Paradise is more than an "inn" it's Paradise!
Another wonderful Washington State attraction we visited with our Senior Citizen friends exploring another one of natures natural wonderlands. One of our guests had actually worked in the park many years ago, when the fuel pumps were hand operated, you will fill the tube with the amount of gas to dispense and lower the nozzle into the top of the gas tank and dump the fuel in the tank. As I always love traveling with the greatest generation to live, the fact many of our companions not only know the history of the area, they remember when motorized vehicles first visited Paradise, way too cool!
First thing you notice is the silence on the mountain and at the Paradise Inn, no freeways, airplanes, cell phones, land lines, T.V.s or computers (Caution Internet Withdrawal Is Possible). It has been some time since I've enjoyed sitting in a public area not listening to someones annoying personal ring tones let alone the mindless conversations into a cell phone, you know what I mean; people talking about what they ate last night, who they saw and how much they drank at the bar! So when I say Paradise it is meant in more ways than just the views, vistas, wild flowers, wild animals roaming around but it is the serenity of being alive to experience this wonder of nature.
Now I'll say a couple of things about the Inn before we chat about the wonderful water falls, snow, star gazing and other rewards of this Park and Reserve. The Paradise Inn is a Historic Landmark that allows the visitors to step back in time, maybe this was a luxury Inn during the early days of its existence, however; the lack of modern amenities, dated rooms with paneling and screen less windows creates flash backs of the 60's for sure or my days of living in the states as a young teenager. I thought paneling was something only seen in a museum, guess I'm wrong. Imagine a wonderful soft bed with the best mattress, comforter (down) fluffy pillows but no phone, T.V., Internet and sharing the evening with the local insects, is this not paradise - well it is actually! After all no one goes to the Inn for a luxury spa visit, you go for the mountain, trails, wonderful skies filled with bright stars and rushing water falls, honestly you can hear the water flowing as you sit outside in the evening.
Paradise Inn Front View
The visit was spectacular, our bus trip from Seattle to Paradise on Mt. Rainier was with our favorite bus company on the West Coast, MTR Western, our drivers' name was Gene, he was excellent and very pleasant. We stopped in Longmire to stretch our legs and take a break before heading up to Paradise and the Paradise Inn. The new Henry M. Jackson Visitors Center is now open at Paradise and offer some wonderful movies on the history of the area and the Inn. Trails abound in all directions taking you for walks from .2 of a mile to over 3 miles, at any level you wish, my first walk was up to the water falls as seen below; my second walk was among the wide flowers and wonderful trees only to create such a wonderful illusion that the whole world is at peace! Just amazing, to top off the trails is of course the star gazing at night while the smells of the wood burning fireplaces at the lodge brings back thoughts of a safer world and calmer world.
Steps from Paradise Inn along the walking paths
After a long afternoon walk we stepped into the dining room to enjoy a wonderful casual meal with wine along with a nice dessert. In the main lobby with the roaring fires a gentleman played the piano to entertain the visitors while many sat at the large tables, built from old timber of the area; playing cards and enjoying each other, imagine inter personal interaction with a live person sitting right in front of you, what a real treat. Now, don't get me wrong I love the new technology of today but often miss the personal interaction with a real person in person. Would I go back to Paradise, you bet as often as I can find a group to go with the enjoy the wonders of the mountain, maybe as soon as next year. I'll pop in one more photo for you to view and hopefully get you interested in going to Mt. Rainier.
On of the many paths in Paradise around the Inn
On our way back to Seattle we had to pass on a visit to the Grove of the Patriarchs due to a road closure, it is one of the greatest spots to visit the old timbers of the area and once again step back in time that nature has preserved in a pristine manner. Don't miss this opportunity when the road construction is completed in late '12 or early '13. Another snap shot for you to enjoy of our luxury bus, we do travel in style and enjoy every moment of it, after all why not?
En-route we stopped at a special little food stop in Emunclaw, Washington called Krain Corner, this cafe has been around for over 100 years and the food was authentic, home styled and worth the stop under any conditions. We all highly suggest if you're ever in the area heading up to Mt. Rainier or Sunrise Mountain to take a short detour to this unique cafe. I will say when you drive up it appears your arriving to grandma's house not a restaurant, but don't be fooled and don't miss the stuffed animals, dolls, hand made items hanging on the walls and trinkets galore but most of all don't pass up on an affordable well prepared meal.
Classic travel adventures with our Senior Citizen friends and clients!
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