Right outside Mount Rainier National Park--and in this case, that means only 200 yards--is this pleasant collection of cabins, each adorned with colorful flower boxes. Our crew spent 2 nights here in the fairly large, clean, and comfortable Garden Cabins that slept the five of us well, albeit in one room. The queen-size bed was indeed snuggly, as advertised, and covered with a colorful quilt. The bathroom is small (Manhattan apartment small), but that seems like a small thing when you're in the mountains. Your host, Sandy, is gracious and kind and provides a roaring campfire every night. She's provided each cabin with a notebook full of park information that's really helpful. I thought $125/night was a good deal. (If there's two of you here sans children, try the Mountain Cabins instead.)

The cabins included a kitchenette, coffee, and a small table. We cooked breakfast there but ate down the road at Copper Creek Inn both nights. In the mornings we were up and into the park in no time at all. Kautz Creek is about 5 miles from the Nisqually Entrance to the Park--and thus 5.1 miles from your cabin--and looking north up the creek gives you a view of the mountain (if it's out that day). That was really helpful on our last morning, when a quick check showed that the clouds had finally lifted, and we thus raced the 30 minutes up to Paradise to see what was completely hidden the day before.

State Route 706 (the highway through Ashford and into Mt. Rainier) seemed to be what a park in the mountains ought to feel like: narrow, forested, and with all local businesses, not chains. Sandy's Lodge fits right in. If (and I hope that becomes "when") I return to Rainier, I'll stay here.