Attractions
Northwest Trek
"Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a treasure for wildlife enthusiasts.
This 715-acre park has a little bit of everything: lakes, trails, meadows and plenty of animals. Northwest Trek is home to more than 200 North American animals.
See bighorn sheep, deer, Roosevelt elk, woodland caribou, mountain goats, bison and more up close from comfortable trams while touring the free-roaming area. Walk forested pathways to view grizzlies, black bears, wolves, bobcats, lynx, cougars, owls, eagles and wetland animals in beautiful natural exhibits. Five miles of nature trails await exploration and the Cheney Discovery Center offers exciting hands-on experiences."
Northwest Trek is a great option for sightseeing in the Eatonville area. The entry fee is inexpensive (less than $10) and you can see northwest wildlife in their native habitat. NW Trek is about 10 or 15 minutes from downtown Eatonville.
Mount Rainier
"Mount Rainier is an active Cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and glacial ice. The 14,410’ mountain is surrounded by lush old growth forests, spectacular subalpine meadows and a National Historic Landmark District that showcases the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s."
The entrance to Mount Rainier National Park is about 45 minutes from downtown Eatonville, and the visitor center is an additional 45 minutes, so plan on taking some time for this trip.
The visitor center is currently under construction, as is the Paradise Inn. Plan to bring a picnic with you and carpool if possible. The entry fee for one vehicle is approximately $15.
Mount St. Helens
"At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.
Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.
In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance."
Mt. St. Helens is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive south from Eatonville.
Downtown Seattle: Space Needle
Although expensive, on a clear day the view from the observation deck on top of the Space Needle is unbelievable: Seattle, Mt. Rainier, the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Olympics on the Olympic Peninsula to the east. Also check out the restaurant in the Needle; it slowly rotates so that you can get the entire view right from your seat!
Downtown Seattle: Pike Place Market
You have probably heard stories about Pike Place Market, or seen it in the film "Sleepless in Seattle". This is the place to watch the salesmen throw the fresh salmon you've just purchased and to pick up a bouquet of fresh northwest flowers!
