A Driver's Date Night

THE DRIVER'S DATE NIGHT

Departure Time: 17:00 - Sat-Sun, 19:00 - Mon-Fri

Car Checklist:

• Full tank of fuel

• A warm jacket (in case you want to look at the falls after dark)

Dan's Notes:

UPDATE FOR 2019! Follow The Salish Lodge Valet on IG and send them a message to let them know you’re coming. Bring $20 cash for their tip, yes, it will be worth it. Tell them I sent you!

Make sure you're ready for this drive - It's date night, so don't be lazy! Get flowers. Get cash for the valet. Make sure the car is clean. Make sure you have a full tank. Dress up a little. Iron your damn shirt. Pre-order champagne. Treat him/her right and actually put a little effort in for once. Make this fun! 

While I feel like this goes without saying, don't make reservations at Salish a normal date night. You don't want special to become normal. If you do want to make it a special night and make reservations, ask for the private booth in the dining room and make sure you plan at least 2 weeks out. If you want to just make this a fun drive and date night, take your date to The Attic, located above the normal restaurant where you don't need reservations. Once there, ask the host if you can go to the balcony in the conference room for a few minutes. You're welcome. 

The Drive: 

You don't really want a date night to be a several hour drive. Don't worry, I have a date day drive too! This drive is best suited for a Sunday evening due to traffic, so keep that in mind. If you're going on a weekday, leave the Eastside around 7 to avoid most of the traffic, but check it ahead of time on Google Maps or Waze. 

Most people take 202 out of Redmond, but it's full of stop lights and traffic. Head farther east down Novelty Hill to Snoqualmie Valley Road, and then take the right onto Ames Lake Road - this is where the fun starts. You'll get some good twists and elevation changes in and some great adrenaline. Merge onto 202, but only for a few miles before taking the sharp left onto Tolt Hill road. Be careful here as this road can bite you like Highbridge if you're not prepared. Head east to 203 and follow it up back to 202 where you'll fall in line with the curves right up to Salish Lodge on the right. 

Make sure you tip the Valet ahead of time to get better parking and you're all set. Enjoy your date night. Make sure to wash your hands from the sweat on your palms you built up on the drive.  

Meandering Up Middle Fork

Meandering Up Middle Fork

DEPARTURE TIME: 

Sunrise or as early as possible to avoid traffic, but watch for animals and be patient.

CAR CHECKLIST:

A full tank of fuel before you depart

Optional: Washington Parks Discover Pass or $10 cash 

DAN'S NOTES:

Not every drive needs to test your limits. In fact, the really good ones you’ll enjoy regardless of the speed you drive them at. Reminiscent of a mini Yosemite drive, Middle Fork road is no secret to the hikers, but oddly a lot of drivers have never done it. This is easily one of the best group drives you can do, but ONLY if you’re group isn’t full of a bunch of idiots who think this is the kind of road you cross the center on. This road is extremely heavily trafficked by bicyclists (who will never get out of your way), hikers, and people camping. It’s also heavily trafficked by elk, deer, bear, and every other animal the northwest has to offer. So why a slow drive you can’t really safely stretch your car out on? Photography and picnics! This is a great spot to send a large group for photos and lunch, and get some great views on a sunny day. This route is served even better with a motorcycle, where you can actually open things up a bit.

I highly recommend starting your day at Huxdotter Coffee and getting some great coffee and THE BEST DONUTS in the entire PNW. They source them from North Bend Bakery, so if Huxdotter is out, go a few blocks over there and get some. Especially the chocolate bars.

Warning - There are two washouts on this road that are very short, but the potholes are no joke. You can drive around them easily, but be very careful here. You will destroy any low hanging carbon. There are also two large drain “dips” and you will need to approach them at a careful angle in any kind of low car, but a few stock 911s didn’t have any problems just being careful. You can comfortably turn around before these if you want and still get a great drive, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

At the turn-around point of this route is the parking lot for Garfield Ledges, which I do not recommend driving over the bridge to. The road on the other side is hammered with huge potholes that are very difficult to avoid, but you can park easily before the bridge and crossover for a short, rewarding hike up to Garfield Ledges. Just make sure you have a Discover Pass and a bag for your sure to be very muddy shoes. This is a great trail run in the dryer seasons.

After the drive, head over to the very car friendly Mt. Si Pub and get some good food from racer David Wheaton, who is the owner. Tell them Dan’s Drives sent you.

Route Hard Link: https://goo.gl/maps/2AnEv5fCPHNzMFo57