“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.”

After we packed our bags...we headed out of Walla Walla. Before we officially left, we decided to stop at Andrae’s Kitchen which was recommended to us by a server at one of the wineries. Andrae’s Kitchen sounded a little off the beaten path as it was a locally famous spot---located inside of a gas station. The chef of this establishment, Andrae Bopp has a very lengthy resume including Michelin Star restaurants. When we got up to the counter, I ordered Smoked Brisket Hash-which was a meal I will never forget---even though it was served in a Styrofoam ToGo container. Mark ended up getting “The Morning after” which included fried chicken, eggs, and more!

Our journey to Mount Rainier was about 4 hours. I honestly do not know what I was expecting to experience at this National Park, but I was overcome with awe as we entered. The first stop we made was at the Grove of the Patriarchs-a short hike that ended with a small rope bridge. The thing I remember most about this hike was the width of the tree trunks--they were bigger than my wing span! The next stop was Reflection Lake-a gorgeous stop with reflection views of Mount Rainier.

Finally, we began our big hike of the day-Skyline Trail. This trail had it all: Views, wildflowers. Waterfalls, glaciers, and more! This trail was long and elevated, but well worth the views! This trail began at the Jackson Visitor Center. The first probably half mile felt as though it was straight up. This was certainly one of those times I was so grateful to be in good physical shape because my lungs and legs would not have been able to handle this first portion otherwise. As the trail evened out, we had views of the waterfalls which were breathtaking! We ended our hike at Glacier Vista which had breathtaking views of the Glacier, mountain range, and Mount Rainier

After our hiking venture, we made our way to our accommodations for the night. Our lodging was at the Crystal Mountain Resort. It had the perfect mountain vibes-I can only imagine how awesome it is during the winter skiing months. We ate dinner at the Alpine Inn which was right on the resort and had some drinks at the Snorkeling Elk-an Austrian inspired dive bar with great beers on tap and a cozy feel.

I could not believe this place would be the official end of our hiking adventure as we headed for Seattle the following day. Being connected with nature brought me happiness and magic that I had never felt. I am so looking forward to taking another trip to experience the beauty this world has for us to explore.