Hello travelers and adventurers and welcome to "Trail Head City", 
Otherwise known as Issaquah Washington, a great little northwest gem and only 20 minutes from "The Emerald City".
I first encountered Issaquah more than 20 years ago, camped on the outskirts for several years and then got myself a room in a rundown hotel, The Grand Central.
Issaquah is as prosperous as it is beautiful, it is nestled between three steep mountains and has grown in the last 20 years almost doubling in population, but it still retains much of it's original charm.
Front St., I used to have a modest tree house on that misty mountain in the background.^
Issaquah has one of the best foodbank/clothingbanks I've ever visited, the ladies will load you down with regular store bought items, much more than rice, beans and pumpkin pie mix.
Also, they have a great hot meal program every weekday at the fire station.
A fairly new King County flagship library... couple dozen computers in there...
The trail at Highpoint, this is a protected "Green Zone" and you could camp hundreds in there, this point is about two miles from Issaquah. (Not far from the "abandoned house" from my story, eek.) (In fact, if they came after me in their cars I was going to head for this very trail.)
Just above that trail, closer to the city is the new Swedish Medical Center, Issaquah is indeed a prosperous city and Microsoft had it ear-marked for the new Microsoft Campus...
Issaquah has a salmon hatchery and every year in October is the Salmon Days Festival with hundreds of thousands of attendees and Alan White from Yes playing with selected bands.
Issaquah is full of little shady spots to rest awhile and not be hassled, I used to camp in the middle of town on occasion...
Issaquah Creek. I know you are not supposed to drink creek water and I agree for the most part, but I've had water from this creek many times and never got sick once.
Gosh I love my little town, I don't live there anymore, but still consider it my own special discovery, drop in and visit and stay for awhile next time you are in Western Washington.
Thx
Otherwise known as Issaquah Washington, a great little northwest gem and only 20 minutes from "The Emerald City".
I first encountered Issaquah more than 20 years ago, camped on the outskirts for several years and then got myself a room in a rundown hotel, The Grand Central.
Issaquah is as prosperous as it is beautiful, it is nestled between three steep mountains and has grown in the last 20 years almost doubling in population, but it still retains much of it's original charm.
Front St., I used to have a modest tree house on that misty mountain in the background.^
Issaquah has one of the best foodbank/clothingbanks I've ever visited, the ladies will load you down with regular store bought items, much more than rice, beans and pumpkin pie mix.
Also, they have a great hot meal program every weekday at the fire station.
A fairly new King County flagship library... couple dozen computers in there...
The trail at Highpoint, this is a protected "Green Zone" and you could camp hundreds in there, this point is about two miles from Issaquah. (Not far from the "abandoned house" from my story, eek.) (In fact, if they came after me in their cars I was going to head for this very trail.)
Just above that trail, closer to the city is the new Swedish Medical Center, Issaquah is indeed a prosperous city and Microsoft had it ear-marked for the new Microsoft Campus...
Issaquah has a salmon hatchery and every year in October is the Salmon Days Festival with hundreds of thousands of attendees and Alan White from Yes playing with selected bands.
Issaquah is full of little shady spots to rest awhile and not be hassled, I used to camp in the middle of town on occasion...
Issaquah Creek. I know you are not supposed to drink creek water and I agree for the most part, but I've had water from this creek many times and never got sick once.
Gosh I love my little town, I don't live there anymore, but still consider it my own special discovery, drop in and visit and stay for awhile next time you are in Western Washington.
Thx
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