LITTLE LODGES FOR WINTER ESCAPES

NATIONAL PARK INN

MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON

There’s something incredibly intimate about staying at the National Park Inn in Mt. Rainier National Park. The 25-room National Historic Landmark is part of the Longmire Historic District that includes the Longmire Museum, and the 1928 National Park Service Administration Building, which is now a Wilderness Information Center. The district is a wonderful example of national park “parkitecture.” But what might be best about the Inn and its setting is that it seems so small against the backdrop of 14,411 foot high Mount Rainier. The massive stratovolcano can dwarf just about anything!

Guests can spend their day snow shoeing (there are even park ranger led treks), cross country skiing or just hunkering down in front of the fireplace. Paradise Inn closes for the winter, so this is the only accommodation in the park open year round. (The snow park 13 miles from National Park Inn in Paradise Valley opens Dec. 18 and offers tubing, skiing, snowboarding and old-fashioned snow-time fun.)

Originally built as the Longmire Spring Hotel in 1916, the Inn burned in 1926 and the annex (now the inn) was rebuilt in 1935 and renovated in 1989. Last time I stayed there it was May, but a blizzard made me feel like it was January!

Amazingly, there are rooms available at the Inn for the holidays. The park is just 54 miles southeast of Seattle. What a place to have your Currier & Ives fix! If you’re interested in other winter stays, the mid-week, two night getaway with your second night FREE is hard to beat. The special rates begin at $110 a night, Sunday trough Thursday and excludes the holidays. A full breakfast comes with standard rooms (not specials).

If you can’t go, think of this as another gift experience. Gift certificates are available.

Call 360-569-2275 for information and reservations or www.mtrainierguestservices.com/