We make it to the park but see, according to Google Maps at least, a back up at the gate and brace ourselves for another Hoh Rainforest but there is actually no wait at all. As we cruise up the welcome sign is a really cool archway built over the road in what looks like a classic western fort kind of style. Unfortunately since it's over the road, it's kind of hard to get a picture with the kids so we just drive on, do the pass thing, get our map and move on. The initial drive is through a nice pine forest similar to some of the non-rainforest area in Olympic. Court and Abby get out to get some pictures and I hear a waterfall so I wonder off in the opposite direction. I get some shots and turn around to see Abigail over here getting some pictures too. On my way out to where I was though I had to walk around some chest high stinging nettle and Abby is standing right in the middle of two stands of it. I warn Abby to be careful where she walks and show her the thorns and explain what it is. She gives up on taking any more pictures of the waterfall.
We continue down the path and come to the first inn and shop. We stop as we all need a bio-break and decided to check out this gift store since we've been warned that the welcome center closer to the center of the park is generally over crowded. We start walking to the gift shop from the bathroom and I look over my shoulder and see the mountain open up before us and it is stunning. It's an amazing view to see this large, bare mountain breaking out of the other lower peaks, still covered in snow and glaciers here in July. After the gift shop we run into one of the campers there with a husky. Court had just finished telling us how much she was missing dogs and this one looked friendly so she asked if she could say hello. It was like the dog could hear because as soon as the owner said yes she came and curled up against our legs and asking for pets. We enjoy a lot of pets and the dog falls in love with Gideon. When we are done we leave the stop here.
Lots of pictures ensue from a lot of different overlooks in the area. There is generally a lot more space here than there has been in the other parks which is nice. I mean, one of the reasons that we started doing the national parks other than enjoying the natural beauty is the fact that it's away from people so it's nice to be back to some of this. Court is taking it easy to help her hip rest up so she sits out some of the overviews but we try to make sure that she gets the views from our pictures. We get to the visitor center at the middle of the park and it's a freaking zoo. We are told about half way up the hill that there's not likely parking further up the hill and if we wanted to visit the center we should park here and hike up. We just drive through since we had already visited the center lower down the hill and are very glad that we didn't wait for this place. This is a sea of humanity and definitely not what we were here for. We continue on past and are continue to enjoy the different waterfalls and mountain views.
We leave the main part of the park and attempt to go to the Sunrise Overlook and White River area but are immediately in a line of indefinite length waiting to get in. We decided to give this little area amiss since we had already seen so much in the first park. We turn around and head out towards the hotel. The drive is still a little long from here but while driving Court finds a BBQ joint, The Dirty Cowgirl, that after making sure it isn't a Hooters knock off she says we should go to for dinner. We get to the hotel and it's, to put it nicely, a bit run down. The keycard doesn't work on the door, the room has a moldy smell, the curtains have little holes in them, there are two sinks in the room but only one works, I could go on. We get somewhat setup and head out to the BBQ joint.
After reading the reviews, Court knows that the parking situation is interesting so we pull up and can't find anywhere to park. Court and Abby go in to ask where we are supposed to park and Abby comes back out after a bit to inform me that the waitress told mom to have me park near the grain elevator. She informs me that she has no idea what that means but that Court told her that I would. She isn't wrong, the grain elevator is clearly visible from where I'm idling, towering over the other buildings in the area about a block and a half away. I go park the van and walk back with Gideon. Abby attempts to order the pulled pork dinner and we are told that they are out of pulled pork. This messes up Abby and Court who was planning on getting the pulled pork sandwich. Abby attempts to order the mushroom swiss burger but is told that they are out of mushrooms as well. She finally gets a more plain burger instead like Gideon. I get the prime rib dip and it's pretty delicious. The mashed potatoes and baked beans are really good too. We are also backhandedly told by a mother at the table next to ours that we are being gluttonous when her kids ask for more food and are told that she was proud that they ate all of their food and weren't being gluttonous. Whatever, we eat pretty much everything and head back to the hotel that we aren't sure we will wake up from.