MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK

 Though Trish and I have seen Mt. Rainier from a distance many times, we had never visited the National Park itself. The drive was so beautiful even before we got to the Park. The highway was bounded by very tall Douglas Fir trees that made the highway quite dark as they pushed the sky high above us.

When we got to the Park entrance we did not know that the real beauty and charm were just beginning.

We had about seven more miles to go to get to the Park Inn and the drive now was mystical and magic.  It felt like we were truly in another magical world.

The National Park Inn here has only twenty-five guest rooms, only eighteen with private baths.  But, we plan so far ahead of time, we had no problem getting a room with a bath.  The National Park was established in 1889 and was the fifth National Park in the system.  We loved staying right up in the Park itself. Our room is the one on the second floor that has two windows.

The trees here are dominated by gigantic Douglas Firs, many of which are hundreds of years old.  This slice preserved at the museum shows an amazing example.  It was cut outside the Park by one of the nearby lumber companies in the 1960’s and is labeled with historic dates in its lifetime.

The day we arrived the clouds were low and there was no Mt. Rainier in sight!  We wondered whether it was really visible from where we were. The following morning was totally clear and suddenly the mountain was there, right off the front porch of the inn.  

As we watched and the clouds began to move, they began to look like a gigantic cloud-bird hovering above the mountain!  This was overall a very magical visit that we are glad we made together!