TravelMorgan Stone GretherEx-Nihilo sculpture park, Washington, ashford, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, sculpture, travel

Rainier Day 1: Ex-Nihilo sculpture park

TravelMorgan Stone GretherEx-Nihilo sculpture park, Washington, ashford, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, sculpture, travel
Rainier Day 1: Ex-Nihilo sculpture park

Continuing my coverage of my July 2016 adventures for Travel Tacoma and Visit Rainier...

Between Ashford and Elbe, Washington, there is an outdoor gallery for an artist named Dan Klennert who builds animals, people, machines, you name it, out of old iron parts or driftwood. Some of it is truly astonishing to see. He calls his park Ex-Nihilo, meaning "something from nothing." And exploring Ex-Nihilo was a real treat.

Nice person in Portland, Oregon, and beyond.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherWildberry RestaurantWildberry Restaurant, prayer flag, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Washington, ashford, restaurant, travel

Rainier Day 1: Lunch at Wildberry Restaurant, Ashford

On our last stop before entering the Mount Rainier National Park, we pulled over for lunch outdoors at a lovely roadside cafe called Wildberry. It offers "authentic Sherpa-Himalayan Cuisine of Nepal" and has a big outdoor seating area. I most enjoyed the sunlit prayer flags fluttering in summer breeze. Our morning fog was finally burning off.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherWildberry RestaurantWildberry Restaurant, prayer flag, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Washington, ashford, restaurant, travel
Rainier Day 1: Lunch at Wildberry Restaurant, Ashford
TravelMorgan Stone GretherNarada Falls, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, waterfalls, travel

Rainier Day 1: Narada Falls

Up the road from Longmire and the Trail of Shadows is spectacular Narada waterfalls on the Paradise River. There are two sections of the falls, with the larger just under 170 feet long. Impressive! You can pull right off the highway to see it. Additionally you can hike down a short trail to the Inspiration Point viewing area near the base for a better view; it's a little steep but well worth it. 

TravelMorgan Stone GretherNarada Falls, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, waterfalls, travel
Rainier Day 1: Narada Falls
TravelMorgan Stone Gretherparadise lodgeTacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, Paradise Washington, Washington, hiking, mountains, travel

Rainier Day 1: Hiking in Paradise

Near the end of Day 1 in the Mount Rainier National Park, we stopped at the satisfyingly appropriately named Paradise, Washington, for some hiking and then a picnic dinner. The views were beyond description! And the weather for us was perfection, as the fog burned off Rainier just as we started on the trail. When you visit the park, Paradise is a must-see!

TravelMorgan Stone Gretherparadise lodgeTacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, Paradise Washington, Washington, hiking, mountains, travel
Rainier Day 1: Hiking in Paradise
TravelMorgan Stone GretherReflection Lake, lake, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, mountains, Washington, travel

Rainier Day 1: Reflection Lake

Reflection Lake is nestled in the foothills below Mount Rainier. There was just enough wind when we visited to send ripples across the water and prevent reflections of the mountain. Oh well! It was still absolutely gorgeous. 

TravelMorgan Stone GretherReflection Lake, lake, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mount Rainier, mountains, Washington, travel
Rainier Day 1: Reflection Lake