April 2006:
We used our real first sunny weekend in the northwest to drive to Winthrop. Since the Washington pass was still closed, we took I90E/ 970N/ 97N/ 153N/ 20E, a route about 30 minutes slower than I5/20W through the pass, though no complains, as it is extremely scenic and beautiful.
Winthrop nestles in the Methow valley and uses the western theme throughout. Woodern sidewalks with creaking boards, weather beaten shop fronts, dry and dust...you almost expect a frontier man to ride in on an appaloosa...
{The Winthrop Town hall}
Winthrop has a rich 9000 year history. Infact, Winthrop provided the inspiration for The Virginian, The first American western novel written by Owen Wister when he was here on his honemoon in 1897.
{The Catalina}
The main (and the only) street in Winthrop is lined with salons, a gas station and small boutiques.
Gayu, unsurprisingly, managed to find a small boutique (called Rascals) with an excellent selection of women fashions which was, surprsingly, very reasonable.
The people in the town (especially, Olivia and Laura at the inn, Becky at the riding school, the lady in Rascals)are extremely friendly and talkative and all have a story to tell
We stayed at a place called RiverRun inn just at the outskirts of Winthrop. Don't be fooled by the first glimpse of the place as Olivia Rose has tried to merge the facade with teh old Western look of the town itself. The insides are beautiful !! Situated right on the Methow river, Olivia has not cut corners anywhere.
{The reception room at RiverRun Inn}
We had a two room suite with a river view and paid just $140 for it!
{The view of the Methow from the room}
The rooms are decorated log cabin style ... lots of lumber, well stocked, spacious and well lit...
I strongly recommend, both the town and the inn, if you have a sunny weekend to spare.
BTW, Gayu found an antique wooden chest for the bedroom while I found an old Colt single barren for my Western Wall over the staircase.
