The Cascade Loop Scenic Highway is a 440-mile self-guided driving tour that encompasses a wide diversity of natural and cultural landscapes. The Loop travels from the saltwater beaches of Puget Sound through the fertile farmlands of the Skagit and Snohomish River Valleys, over three Cascade Mountain passes east to the orchard and vineyard-laden Columbia River Valley, glacier-fed Lake Chelan, and the open ranges and western frontier territory of the Methow Valley. The scenery of the Cascade Loop Highway is truly spectacular, from the high mountain peaks of the North Cascades Highway to the beauty of Tumwater Canyon; from the open arid landscape of the Columbia River Valley to the shores of Whidbey Island. The tour follows historic Pacific Northwest transportation routes, and passes through national and state parks, national forests, historic towns and sites, and other natural and recreational areas.

This tour guide focuses on the southern section of the Cascade Loop. Beginning on the shores of Puget Sound in Mukilteo and Everett and traveling east along U.S. Route 2 through the Snohomish and Skykomish River Valleys, national forests, over Stevens Pass and down to the Cascade foothills and the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. From here the Loop continues along the fruit orchards and vineyards of the Wenatchee River Valley to the city of Wenatchee and north along 97A and the Columbia River past the Rocky Reach Dam to the pioneer town of Entiat.

In the audio part of this tour you will hear the voices of the local people who live along the Cascade Loop, talking about what it's like to be a vegetable farmer, a fruit orchardist, a logger, a river rafter, a forest service employee, a traditional craftsperson, a vintner, a luthier, a chainsaw carver, a metalworker, and many others. People will share their local history and talk about special places and things of interest. You'll hear folk poetry from railroad and logger poets, Vietnamese and Norwegian musical traditions from Everett, Bavarian and alpine music from Leavenworth, Mexican American music from Wenatchee, bluegrass music from several towns along the way, and more.

A 2 CD audio tour (comes with a guidebook) to the southern half of the Cascade Loop Highway which includes the cultural heritage, stories, folk poetry and traditional music of the people who live in this part of Washington state.

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