During a quick trip to Mount Rainier National Park, we pulled over to a viewpoint for Christine…read moreFalls. I had no idea to expect such splendor with a waterfall perfectly positioned behind a bridge. If you follow the trail there is the perfect picture spot. It makes a great spot to relax or enjoy a snack after the drive to the park.

Just a few miles east of Longmire is this beautiful waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park…read more Christine Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that plunges underneath a historic arched bridge. There is a small pullout on either side of the bridge. I missed the pullout the first time I drove to Christine Falls. So keep an eye out for it because it comes up quick as you turn the corner. There is also no sidewalk to walk on when walking to the short path to the falls. Be careful of passing cars. You get a nice view of the falls once you get to the overlook. Christine Falls is named for Christine Van Trump. She is the daughter of Philemon Beecher Van Trump. He and his partner are credited with the first ascent of Mount Rainier in 1870.

A fun, historic place to walk by. Beautiful architecture. There was not much information posted…read moreabout the history, but still enjoyable.

This is also called OSPI: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Directly…read moreacross the street from Sylvester Park. If you still can't find this place because the GPS told you I that you arrived in the middle of the street near the farmer's market, look for Hotel Olympian Barber and Styling Shop and then you will see it. Ring the doorbell on the castle and they will let you in. Friendly folks.

We booked this place for 10 days and opened it a month old since Covid. Rooms are newly renovated…read moreso yeah - Chaching! We scored! It was an honor to be part of this historic landmark hotel which was established circa 1912. There are 9 rooms in which 5 rooms have their own private bathroom. The other 4 shared two bathroom. Each rooms are named after favorite local hiking trail. Each room are also decorated with combinations of William Morris wallpapers with dark and light hues. If you see it in person, it seems like you're time traveled from the first time it was established. They were also able to preserved some of the original wood and decorations inside this historic hotel. Alyssa one of the staffs is the most kindest and warmest person who always greeted us. Her and other staffs worked so hard together to keep the place going and cozy as much as possible. There's also a fire place that's available to use during winter. Also a complimentary coffee, tea and cider to help warm you after a chilly hike somewhere. Every where yo set your eyes in this place has a very special touch from people whose involved in this place. Glad we stayed here throughout our Juander Mt. Rainier. Best decision to book here! The creaky floor was one of the original thing here so t'was a fun bonus. Walk slowly fellow Juanderers.... Cons: Price is too steep and for the 10 days that we booked here we only got 10% discount and at the time they don't serve breakfast nor dinner. No microwave available for everyone to use, it would be nice if they put one and is available to use at any time. Would love to come back and hopefully they'll give a certain big discount next time. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

What a gem!!! My wife found this place online and was I ever glad that she did!!! A gorgeously…read moreupdated historic building that is comfortable, clean and amazing! My only regret is not getting to stay longer.

Very photogenic. Beautiful 1890s historic Queen Anne Victorian. Great architecture. Worth taking…read morea look at and snapping some pictures.

I don't know about you, but I'm a fan of dam overlooks. They're a nice way to safely view a marvel…read moreof civil and structural engineering, but from a safe distance. And this dam overlook is no exception. With sweeping views up and down the Columbia River, a trail, interpretive signage, a display of ancient hieroglyphs and even a ginormous dam turbine there is literally something for every dam visitor. With plenty of dam parking, a large dam restroom facility and several lovely places for a dam picnic the Wells overlook is more than just an interesting dam stop - it doubles as a rest area and a place to stretch the ol' legs while driving through the Okanagan.

Wells Dam is an impressive presence in Douglas County in Washington and tourists as well as locals…read moreuse the Wells Reservoir for fishing, hiking, boating and camping. This review is for the recreation area just off SR 20 as I desperately needed a place to use the bathroom after a very long drive. The Wells Dam serves a source of hydroelectric energy and can pass a flood of over 8,800,000 gallons of water per second! It is also an important project that ensures the safe passage of migrating Salmon and Steelhead through the dams and has a fish ladder that allows them to get to the other side. It also allows scientists to catch some for studying (and maybe eating as well). The Wells Dam project also dedicates its time to hatching/breeding a variety of fish such as land-locked Chinook, White Sturgeon, Trout and Kokanee. It was deserted when we got there on a weekday around noon and there was a nice parking lot, a clean bathroom (hooray!), donated doggie bags for scooping your dog's poop, an impressive view of the dam and the surroundings and lots of signage. A lot of money and thought went into this rest stop for tourists and/or locals frequenting the area. It would be a nice place for a picnic under their pavilions for a quick lunch, a bathroom break in clean non-porta potty toilet, a photo op and a bit of history to help fill your afternoon with memories.

Neat little vista point on the way up to Mount Rainier National Park! It isn't anything…read morespectacular, but it's a cool little stopping point where you can view a distant waterfall (Skookum Falls) and the White River. Skookum Falls is a pretty faint view from the road, but there's a sign before you reach it which will give you some time to pull off into the parkway. This vista point features some information about Mather Memorial Parkway and also provides direct access to the White River. Not sure if it was because of the season, but the White River wasn't very white. In fact, it's as hella muddy and brown. Still a nice little viewing point and a great rest break during your drive from Seattle. Apparently there's a hiking trail somewhere near here but I didn't see it. All in all, a visit to Skookum Falls makes for a nice stop along the way to Mount Rainier.

This review is based off of the 4 mile total hike that leads you to this viewpoint up close. It is…read morenot a loop hike, so it is 2 miles to and 2 miles back. Im not sure if its because its a hot sunny day that the flow of the waterfall was weak, but definitely wrong timing to visit. Went on a hot sunny Saturday, started our hike at around 1 pm and reached our destination at around 2:30 pm. It was an easy hike as this is all mostly flat. The only difficult part of the hike was one sharp decline to the fall/sharp incline back. There was also barely anybody at the hike, so it feels like a pleasant hidden hike. There are a few paths along the hike that take you away from the main trail. The paths lead you to places where you can make a fire pit at night and enjoy the river up close or just relax and dip your feet in the water in between your journey to the viewpoint. You can walk further past this viewpoint to the entrance to Palisades Trailhead or just turn around to finish off your 4 miles. Some notes: you have to have NW pass to park at this hike. Otherwise, its a $5 fee. The lot is small, can fit only about 6 cars. There is a bathroom available at the parking lot. When facing the bathroom, just right behind you is the entrance to the hike. Overall, it is a nice warmup hike when you want to get back into hiking. I absolutely loved hearing the sounds of nature as you walk through to the viewpoint. It is a quiet and peaceful hike.

Berlin Wall Marker [Seattle WA]…read more Headed down Troll Avenue and right around the corner from the Fremont Troll is a chunk of concrete... but not just a chunk of concrete but a piece of history. Located under the Aurora Bridge (aka WA-99) and next to Cafe Turko is a priceless narrow piece of wall from the Berlin Wall. There is an inscription next to the slab of wall. It was placed there to commemorate the role of Boeing/Seattle in the 1948 Berlin Airlift... but wait, wasn't the Berlin Wall built in 1961? The piece arrived in Fremont in 2001. Review #3619

Went to see the Troll under the bridge and walked down toward the water and discovered this piece…read moreof history before I got to the water. It is the largest piece of the wall I have seen.

Want to feel alive. Stand in front of a powerful waterfall like Narada and you'll feel every part…read moreof you reacting. The mist hits your skin, the roar fills your chest, and for a moment you're just standing there, taking it all in. I was completely in awe. Then I spotted the rainbow and I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing. I know I use the word magical too often, but this felt unreal, but it was so real! Narada is the most accessible waterfall by car in Mount Rainier; you can practically drive right up to it. There's a designated parking lot that places you directly above the falls, and from there a short, steep trail winds down through mossy rocks and dripping ferns, only about 0.2 miles. We visited in July and the path was wet and muddy. Expect to get soaked and you'll welcome that relief in the summer months. I'll never forget this place. By far one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.

This was probably my favorite waterfall when I visited Mount Rainier National Park. Narada Falls is…read moresuch a pretty waterfall and easy to get to. The parking lot has a good amount of parking spots and also serves as a viewpoint. There are also restrooms here if you are in need of one. To access the lower part of the falls, you can cross over the stone-faced bridge to the short but steep trail to the bottom. The trail is 0.4 mile round-trip with a 200-foot descent/ascent. Once you reach the bottom, you will be able to see Narada Falls in its entirety. It is totally worth making the short hike down to see this impressive waterfall. Narada Falls drops around 180 feet in two tiers. The upper tier is a horsetail down a nearly sheer cliff and the lower tier is a smaller plunge. Narada Falls is a really popular tourist attraction and is located on the road from Longmire to Paradise. After I went through the Nisqually entrance, Narada Falls was one of the first stops that I made here at Mount Rainier National Park. It is about a 15 mile drive from the entrance and a mile from Paradise. Narada Falls is the largest waterfall accessible by car in Mount Rainier National Park.

Here is something new. A courthouse with huge colorful Chihuly glass art decoration hanging from…read morethe ceiling right in the middle. How cool is that! First of all, the ancient building itself is quite a masterpiece. I love the big Rome style round roof with beautiful decorations. The rustic red brick and green sculptures reminds you of those old ages. Its old name 'UNION STATION' is still painted at one side of the building reminding people of its old glorious days. The first thing draw your eyes is the huge glass art piece hanging from the ceiling in the center. You can always a Chihuly piece from others by its distinctive beautiful colors and Medusa hair shape. Usually you expected to see one in fancy mall, hotel or museum, but not in a federal court house. You got to admit it sure added some color to this place. And at the second floor there is another Chihuly art piece, lots of color as well, and kind of like herd of tadpoles swimming in a pond. Downstairs is the cafeteria, restroom and some historical exhibitions. The soda machine here is quite cheap, only 50 cents for a can. Over the window you can see the glass museum cross the highway. Please note that bring your Id when visiting the place, because the guard will check it. It's a federal courthouse after all.

Nice piece of history, revamped into the courthouse. Staff was great and let me explore.read more