I feel like I have been having a secret infatuation with Mt. Rainier. Practically everywhere we went, we could see it peaking above the buildings and trees—when I then find myself trying to take a picture of it even if it's just a glimpse. Thus, we decided to visit the national park so we could see this beautiful mountain up close and personal (or as close as we could get because I am not hiking another mountain for a couple of years—another story, another time)! We drove down Mather Memorial Parkway (Route 410) and became excited when we saw the sign saying that we were entering Mt. Rainier National Park.
For awhile, it seemed like we were were getting closer to the mountain. And then...we saw a sign saying that we were exiting Mt. Rainier National Park. We're not really sure how we did that as we followed the directions—it wasn't until later that evening when I saw that we missed a turn when I looked at a map online—as I had only brought a print-out of the directions from Google Maps. (Where's the GPS or a phone with internet capabilities when you need them?)
We stopped at Chinook Pass to admire the beauty (as well head back) of Wenatchee National Forest. It was really windy while we were there, and CJ loved feeling the wind in his face. It's one of his happiest moments for sure!
On the other side of the street was a great view of Lake Tipsoo in front of Mt. Rainier. We decided to explore around the area for a bit since we were there! (It was already mid-afternoon, and we didn't want to be driving around a mountain all evening.)
We didn't make it as close to Mt. Rainier as we wanted to, but Yakima Peak and Lake Tipsoo were great misadventures.
It's definitely fall here.
Taking every opportunity to skip stones.
Lake Tipsoo
Last pose in front of Yakima Peak. It's absolutely gorgeous in the fall!
Mt. Rainier National Park
Phone: (360) 569-2211
We decided to explore Downtown Tacoma on foot after our morning excursion at
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Here are just some of the things that we saw during our walk:
This is the cutest bike ever! I would be the most cheerful person biking around if I had pink flowers in my basket everyday. The best part was that it was parked in front of
Hello, Cupcake. I went in there and wanted to buy every cupcake (I love baking cupcakes and watching
Cupcake Wars). Luckily, I have great self-restraint—most days.
I am so glad we made a right onto Jefferson Avenue after walking through UW Tacoma's campus. If not, we would have missed
Old Spaghetti Factory. Now we know our next dinner spot! Mmm...Spaghetti with Mizithra cheese and brown butter is so good!
Loving the changing of colors.
Artwork by Dale Chihuly
Union Station Courthouse
View of Union Station from the Chihuly Bridge of Glass
This is a ceiling made of different glass shapes. I loved how it made me feel like I was walking underneath water.
Crystal Towers at the
Museum of Glass. If we didn't have two little kids that like to run around and touch everything, we would have visited the museum. Sadly, we didn't want to have an expensive accident. Perhaps when they're older, we'll visit the museum!
Spiderman Moment
When we drove to Owen Beach the other day, we noticed that there was a zoo at Point Defiance Park, too; so I thought it would be a great place to take the kids while the hubby was working during the week. We visited Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium one morning, but many of the animals seemed to be sleeping while we were there. I guess it was nap time for almost everyone since CJ was napping, too. TJ, however, was so excited to see all the animals. We walked all over the park searching for them. It's not an overreached expectation from him since it is a zoo, so I felt terrible when they were sleeping or in hiding.
These Sumatran tiger cubs were only 4 months old when we went to visit.
These siamangs were climbing all over the place.
I wish I took an overview photo of the North Pacific Aquarium. It's this huge tank that looks like a shipwreck in the Puget Sound.
Tube Anemone
TJ trying to peak over and see the fish.
Can you spot the seahorse?
He could watch the seals swimming all day.
Watching the walruses swim around and around.
Right before we left, I took one look back and saw Mt. Rainier, so I had to take a photo!
The best part of our time at the zoo was when TJ and CJ were touching sea life at the Marine Discovery Center and playing at the Kids' Zone, which was our last stop of the day. I loved that I decided to live in the moment with my kids instead of trying to capture it for once. Guess you'll have to visit the zoo to see what it looked like!
We're off to pick up the hubby and explore Downtown Tacoma.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Location: 5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98407
Phone: (253) 591-5337
Website: http://www.pdza.org
Did you ever have that morning where you ended up doing something unexpected? Looking at these pictures, I'm pretty sure that we were supposed to go back to the hotel room after we dropped my hubby at work. Instead, we took a 30-minute drive southwest from Tacoma to play at the Hands On Children's Museum in Olympia. Just because the kids are wearing pajamas doesn't mean they can't have fun outside the home! (Note to self, though: Keep extra outfits in the rental car for situations like these.)
The Hands On Children's Museum was smaller than I expected—in comparison to The Children's Museum in Seattle. Size didn't matter, though, because it had more than enough exhibits to entertain my kids.
Driving the dump truck in the Build It! room.
CJ bringing the rocks over to the back of the truck. What good team work! (Except I still think TJ got the better end of this deal.)
This is the coolest contraption. There's two parts to it, and I should have taken a video of how it works. There's are tubes in the middle of the room where you insert the balls. You press a button until the air has lifted it up and above. Then you pull down the lever, and watch the balls go down the obstacle course on the wall into a bucket.
The future is in your hands!
I love this age where they love to play with themselves in the mirror. (He was 8 months when this was taken.)
Once he saw Thomas, there was no going back.
Thomas the Train set found.
Seriously, what is the obsession with Thomas the Train? I feel like it's a natural inclination for toddlers. Whenever they see it, they just want to play with it for hours, and it takes a lot of work to get them away.
The children's museum is a block away from the capitol, so we were able to pass by it on our way back to the car.
A Closer View
Glimpse of Capitol Lake
Hands On Children's Museum
Hours: Monday - Saturday (10:00 am - 5:00 pm); Sunday (12:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Admission: Adults (2-61): $7.95 / Seniors (62+): $6.95 / Toddlers (12 - 23 months): $5.95 / Babies (<12 months): FREE
Location: 106 11th Avenue Southwest, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 956-0818
Website: http://www.hocm.org
We made it to Owen Beach from our drive down Ruston Way! For some reason, walking around here reminded us of Twilight. (I know, I can't believe I read the series either; but no matter how upset I was with them, I wanted to know what happened next.) The woods, rocky beach and cloudy sky all added to the Twilight ambiance. All we needed were some vampires, werewolves and an antiheroine, and we're good to go!
I love how the pavement had different contest winning poems by locals engraved on different blocks. To read other Promenade Poems, click here.
Skipping stones was the activity of the day!
I tried to get a cool looking shot, but it's really hard when you have little flies swarming from out of the tree trunk while you're trying to do it!
Plants will grow anywhere.
Leading to a trail that we did not want to go on today.
Owen Beach
Location: 5605 North Owen Beach Road, Tacoma, WA 98407
Phone: (253) 305-1010
Website: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=80
We finally left Seattle and headed south for Tacoma. We looked at a local map and saw the word, beach, so that was our destination of the day. While we were on our way to Owen Beach, we drove through Ruston Way, a waterfront with great views of Commencement Bay, Mt. Rainier, Vashon-Maury Island, and Tacoma.
Now, I think if the pole wasn't in this shot, it would be better! Oh, well, that's what I get for snapping as we're driving.
Can you spot Mt. Rainier in this photo?
Views from Marine Park
The gorgeous views would give me motivation to run walk two miles a day.
Vashon-Maury Island
After we drove through Ruston Way, we headed for Owen Beach.
Ruston Way
Location: [Marine Park] 4303 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98302
Website: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=19
