Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is an active volcano, ascending 14,410 feet above sea level.  Mount Rainier National Park was established by Congress in 1899. Although the park appears close in distance from Seattle, allow a couple of hours driving time.

Myrtle Falls at Mt. Rainier

The Mount Rainier National Park has a number of hiking trails, ranging from less than one mile to the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
Short trails include:

• Emmons Vista Trail - .5 miles round trip
• Trail of the Shadows - .7 mile round trip trail
• Nisqually Vista Trail - 1.2 mile loop
• Grove of the Patriarchs Trail - 1.5 miles round trip
• Kautz Creek Trail - 2-miles round trip

Michelle on the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail

If you are interested in climbing above 10,000 feet or on glaciers, you are required to register and pay a fee. Ask at visitor centers for more information.


Visitor Centers in the park include:

• Longmire
• Paradise 
• Ohanapecosh
• and Sunrise

Two of the best views of Mount Rainier can be seen at the Paradise and Sunrise locations in the Mount Rainier National Park. Paradise is the most heavily visited area in the park. Sunrise is only open from July to late September.

Wildlife that can be seen in the Mount Rainier National Park include:

• chipmunks
• squirrels
• marmots
• pikas
• Steller's jays
• Clark's nutcrackers
• gray jays
• ravens
• black-tailed deer
• black bears
• mountain goats
• and elk

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, visit the National Park Service's web page for Mount Rainier!

Snoqualmie Falls

"The 270 foot drop off a ledge of volcanic rock inspired Charles Baker's vision of the world's first fully underground hydropower plant."

Snoqualmie Falls, actually only 268 feet, is Washington State's most popular waterfall.  The park offers free parking and a free viewing area.

There is an easy hiking trail, 1.2 miles round trip, to the bottom of the falls.

Tip: As you are driving towards the park, watch for overflow parking on the opposite side of the road.  It kind of jumps up on you, but will easier to get into than the parking lot right in front of the park.

Free to See Seattle

I remember the first time I went to a Sculpture Park, it was in New Orleans.  It was hard to believe such a neat attraction could be free to see....  While you're in Seattle, check out The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park.  It is free to see, and open daily!

Here's an unusual fact about Seattle.  As you probably know, the Boeing Everett Factory is the largest building (by volume) on Earth.  But, did you know, that before air circulation was perfected in the 1960's, clouds used to form inside the plant and at times it would actually rain, indoors!

What's Free to See:

Snoqualmie Falls 

Frye Art Museum   

704 Terry Avenue

Seattle, WA 98104

Gates Foundation Visitor Center

440 Fifth Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

Free concerts at Benaroya Hall. While there, discover the 26 foot tall, 4,490 pipe Watjen Concert Organ.

See the Fish Ladder at Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as Ballard Locks.  The locks provide a link for boats (and fish) between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal.  Free guided tours are given from March 1st thru November 30th.

The Carl S. English Botanical Gardens is one of Seattle's best kept secrets!  The gardens houses more than 570 species and 1500 different varieties from around the world.

Pioneer Square - historic buildings dating back to 1852

Pike Place Market

The view from the bar at The Edgewater Hotel.

Jimi Hendrix Memorial Site

View Seattle, Washington in a larger map

More to See:

• Seattle Aquarium
• Space Needle
• Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour
• Pacific Science Center
• The Museum of Flight
• Woodland Park Zoo

Getting Around Seattle/Transportation:

• The Seattle StreetCar fares are a mere $2.50 and only $0.75 for Seniors.
• Metro  - fares range from $2.25 to $3.00 and $0.75 for Seniors
• Taxi - $40 flat rate from airport to hotel district. $2.50 meter drop + $2.70 per mile.
• Seattle Monorail  - $2.25 and $1.00 for Seniors
• More Transportation Tips for you! 

What's close by:

• Mount Rainier - an active volcano ascending 14,410 feet above sea level
• Olympic National Park - Mount Olympus is the highest peak in the park at 7,980 feet, and receives over 200 inches of precipitation each year. 
• Bainbridge Island
• Almqist Family Vintners offers free tastings.
• Cascade Tunnel - longest railroad tunnel in the United States at 41,200 feet.