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Originally published May 15, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 16, 2008 at 10:44 AM

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Paradise Inn reopens at Mount Rainier

Seattleites call it "The Mountain" for a reason. The 14,411-foot behemoth beckons to city dwellers looking for a summer trip. Hike, take a nature walk, climb, go bird-watching...

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Toting up the gas bill

To calculate the gas cost for these trips, we used EPA highway mileage figures for the 2008 Toyota Prius (45 mpg) and 2008 Lincoln Navigator 2WD (18 mpg). Results were based on a gasoline price of $3.75 per gallon.

Get ski and boarding conditions all winter long with webcams, snow alerts and more at seattletimes.com/snowsports

What's the draw?

Seattleites call it "The Mountain" for a reason. The 14,411-foot behemoth beckons to city dwellers looking for a summer trip. Hike, take a nature walk, climb, go bird-watching or just take a scenic drive through Mount Rainier National Park and appreciate the regional icon up close.

What's new this summer?

Paradise Inn, a 92-year-old guest lodge in the national park, opens again May 16 after two years of renovations. Even if you're not staying there, you might want to stop in for a meal or admire decorative woodwork, including a rustic piano and a grandfather clock.

If you go

Miles from Seattle: 104 to Paradise

Round-trip gas cost for Prius hybrid*: $17.34

Round-trip gas cost for Navigator SUV*: $43.34

Lodging worth a look:

• Paradise Inn, Paradise. The historic inn, with new (mostly structural) renovations, includes a restaurant and gift shop with Native American crafts. $99-$228 for summer Saturdays (most Saturdays already booked in July and August); 360-569-2275 or rainier.guestservices.com.

• National Park Inn, Longmire. With its oversized stone fireplace, the inn is a rustic getaway and a good base for exploring the park. $107-$197 for summer Saturdays; 360-569-2275 or rainier.guestservices.com.

• Alexander's Country Inn, Ashford. This charming, well-regarded Victorian-style hotel has its own restaurant and includes a full breakfast, plus evening wine. $125-$235 for August Saturday; 800-654-7615 or www.alexanderscountryinn.com.

Dining you won't likely regret:

• Copper Creek Inn, Ashford. Eat heartily and well at this Ashford roadhouse just two miles from the park entrance, with elaborate halibut or steak dinners and burgers or seafood chowder for lunch. 35707 State Route 706 E.; www.greatgetaways.com/coppercreek.

• Scaleburgers, Elbe. Stop by this old weighing station during the day for a hefty Scaleburger, fries and a milkshake. 54109 Highway 7 S., Elbe.

More information: National Park Service, www.nps.gov/mora; or www.visitrainier.com.

-- Nicole Tsong, Seattle Times staff reporter

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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