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zh3nya t1_iwh4pdr wrote

That's plenty of time to see all the various ecosystems of the park. If you want to hike around in the high country, or visit Rainier or other equally beautiful parts of the Cascades, then definitely try to come in July at the earliest. If you're fit hikers and want to do an all-day hike, then the High Divide - 7 Lakes Basin loop is a great choice. That's definitely a July hike. Check out wta.org for more hike suggestions, and consider posing questions/doing research at NW Hikers as well.

The classic short trip to ONP is some combination of Hurricane Ridge/a beach/Hoh Rainforest. You'll have more time so definitely go deeper than that. Forks is a good gateway to the Hoh and some coastal areas but is a pretty run down place with not much to do.

Port Angeles area will have most lodging options and is a good town to stay in but it's much closer to the Hurricane Ridge area and the northern Olympics than to the coast (check out Grand Ridge and Royal Basin for a great long hikes in the northern Olys). Just check out drive times from there to places you wanna visit.

Fly into SeaTac and consider taking the ferry from Seattle or Edmonds to get across the sound to add some novelty to the journey, but you can also just drive around through Tacoma.

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Cushmanite t1_iwh7p32 wrote

Get a cabin at Sol Duc Hot Springs (Google it). Beautiful area with unlimited hiking opportunities. If you also go to the Hoh rainforest you’ll go through Forks. Don’t go to Forks just to see Forks and don’t go to the ocean there (La Push). I like Pt. Townsend, nice historic touristy downtown on the water, and historic Fort Worden. Worth a day trip in my opinion if you’re into that. You’ll be flying into Seattle, whether they have hoppers to Port Angeles I don’t know. Olympic Peninsula resident, for what it’s worth.

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pala4833 t1_iwhf7z1 wrote

I don't think taking a shuttle or a flight from SeaTac makes any sense. They'll need a car for all of their trip.

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Cushmanite t1_iwhj7q9 wrote

I agree, just answering the question. Take the ferry over to Bainbridge and drive north.

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