Seattle Day Trip | Tacoma: Chasing the Best Views of Mt. Rainier 🏔️📸

Spent the weekend exploring Tacoma on a mission to find the best photo spots of Mt. Rainier! Here’s my one-day itinerary focused on capturing the mountain’s beauty: 1️⃣ Kite Park The most classic viewpoint! The vertical road leading toward the mountain makes the shot absolutely iconic 🛣️✨. If you only visit one spot, make it this one. There’s a small café on the hill where you can park ☕🅿️. 2️⃣ Van Lierop Park This park offers a unique swing-seat view of Mt. Rainier 🪑🏔️. So peaceful and picture-perfect! Note: You can’t see the mountain from the parking lot — it’s about a 10-minute walk into the park. 3️⃣ Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park A more distant view of Rainier, but the seaside vibe here is amazing 🌊❤️. The area has a lively promenade with restaurants and bars — great for a relaxed stroll or drink! Point Defiance Park itself is huge — with rose gardens 🌹, a Japanese garden 🏯, a zoo 🐯, and an aquarium 🐠. You can also rent multi-person bikes and enjoy the breeze by the water! My favorite spot inside was the Stairs and Slides — climb up, then slide down! A kid’s paradise (and honestly, we two almost-30 office workers had a blast too 😂🛝). 4️⃣ Firefighters Park A small memorial park with a famous view framing Mt. Rainier through the iconic Tacoma sign 🔴🏔️. Classic shot — though parking can be tricky! 5️⃣ Chambers Creek Regional Park No mountain view here, but it’s a gorgeous place to watch the sunset 🌅. There’s a beautiful boardwalk bridge, a pebble beach for skipping stones, and abandoned structures perfect for industrial-style photos 🏗️📸. If you’re lucky, a train might pass by! 🚆 Places I Didn’t Have Time For But Look Awesome: Judge Jack Tanner Park (Rainier view) Ruston Way Park (Rainier view) Stadium High School (Hogwarts-like castle! 🏰) Museum of Glass (said to be better than Seattle’s!) Chihuly Bridge of Glass Opera Alley (graffiti walls 🎨) Debbie Dolittle's Petting Zoo (animal cuddles! 🦙) Tacoma = underrated gem with mountain views, vibes, and fun 🤩⛰️ Perfect for a weekend escape from Seattle! #Seattle #SeattleDayTrip #MtRainier #TacomaViews #WashingtonState #WeekendGetaway #PNWLife