Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise

Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is in Mount Rainier National Park, 18 mi. e. of the Nisqually park entrance via Paradise Rd. The current visitor center replaced the one built in 1966 that many Northwesterners derided for resembling a flying saucer. A soaring 60-foot ceiling and floor-to-roofline windows frame views of Mount Rainier to the north and the jagged Tatoosh Range to the south. Exhibits—many of them hands-on and high-tech—educate visitors about the park's geology, flora and fauna, and a state-of-the-art diorama uses lighting to show various park locations and seasonal closures. You can also watch a 22-minute overview film. Note: Heavy fog can obscure visibility even in the middle of summer; also be prepared for an often dramatic decrease in temperature with the increase in elevation. Picnicking is permitted. Food is available.