1 week in Washington in early June
 

My husband and I will be in Washington for 1 week in early June. My plans:
fly to Seattle, drive to Rainier that afternoon, spend the next day and night at Rainier, then spend three days at ONP (Port Angeles) with a side trip to Victoria, and final day and a half in Seattle.

Will Rainier be too snowy this time of year for day hikes with views? Is this too much for one week? Should we cut out Rainier?

Any advice appreciated!!! We want to see scenery (mountains, beaches, and rain forest), do some day hikes, and eat.

There's presently 12-13 feet of snow on the ground at Paradise Lodge on Mt. Rainier. Although the weather is currently warming, it's not likely that it will all melt in two or three weeks; certainly not enough for extensive hiking around the mountain at that elevation (around 5500 feet.) And for sure you won't be seeing much in the way of wildflowers in the high country. Here are some webcams for Mt. Rainier - http://www.skimountaineer.com/MtnWeb....html?size=med

Personally I would make Rainier a day trip rather than spending the night there, then use the extra time to go to Port Angeles via Whidbey Island and the Port Townsend ferry. If your timing works, you could even go straight from the airport to Rainier, spend a couple of hours on the mountain, then return to Seattle that night (maybe stay someplace out of town to avoid high Seattle hotel and parking costs).

Thanks for the pix and info, Gardyloo. Sounds like we would only be able to hike in the lower areas around Longmire. We could see views of the mountain and do something like the Grove of the Patriarchs. . .

In early June I'd second Gardyloo's advice. I think reservations are recommended for the Whidbey Island to Port Townsend ferry, it is a great way to get out the Peninsula.

I would still go up to Paradise (at Rainier), as long as the weather was clear. You can tromp around in the snow a bit, and the view of the mountain is spectacular. And it's nice to do a lowland trail like Grove of the Patriarchs.

I would do Mt. Rainier as a day trip and in ONP I would stay at least one night at Lake Quinault Lodge or at Crescent Lake Lodge.

In Port Angeles, Olympic Lodge has nice rooms and an excellent breakfast at a small extra charge.