by the way... the Klondike Museum in Seattle is officially a national park
https://www.nps.gov/klse/index.htm

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts, and definitely saving all your suggestions for future trips. I know I'm shortchanging a lot of things and places, hopefully that means future trips back to Seattle area. Other factors I'm considering includes: taking advantage of summer weather, my reasonably good health rn, and a limited number of years left to travel with my son during summer break (it'll be harder to take multiple trips over the summer once he's in High School), not to mention wanting to make the most out of our America the Beautiful Pass (expires end of August 2025)! I think ONP really intrigues us because of its varied ecosystems. Hopefully this trip will whet our appetite for future returning trips to explore other parts of the state.

I'm going to skip Northern Cascades. AS beautiful as it sounds, it's too complicated esp since we aren't campers.

I did a week 7 nights a few years ago to Seattle. I flew in late, stayed at an airport hotel and picked up the rental car to head to Port Angeles. I also took the ferry to Victoria for a day trip. I didn't do the whole Olympic National Park loop as I just didn't have the time and it was a lot of driving. Then spent a few days in Seattle after dropping the rental car as it wasn't needed . As long as you know you can't do it all, you will still have a nice time as there is so much to see.

It's not about being "campers' or not there are cabins and lodges over that way - it is simply you don't have nearly enough time to do justice to the North Cascades on such a short trip if you want to do ONP as your focus. People always seem to underestimate this region, not for its beauty but for how large places are, even lacking in ammenities and roadways, it is just larger and more rustic than seems most people picture.
again WELCOME

sassy27 That's a good point about staying at an airport hotel on arrival and drive out the next day. I might do that and save Seattle proper until the end of the trip. our inbound flight doesn't get in until after 10pm which will be 1am east coast time. I guess it all depends on where we can find lodging available at ONP and Mt Rainier. Although with some luck, i suspect there will be cancellations closer to our travel date. The in-park lodges allows free cancellation up until 7 days beforehand, and even then, the cancellation fee <7 days is only $25.

My flight from the East coast got in around 10 pm or just a bit earlier. I remember not having enough time to eat before checking into my hotel so made sure breakfast was included the next day. The hotel had free shuttle service to the airport that I used so got an early start the next morning as it was a long day getting to Port Angeles. I stayed right outside ONP as I really wanted to take the ferry to Victoria and ferry parking was included in the room rate. While there, I also got to the rain forest, beaches and a lavender farm that was in bloom so not just the park. I do wish I had more time there but don’t regret what I was able to see and do.

No kidding. I stayed 3-5 feet away from it when walking by!

yk, by coincidence this morning Microsoft's random welcome picture is from Olympic National Park. Have a great trip, sounds like a good plan.

I always suggest and agree for people to grab an airport hotel when they arrive after a long flight. People seem to want to go driving off wherever even after dark, and it's simply not the best idea. Easy on the tail end of a trip to be downtown Seattle, and grab a taxi back to the airport.
suze, seattle

Thank you for this list! We are planning several days in Seattle in a few weeks and this will give us a great start on things to do. I didn't remember that there was a Chihuly musem/garden there until going through this so that is a definite must for me