Front desk of National Inn
National Inn entrance
Paradise Inn at the top of Mr. Rainer
Inside of Paradise InnOn our trip to the West (on our way to our son's wedding), we decided to take a couple of extra days for travel and sightseeing. Mr. Rainer in the state of Washington seemed like a wonderful place to visit. Besides, at the base of the mountain is one of the lodges that is pictured and featured in our Lodge Book at home, Paradise Inn.
Yesterday we traveled lots of miles so we could be close to Mt. Rainer today and spend the day leisurely in the lodge having lunch and maybe taking several hikes in the area. Well, our trip to Paradise Inn was certainly an adventure. My husband always says that it is not so much the destination as it is the trip. He was right there! Quite a trip, I must admit. We got into the National Park and all the way to the west entrance (Stevens Canyon Rd for those of you familiar in the area) and discovered that the entrance was close, not to be reopened until August 2009. Too late for us. So, we looked at the map, readjusted our GPS, and headed back the way we had come. Into the small town of Packwood, turning right at the direction of "Samantha", our guide, and we kept driving for another 5 miles. Yep, ROAD CLOSED! We turned around and drove back into Packwood all the while Samantha cries, "Turn around, turn around." (She didn't get the memo either.)
In Packwood, we filled our car with gas and had the best lunch at the little gas stop, Tatoosh Food Market and Gas Station. We gobbled it down, not even realizing that we could have turned our heads and looked out the window and looked at Mt. Rainer. I was terribly disappointed. I had imagined this cozy little lunch at the Paradise Inn Lodge not in some station. But, just as we had to "reprogram" our GPS, I had to reprogram my expectations and realize that "getting to Paradise" might take longer than we had planned.
We decided to forget about Paradise and take the drive back up north. By looking at the map, I thought this road would travel up along the east side of the mountain and I thought that could be quite interesting since the mountain looked big. Yes, the mountain is big and, you guessed it, the road does not go over that mountain but instead winds to the east of the mountain with occasional views of Mt. Rainer, usually to our back since we driving from south to north. When we had finished that drive, the afternoon was still young. I had the great idea that we should turn around and go back the way we had come, this time I would drive so my husband could see the scenery. Plus, by now I feel refreshed and decide that I am up for the long trip around to drive to the other entrance of the park.
By now we have crossed over some of these roads several times :) This time we didn't stop at Packwood but we continue traveling driving south, west and finally to the north to catch the western entrance of the road that would lead us to Paradise. That little trek was well over an hour in length.
We enter the park by paying our entrance fee and continue the climb upward driving slowly due to steep curves. (Yes, there is only one way to Paradise. John 14:6 ) On our way, we found another small lodge I think was called the National Inn. We stopped, looked around, and then went on our way to Paradise still over a half hour up the winding road. Finally, we get there. The pictures over exaggerated it's beauty from the outside but we hurried inside for the grand view. It was nice. I will post pictures soon. But for whatever reason, the staff did not seem very anxious to help. They were more interested in their social world there at Paradise. We had thought perhaps we would stay and eat supper at Paradise but on second thought, we decided to head back down the mountain.
On our way down, we decided to stop at the smaller, cute inn, National Park Inn, we had stopped at earlier. We had a wonderful supper in a secluded spot with a dining room all to ourselves, except for the waitress. After a warm meal, we headed back down the mountain, winding our way finally into the big city of Seattle.
All this to say, expectations are tricky, aren't they?! We almost missed a wonderful, warm experience at the neat gas station in Packwood where folks were real and honest and the food was Great. We almost missed a quaint, quiet supper at a quiet spot in the road. Someone wise has commented that it is a big revelation when we realize that it is the small events that are the big events.
Yesterday we traveled lots of miles so we could be close to Mt. Rainer today and spend the day leisurely in the lodge having lunch and maybe taking several hikes in the area. Well, our trip to Paradise Inn was certainly an adventure. My husband always says that it is not so much the destination as it is the trip. He was right there! Quite a trip, I must admit. We got into the National Park and all the way to the west entrance (Stevens Canyon Rd for those of you familiar in the area) and discovered that the entrance was close, not to be reopened until August 2009. Too late for us. So, we looked at the map, readjusted our GPS, and headed back the way we had come. Into the small town of Packwood, turning right at the direction of "Samantha", our guide, and we kept driving for another 5 miles. Yep, ROAD CLOSED! We turned around and drove back into Packwood all the while Samantha cries, "Turn around, turn around." (She didn't get the memo either.)
In Packwood, we filled our car with gas and had the best lunch at the little gas stop, Tatoosh Food Market and Gas Station. We gobbled it down, not even realizing that we could have turned our heads and looked out the window and looked at Mt. Rainer. I was terribly disappointed. I had imagined this cozy little lunch at the Paradise Inn Lodge not in some station. But, just as we had to "reprogram" our GPS, I had to reprogram my expectations and realize that "getting to Paradise" might take longer than we had planned.
We decided to forget about Paradise and take the drive back up north. By looking at the map, I thought this road would travel up along the east side of the mountain and I thought that could be quite interesting since the mountain looked big. Yes, the mountain is big and, you guessed it, the road does not go over that mountain but instead winds to the east of the mountain with occasional views of Mt. Rainer, usually to our back since we driving from south to north. When we had finished that drive, the afternoon was still young. I had the great idea that we should turn around and go back the way we had come, this time I would drive so my husband could see the scenery. Plus, by now I feel refreshed and decide that I am up for the long trip around to drive to the other entrance of the park.
By now we have crossed over some of these roads several times :) This time we didn't stop at Packwood but we continue traveling driving south, west and finally to the north to catch the western entrance of the road that would lead us to Paradise. That little trek was well over an hour in length.
We enter the park by paying our entrance fee and continue the climb upward driving slowly due to steep curves. (Yes, there is only one way to Paradise. John 14:6 ) On our way, we found another small lodge I think was called the National Inn. We stopped, looked around, and then went on our way to Paradise still over a half hour up the winding road. Finally, we get there. The pictures over exaggerated it's beauty from the outside but we hurried inside for the grand view. It was nice. I will post pictures soon. But for whatever reason, the staff did not seem very anxious to help. They were more interested in their social world there at Paradise. We had thought perhaps we would stay and eat supper at Paradise but on second thought, we decided to head back down the mountain.
On our way down, we decided to stop at the smaller, cute inn, National Park Inn, we had stopped at earlier. We had a wonderful supper in a secluded spot with a dining room all to ourselves, except for the waitress. After a warm meal, we headed back down the mountain, winding our way finally into the big city of Seattle.
All this to say, expectations are tricky, aren't they?! We almost missed a wonderful, warm experience at the neat gas station in Packwood where folks were real and honest and the food was Great. We almost missed a quaint, quiet supper at a quiet spot in the road. Someone wise has commented that it is a big revelation when we realize that it is the small events that are the big events.
1 comment:
The road to Paradise is narrow and few there be that travel there.
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