Saturday July 15th:
We landed in Seattle after an uneventful flight and headed to the rental car area. We got an upgrade to a Toyota Highlander XLE which was a nice surprise and after getting all our gear put away and our spots set up we hit the road to our first stop, Diablo Lake Vista Point. We weren’t planning on going to the North Cascades today but we both felt pretty good considering it was a travel day and we just went for it. On the way we saw a nice little roadside shop and got some refreshments and then continued on to Diablo Lake. It was a pretty drive that followed the Skagit River which was pretty and icey blue. When we got there the parking lot was about 50% full so it was pretty busy but we could still enjoy it well enough. After this we stopped at Gorge Creek Falls and then headed for our hotel the Salish Inn in Anacortes. On the way however we saw a heard of elk far off in the distance and we noticed there was a parking lot so not sure if this is a migration route or what but it was awesome to see.
Sunday July 16th:
We woke up today pretty well rested. The Salish Inn was a fine place for night! We drove over to Sante Park for sunrise and it did NOT disappoint. It is looking over Padilla Bay and we timed it right and there was only one other person there.
After Sante Park we made our way over to the marina where we would go on our whale watching tour. We booked with the company Outer Islands Excursions. We checked in and just hung out until they were ready to board. Right from the dock we saw a seal! It was super foggy and moody but after a little bit it cleared. I noticed how similar the shorelines were to the north shore in Minnesota. We saw killer whales (including a baby or two), Harbor seals and sea lions! This trip was amazing and to see the happiness on Katie’s face and how overcome with joy she was was my favorite part.
After whale watching we went back to Anacortes and went to Anacortes Brewery. We had a couple beers and then had the spiciest Thai food we’ve ever had. Katie loves spice and it was borderline inedible. BUT we washed it down with some Thai beer and all was well. After dinner we just went back to the hotel and crashed.
Monday, July 17th
We woke up, had our coffee, checked out and hit the road to Deception Pass State Park. We were supposed to go here on our PNW road trip back in 2016 but that didn’t go to plan and you can read about that more here -> PNW Road trip October 2016 PART 1. We got there and it was awesome. The current was intimidating and it was obvious there was some sort of undercurrent. It was a beautiful morning and there was barely any people there. We wandered around for a while, used the bathrooms and then hit the road! After that we stopped at Alder lake on the way to rainier. The water was that gray/green glacier run off color you see in a lot of rivers around the Canadian Rockies. We were off to Rainier National Park. On the way we stopped at Base Camp Rainier for lunch and then entered the park. We got to use the annual pass lane and cruised by a line of people waiting to line to pay. Our first stop inside the park but was Christine Falls. It was a gorgeous 60ft falls that was outlined by a stone arch bridge! Next up just down the road was Narada Falls. We walked down about 200 steps to view the waterfall straight on. It was 168ft high and when the sun hits it you can see a rainbow. We were lucky enough again to be the only ones at this viewing platform and caught the rainbow! What a beautiful place! Then we went to Paradise Visitors Center. It was packed with people. So we were pretty quick to enter and exit after asking a ranger if we needed bear spray for our hikes the following day. They had said they get hazed regularly so shouldn’t be an issue but there has been a few sightings by Bench lake. After the visitors center we went to our hotel in Eatonville, WA. It was a regular old motel. We ate dinner at Myles Pizza Depot which was good and recommend. After that we just went to bed.
Tuesday July 18th
We woke up at 430 and left by 5am to get into the park. We really enjoy getting up early and getting to the sites early on our adventures as its typically quiet, less busy and more wildlife/better nature viewing. We swung open our motel door and were greeted with Rainier peaking at us in the distance. We headed to the park entrance and were greeted with no one in line. We went right to Reflection lake but it was a little cloudy (one of the downfalls of early rising) so we went to our next stop which was the Bench and Snow lake trailhead. Bench Lake was amazing and had a fantastic reflection of Rainier in it as it was perfectly calm. We hung out for 20 minutes or so and then went on to Snow lake. Snow lake was just as beautiful but in a different way. The water was more of an emerald green. We hiked back to the trailhead and then tried reflection lake again but it really didn’t even come close to Bench Lake so we went on to the Visitors center and then started the Skyline Trail. This hike was nice because it was mostly if not fully paved but it was a winding 30% grade the whole time. We walked through wild flower meadows, rock slides, snowy areas, streams, and wooded areas. We turned back at the Glacier Vista Trail which you could see the Nisqually Glacier. On the way out we stopped at Myrtle Falls. The whole walk back to the car we could see Mt Adams and Mt St. Helens. What a hike. Driving out of the gate there was at least a half mile long line of cars waiting to get in! On the way back to the hotel we stopped our favorite Basecamp restaurant for lunch. Then waited for our check-in time as we were tired from the day and ready to just hang out around our hotel Paradise Village Hotel. I believe it was owned by a Ukrainian family but there was a restaurant serving Ukrainian food onsite which we opted not to try but had decent reviews. There was quite a bit of construction going on around the grounds which was a little odd. It is definitely not your ordinary hotel. They had tiny houses, motel style rooms with kitchenettes, apartments and were in the process of building a patio. Clean, comfortable and economical with a fantastic location to the park. Once we were able to check in we just hung around our room and porch and had some beverages and snacks and went to bed.
Wednesday, July 19th
We got up early again and drove right through the gate again no waiting. Our first stop was Comet Falls Trailhead. We hiked up to a wooden bridge spanning Van Trump Creek. There were pot holes carved by centuries of water flowing through here. Next we went to Ricksecker Point Overlook and Nisqually Vista trail. Again, the whole day we were surrounded by very few people and could really enjoy what Rainier NP had to offer. We then headed for Paradise picnic area and then Longmire to go to the small visitor center, suspension bridge and old transportation center. We left the park and there was yet again another line and hit up the Basecamp restaurant and went back to the hotel to pack up and rest for our drive the following day.
Thursday July 20th
Today was Katie’s birthday! I really hope she enjoyed this trip and her day! We left Paradise early and headed for the coast! We found a spot on the ocean named Kalaloch Beach. It was really foggy pretty much the whole time we were there but could have been worse. It was sandwiched between HWY 101 and the Pacific. We got here mid day and there was a ranger led tour starting in a couple minutes. There were tide pools with little fish, star fish and loads of other ocean nature! Part of me wished we would have tagged along but the other part is glad we didn’t as we just like to do our own thing. After this we went to Hoh Rainforest even though we knew it was going to be a super long wait and crazy busy but it was also over an hour drive to our hotel for the night so we went and we waited an hour and half to get in and then when we did we were super lucky to get a spot to park and then it was a pretty cool place. It’s hard for me because when it’s super busy with people it kind of ruins an otherwise magical place. After we left we stopped at Ruby beach which was pretty but foggy still. Next we were on our way to Quinault Rainforest where we’d be staying. After a quick google maps search and found a pizza place with good review we stopped and we’re glad we did! Dino’s Pizza and Grill was an amazing low key place with a nice bartender/server who remembered us the next time we came too! After this we checked into our room at the Rainforest Village Resort. At first I was VERY disappointed in this place. It was crazy expensive and a place right out of the 70s. Nasty shag carpet, original mattress that felt like you were going to sink right through it to the floor, old gross tile and bathroom amenities, wood panels. The saving grace was the onsite shop (super expensive but convenient), the employees (very nice and pleasant) and the view. Katie thought it was cute! It was cute in a weird way.
Friday July 21st
We woke up and had our coffee and then walked down the road to the worlds largest Sitka spruce trailhead. Just under 59ft in circumference, 191ft tall and over 1000 years old! It was huge! What an amazing natural thing to see. After this small hike we went back to the car and went to the ranger station on the North side of the lake. We parked and walked the Maple Glade Rainforest Trail. We stopped in the ranger station and he was very helpful and knowledgeable. This place was just like Hoh but WAY BETTER because we were one of 3 other people we saw on the trail the whole time. We saw a banana slug! We then drove to the south side of the lake and hiked the Quinault trail to Cascade Falls. We then went to Dino’s again and he remembered our orders. Awesome guy and great food. When we got back to our room we got some beer, ice cream treats and sat by the lake just enjoying it. I had some stomach indigestion probably from the ice cream and beer but what are ya gonna do. We bummed around packed up and went to bed.
