Mount Rainier towers over Washington State, and on a clear day it seems to fill the whole sky. Established in 1899 as the nation's fifth national park, it's centered on a 14,410-foot active volcano, the tallest peak in the Cascade Range and the most heavily glaciated mountain in the lower 48, with 25 named glaciers. Each year, thousands of climbers attempt the summit, crossing ice fields on the slopes of a volcano that last erupted in the 1800s.

You don't need to be a mountaineer to fall in love with it. Drive up to Sunrise, at 6,400 feet the highest point in the park you can reach by car, for jaw-dropping views of the mountain and its glaciers. At Paradise, walk trails through subalpine meadows that explode with wildflowers in summer, and see waterfalls like Narada and Myrtle Falls. Wander among giant old-growth trees at the Grove of the Patriarchs. In winter, the park becomes a quiet playground for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Mount Rainier is about two hours from Seattle, and timed-entry reservations may be required for some areas in summer. I'll plan your route, lodging and timing, and pair Rainier with Seattle or Olympic National Park.