Mt. Rainier National Park, ABOUT 85 MI SOUTHEAST OF Seattle, was named for Mt. Rainier – the fifth highest mountain (14411 ft. ) in the lower 48 states. The Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at paradise has exhibits, films and a 360 degree view of the summit and surrounding peaks. Olympic National Park is one of the most outstanding places of natural beauty in the United States, with its jagged wilderness coastline; a lush, temperate rain forest; 60 odd active glaciers and the alpine contours of Hurricane Ridge. North Cascades National Park, a beautiful and remote park about 120 mi northeast of Seattle, holds some of the state’s most rugged mountains, craggy peaks and jewel-like lakes.


Two beautiful State Parks are perched on either end of the narrow Long Beach peninsula. Ledbetter Paint State park on the northern tip, is a wildlife refuge that’s good for bird watching. The dues at the very tip are closed from April to August to protect the nesting snowy plover. Black brant, sandpipers, turnstones, yellowlegs, knots and plovers are among the 100 spices known to inhabit the point. Fort Canby State Park attracts beach combers, hikers, fishermen and military history enthusiasts.