70 (Western Washington Destinations) for Seventy

A Personal Challenge for my 70th Birthday Becomes a Fun Way to Explore Western Washington

BY MARGOT KRAVETTE

I’ve journeyed to more than 70 Western Washington destinations in two and a half years. Some are well-know, others less so. Each, however, provided an opportunity for me to grow, learn, and thrive.

My escapade began in December 2020 as I was considering how to celebrate my upcoming 70th birthday. COVID had shown its face nine months before and was still going strong. How could I celebrate my special birthday—just two months away—during a pandemic?

As an amateur photographer, it occurred to me that a great adventure would be to honor my 70 years by photographing and writing about 70 locations in Western Washington and then to create a way to share what I saw and learned. It was clear I would not be able to commit the time required for this project and continue working, even part time. So, I decided to retire on the day I turned 70 and dedicate a good portion of my time to this endeavor.

My goal was to launch this undertaking on my 70th birthday in February 2021. To do so, I would need to accumulate a list of places to explore, learn how to develop and maintain a blog, and plan how and when I would visit, photograph, and write about each destination. To get started, I emailed friends to share my idea and ask for suggestions of unique places to visit. I made the same request on social media. Within a few days I received more than 100 recommendations!

In preparation for each journey, I research the target location to learn as much as I can in advance. My research is primarily online and utilize several travel books that offer different perspectives: Little Washington—A Nostalgic Look at the Evergreen State’s Smallest Towns by Nicole Hardina, focuses on tiny towns in Washington; Washington for the Curious—A By the Highway Guide by Rob McDonald, Shawn Carkonen, and Clarence Stilwill, is organized by state highway; and Exploring Washington’s Past—A Road Guide to History by Ruth Kirk and Carmela Alexander, chronicles the state’s cities and towns. I also collect brochures and newspaper and magazine clippings, which are helpful resources. The product of all this research is an itinerary of the points to explore and, based on location, the best order and time of year to see them.

Each journey is like a scavenger hunt as I check things off my itinerary then discover even more than I had anticipated. I don’t think I expected to learn so much while doing this project. My initial thought was that I’d focus on the photography and write something describing the images. But each time I start writing there is so much more I want to say.

My blog post for each destination contains some history or background followed by observations and feelings I experience during my visit. I love the feeling of discovering something new. It’s energizing and makes me want to learn more. I often identify commonalities between the community I am visiting and my own, even if on the surface they appear to be very different, which is illuminating and powerful.

The journeys can be tiring. There is often considerable walking required—at times some hiking—and a whole lot of information to absorb. I must intentionally pace myself to prevent becoming overwhelmed. I have learned to pay attention to both my body and mind and slow down or stop for the day once either is saturated.

My very first journey was to Skagit Valley, where the snow geese and trumpeter swans vacation from the frigid weather at home in the Arctic. In my blog I wrote:

“As I set up my equipment carefully, thinking through all the settings I wanted to use, I looked around and was mesmerized by the beauty and peacefulness that surrounded me. My breathing slowed, and as I took it all in, I knew I was in the right place, doing exactly what I was meant to be doing at that moment.”

In early September, I reached my goal and completed my 70th journey at the North Cascades Blue Grass Festival near Bellingham. My journey continues. I’ve now set a new goal of visiting at least one location in every county, including Eastern Washington.

Margot Kravette is a retired health care leader whose longtime hobby has been travel photography. She has captured creative images around the U.S. and abroad. Her most recent work can be found at https://InspiredJourneys.live. Her photos are also on display at three King County, Wash., bus shelters.

Follow in My Footsteps—Here is the list of the 70 Western Washington Destinations I visited with links to my blog post about each destination:

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Okanogan Trails and Sherman Pass Byways

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White Pass Scenic Byway

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