My family and some friends recently took a drive all the way around Mt. Rainier. Living right here in the heart of Washington, I can't believe we haven't done it before. We happened to have hit the most beautiful day this fall - not a cloud in sky. Crystal Mountain is where we started, checked out the new gondola being installed then ventured onto SR 410 which is beautiful in itself. We stopped for lunch and walked around Tipsoo Lake - a small lake right near Chinook pass with a gorgeous view of the mountain. The original plan for the day was to explore the Grove of the Patriarchs which I'd heard about a few months ago. It is a beautiful old growth forest that leads across the Ohanapecosh River on a suspension bridge to an island of huge old trees. The kids loved it - running through the forest somehow doesn't lead to arguing or complaining - nice. Some of these trees are over 1000 years old and enormous! It took 7 of us to wrap around a big cedar tree! We could have trekked home from there, but the sun was out and we wanted more so we kept going. Since the road to Paradise would be closed within just a few weeks, we had to take advantage. 
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The picture above is from the Paradise Innparking lot looking at the south side of Mount Rainier. The foliage was brilliant and the mountain was ominous. Everywhere you turned there was something else, the Tatoosh range right behind us, even a wild fox! So glad we hit the road to explore our state - we sure are lucky to live here.
I love my job, I love searching for homes that will be just right for my clients' needs and helping people transition from one home to the next. Our homes are where dreams begin, where we raise our children and enjoy our day to day lives but it's also nice to set out on an adventure, see all the beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer and know we're happy to call this home.
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