Concert Series 2022 season tickets are on sale now at 24tix.com. $10 individual show tickets go on-sale March 8 at 10 a.m. Set an alert on your calendar, because tickets usually sell out very quickly.
Find more music and concert coverage in our Arts & Culture section, and subscribe to Salt Lake magazine for our latest print issue.
There were three different birthday celebrations happening the Sunday we walked into Chang’s Food in West Valley City. The family parties that packed the house are testament to the popularity of the Chinese-Venezuelan restaurant. After the third round of “Feliz Cumpleaños,” an older man unwrapped a brand new Cuatro, its high-lacquer shine catching the afternoon light. He tuned the instrument—similar in appearance to a ukulele—and began to play. It didn’t stop there. Multiple sets of maracas emerged from unknown places and an impromptu concert broke out in the middle of the restaurant, with the patrons and staff singing along to traditional Venezuelan songs. It was the rare (for Utah) fusion of food from Venezuela and China that brought us to Chang’s Food, but we stayed for the party.
Chang’s Food gives a look inside a community and culture that many readers might not have known existed, and it is just one example of the pockets of rich culinary heritage dotting the Utah landscape, courtesy of food fusion pioneers.
Mixturas
If you want to continue on the South American-Asian fusion journey, there’s the family-owned Mixturas in Orem. The name of the restaurant literally means “mixture,” and they offer a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food. The roots of this culinary combination (you may hear it referred to as Nikkei) are familiar, with a Japanese diaspora in Peru leaving their mark on the local cuisine. Mixturas signature dishes include Peruvian-style sashimi and Lomo Saltado (steak, tomatoes and onions, stir-fried in soy sauce base).
845 N. 100 West, Ste. 103, Orem
Fav Bistro
Fav Bistro bills itself as a “Thai + Fuzion” experience. It has a wide menu of veggie and fruit-packed dishes that skew on the health-conscious side and are inspired by Thai, Vietnamese, European and North American culinary classics. This results in exciting specials like Steak Massaman Poutine and Seafood Pad Thai In A Blanket. Chef and owner Anny Sooksri is from Thailand, where her grandmother inspired her to cook, and behind the Thai restaurants Chabaar Beyond Thai and Tea Rose Diner.
1984 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay
Chang’s Food
Two brothers—King and Johnson Chang—with mixed Venezuelan and Chinese heritage opened the restaurant in 2020, pioneering a cuisine in Utah that has been a staple in Venezuela for some time. In their homeland, Chinese immigrants to Venezuela brought their culinary traditions, started families and opened up Chinese restaurants in Venezuela. Thus began the fusion of Chinese-centric cuisine cooked Venezuelan style.
The plates at Chang’s Food are served family style and meant to be shared. If you order nothing else on the Chang’s Food menu, get the fried rice. You can thank me later. The Venezuelan influence on the Chinese standard is subtle but savory and delicious. The Lumpias (egg rolls) are another standout, along with the Chinese Ribs. After you’ve stuffed yourself to the brim, do yourself another favor, ask for the pour-over Venezuelan coffee at the end of the meal.
3576 S. Redwood Rd., West Valley City
World Famous Yum Yum Asian Food Truck
At this point, we might acknowledge that Asian fusion could have an edge on other food fusions (it’s probably the egg rolls). And, you can get it without engaging in the traditional dine-in experience. Based in Layton (but by no means inhibited by city boundaries) the World Famous Yum Yum Asian Food Truck serves up Filipino-inspired Asian fusion cuisine. The food truck had a rough year in 2021 after it was the target of anti-Asian hate and experienced a fryer explosion, but now it has bounced back with the help of community support. Through special orders and catering, they’re back to offering up dishes like traditional Filipino Sisig both in a rice bowl or in a taco, Filipino Spaghetti (featuring Filipino hot dogs and banana ketchup) and, of course, Lumpias.
Serving Northern Utah, 801-719-1222
Discover Utah’s best restaurants, including Fav Bistro, in the 2022 Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards.
The ferry ride lasted a little more than 20 minutes after leaving Point Defiance, but the misty breeze had me feeling as though I was crossing an endless sea. Clearly, I’ve been a landlocked captive in Utah if the short crossing of Puget Sound’s south end had me feeling like I was Shackleton with a sextant, but I’m unashamed to admit how pleasant the ride was. After disembarking on Vashon Island, I hit the pavement and started turning the pedals aboard a moderately loaded bicycle with an ill-fitting frame bag and a cranky derailleur. The faintly rural vibe of the quiet tree-lined streets felt lightyears away from the relative metropolises of Tacoma and Seattle, buzzing with activity just across the sound.
I’d set out with few plans other than to cycle around Vashon, stopping intermittently at various locations around Maury Island—an island within an island connected to Vashon by a causeway—and Vashon’s downtown, which is comprised of a single four-way intersection with an unlikely concentration of delightful food and drink establishments. On the route I was immersed in the classically moody Pacific Northwest atmosphere with a moist haze—never really rain, but never not rain—that’s a refreshing respite from the, at times oppressive, aridity characterizing much of the Intermountain West.
Washington’s alchemy of natural beauty and distinct culture, defined by seemingly indulgent food and drink at every turn and an influential music scene that very much soundtracked my youth, overwhelms, inviting you to lean in, breathe deep and enjoy. Embrace it.
The Sound of Northwest History
Vashon Island was named for James Vashon, a Royal Navy Admiral who, as far as I can tell, never visited the area but served as superior officer to George Vancouver, who commanded the Pacific Northwest expedition in the 1790s. Vashon, it should be noted, went on to marry Sarah Rainier, the sister of his former shipmate Peter. One needn’t be a geography or history scholar to decode the region’s naming conventions while recognizing the absurdity of doling out monikers for people obliquely related to “great discoveries” made some 10,000 years after native inhabitants, including the Marpole, Salish and S’Homamish, called the land home.
After European settlement came some logging and then a 50-year stretch where Vashon became an island of endless strawberry fields, farmed primarily by Japanese Americans until the population was forcibly relocated to internment camps during WWII. Suburban development has squeezed the commercial farming out of Vashon, but the island is still home to many independent growers and an annual strawberry festival hosted each July. Like the other islands dotting the sounds throughout Washington’s coast, Vashon has a turbulent history but is nevertheless a stunning place. It’s a community and escape wholly distinct from the mainland just a short ferry ride away.
What To Do
Bike touring around Vashon Island requires a bike, obviously. If you’re not like me and didn’t bring a disheveled touring bike to ride around Vashon, you can stop in at Spider’s Ski and Sport (17624 Vashon Hwy., 206-408-7474) to rent a bike. If you are like me and brought a poorly maintained relic in need of some love, Vashon Bikes (9926 SW Bank Rd., 206-999-1551) will get your bike in tune.
Starting from the southern end of Vashon, I headed northeast towards the causeway near Portage to Maury Island. Maury is named for an American naval officer on the 1841 Wilkes Expedition who later went on to raid Union ships on behalf of the confederacy, but don’t let that anecdote distract you from the gorgeous undeveloped shoreline. Locking up my bike at the Maury Island Marine Park, I hiked the Maury Island Viewpoint Trail, a leisurely two-mile jaunt through forest and wildflowers to the water. I saw neither bald eagles nor whales on the hike, but many are luckier than I. There’s an orca tracking website, orcanetwork.org, you can use to see if there have been recent orca sightings in the area, too.
Back in the saddle, I pedaled a short distance to the Point Robinson Lighthouse, an iconic 19th century structure on the easternmost point of the island overlooking the sound. The lighthouse, with its overtly New England aesthetics, sits on a 10-acre park and marine conservancy where the former keeper’s dwellings are offered as weekly rentals.
From there I settled in for a ride up towards Vashon’s main drag for a stop at the Vashon Maury Island Heritage Museum (10105 SW Bank Rd., Vashon, 206-463-7808). Inside, the island’s history, both its complex human machinations and fascinating natural origins, is explored in nuanced detail and depth. The extent of the riding combined with the alarming amount of food and drink I consumed—more on that later—meant I cut short my circumnavigation of Vashon and turned in for the evening. In the morning, I headed to the island’s North Terminal and took the Fauntleroy Ferry to West Seattle.
Any semblance of rural vibes evaporated as I rode to Alki Beach, which is a little slice of southern California beach life, replete with volleyball, rollerblading and the like. After soaking up a bit of Seattle semi-sun I rode around West Seattle, which is chock full of hipster-adjacent niceties you’d expect in Seattle from bohemian coffee shops to indie record stores.
Where to Eat and Drink
The coffee culture percolating through the Northwest is hardly a secret, and the birthplace of specialty coffee is located right in the center of Vashon Island. The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie (19529 Vashon Hwy., 206-463-9800) serves some of the finest artisanal coffee you’ll ever taste in a historic building made of old growth island fir. The building was previously owned by Jim Stewart, who’s known as the grandfather of specialty coffee, for being the first person to roast artisan coffee in Seattle and for starting what would eventually become Seattle’s Best Coffee right from that building on Vashon. Though the SBC logo still adorns one side of the building, the roasting inside is unique and innovative as ever.
After a caffeine infusion to get going, head over to Snapdragon Bakery and Café for brunch (17817 Vashon Hwy., 206-463-1310). The pastries are incredible and massive, and the rotating menu of wonderful vegetarian cuisine changes daily with creative options like a spinach and arugula pesto omelet with a yogurt dill cucumber sauce or a beet Rueben with house made sauerkraut, roasted beets and gruyere on house focaccia.
For a different experience later in the day, try the Ruby Brink, a combination bar and whole animal butchery (17526 Vashon Hwy., 206-408-7795). Artisan meats and cocktails don’t get any better than this. The bar features a variety of local beers and craft cocktails to choose from. The oak-aged sour from Propolis Brewing Wild Ales is outstanding. The menu consists of delectable items like humbly named braised beef meat and noodle—which has beef, a soft boiled egg, noodles and local vegetables in a 24-hour bone broth—and house-made chicken liver mousse on toast. And yes, there is an outrageously good butcher shop on site for your home chef needs.
Where to Stay
Stay within striking distance of the water at the Burton Inn and Spa (24007 Vashon Hwy., 206-910-4520). The Inn, which is just a short walk from the Quartermaster Marina right on the sound, has a handful of charming rooms and even a glamping tent for those looking to dip their toes into experiencing the famous PNW weather. The Inn also has a spa and guitar lessons every Wednesday for people of all skill levels.
Crash a little closer to the action at The Lodges on Vashon (17205 Vashon Hwy., 206-641-4717). Chic, minimalist 570-square-foot lodges are scattered across the property which also features communal geodesic domes and an open-air pavilion. The Lodges are pet friendly and a stone’s throw from downtown Vashon’s restaurants, breweries and shops.
Once back on the mainland, enjoy a classic Seattle experience by staying at the Ace Hotel (2423 1st Ave., Seattle, 206-448-4721). Just a short distance up S.R. 99 from West Seattle and Alki Beach, The Ace Hotel has deluxe rooms as well as more economical shared bathroom options all featuring west coast bohemian-lite trappings like painted exposed brick and artwork from Shepard Fairey (the artist who designed the iconic Obama “Hope” image). It’s the perfect home base to explore Seattle’s historic Belltown neighborhood.
ROAD TRIP 1: MOUNT RAINIER MOUNTAIN ESCAPE
Mount Rainier is a fixture of the Pacific Northwest skyline, and the mammoth 14,411-foot active stratovolcano is the perfect centerpiece of adventure. Explore the outdoors on foot, on skis and from horseback, all while indulging in some local cuisine and culture along the way.
1/ Hike Pinnacle Peak Loop Trail
Kick off exploring the Rainier region with a hike on the Pinnacle Peak Loop Trail. The three-mile loop includes an observation tower providing remarkable views if the weather is cooperating. Even if it isn’t, the spring wildflowers won’t disappoint.
2/ Eat at Il Siciliano Ristorante Italiano
Refuel with authentic Italian cuisine prepared by the Brancato family, which relocated to the Enumclaw from Italy in 1995. The Porcini Sacchetti is outstanding.
3/ Horseback Riding with Echo River Ranch
Mount up for a guided horseback ride through gorgeous timberlands surrounding Echo River Ranch. Guides will shower you with local naturalist knowledge, including on available foraging tours for wild mushrooms and berries.
4/ Explore Federation Forest State Park
Boasting a landscape blanketed with old-growth Douglas fir, Sitka spruce and western hemlock, Federation Forest State Park’s hiking trails are the perfect place to lose yourself in the immense evergreen labyrinth that defines the region.
5/ Visit Wapiti Woolies Outdoor Shop
World-famous mountaineer Ed Viesturs—the only American to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks—had his pick of the litter for outdoor gear, but chose only one hat, from Wapiti Woolies. Visit the home of the legendary headwear and leave with a unique hat of your own.
6/ Stay at Alta Crystal Resort
Turn in at the Alta Crystal Resort for a little rest amid adventure in the mountains. The resort is the closest lodging to Mt. Rainier National Park and has shuttle service to the lifts at Crystal Mountain. Enjoy the hot tubs and chalet-style suites you expect at a mountain retreat.
7/ Shred Crystal Mountain
Arguably the best skiing and snowboarding in the Northwest is at Crystal Mountain. 2,600 acres of terrain and stunning views of Rainier are a recipe for great times on the slopes each spring.
ROAD TRIP 2: Uniquely Pacific County
Connect the dots with visits to iconic attractions down Washington’s coastal beaches. Hidden gems, roadside hits and quirky curiosities await on an evergreen journey through oceanside villages.
1/ Washaway Beach
Explore one of the fastest-eroding places in the Western Hemisphere at Washaway Beach. The beach, planned as a luxury destination in the 1800s, loses 150 feet per year to the ocean and had a clam cannery, a lighthouse and a Coast Guard Station, all of which fell into the sea. The ocean is relentless.
The oldest hotel in Washington, the Tokeland is a house of history. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and sits adjacent to the stunning Pacific seashore.
3/ Wildlife-Heritage Sculpture Corridor
When driving through the town of Raymond, the streets come to life, lined with silhouetted sculptures of deer, bears and other wildlife. Unexpecting drivers will do double takes, so best to take it slow and enjoy the art installations along the way.
4/ World’s Largest Oyster Shell/Oyster Capital of the World
South Bend, Washington, nicknamed the “Oyster Capital of the World,” is home to Willapa Bay where oysters are plentiful. It’s also home to a sculpture of the world’s largest oyster shell as well as plenty of wonderful oysters to dine on if you take the time to stop for a shuck.
The North Head Light was built in 1897 to aid mariners approaching Cape Disappointment from the North. Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, the historic relic is managed as part of Cape Disappointment State Park where marshes and oceanside tidelands create a magnificent coastline.
6/ Waikiki Beach
The beach where Lewis and Clark actually reached the pacific was morbidly named for when a Hawaiian sailor’s body washed ashore after his ship wrecked trying to cross the Colombia River Bar. Today it’s a dramatic, rock-lined cove more suitable for picnics and swimming than shipwrecks.
ROAD TRIP 3: Olympic Peninsula Paradise
Immerse yourself in the pristine scenery of remote mountains, lush rainforest and rugged ocean beaches on the Olympic Peninsula. Discover rich local culture and enjoy farm-to-table meals that are enthusiastically paired with local ciders and spirits.
The Lake Quinault Lodge is the perfect base camp to explore the Olympic Peninsula. Built in 1926, the rustic lodge’s grand scale is matched only by the natural wonders surrounding it. Immerse yourself in the surrounding lushly green forest on the 31-mile Quinault Rainforest Loop Drive around the lake.
2/ Olympic National Park
From glaciated peaks to old-growth forest to the pacific coastline, Olympic National Park is home to numerous iconic ecosystems to explore depending on your appetite.
3/ Ruby Beach
Dramatic sea stacks jut from the ocean on this coastal section of Olympic National Park. Piles of driftwood and a moody marine layer lend Ruby Beach a heavy northwest vibe.
4/ Hoh Rainforest
The Hoh Rainforest is the wettest forest in the contiguous United States. Since it’s situated within Olympic National Park, the forest surrounding the glacially created river is uniquely pristine and protected from commercial exploitation.
The story of non-native settlement in the Pacific Northwest is entwined with the timber industry. Forks was once known as the “Logging Capital of the World,” and today a museum housed in a log cabin tells the history of homesteading, farming and logging in the region.
6/ Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
At nearly seven miles long, the natural sand spit at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is one of the world’s longest and narrowest. The refuge is a birder’s paradise, a migratory stop for myriad species of birds which breed from Alaska to South America. It’s also home to high concentrations of shellfish and harbor seals.
7/ Cider Tasting Route
The country’s best hard ciders are born on the Olympic Peninsula. Stop at a trio of tasting rooms near Port Townsend—Finnriver, Alpenfire and Eaglemount—to enjoy the amazing bounty from the local orchards.
8/ Ludlow Falls
Wash down the cider with a short hike to scenic Ludlow Falls in the nearby town of Ludlow. The well-maintained trail is lined with enormous cedar trees leading to falls.
ROAD TRIP 4: Yakima Canyon Scenic Byway
Load up one of those eponymous roof boxes and hit the road. Experience central Washington’s scenic lake and mountain vistas, dive into diverse recreation and taste the highlights of wine country along this scenic byway.
Stop in at Red’s for information, gear and guided trips to make the most of the world-famous fishing on the Yakima River. The riverside location and deep local knowledge are tough to beat.
Spend the night at Canyon River Ranch for luxurious accommodations right on the Yakima. In the morning head out for some more fly fishing, hike through the central Washington landscape and even try your hand at some whitewater rafting. It’s your home base for adventure on the river.
3/ Umtanum Creek Recreation Area
Springtime sees the basalt-lined canyons of the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area bursting with color as sunflowers, larkspur and geraniums come to life. A variety of trails to suit any ability level all feature incredible vistas.
Sample the fruits of the fertile Yakima Canyon by visiting the Ellensburg Canyon Winery. Riesling, Rose, Cabernet Franc du Blanc and Cab Franc and Malbec port style wines are all available for your tasting pleasure. Each glass comes with an incredible view.
Turn in at Hotel Windrow, a boutique hotel located in downtown historic Ellensburg. The building melds modern amenities and rustic charm right in the heart of town, making it a perfect launching point for everything from fine dining and nightlife to outdoor adventure.
For more trip ideas, visit stateofwatourism.com. Get more travel ideas and itineraries with our California Road Trip.
Let’s talk about Batman. Specifically, let’s talk about The Batman. The latest film to adapt the DC Comic title takes place two years into Batman’s (Robert Pattinson) vigilante mission, and he’s the darkest and grittiest and My Chemical Romance-iest he’s ever been on screen. It’s also one of the more compelling and coherent adaptations—not that it has much (or any) competition in that latter category—but, as solid as it is for the first two-thirds of its nearly three-hour runtime, the film struggles, in the end, to address the implications it raises and loses the thread entirely in the third act. Fair warning, there are spoilers ahead.
The Batman begins with the brutal murder of the mayor of Gotham City and not Bruce Wayne’s parents getting shot in an alley (which has been done enough). And, just like that, I was ready to let this movie do whatever it wanted to me. Also setting the movie apart from its forebears, Pattinson’s Batman is all Batman, almost entirely eschewing the alter ego of rich playboy philanthropist Bruce Wayne. Batman also gets to be a detective in this one. Not quite the World’s Greatest Detective, but, with the help of butler/father figure Alfred (Andy Serkis), a young Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and not-yet-commissioner James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), Batman unravels the mystery laid out by The Riddler (Paul Dano), who’s been given a modern update with some internet-troll-meets-viral-conspiracy-extremist flavor. The Penguin (Colin Farrell) is here, too, but mostly to remind you that he has an HBO Max series coming out.
Like his predecessors, Pattinson’s Batman utilizes his money and gadgets and trauma-fueled determination to fight crime and addresses its systemic causes by punching poor people in the face. The Batman calls this logic into question, having Catwoman go as far as to suspect that Batman must have grown up rich. We also know that, during his two years as Batman, crime has gone up, and the film draws a straight line to that from corrupt city officials who use city coffers to pad their own pockets and leave Gotham’s most destitute with no choice but to turn to crime (and eventually get punched by a billionaire in a bat suit and thrown in prison). And it’s not the Caped Crusader who discovers this corruption but the film’s main villain.
Dano’s Riddler casts himself as a vigilante bent on exposing corruption by violently murdering dirty cops and politicians and leaving riddles and ciphers for Batman at every crime scene. The film is at its best while Batman and friends follow Riddler’s trail of clues, exposing (sometimes inadvertently) the deeply rooted corruption in Gotham’s government and police. Alfred, Catwoman and Gordon serve various purposes throughout the film. Largely, Alfred reminds Batman of his humanity, Catwoman reminds Batman of other people’s humanity and Gordon reminds him that there are those within the system and city who are still trying to do what is right.
Where the film is not at its best (spoilers ahead) is in the third act when Riddler spontaneously stops obsessing about corruption and how the city had abandoned orphans like him and decides to murder a lot of poor people by flooding the city. At the end, The Batman swings wide with the large explosions and unexamined repercussions of an action movie, instead of staying focused on the moral murkiness and Se7en-inspired neo-noir storytelling. It also throws in a radical tonal-shifting Joker cameo that serves no purpose (other than to remind us that, much like Batman, we will never, ever be free of this character for good).
The Batman finds Batman doing both what he does best and what he does worst and abandons the very questions it raises about those things in favor of spectacle. It’s frustrating, given how much I enjoyed the first two hours of this movie, but The Batman is still worth a watch in theaters. Fans of David Fincher will find a lot to like here, as well as fans of the comics Batman: Year One (written by Frank Miller, art by David Mazzucchelli) and Batman: The Long Halloween (written by Jeph Loeb, art by Tim Sale) and Batman and adjacent titles by writers like Grant Morrison, Tom King, Scott Snyder and many others.
Highlights also include the casting—Serkis, Kravitz, Wright and Dano make for a strong supporting cast, along with my favorite Skarsgård brilliantly chewing the scenery as a skeezy DA, and Robert Pattinson knows how to play a brooding young man full of anger and self-loathing. Compared to Bats past, “Battinson” is closest to Christian Bale in approach, but he’s (thankfully) not nearly as growl-y. Now, I have watched every live-action adaptation of Batman (and probably close to every animated one as well). As far as where The Batman ranks compared to other Batman films, they’re honestly hard to compare (the Schumacher films had ice puns and bat-nipples, after all). It strikes a tone most similar to Nolan’s films, but, thanks to the cast and sensical plot, I think I’d rather watch The Batman.
The Batman opens in theaters March 4, 2022; directed by Matt Reeves; screenplay by Matt Reeves, Mattson Tomlin, Peter Craig; 2h 56m run time. Official synopsis: Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.
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