120x120 "Best Of" List

I thought I’d share a few lasting impressions from my 120x120 journey in the form of a “Top 3” list. This is obviously a subjective (and rather silly) list that highlights the tremendous diversity in our parks system. Feel free to cast your own votes by replying or contacting me with your feedback.

Top 3 Destination Parks (spend a day... or seven)

1. Deception Pass
3.5 million annual visitors can't be wrong

2. Moran
10,000 deer can't be wrong

3. Cape Disappointment
Lewis & Clark, broad beaches, raging seas, lighthouses. You can't go wrong.

Top 3 Most Remote Parks (but well worth the effort)

1. Field's Spring
Feels like a different state, and it almost is

2. Crawford
Feels like a different country, and it almost is

3. Lime Kiln
Unless you live in Victoria and own a boat

Top 3 Sun and Fun Parks

1. Sun Lakes
Come Summer time, lots of sun, boats, picnics and people

2. Steamboat Rock
See above

3. Lake Chelan
Swim, boat and frolic in Washington's largest lake

Top 3 Park Views

1. Mount Constitution -- Moran
Mountains, water, islands, ferries. Catch this one at sunrise.

2. Summit of Mount Pilchuck -- Mount Pilchuck
Panorama of the cascades, Puget Sound lowlands and islands.

3. Summit of Mount Spokane -- Mount Spokane
A fairly easy drive, but not for the squeamish.

Top 3 Park Waterfalls

1. Palouse Falls
#1 by a landslide and well worth the effort to get there

2. Ollalie
Close to Seattle and featured on YouTube

3. Wallace Falls
Two falls dropping a combined 500 feet adorn a very pretty trail

Top 3 Unusual State Park Features

1. A Flaming Geyser
Awe-inspiring? No. Captivating? No. Odd? Yes.

2. A Large Telescope
Activity at the Goldendale Observatory really heats up at night

3. A Bowl and Pitcher – Riverside
Not an awful wedding gift, but an interesting rock formation in this great Spokane park

Top 3 Forest Walk Parks

1. Rockport
Thick old-growth is the main attraction here

2. Federation Forest
Old growth evergreens, miles of trails and a very good interpretive center

3. Bogachiel
Island of state-owned rain forest in a sea of national forest land

Top 3 Most Meticulously Maintained Parks

1. Peace Arch
You could eat off the lawns here (and many park residents do)

2. Scenic Beach
Beautiful native rhododendrons set against a water and mountain backdrop

3. Faye Bainbridge
If campsites were ever described as "cute," these are them

Top 3 Wildlife Sighting Parks

1. Lime Kiln Point
One of the best land-based sports in the world to view whales. Really.

2. Moran
Deer and raccoon for days, and the biggest heron I’ve ever seen.

3. Leadbetter Point
Home of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, and just an interesting piece of land

Top 3 Soccer Mom Parks

1. Lake Sammamish
From June to September -- a state-protected minivan sanctuary

2. Saint Edwards
Lots of recreational opportunities for the kiddies

3. Bridle Trails
Wedged between Bellevue and Kirkland. Need I say more?

Top 3 Hidden Gems

1. Bridgeport
Camping, boating, golf, a huge dam -- and best of all: marmots.

2. Columbia Hills
Lots of character in this small park nestled in the Columbia Gorge

3. Rasar
A good stopping point to picnic and watch for bald eagles before heading over the North Cascades

Top 3 Parks with a Sense of History

1. Cape Disappointment
Lewis and Clark camped here, and the interpretive center is excellent

2. Fort Simcoe
A well-restored fort on a pretty piece of land west of Yakima.

3. The Fort Trio (Flagler, Worden, Casey)

Guardians of Puget Sound as early as the 19^th century.

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