Getting from Sea-Tac International Airport to Roslyn, Washington -

Upon leaving the Sea Tac International Airport parking structure, follow the signs left / north pointing you toward the freeways. You do NOT want to drive straight out of the airport onto the boulevard in front of you (Highway 99). You also do NOT want to follow the signs to City of SeaTac. This connector road is about a mile and a half long. You'll pass an off ramp for 170th Street. Keep going. Soon you'll see signs for the freeway - move to the right lane and follow the signs for "East 99 / 405 / 5 / Seattle."  

Stay in the right lane as you merge onto the 518. This freeway will become the 405 Freeway as soon as you pass under the 5. You're traveling downhill and ahead you'll see the 5 passing over the 518/405. Don't take the left exit to "I-5 North / Seattle." Stay in the right lane but don't veer off onto the "5 South / Tacoma" either. Instead, stay to the left when the right lane splits, following the signage for 405 North to Renton / Everett. There are a few little curves in the road, but basically, you're heading straight and following the 518/405 from the time you merge onto it at the airport. Congratulations!  Breathe a sigh of relief - you're past the hardest part of your journey and on your way - and you're only about 15 minutes into it!!!

In a couple minutes, you'll enter Renton, pass Highway 167 and then the 405 turns northward. The freeway gradually straightens out after you pass Maple Valley Highway. You're now traveling northward and you'll see industrial buildings on the left - those nearest are Kenworth and Paccar, and most of the rest beyond those are Boeing on the edge of Lake Washington. If you just flew into SeaTac on a 737, your plane rolled out of that big hanger and flew north, skimming over Lake Washington on its maiden flight out of Renton Airport.

You're now traveling up Kennydale Hill and skirting along the edge of Lake Washington to your left. That's Mercer Island, named after Asa Mercer. Asa Mercer founded the Territorial University, later renamed University of Washington, but Asa Mercer is best remembered for traveling to New England in 1864 and convinced 11 single women to return to become brides for the lonely Seattle loggers. He made several trips to New England in the following years for the same purpose. If you ever watched Here Comes the Brides, the character of Jason Bolt on the series was the based on Asa Mercer.

Approximately 13 miles after leaving the airport, you'll see a sign for "Coal Creek Parkway / Factoria." Begin moving to one of the two rightmost lanes after you pass that off ramp - shortly after Coal Creek Parkway, you'll see I-90 ahead.  Take the transition lanes to the right and merge onto I-90. Once on the 90, gradually move a few lanes to the left - one of the right lanes becomes "exit only" pretty quick, and then two more exit a few miles ahead as you approach Issaquah. Soon you'll see Lake Sammamish to your left and Issaquah and the Cascade Foothills ahead of you.  

At approximately 20 miles from the airport, you'll pass the "Front Street / Issaquah" off ramp and begin a steeper ascent into the hills. As you begin this uphill climb out of Issaquah, you're safely on your way. From here, its a straight shot out I-90 to Roslyn. In about 15 minutes you'll pass the off ramp for North Bend & Snoqualmie Falls, where Twin Peaks was filmed. 

Onward, its a lovely scenic drive over Snoqualmie Pass and down the Cascades into Central Washington. If all goes well, in about an hour, you'll be nearing the Salmon le Sac / Roslyn exit. Take this exit and follow the signs pointing you toward Roslyn. You'll wend your way through the trees for about 5 miles before having to stop at Highway 903.  

When the traffic's clear, make a left onto Highway 903. In about 5 minutes, you'll be passing Oregon Avenue, then Montana Avenue, then Oregon Avenue and then . . . WAIT A MINUTE - the sign says Pennsylvania Avenue, but could that be RuthAnne's General Store on the corner on the left? And there on the right, a few doors down - does that say KBHR? Look over your left shoulder - you might also recognize that white brick building!  Now before people start honking at you because you're suddenly awestruck with goose bumps & tingles & shivers running up your spine, close your mouth (you know it's hanging open!), turn left and find a place to park - 

You have arrived!

A mere 90 minutes ago you were in Seattle, Washington -

But there's no mistaking it - 

You've been magically transported to Cicely, Alaska, 

On the Cusp of the Alaskan Riviera and 

THE MAGIC STARTS NOW!