was just this past Sunday (8-13-06). My girlfriend joined up with me in Seattle during my 3-week long tour of the west coast for work and vacation.

I can already tell that this won’t be my last time going there.

The two of us were just blown away by this place. The natural beauty here is beyond parallel, and the extent to which the park is so well maintained impressed us both. The footpaths were very clean of litter, the roads are in great condition, and every effort is being made to preserve the beauty for generations to come. We saw a lot of evidence of restoration projects, especially at reflection lake, and we both remarked how we felt that humanity’s impact was minimized here, to the extent that it can be…

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to go along many of the paths; a real visit to this place, I think, may involve several days, and possibly include camping somewhere in the park. We only had a day.

All of the big attractions that we saw are worth visiting. Paradise (where this picture was taken) is stunning for its greenery. My favorite was Sunrise, however, which is the highest point accessible by car. Had we had more time, we would have hiked up the trails here, as recommended by jrocklin below.

Simply put: If you are ANYWHERE nearby at any point in your life, do not miss this! It’s simply too amazing to pass up. Go on a weekday and start your day early!