Crystal Mountain Resort

Perched at 6,782 feet, the Summit House marks the high point of a resort built into the Cascade Mountains, roughly two hours from Seattle. Reaching it means boarding the Mt. Rainier Gondola, which climbs nearly 2,500 vertical feet from the base area to a terminal with clear views of the mountain and its surrounding range. The resort itself covers 2,600 acres, the largest ski area in Washington State, with more than 50 named runs spread across ridgelines and basins. Food and drink follow the terrain: Brew 62 and the Mountain Commons food hall sit at the base, Tower 16 waits directly under the gondola's summit tower, and the Midway Yurt breaks up the mid-mountain run with beer and snacks. Trident Fish Shack serves seafood near Campbell Basin in winter only. At the top, the Summit House keeps things simple — salads, burgers, and Pacific Northwest plates eaten on an open-air patio in summer or behind glass in winter, with Mt. Rainier filling the window. Whitebark pine grows near the summit, one of the few trees tolerant of that treeline exposure. Dogs are welcome on the Summit House patio, though not inside. Reservations aren't taken; seating runs first come, first served, so a slow gondola queue can mean a wait for a table.