TravelMorgan Stone GretherJuly 30, 2016point defianceFive-Mile Drive, point defiance, Tacoma, Washington, pugent sound, raccoon, Mount Rainier, owen beach, beach, ocean, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, travel

Tacoma, Day 2: Five-Mile Drive in Point Defiance, July 2016

For Travel Tacoma and Visit Rainier, five of us bloggers/instagrammers took part in an "instafam" tour of the greater Tacoma and Mt. Rainier areas in July 2016. Here is the first of several blog posts about the trip. One of the true must-sees when you're in Tacoma is the Five-Mile Drive through Point Defiance Park. You'll find hiking and biking trails through lush forest; you'll relax on serene Owen Beach with wonderful views of Pugent Sound and Mt. Rainier alike; you'll see thriving wildlife... particularly raccoons (one of my favorite animals).

TravelMorgan Stone GretherJuly 30, 2016point defianceFive-Mile Drive, point defiance, Tacoma, Washington, pugent sound, raccoon, Mount Rainier, owen beach, beach, ocean, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, travel

Tacoma, Day 2: Five-Mile Drive in Point Defiance, July 2016

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 03, 2016Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, travel

Tacoma: Day One of the "Instafam" Tour

For Travel Tacoma and Visit Rainier, five of us bloggers/instagrammers took part in an "instafam" tour of the greater Tacoma and Mt. Rainier areas in July 2016. Here is a look at the first day, which includes flying there, checking into the hotel, walking around Tacoma (including a stop at the lovely little Tacoma Art Museum), and having a nice group dinner together at the Hub.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 03, 2016Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, travel

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 04, 2016John "Cinque" Synco, gondolier, gondola, Gig Harbor, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Tacoma, boat, ocean

Tacoma, Day 2: Gig Harbor Gondolier

The second day of the July 2016 Travel Tacoma and Visit Rainier "instafam" tour was packed. The first thing (after breakfast at the Hotel Murano and checking out) in the morning we went to Gig Harbor, Washington, and met John "Cinque" Synco and his authentic Venetian gondola, Nelly. He runs Gig Harbor Gondola. John rowed us around the tranquil harbor, singing us Venetian songs and giving us a detailed history of gondoliers in America. Pretty great stuff! And the weather was truly perfect, as I think you can see from my photos below.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 04, 2016John "Cinque" Synco, gondolier, gondola, Gig Harbor, Washington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Tacoma, boat, ocean

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 11, 2016Logging Museum at Mt. Rainier RailroadWashington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum, Mount Rainier

Rainier Day 1: Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum

Continuing my coverage of my July 2016 adventures for Travel Tacoma and Visit Rainier... On the first day of the Mount Rainier section of the "instafam" trip, we stopped in Mineral, Washington, at the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum where we got a private tour and learned a ton about steam engines and logging practices. Pretty darn fascinating. And gave me new appreciation for how hard the work was.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 11, 2016Logging Museum at Mt. Rainier RailroadWashington, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum, Mount Rainier

Rainier Day 1: Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 30, 2016Sunrise Washington, Mount Rainier, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, mountains, trees, Washington, pacific northwest, hiking, travel

Rainier Day 2: Sunrise, Washington

After our stop at Eunice Lake, we traveled onward to Sunrise, Washington, which is the highest spot in the park you can drive to. From its lodge, hiking trails spider off in all directions for easy hikes that all offer truly breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and its surrounding foothills. Cascade beauty! As we drove up to the site, a thick layer of clouds sat around the mountain, but as we started hiking the cloud cover quickly burned off.

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAugust 30, 2016Sunrise Washington, Mount Rainier, Tacoma-Rainier Tour 2016, mountains, trees, Washington, pacific northwest, hiking, travel