Plan on a Little Paradise

Let it be noted that occasionally, Seattlest gives you advance notice about something. Just occasionally though, not often, so don't get too used to it.

Instead of giving you some recycled list we wrote last year about obvious things you could do (or not do) around Thanksgiving, because everyone is already doing that, we'll point your attention towards the future, and the far-flung town of Paradise. No, not the mythical destinations of Valhalla or even Shangri-La, but rather Paradise WA, located on the south side of Mt. Rainier. Paradise is the hub of winter activities for our local mountain giant, and well worth the trek.

Starting December 18, park rangers will be offering free 2-hour snowshoeing tours of the area (snowshoe rental is only $1, beat that REI). Open to anyone over the age of 8 capable of making a 2-hour hike in the snow, you'll not only get out to stomp some white fluffy stuff, but you'll get to hear about the flora and fauna of the area, and notably how they survive the often extremely high snow quantities that fall there each year (in 1972, Paradise received a record-setting 94 feet of snow). We think this will be one of many outings we'll enjoy when Dad comes to town for Chrismanukwanza.