Rainier, WA

The best yet. Set in the shadow of the mountain it’s named for; Rainier’s stunning view earned its original name from local tribes as “the best yet.”

By the 19th century, the little town was growing thanks to the Gehrke family and the Tacoma-Kalama railroad. Several structures and a park honor the first pioneer settlers, including the church and schoolhouse, both of which are registered Washington historical landmarks. The church, built in 1896 and similar in turn-of-the-century German style to the historic Little White Church in Elbe, retains its early American style.

Rainier Community Guide

The Americana feel is mirrored in the quaint downtown, home to such pleasures as Main Street Cookie Company and charming oddities like the historic Gehrke outhouse. If you’re riding the entire length of the Yelm-Tenino bike trail, this is a good place to stop for a break, as it’s the exact midpoint of the trek. Savor a cookie and a cup of coffee — but stick to the working bathrooms.

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