Goldpan Provincial Campground

 
   All of the sites in this small campground have a beautiful view of the Thompson River.  Some of them are long enough for large RVs but south section does not have a turn around, the north section just has a small one.. There are train tracks on both sides of the canyon in addition to the highway so it’s a little noisy at times.

  The campground is not handicapped accessible – small vault toilets, no table overhangs and graveled sites.  Campground

 

Alexandra Bridge

   The first Alexandra Bridge was constructed in 1861. This is the second one, built in 1926 and now closed to traffic.

   A trail leads from a rest area to the bridge. The old road, just north of the rest area, is opened to the railroad tracks –very small  turn around area at the end. The walk/roll down the road is pretty steep but possible with help however the railroad tracks stopped us. They seemed higher than normal and we were afraid that the wheelchair would get stuck ( Yikes! we chickened out -that’s why the picture is only of the road.) The scenic drive through the canyon, on Route 1, is gorgeous although there aren’t many places to stop and take pictures.  Bridge
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Kilby Campground

  This small campground is part of the Kirby Historic site, managed in cooperation with BC provincial parks. Some of the water front sites are large enough for 5th wheels and class As. The other sites are short and very close together. The turn around loop may be tight for large RVs. Lots of mosquitos when we visited!

  The campground is not handicapped accessible – small vault toilets, no overhang on the tables and loose gravel at the sites.  Campground

 

Kilby Historic Site

  The  Kilby family lived here from 1906 until 1977, running their farm and a general store. The store catered to the surrounding farming families and a long gone lumber mill town. The store, complete stocked shelves, furnished family living quarters, and boarding house rooms with historic displays, is opened to the public. The grounds include a gift shop, restaurant, a few outbuildings and farm animals.

  The site is partially handicapped accessible with assitance. Both the exit and entrance ramps to the gift shop/admissions building are short and steep with doors that open outwards and no landing. The main floor of the general store, located on the second story because of flooding, is accessible by a long ramp. The boarding house rooms are not accessible, up a flight of steps. The grounds are grassy.

The parking lot is large enough for RVs. Kilby Site
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Heading North to Alaska Through British Columbia and the Yukon

    We’re finally crossing the border into Canada today and our AT&T data card will be useless. We’ll be getting on the internet as we find WiFi spots. I write posts using Windows Live Writer so I’ll be able to publish a bunch of posts in a few minutes using a hotspot. We’re going to meander through BC and the Yukon ,hopefully getting to Alaska in three or four weeks.

   The Google maps for British Columbia and the Yukon are just about finished but I haven’t started the Alaskan map.  British Columbia   Yukon

Nooksack River Casino

    CLOSED
  I like Don Wright’s “Guide to Free Campgrounds” books but they are not always accurate. A backup plan is a good idea. Our stop for the night was supposed to be a small state forest campground but when we found the road we also found a locked gate – so hooray for Indian casinos! This is a small casino - nice inside with table games and all the latest slot machines.

   The casino is very accessible –automatic entrance doors,roomy with easy to move chairs and easily reached ticket slots.

   RV parking is in the lot south of the casino on the other side of Deming Road, right next to the railroad tracks. One train came by at 12:00 AM and another at 6:00 AM. The casino claims to have a RV park but it’s just a few electric boxes at the fenced side of the lot. The lot really isn’t large enough for RVs. Our 25’ is about the limit.  Casino
 

Tulalip Casino

    If this were a campground we would never stay here but as a free overnight casino stop it’s great!  It’s very popular because of the close proximity of I-5 (which is far enough away that there’s little traffic noise) I believe that it’s also popular because of the way the Tulalip tribe manages it. The spaces are fairly wide, some are pull through and the list of rules is prominently displayed. You must call security and register. They come promptly and also cruise through the lot on a regular basis. Awnings and chairs are allowed. Update 2019 - the lenght of stay is now only 3 days,
       
The roll to the casino entrance is a little long but very easy – follow the curb cuts and crosswalks which take you to a push button door entrance. Inside the casino is very roomy  with wide aisles and easy to move chairs. Most of the ticket and card slots are easy to reach.  Nice décor and not too smoky. This is one of the best casinos for overnight parking and easy access for wheelchair users.

  Another plus is that there’s a Walmart, Home Depot, and restaurants within walking distance. Exit the RV lot and turn right. Follow the crosswalks and go across 99th Place which takes you to a wide, paved path/sidewalk that winds among the trees  and goes behind the shopping center. Distance from the RV lot to Walmart is about 3/4 of a mile. Exit the RV lot and make a left. Follow the sidewalk for less than 1/2 mile and you come to Seattle Premium Outlet Mall.  Casino
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Museum of Flight

   This is an excellent museum with huge displays of aircraft, a two story WWI and WWII gallery, the original Boeing manufacturing building with the story of the birth of aviation, an outdoor display area, and numerous short videos and small galleries. Plan on spending a whole day if you want to see everything.

  Most of the museum is accessible with pushbutton entrance doors, low admissions desk, several elevators, and easy to see displays. An enclosed bridge leads to the outdoor display of five aircraft including Air Force One and a Concorde. Both are open to visitors but not handicapped accessible. It’s a pretty long way across the bridge, then along a packed down grassy path - a detoured route to avoid construction of a new building. It may not be worth the effort to see these five planes, at least until the construction is finished, which should be later in 2011.

  There’s plenty of parking. RVs can be parked across the spaces. Museum
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Foster and Marsh Islands Trail

   Aptly named! This trail and boardwalk can be very wet so come prepared to remove your shoes.

   The trail isn’t handicapped accessible. There are numerous steps and very steep sections along the boardwalk.

   A large parking lot is located at the west end of the trail behind the Museum of History & Industry.  Trail
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Washington Park Arboretum

    Most of the paths in this park are fairly narrow, uneven, and up or down hill. However Azalea Way, shown above, is wide, level, and composed of hard packed sand and small gravel - 1 1/2 miles out and back. Arboretum Drive, closed to traffic, is another option but it’s hilly and most wheelchair users will need help.

  Update - A new paved trail that parallels Lake Washington Blvd has been constructed. The trail connects to Arboretum Drive making a totally paved loop. 

   There are small parking lots throughout the park and a bigger one at the visitor center. There may not be enough space to park a large RV. Caution – do not drive a large vehicle on Lake Washington Blvd. There’s a bridge with a 9’ clearance.   Arboretum
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