A very interesting hobby and motive to explore. I can definitely offer a couple recommendations to further your plan.

> Sno-Isle Regional Library

> Snohomish County, excluding Woodway

> Island County

Sno-Isle is the library system for most of Snohomish and Island Counties. I've visited two, and they're both good ones if you want to explore:

• The Snohomish Library is fairly new and quite nice (as it darn well better be, considering the size of its share of my property tax bill). It's close to a touristy historic downtown area along a river with lots of little shops, with plenty of dining options for lunch, or the parking lot is a good starting place for a jog or bike ride on the Centennial Trail. A few dining options include Spada Farm House Brewery (typical brewpub), The Repp (a bit upscale, but reasonably priced), and Snohomish Pie Company (I haven't tried it, but I hear their pot pies are great).

• The Mukilteo Library is also new and nice. It backs right up to a gulch that serves as a nice park with a few short hiking trails. After you see the library, you'll want to continue along highway 525 to the waterfront. On the way there, you will pass the Future of Flight Museum, which sometime this year should start hosting the Boeing Factory tour again (it stopped during the pandemic) if that interests you. The waterfront park charges for parking, but it's worth it. Arnies is a somewhat upscale restaurant near there, but my choice for lunch would be Diamond Knot Brewery. Then take a walk-on ferry ride. There's not much extra to see on the other side unless you have time to bring your car and drive further on Whidbey Island, but you can get a coffee near the terminal, and I think the Clinton library is within walking distance of the terminal. The main motivation is simply that the ferry rides are really pleasant on sunny day. If it's starting to get chilly when you get back to Mukilteo, clam chowder from Ivar's is a classic for a Mukilteo visitor.

> Lewis County, excluding Mossy Rock, Napavine, Pe Ell, Vader

> Pacific County

> Timberland Regional Library

Timberland Regional Library covers much of Lewis County and the areas west of there.

• Centralia would be my top pick there. The town is really similar to Snohomish - a small historic downtown with lots of antique shops and a mix of bars and restaurants. The library was built with one of the original Carnegie grants, although has since then been expanded. It's right in the middle of a typical city park, with a monument for the Centralia massacre, if you want to learn some history. I also think the historic train station nearby is kind of neat. There aren't as many dining options, and my choice would be McMenamin's Olympic Club. It's not as nice as some of the newer McMenamin's, but like most of their restaurants, it has it's own unique quirkiness.

• Honorable mention - I have not visited the Ilwaco library, and it's a long drive, but it looks like it also is part of Timberland, and Ilwaco is in a great area. Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is a must-visit stop on this trip. If you have time, also see the North Head lighthouse, before making your way to Long Beach. I don't know dining options, but Long Beach is probably the better bet for lunch, and maybe to get some saltwater taffy.

> Chelan County

• Leavenworth, any time of year, but winter might be its most scenic. I've not been to the library, but the town is Bavarian-themed tourist trap in an incredibly scenic part of the state. It might turn out not to be your thing, but you will want to visit Leavenworth at least once to say you did it. They have a big Oktoberfest, which is much too crowded for my taste, but on less crowded days the town is rather charming, despite the kitschiness of it. Beer and brats are available from multiple places, and I don't have a specific preference for any of the options for brats. Icicle Brewing is popular and good for a local pub. My own favorite restaurant there gets overlooked by probably most people, because it's in a basement, it looks cheap, and the service isn't always the best, but King Ludwigs has great German food (not to be confused with Ludwig's Gasthaus). This might also turn out not to be your thing, but personally I'd put just about anything on their menu that is served with spaetzle and rotkraut up against any German food I've had anywhere else.