Roslyn, Washington still attracts fans of the hit TV series Northern Exposure

July 6, 1:53 PMSeattle Travel ExaminerSue Frause

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Two fellas from Texas take a picture of the Roslyn Cafe. Photos by Sue Frause.

When the TV show Northern Exposure first aired in 1990, it was a big hit and put the town of Roslyn, Washington on the map. Today, fans from as far away as Barcelona, Spain continue to make pilgrimages to this former coal-mining town in Washington's central Cascades. Founded in 1886 by the Northern Pacific Railroad, Roslyn is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. But there's also a new side of Roslyn, located just outside of town on 6,300 acres. It's Suncadia, a four-season resort community that feels a lot like Sunriver, Oregon with just a dash of Whistler, British Columbia. I stayed at the Inn at Suncadia, which overlooks the 18-hole Prospector Golf Course. The small inn has an upscale, earthy feel and includes 18 guest rooms and four suites, all with fireplaces. Not being a golfer, I used one of the inn's bicycles for a quick tour around the resort. The nearby Lodge at Suncadia, perched atop a 250-foot bluff overlooking the Cle Elum River and Tumble Creek Valley, features 254 rooms, the Glade Spring Spa and the resort's Swim and Fitness Center. There are several dining options, spa/golf/romance packages and pets are welcome with advance notice.

Downtown Roslyn is a firner mining town nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

But back to downtown Roslyn. I'm big on walking tours, and Roslyn has a dandy little map highlighting the landmarks, available at the Roslyn Museum. The most famous is the Brick Tavern. Built in 1899, it's the oldest continually operating saloon in the state. Local clay was used to make the bricks and the running water spittoon is the only working one in the area. The nearby Roslyn Theater used to house a mortuary until it was converted to a movie house in 1972. On the back of the building is a mural of a young Marlon Brando. Today, moviegoers stay warm thanks to the wood stove that heats the building. Local resident Steve Moore, who has lived in Roslyn since 1970, said he wreaked havoc with his ham radio when it interfered with the movie theater. These days, his ham signals are no problem, and he's living in one of Roslyn's historic buildings that he bought. Although not listed on the walking tour map, the Northern Exposure sites are easy to find — or ask a merchant. And even though the town no longer plays host to Northern Exposure Moose Days, which ran from 1999 to 2004, you'll still run into people looking for signs of the show. I spotted two dudes from Texas on Pennsylvania Avenue one afternoon, taking pictures of the much-photographed mural on the side of the Roslyn Cafe.  "I'm lookin' for the moose!" said fella No. 1, while the other said, "I'm lookin' for blondes."

A portrait of Marlon Brando on one side of the Roslyn Theatre, which is heated by a wood stove.

I kept walking, looking for slices of Sicily, Alaska. KBHR Radio is located in the Northwest Improvement Company Store on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Voice of the Last Frontier was where Chris Stevens (John Corbett) was a DJ. The intact storefront set is visible from the street. Cicely's Gift Shop still has a sign reading Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow) on its window. The shop and town have no shortage of Northern Exposure mooseabilia, including Moose Crossing signs and moose burgers on the menu. Another spot for a big dose of history is Roslyn Cemeteries, an easy walk from downtown. Situated on 15 acres, there are 5,000 graves included among the 26 separate ethnic, fraternal and municipal cemeteries. Here you'll find such signs as Sokol Lodge, Serbian Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Old Knights of Phythias and Red Men Lodge. And no foolin', there's even a Moose Lodge section. Heading back into town, I stopped by the Roslyn Brewing Company for an afternoon libation. Since 1990, the microbrewery has been producing both light and dark lagers, along with a nonalcoholic root beer. But suds weren't in the cards. The brewery and taproom are open only on weekends, and it was a Wednesday. Although there was a phone number to call for beer to go on a weekday. That's Roslyn.