The Mountain Is Out

Today is all about Mt. Rainier, which you will approach from the south. After finishing your complimentary breakfast at the hotel, get on the road by 9am so you can arrive at this observation site by a little after 10. This roadside pullout is about 16 miles before the town of Packwood. This is a great spot to stop and take a picture before getting closer.

After your walk, go to the nearby Wildberry Restaurant, which is frequented by people exploring the national park. It serves hearty dishes of authentic Sherpa-Himalayan Nepalese cuisine.

Upon reaching the Mount Rainier Visitor Center, find a parking spot in the designated lot and embark on a trail adventure that will guide you to the waterfall and observation decks.

Exploring Myrtle Falls is a good way to get a taste of Mount Rainier National Park. The falls is only a quarter of a mile from the parking lot, making this an easy walk with an incredible reward of 72-foot waterfall. You'll also get great views of Mount Rainier from this vantage point. Visit this website for more information about Myrtle Falls.

The Nisqually Vista Trail is so named because it gives you some dynamite views of the Nisqually Glacier. It is only 1.2 miles round-trip, so it should be a nice complement hike to the Myrtle Falls stroll you took before this. That way, you can see more of the park during your day here. One great advantage of this trail is that it is one of the only ones in the park that is paved.

This restaurant is located in downtown Tacoma. They serve an inspired mix of entrees and appetizers, from wood-fired pizza to peel and eat shrimp with Cajun spice. They do seat walk-ins, though reservations are recommended.