10 Essentials Needed for Exciting Adventure in WA State Parks

Living in the PNW, we are so fortunate to have many beautiful state parks to explore. Last year, I was able to finally experience one of America's most beautiful sites, Mount Rainier National Park.

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It's been on my bucket list since I moved to Washington 2014. So, in preparation for the visit, I made sure to purchase a Discover Pass, online. Silly me. Mt. Rainier is a National Park in Washington State.

The park ranger was quick to point this out. The Discover Pass wasn't good for admission. Not a big deal, a pass to the park was $30 and valid for several days. My husband and I are NOT avid hikers, and the icy conditions proved to be most challenging for us. We ran into a park volunteer, Anne Marie, who lent me her poles for future hikes.

Mount Ranier has several trails to explore.

Naturally, as we were hiking the first trail, we knew immediately we had not properly planned for the excursion. When planning a winter trek to any park, make sure you bring the necessities. Plan ahead for your trek.

My husband, Jeff, and I had a truly incredible experience. The highlight of my visit was when Anne Marie introduced me to the neighbors.

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It was about 19 miles to the top of Mount Rainier. We were grateful the road was open. There was a building at the top, and a lot of people were snowshoeing. In the summer months, the building is home to a gift shop.

We had such a great time, we're hoping to visit the national park in the summer.