I’ve rode a bicycle, touring the area, off US2, recommend cascades National Park, also the drive/scenery's to Twisp Wa well worth seeing, Aspen ski company tried to develop it into a ski resort in 70s but town fought back and they abanded the idea, they developed what is now whistler/black comb outside Vancouver BC instead...
Grand Cooley Dam Wa is a site to see, has a rumble below shakes ground steady especially springtime with snow pack melt
Also “Sun Road” in glacier national park going eastbound, you’ll start out in shorts and be wearing parka at summit) notice how geography/terrain changes past summit (Logan summit) and look out for big horn rams/moose on road, definitely stay at twin lakes campground, easy 2mile nature hike around either side of lake with wildlife in your face (Need to carry bear spray when outdoors in park) take either shoreline trail and ferry ride back across lake is worth $2 fare-park rangers really great and knowledgeable and explain ice blue appearance of water...also east glacier lodge is magnificent site!
I strongly recommend Lake McGregor Campground 50 miles from Libby Mt/Kalispell Mt...took recovery day there on bicycle trip...really friendly people and great food/locals clean clean air!!!
Look out for Chinook winds (natural phenomenon caused by weather & terrain) east of glacier where Rockies foothill end:great planes planes begin, 90 milers common
Lots of asbestos environmental hazard in and around Libby Mt, it was the epicenter for asbestos industry back in day...I’d live in Libby if it weren’t for that.
Play count the missle silo stations, easily recognized from roads/hwy
At kalispel Mt (women out number men 5 to 4) definitely head north to to ski resort town, was gonna move there for a year when I was a ski bum but moved to Jackson Wy instead.
Cour D’Alene ID (south of Sandpoint ID) is the Tahoe of the north, very nice retirement community has a Ironman event, boating, ruby ridge (ruby ridge incident) isn’t far away and hotbed of isolation types, KKK moved to Sandpoint ID in 90s and was socially discouraged enough to relocate to Oklahoma City...they don’t mind isolationist or hermits but don’t like racists in that part of country.
Outta the way from Everett Wa but Mt St Helens drive to Johnston Observatory is well worth trip, rode the bicycle up and down in a day in my 40s...one of my best rides ever! This trip goes well with trip to Mt Rainer and drive up to Paradise summit where climbers begin the summit assent-the museum there is neat!
Boeing factory tour in Everett is neat, Boeing red barn museum is said to be the best private aeronautical collection, behind Smithsonian both Sardi Amex & natl mall and Natl Museum of Air Force in Dayton Ohio
Port Townsend Wa is neat, the base there is where officer and gentleman was filmed also nice camping.
Of course on US2 I’m Rockies best not to drive at nighttime to avoid collisions with large game (rams-moose-wild horses)
