Aside from the wide variety of things to do in Auburn itself, the city is gateway to world-class attractions to the north, south, east and west. Within easy reach visitors can hike, bike, fish, ski and white water raft; visit museums, enjoy Seattle, and experience the best of what western Washington has to offer. Here are just some of the places to go:

Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County is an active Cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and glacial ice. The 14,410’ mountain is surrounded by lush old growth forests, spectacular sub-alpine meadows and a National Historic Landmark District that showcases the "National Park Service Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. www.nps.gov/mora

Crystal Mountain Ski-resort offers some of the most varied skiing and snowboarding terrain in the Northwest. The resort sprawls over six peaks and 2300 acres, with 10 lifts serving 50 runs, with views of neighboring Mount Rainier. www.crystalmt.com

The Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Glass, and the Washington State History Museum in downtown Tacoma are linked by the spectacular Chihuly Bridge of Glass and historic Union Station, also filled with Chihuly art. www.traveltacoma.com 

Harold LeMay America's Car Museum, Tacoma, the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, other vehicles and related memorabilia in the world. The Collection represents the American experience with the automobile as it spans the 20th century and features virtually every American make as well as numerous foreign cars. www.lemaymuseum.org

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Eatonville where more than 400 acres of meadows and forests are home to bison, elk, moose, mountain goats and more. www.nwtrek.org

Pike Place Market, downtown Seattle is internationally recognized as America's premier farmers' market. It is home to nearly 200 year-round commercial businesses; 190 craftspeople; 240 street performers and musicians, and 120 farmers who rent table space by the day. www.pikeplacemarket.org

Point Defiance Park Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, a 29-acre zoological park, which sits within the 700-acre Point Defiance Park. It is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest and focuses on animals from the Pacific Rim area. www.pdza.org

Weyerhaueser Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and Bonsai Collection, Federal Way, grows over 10,000 rhododendrons in a beautiful 22-acre woodland garden. www.rhodygarden.org

Snoqualmie Falls, Snoqualmie fall an impressive 270 feet and may be viewed from different points along the attractive hiking trail in this two acre park. www.snoqualmiefalls.com

Wild Waves Theme Park, 36201 Enchanted Parkway South, Federal Way, 98003 www.wildwaves.com, 253-661-8001 The Pacific Northwest’s largest water park, featuring over 60 rides and attractions, only a ten minute drive from Auburn.

Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle encompasses 92 acres and features more than 1,090 individual animals representing nearly 300 species. The grounds are divided into what are known as bioclimatic zones, the unique habitats around the world, from tropical rain forests to the frigid climes of the Far North. www.zoo.org