On day 113 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Seattle to Longview. It's a long drive with many beautiful stops, so leave early. It is an option to drive the route in two days if you want to extend the visit to the “Museum of Flight” or “Mount Saint Helen”.

The first stop is in Seattle, we visit the “Museum of Flight”, this is an aviation museum in Seattle. The museum is located at Boeing Field, approximately 6 miles south of downtown Seattle.
The history of the museum dates back to 1965. In that year, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation was founded with the aim of restoring a 1929 Boeing 80A-1. The three-engine plane had been discovered in Alaska, but was in very poor condition and took about 16 years to recover. During the search in 1968 for a space to present the aircraft to the public, the name “Museum of Flight” came into use. In 1974, a permanent location for the museum was found at Boeing Field. The presence of an airport was an advantage for the museum and it was also the site of the first Seattle flight in 1910.

On the museum grounds is the "Red Barn", which was purchased in 1910 by William Boeing, where construction of Boeing's first airplane started in 1916. After World War II, Boeing abandoned the "Red Barn" and it was acquired by the Seattle Port Authority in 1970. In 1975, the "Red Barn" was purchased by the museum for $1. Following the transaction, the "Red Barn" was shipped to the Boeing Field for restoration. In 1978, the barn was included in the National Register of Historic Places. It was the oldest existing aircraft production shed in the United States. The red barn was opened to the public in 1983.

The museum at Boeing Field was gradually expanded with more rooms for exhibitions, covering aircraft and various aviation-related topics. In 1987, Vice President George HW Bush opened the TA Wilson Great Gallery. This room contains the Boeing 80, a nine-ton Douglas DC-3 and a “Lockheed M-21 Blackbird” spy plane. In 2004, a special room for aircraft from the First and Second World Wars was added. The last room was opened in April 2012 especially for space travel and contains a true model of the space shuttle, which was actually used by NASA to train astronauts.

Various aircraft are displayed on the outside area, such as the first Boeing 747, the “City of Everett” and a prototype of the Boeing 727. There is also the first presidential aircraft equipped with jet engines, Air Force One (1959–62, SAM 970). ), which flew between 1959 and 1996 and a British Airways Concorde. The last two aircraft can also be viewed from the inside. In total, there are approximately 150 aircraft displayed in and around the museum. A must for aviation enthusiasts.

We drive past the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Both are located in southern Washington. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers an area of 5,300 km2 and extends 116 km along the western slopes of the Cascade Range, from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. In addition to the primeval forests, the forest contains high mountain meadows, several glaciers and numerous volcanic peaks. The forest's highest point is at 3,742 m (12,276 ft) at the summit of Mount Adams, the second highest volcano in the state after Rainier.
Washington's Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is a national forest that extends more than 140 miles (230 km) along the western slopes of the Cascade Range, from the Canada-US border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. There are many recreational opportunities for enthusiasts in both Forests.

We stop for lunch at the “Mt. Rainier Railroad Dining Company,” they offer full-service classic American meals in an authentic railroad dining car. Enjoy delicious house smoked flavors including Alder Smoked Prime Rib, Smoked Poultry and Pork and Fish, along with homemade soups and pies. (Closed on Tuesdays).

Within walking distance is the special attraction “Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad”, here you can enjoy an unforgettable steam train excursion through the heart of Washington State! Take a step back in time and ride a vintage train, pulled by a steam locomotive, through the breathtakingly beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest. With stunning views of the mountains, farmlands and surrounding forests, this is a trip you will never forget.
A 1 hour and 15 minute, 12-mile (19 kilometer) round-trip excursion is a journey through forest landscapes aboard our vintage train. The cost is $14.00. The historic train is pulled by the 100-year-old steam locomotive, Polson 70, and features an open-air car, two historic Pullman passenger cars and a baggage car, which is outfitted as a gift shop and concession stand.

We continue the drive along the course of the Tilton and Cowlitz rivers to “Mount Saint Helens Johnston Ridge Observatory” in the heart of the eruption zone of this active volcano. Please note the “Spirit Lake Highway” to the observatory may be closed due to snow, landslides or eruptions. The observatory offers interpretive displays that tell the biological, geological, and human history of Mount St. Helens. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the volcano and the crater or take a walk (800 m) in the eruption zone. You can speak to the Rangers here and take part in guided walks to learn more about the 1980 eruption and the changes that continue to transform the landscape. During the walk you have a view of the lava dome, the crater, the pumice plain and landslides.

On the way back we stop briefly at the Hoffstad Creek Bridge viewpoint. It is the largest and highest bridge along the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway in Washington State. It is a deck-truss bridge with a main span of 183 m (600 ft). The new highway opened in 1991 and was built to replace the original highway that was destroyed by the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. The bridge won the 1996 Merit Bridge Award for a Long Span Bridge from the American Institute of Steel Construction Inc.

The final part of the drive takes you along Interstate I-5 to the town of Longview, which is located about 90 miles from the Pacific Ocean at the confluence of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. It is a relatively new city with a short but remarkable history. Less than 75 years ago, the area where Longview now stands was sparsely populated wilderness and rural farms.
At the time of its conception, Longview was the only planned city of its size ever conceived and built entirely with private money. Longview was the direct result of industrial expansionism.

What makes Longview different from most towns that have emerged throughout history is that it was completely planned down to the last sidewalk and street name before construction ever began. Originally, this planning allowed the city to grow inward along organized lines, with separate areas for business, industrial, and residential areas. There are many coffee shops and parks in Longview and you can enjoy the peace and quiet.