My wife and I was planning an overnight trip to Mt Rainier at the end of May, but it sounds like it is still heavily snow bound. We are now looking for an alternate overnight or day trip from Seattle. We would like to be able to do some light hiking and experience what nature has to offer in the area. Any suggestions?

Mount Rainier National Park is two hours south of Seattle. It is really nice that you have planned your trip with your wife.

The southwest (Nisqually) entrance is on state Route 706. The one-week park entrance fee is $15 per vehicle; $5 per person on foot, in a bus, on motorcycle or bicycle. A season pass is $30 and a yearlong pass to all U.S. national parks costs $80. To reach the Nisqually entrance from Seattle, take Interstate 5 south to Exit 127, then state Route 512 east, then state Routes 7 and 706 east, a distance of 85 miles. 360-569-2211; nps.gov/mora

About six miles inside the Nisqually entrance on the road to Paradise is the small historical museum at Longmire, which is open daily year-round, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The hiker information center at Longmire also is open daily, typically starting late May. Overnight accommodations are available year-round at the National Park Inn at Longmire. Also the Paradise Inn recently reopened after a two year renovation: 360-569-2275.

Sunrise, on the other side of Mount Rainier from Paradise, at 6,400 feet is the highest point you can reach by automobile in Mount Rainier National Park. That high, the vantage point is considered one of the best mountain vistas in the world. This year the road to Sunrise will tentatively open June 28; most years snowfall closes it again some time in September.

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How about Langley/Whidbey Island? Pt Townsend? Leavenworth? Mountain Loop Highway? Don't know if the North Cascades Hwy is open yet, but that's gorgeous as well.

I agree with lennyba. Whidbey and Leavenworth are only 2 hours from downtown and both have great hiking, etc. Port Townsend is further, but a neat town/area to wander.

Another vote for Whidbey Island. You can take the ferry which, in and of itself, is a lovely ride. Check out the Four Sisters inn there(I can't recall the name)but google Four Sisters. We stayed at the Inn at Langley which was also quite nice.

I was going to vote Whidbey Island too, before I even opened this thread! Take the ferry over. Explore around Coupeville. I like the Captain Whidbey Inn (both for rooms and their bar and restaurant).

When we lived north of Seattle, we always drove to Whidbey and then took the ferry home. I like this route because once you leave I-5 at hwy 20, it is really pretty and you don't have to backtrack at all.