by Marcus Yearout

Say someone tosses you the keys to a brand spanking new 2019 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback and says, “What can you do on one tank of gas?” You’d probably say, “You’re kidding, right?” Well that’s precisely what happened to me when the Western Washington Honda Dealers approached me to participate in their “One Tank Trips” Sweepstakes.

My assignment was to drive the car to Seabrook—an idyllic planned community on Washington’s Hidden Coast Scenic Byway—and explore to my heart’s content on one tank of gas. A two-night stay at Seabrook is one of the prizes being offered in their “One Tank Trip” Sweepstakes… and after my experience, I can state with confidence that you definitely want to win this.

I picked up the car from the helpful team at Sims Honda in Burlington at around 9 in the morning and headed south on I-5 to Olympia then west on my 4-hour trek to the ocean. The weather was a little damp and dreary—as were my fading hopes of a bright and sunny couple days on the Pacific Coast. But much to my delight, the closer I got to my destination, the bluer the skies. The route I drove to the “Hidden Coast” at Seabrook took me over a small coastal mountain range and dropped down directly onto the sandy beaches along WA-109 at the community of Pacific Beach—about a mile north of Seabrook.

Upon my arrival, I met up with my hosts, Ivo Andov and Lily Walsh who rolled up and took me on a half-hour bicycle tour during which they explained some of the history and thinking that went into this seaside utopian village. Founded in 2004 by Casey Roloff, Seabrook is a fine example of “New Urbanism.” It is filled with cozy cottages and walkable neighborhoods; many of the homes feature a shared space like a Bocce Ball court or fire pit to promote community and family engagement.

I overheard one of the residents telling a visitor, “At first I thought this place was a little too perfect and wondered if I had entered the Stepford Wives neighborhood or was on the Truman Show; then I found it charming, friendly and neighborly; and the next thing you know, I bought a house here!” I suspect it has that kind of effect on a lot of people.

At city center is a bustling shopping and dining district called Market Street that is abuzz with activity and is experiencing a growth spurt that will continue to expand the list of shops and services for residents and guests to enjoy. Parents sit on spacious front porches while their children, on bikes and pulling wagons, enjoy the freedom that living on these pedestrian friendly streets provides.

After the bike ride, beach combing, dinner and a glass of wine, I was more than ready to retire to the amazing cottage they had reserved for me. With a fireplace in the living room, full kitchen and comfy bed (plus a quiet, treelined buffer out my bedroom window), I had no trouble falling asleep to get ready for the next day’s travels.

I woke up at around 7 the next morning with an urge to try and find the “Tree of Life” in Kalaloch that I had read about in the local visitor guide. I grabbed a cup of coffee at the Seabrook Mercantile and headed for the Copalis highway that takes you about 20 miles over the coastal mountain range to connect with US-101 where I drove north for another 20 miles to the Kalaloch (pronounced “CLAY-lock”) Lodge. Having passed up breakfast when I left Seabrook, the smell of bacon drew me into the restaurant at the lodge where I enjoyed a hearty meal of eggs, taters and toast… oh, and the aforementioned bacon. Duh.

As a side note, the staff at the lodge were a great reminder of how essential frontline workers are to the tourism industry. These folks were incredibly gracious and willing to share any information they had about the trails and point of interest in the area… including the “Tree of Life,” which as it turned out was only about a half-mile from where I was sitting.

Except for the fact that the sun was rising behind it making a great photo nearly impossible, I was not the least bit disappointed in the Tree of Life. Clinging tenaciously to the cliffside between rapidly eroding banks on either side, it is a truly remarkable and inspiring metaphor for holding on to the brief time we have on this earth. Best time for a photo op would be after noon and into the early evening.

Heading back toward the ocean, I decided to turn north to the tiny Quinault fishing village of Taholah. While lacking in overall visitor amenities, I enjoyed a visit to the Tribal Museum where a display of woven cedar baskets and hats is the primary feature. I noticed and appreciated that some of the work was contributed by local students.

According the museum’s staff person, there has been a growing interest among the Tribal community to retain the indigenous culture which had been in decline over the past few decades. Cultural teachings in traditional Quinault weaving, dance, song and language have become part of the education path for the children of the Tribe. So much of a culture is embedded in its native language that the Tribe is proud that one of its own has earned a PhD in linguistics and is now reintroducing the language to Quinault children who may have only heard the language through their elders.