The mighty Columbia River begins in Canada at the Rocky Mountains and takes a winding path through eastern Washington before making its way to the Pacific. Along this route is the astonishing Columbia River Gorge, and a section here on this area is extremely useful -- and inspiring. But not everything in the regions discussed here is merely scenic: a prominent relic of the World's Fair is the Space Needle with a shaft rising 605 feet and supporting the flying saucer-shaped floors near its crown -- a remarkable vision of the future seen from the past, and it's just one of the many delights that will be opened to the reader by this comprehensive guide to two great regions. You may as well start saving for that trip right away... --Barry Forshaw