Photos by Cheryl Landes

On a beautiful day, there’s nothing better than just stopping to enjoy the view. Doing absolutely nothing is a good way to recharge at a time when we need it the most.

During a weekend day drive on a road we’d never followed, we discovered such a place at Mineral Lake, just north of the town of Mineral, Washington. We pulled into the parking lot at the public boat ramp, stopped, and enjoyed the scene of the sapphire lake and fall colors from shore.

We didn’t see any boats on the water that day. Maybe it’s because we arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday. The only sounds, except for an occasional passing car, were birds singing and rainbow trout jumping out of the water. The trout fly a foot or two and dive into the water.

The town of Mineral is best known for the trout fishing at the lake and the first unidentified flying object (UFO) sighting. On June 24, 1947, Kenneth Arnold reporting seeing nine brightly flashing disc-like objects flying in formation past Mount Rainier. This is where the term, flying saucer, originated.

One of the country’s smallest post offices, which is now empty, stands north of Mineral.

Learn more about the town of Mineral and Mineral Lake.