My wife and I plan to spend a few days in mid July in Seattle, rent a car, take the ferry to Bainbridge, toodle around to Port Townsend, two days in Victoria, and 2-3 days looking for beautiful areas around the ONP. I have heard that the Hoh River Valley is where I need to go to hike, photograph, and enjoy. Is it worth it to go all the way around the park, or should we concentrate on just one or two areas?
I've also heard that the area is crowded in July and that hotel rates are high, so I thought it would be fun to sleep in a tent for several of the nights.
Where would you suggest? We enjoy touring and exploring during the day, eating at neat local restaurants each evening, and camping somewhere beautiful at night. Is this a good idea?
Are there any neat places like this around Victoria?
We've got to escape the heat and misery of post Katrina New Orleans for 10 days or so... and would appreciat your help.

Thanks! Skip

We really enjoyed the tide pools in ONP. The sea food is excellent. Victoria was beautiful - I'm sure you already know to go to Butchart Gardens.

If you could allot maybe 4 days to the circle drive, I think it's all quite interesting in ONP.

Hurricane Ridge,not to be missed (near Port Angeles).

Lake Ozette hike a bit off the beaten bath...lodging or camping near Forks makes sense maybe for this.

Many love Lake Crescent area, as well as Lake Quinault.

And as you yourself mentioned, there is the Hoh forest itself...
and a string of pretty beaches along the way. (if doing the full circle)

But, it might feel a bit hurried if only having 2-3 days & if you're camping, esp. Then, you may prefer to just concentrate on one region this time around, since also using days to explore Port Townsend & Victoria, etc.

The whole region is lots of fun.
Have you ever been? Should be just the relief you need from New Orleans...
or at least should soothe a bit.

I would concentrate on one or two areas-I'd pick Hurricane Ridge and the rainforest and/or one coastal area. You can camp in the Hoh as well as at Deer Park, a spectacular campground near Hurricane Ridge. Kalaloch is right on the coast but I think you need reservations-you should check the park's website to see about this in general (on weekends, at least, campgrounds will fill up). The campground at Lake Ozette is nice for its proximity to the easy hike to the wilderness beach at Cape Alava.

http://www.nps.gov/olym/pphtml/camping.html

Unfortunately there is a dearth of good restaurants-actually, you won't find restaurants at all near most of the campgrounds-on the OP near the park.

You might ask on the Canada board about camping near Victoria.

bm