Pacific Northwest Road Trip— Day 10
May 2023
Oregon to Washington
We got an early start right after breakfast.
1st Stop: Rivers Coffeehouse and Bistro: Morton, WA
After almost 3 hours on the road, we opted to find lunch before entering Mount Rainier National Park. We found this cute place to have lunch. The sandwiches were delicious.
We entered the southwest entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.
2nd Stop: Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier National Park
https://mtrainierguestservices.com/accommodations/paradise-inn/
2 nights
The earlier clear sky was now cloudy, and fog had rolled in. (Which was really us just being in the clouds!) When we entered the park there was no snow, but driving up the mountain to Paradise Inn (only a mere 19 miles from the entrance) we knew we’d encounter snow but were surprised by the amount of snow in the month of May. The views we had of the snow-covered mountains were awesome.
Paradise Inn, built in 1916 is a national historic landmark. The lobby is large and inviting. Suspended above the lobby you will see 60 hand painted floral lampshades. The lobby is anchored by two oversized fireplaces with seating areas. Great spot to read, unwind, and relax.
There is a gift shop, dining room and a café where you can get coffee, soup, breakfast items, sandwiches, and alcohol.
The room was small, clean, and comfortable.
We had dinner at the lodge that evening. The food was delicious (we had the beef tenderloin) but expect to pay more for lodge food. Once again, when in remote national parks, you are at the mercy of the lodge and the amenities (and their prices) as it is a LOND drive to get to the nearest place outside the park.
Do you remember the 2 bottles of wine we bought yesterday at Phelps Winery? We had it opened, got 2 wine glasses, and sat by one of the massive fireplaces and met some wonderful travelers. A young man played the piano in the lobby making it a perfect evening.
Prior to the trip, we had watched videos of people visiting Mount Rainier in May and there wasn’t much snow on the ground. We checked the weather apps before we left which showed it to be relatively mild temperatures. The first day was cold and over 9 feet of snow on the ground.
Tips:
- Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes.
- Bring layers, warm pack-able jacket just in case. In 10 days the weather can quickly change.