National Park Service Week Starts Saturday, April 18 ~ Come Down for The Weekend!

John Muir-Library of Congress

Next week marks the 177th anniversary of the birth of John Muir, the famed naturalist and preservationist who is often referred to as the father of the national parks. If that name sounds familiar it's because he is also the founder of the Sierra Club. He climbed Mount Rainier in 1888 and was instrumental in the creation of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899. An ardent conservationist and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness, he famously walked a 1000 miles with no particular route in mind except to take the "wildest, leafiest, and least trodden way I could find." 

Maybe the Department of the Interior had John Muir in mind with its announcement of National Park Week. The weeklong celebration starts Saturday, April 18th.

Thanks to Nick Visser of the Huffington Post:

Now that spring has officially sprung, it's high time to go on an adventure. 

The Department of the Interior's rapidly growing Instagram account has been featuring stellar shots of sunrises and sunsets that showcase America's natural beauty. The National Park Service, a division of the DOI, oversees more than 400 sites and the DOI manages 500 million acres of public lands. 

The National Park Service is celebrating National Park Week starting Saturday, April 18.

All national parks ~ including heavyweights like Yosemite, Glacier, Acadia (and my personal favourite, our own Mount Rainier)~ are waiving entrance fees for the weekend to encourage everyone to get out there and find their park. 

FREE! has a real nice ring to it.

But, wait! You're going to need a place to stay!

I recommend the Muir Cabin at Mount Rainier. This cabin is an homage to John Muir and is reminiscent of the quiet, privacy, and serenity of the forest preserved in Muir Woods. To quote the National Park Service website: "When John Muir learned that William and Elizabeth Kent were naming a redwood forest near San Francisco in his honor, he declared, 'This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.' " 

This Muir Cabin is located in a setting so lush and verdant you feel like you are in the national park; a tree-lovers paradise!


Muir Cabin is the most secluded of all the cabins at Copper Creek. With over 750 feet of waterfront along Copper Creek, you can wander and relax in comfort and total privacy. 

There are no other buildings in sight; no road sounds, just the hypnotic sounds of the waters of Copper Creek.



After a walk around the acreage, enjoy the hot tub. Sit on the deck, put your feet up, and relax. End the evening with a shower for two. Snuggle under comforters filled with down. Rejuvenate!

In the morning, enjoy freshly made, freshly ground coffee ~ a Copper Creek Inn Special Blend. Enjoy!

So, come to Mount Rainier this weekend. And, if the "wildest, leafiest, least trodden way" appeals to you, you will find it during your stay at Muir Cabin. 

Reserve now!

Grateful every day for people working to protect the wild for generations to come!

Reserve Now! Muir Cabin at Mount Rainier

King 5 and Evening Magazine Best Cabins Two Years in a Row!

Mount Rainier National Park Website

Department of the Interior Instagram Account

Huffington Post ~ Nick Visser article with images

National Park Service

Catharine Gallagher's portrait of John Muir

See more of Catharine Gallagher's Studio and Artwork

Going for a Three-Peat! King 5 and Evening Magazine's Best Northwest Escapes Voting is Open! Please Cast Your Vote!

You may have noticed this logo 

at the bottom of the blog posts. 

Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn 

has been voted the best cabins in the 

Evening Magazine's Best Northwest Escapes 

two years in a row!

It's that time of year again.

King 5 ~ Evening Magazine ~ Best Cabins

Please cast your vote for Copper Creek Inn

http://nwescapes.king5.com/copper-creek-inn/biz/174378 

                                                     

Please cast your vote for Copper Creek Inn and tell your friends. Your vote makes all the difference. These cabins are wonderful. 

Thank you in advance for helping Copper Creek Inn ~ going for a Three-Peat!

Hello, Spring! Mount Rainier is calling . . .

Yes, it is true. It's been a mild winter. And, spring means ~ wild flowers! From now until the first frost, there are meadows and meadows of wild flowers on Mount Rainier. Check out the Forest Service Wild Flower Report hotlink below to see what is blooming and plan your trip.

Copper Creek Inn is in the news!

Last week, I was having breakfast with a friend. Great pancakes and a really long line. As I walked up to put my name on the list, I saw the Seattle Times Sunday edition. The first page headlined, "Rainier Retreat ~ Rustic rentals offer respite on a mountain getaway." I grabbed the paper and started through the sections. The NW Traveler section headline "Get Cozy at Mount Rainier Cabins" jumped out at me. Holy cow! Copper Creek Inn was featured with other "rustic vacation rentals along the road to Paradise."

Take a tip from the author, Brian J. Cantwell ~ "Go soon and beat the summer crowds."

Great tip! What are you waiting for? Mount Rainier is a year 'round treasure. Hiking, biking, camping, snow shoeing, photography, picnicking. Heaven! And, the best part? You don't have to wait for the perfect time to visit the mountain. It's always perfect. It's just waiting for you.

Copper Creek Inn and its rustic cabins are the perfect way to end a day on the mountain. Yes, there are motels in larger neighboring cities, but where's the fun in that? Cookie cutter motel rooms with polyester bedspreads? Or, how about river rock fireplaces, personal hot tubs, thick, plush towels, down comforters, rocking chairs by the creek, starry nights? Cabins. Pine walls. Real log cabins. Built by hand and designed with an inspired touch. To quote the old song . . . go together like a horse and carriage.

One of my favourites is the Dream Weaver. I remember when it was being restored. And, look at it now! I love the approach. How cool is that handrail as it curves its way to the front porch!




 

If Dream Weaver is booked, don't worry! There are other wonderful cabins from which to choose:

Grateful every day to see the promise of spring realized. Enjoy!

Seattle Times ~ NW Traveler Mount Rainier cabins article

Reserve Now! Dream Weaver, click here.

Mount Rainier Wild Flower Report

King5 TV and Evening Magazine ~ Voted best cabins 2 years in a row!

Catharine Gallagher | Your Host ~ In Her Own Words

Catharine is an artist. Everything she touches has artistic flourishes. Some small. Some large. Some subtle. Some bold. Often whimsical; even surprising. Always beautiful. 

Several years ago, I stayed for the weekend in her art studio before it was a "cabin". The first morning, I woke to that lovely weekend feeling of "I have no place I have to be." "I have nothing I have to do." 

I lay there contemplating the room. An art studio is a highly personal space. Whenever I have the opportunity to visit one, I am reminded art is the mind made manifest. 

Catharine's "Art by the Yard" studio was no different. From my bed, snuggled in its pleasantly disarrayed down comforter, I began my visual exploration. Her easel stood near a window. A canvas work in process, interrupted. The palette on a nearby stool. The room flooded with morning light. Tubes of paint filling a box. Paint brushes upturned in a jar, drying. A handmade bowl filled with pebbles. The feather of a bird tucked in a book marking the end of a read. A high-tech embroidery machine with large spools of thread in many colours. A stack of hoodies ready to be embroidered for the gift shop. A completed one folded and tagged. Sketches of preliminary designs for note cards. Several works in progress; a creative mind at work.

There is finished art on the walls; handmade tile on the floor under the Franklin stove; a small kitchen with a jar of whole bean coffee. The room is interesting and filled with personal elements. Wonderful!

Now, you can stay in the Art Studio. It's still as beautiful and interesting as it was when it was a working studio. Catharine’s art is on the walls. Her easel is standing in the corner waiting for you. 

As Catharine says: This charming one room cedar cabin is still full of creative energy; a place of much joy and happiness. Try your hand at the easel. Or, for your own art-filled stay, bring a project of your own to work on. Take your sketchbook outside to sit by the creek. Write in your journal. Work on your needlecraft. Relax. Refresh. Breathe in the fresh mountain air. Listen to the sound of Copper Creek as it tumbles over the rocks on its way to the sea. I hope the spirit of this creative little cabin inspires you as it has inspired me!

Grateful every day to have creative, artful people in my life.

King 5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 Years in a Row!

Reserve Now! Art Studio cabin at Mount Rainier

More about Catharine and her art

Come for Your Alaska Cruise; Stay for the Mountain

Spring is nearly upon us (though, if truth be told, it's come early for those of us in the Puget Sound region.) The cherry trees have been in bloom since the end of February. It's been a riotous profusion of pink and white lacey limbs in yards and along streets throughout the region for the last month. With the pink dogwood and magnolia soon to follow, we are enjoying all the hopeful signs winter is over. 

The reason I mention this is because it's nearly time for the Alaska Cruise tour season. Sailings start in April and go through September. So, whether you are sailing on Holland America or Norwegian or Princess or Carnival or Royal Caribbean or Celebrity or, if you just can't think of what to do with $10,000, there is Lindblad Expeditions, if you are planning a cruise to Alaska, come for the cruise but stay for the Mountain. 

The truth about cruises to Alaska is there are lots of options in a wide range of prices but . . . there is only one Mount Rainier and for the most part, it's free for all of us to enjoy. 

So, I'm recommending you come for the cruise and stay for the Mountain. Come early for a few days before you sail to unwind from your day-to-day routine. Refresh, breathe deeply and embrace the zen of a well-earned retreat. Or, continue the joys of the Alaskan coast with its craggy cliffs, calving glaciers, starry skies and bright blue days and relax at the foot of Mount Rainier in one of the cabins at Copper Creek Inn and Resorts.

Located just outside the Nisqually Gate to Mount Rainier, Copper Creek has been a stopover for families with children, backpackers, day hikers, and travelers for over 60 years.

Under the inspired ownership of Catharine Gallagher and Phil Freeman, that tradition of homespun hospitality coupled with modern amenities makes Copper Creek Inn and Resort a natural addition to your regional vacation plans.

With properties from Stevens Pass with its white water rafting, hiking, biking, and clear cool nights to the Beach House or Caboose with 850' of waterfront on Puget Sound to the cabins at Mount Rainier, you have a score of lodging options to choose from.

Gentle reminder: come for the cruise; stay for the Mountain.

I’m just sayin’. . .

Grateful every day for misty rain and fragrant air.

KING5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row! 

Princess Cruise Lines web site

Norwegian Cruise Lines web site

Holland America Cruise Lines web site

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines web site

Landblad Expeditions ~ National Geographic Cruises web site

Celebrity Cruises web site

Carnival Cruise Lines web site

Reserve Now! Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn

Phil Freeman ~ Your Host | In His Own Words . . .

Everything you are going to love about your stay in a Great Getaways cabin is because of Phil Freeman who is half of the duo of Catharine and Phil.

I've known them both for nearly twenty years. He's a man of many interests and talents. If you were to ask him, he would say he loves to travel. He loves photography and has a real eye for the final image. He bursts into song at the drop of a hat; composing on the fly or giving you a stirring rendition of a well-known 1970's folk song. This is a man who truly lives his values. He composts, recycles and writes compelling, persuasive articles about environmental issues affecting us all in the Pacific Northwest. And, most importantly, he loves art because he loves Catharine.

And, because they live in one of the most beautiful places on earth at the gateway to Mount Rainier, Phil would also say he's "working to preserve the beauty surrounding us."

If Phil were writing a blog, this would certainly be his first post:

 "Mountains & Sound Cabin Getaways . . . mile for mile, the best, most affordable way to see and visit Washington State!

Whether a romantic getaway or a family vacation, you’ll find our cabins are strategically located within a few hours of Seattle, Portland and the I-5 Corridor. Our cabins provide interesting day trips from one place to another. Explore snow-capped peaks, high mountain deserts and lakes. Rivers, creeks, waterfalls and Puget Sound are right out your cabin door.

It’s the best way to visit Washington, one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Our “Mountains & Sound Getaways” package gives you the weekly rate whether you are staying in one place or dividing your vacation among several cabins. 

There is nothing like a Great Getaway to rest, relax and rekindle your romance, oh, and see Washington state. 

Give us a call or reserve on line. We'll design a tour to maximize your experiences while minimizing your travel expense and time."

Voted the Best Cabins | Best Great Getaways two years in a row 

on KING5 - Evening Magazine's Best Northwest Escapes

And now a word from Catharine:

Phil tried to propose to me at the Keg.
I let him know I was looking for something more romantic.
 He booked a weekend on Orcas Island,
took me out on a row boat, and he got a big "YES".

Grateful every day to know people like Phil Freeman.

Reserve Now! Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn Cabins

Meet the Creekside Cabin ~ Enjoy Wandering Secluded Trails Through Acres of Pristine Forest

Holy Cow, what a sunset tonight! Intensely bright pink flashing along the horizon as the clear blue sky fades to indigo. And, yes! The Mountain was out! You can just see everyone slowing down to enjoy our sunsets. It feels like we, as a city, take a collective deep breath, drop our shoulders and let out a gentle sigh. And, when we get home, the first words out of our mouths?

"Did you see the sunset?"

Beautiful. A natural benediction. A true moment of Zen.

I guess that is why I love the cabins at Mount Rainier so much.

Every time I see Mount Rainier's year-round, snow-capped peak framed in the famous blue skies of Seattle, I am reminded of sleeping in one of my favourite cabins up at Mount Rainier. I know! I know! Much like beloved children, I know it's a mistake to have a favourite, but oh, am I tempted by the historic Creekside Cabin at Mount Rainier.

What's it like? Well for one thing, it's perfect for a large family. It has three bedrooms so up to six stay comfortably. Includes WIFI, Verizon cell service, BBQ grill with propane and, if you have an electric car, there is a complimentary electric vehicle charging station.

It is located on the banks of the Copper Creek so when you go to bed at night, the sound of water tumbling over the rocks on its way to the sea will lull you to sleep. And, when you wake up in the morning, it calls to you ~ "Come on. Get up! Let's go out to play."

The air is fresh, crisp and clean. I don't know a better way to start a vacation.

There is a full kitchen with everything you need for meals from simple to gourmet. On the counter, find complimentary whole bean coffee especially roasted for your morning joe. Grab the coffee grinder and enjoy!

There's a basket of spa towels near the door. You're going to need them. The hot tub is just steps from the front door overlooking Copper Creek. Yes, the hot tub is tucked near the cabin but it is placed so you have all the privacy you desire. Gaze up! You're under the stars up to your neck in warm water surrounded by those you love.

As you plan your stay, don't forget to bring the marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars. You'll be glad you brought them along as you sit on the log benches around the inviting fire pit. The fire pit is always available as long as there is no burn ban in place. Your hosts will let you know.

Bring sports equipment to play games on the open grassy areas. Go into the woods. You have 6 1/2 acres to explore. And, as you wonder the forest, breathe deeply, relax, look at the world around you. Keep your eyes out for trillium, fern, foxglove, blackberry and wild strawberry scattered among the cedar and fir trees.
.

The comfortable, casual interiors invite you to put your feet up and relax.




Starry nights.

Crackling wood.

The smell of pine and the sound of rushing water.

Yup, that's why I love this cabin so much!

I think you will, too!

Grateful every day to see the sunset on another day in paradise.

Reserve Now! The Creekside Cabin at Mount Rainier

KING5 Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row