Ellensburg, WA

Someone recently asked me, "What prompted you to visit Ellensburg? Not many people know of the town." I paused, I had just met this person. Would I look daft if I told him the truth? I was too hungry to assess, "You know those brown historical signs on highways? There's one on I-90 for Ellensburg. Every time I drove passed it I wondered what it was like. I stopped making excuses when I started my cross-country road trip, it was my first stop".

I couldn't have been happier taking the exit to Ellensburg. It was like biting into a Girl's Scout cookie. That first bite is nearly spine-tingling because you pine for them all year. To my further delight, it was a gorgeous autumn day and The Kittitas County Farmers Market was well under way.

It's hard to be unbiased when you feed your daydreams, but there's something so pleasant about this small city. It's not trying to be hip or vying for your attention. It is what it is, Ellensburg. No catchy slogan to lure you in, only a small brown sign on I-90. Also, everyone looked so damn happy. I'm sure the often clear skies have a lot to do with it. In fact, some who work in Seattle are moving to Ellensburg then commuting. See, I'm not the only one who lists "sunshine" on their priority list. Believe me, it makes a difference. 

Back on I-90 I decided to take another detour to a nearby view point and found something else more breathtaking than the beautiful vista. Through some divine miracle, Ellensburg doesn't have signs of the beige behemoth ubiquitous in so many of our towns and cities -- Wal-Mart. The city is living proof that life was and is better without modern monoliths. Ellensburg, please, please don't change. Besides your historic buildings, your way of life is historic for most of us. 

Length of Stay

2 hours

Docking Index

      

Seven anchors. I know, I know. How can I possibly decide on a place to live after a two hour visit?Well, there's something to be said about first impressions and diving into things heart first rather than head first. I was going to give it 8 anchors, but I can't imagine surviving a four hour commute every day if I were to work in Seattle. And that's not even including traffic. Still, the nearest Wal-Mart forty minutes away and sunnier days? My glee can only be relayed with a smily face emoticon