We were visiting Seattle for the Pearl Jam Home Shows and decided to take a drive out to Mount Rainier. It takes about two hours to reach the edge of the park and a couple more to drive through. We only had the one day so we fit in what we could.
We followed Mather Memorial Parkway until we eventually veered off towards Paradise Road. After paying our entrance fee, our first stop was the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail. It was a very enjoyable and easy hike through the forest of enormous, ancient trees. We also crossed a neat little suspension bridge!
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail 
Suspension Bridge 
We continued on Paradise Road which took us to the Henry M Jackson visitor center. Of course we stopped inside to grab some patches, stickers and pins (MERCH WHORES.) Directly behind the visitor center starts the Skyline Trail with steps quoted by the great John Muir.
“…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings”
– John Muir
The Skyline Trail, IMO, was pretty strenuous! I was amazed by the children going up and down the mountain path because we were struggling! The John Muir quote is perfectly placed because the mountain side was covered in colorful flowers.
Our final (and favorite) stop of the day was Christine Falls. As we drove across the stone bridge we caught a glimpse of a waterfall. We immediately pulled over and were surprised with the size of this thing! I love the view of the waterfall behind the stone bridge!
Christine Falls
That was all we could fit in for the day. I’m very pleased with everything we were able to see! On our way back to Seattle we got a speeding ticket!! Oddly enough, the police officer was also wearing a Casio calculator watch (Holllaaaa 90’s throwback!) I really thought we bonded but the ticket says otherwise, lol!