We are trying to plan our summer vacation, probably in US or maybe Canada. We’ll probably go the first two weeks in June to avoid crowds. We want some place that will not be warm and has cool hiking nearby but also has more relaxing activities. Prefer somewhere within a couple hours of a major airport. Some places we have enjoyed…Acadia National Park, Olympic National Park, Victoria Island, Whistler, Stowe, Oregon Coast (central and northern). Any fun ideas? Thanks.
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montreal / mont tremblant - spend a couple days at each and get some great culture/dining/city and then outdoors / nature / hiking
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Seems a bit early for hiking in some national parks in northern parts of the US and Canada. Santa Fe is nice in late May/early June (high 70s in the day, rarely over 80, and 40s at night) and there are lots of places to go both for day hikes and sightseeing (don’t miss Los Alamos and hiking in Bandelier and Valles Caldera is good, Wheeler Peak might also be feasible if you want a big hike). Restaurants are pretty good too.
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We are cold weather creatures. I was in Santa Fe last June and it was way too hot. We did Acadia, Whistler, and Olympic in June.
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I think everywhere is getting crowded.
If you haven’t been, Michigan is a great place to visit. Lots of great places to go.
Or Vermont, which I think of as Michigan but with mountains 
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Jackson Hole isn’t a major airport (though is also drivable from SLC) but that area is lovely with great hiking in Grand Teton and Yellowstone is also a reasonable day trip. Snow might be a bit limiting in terms of how high you can go in early June but will be fine in the valley.
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Utah has some beautiful hiking and national parks, and pretty convent to the SLC airport.
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I just remember Utah being 100 degrees in June.
I’ll look at Jackson Hole.
How crazy busy would Lake Tahoe be at the beginning of June?
Is there cool hiking near Buffalo or Toronto if we wanted to see Niagara Falls?
What about the Adirondacks?
I consider this part of the country 12 month a year vacation land. Have been there at the height of summer, winter, and both Spring and Fall. It gets darn cold in winter but not very hot in summer. Phenomenal hiking.
See if Albany airport is a convenient place to fly in and out of…
If you want a real mix of cultural/performance/museum and great hiking, look at the Berkshires instead. Mountains are not as high but it’s pretty much the same climate.
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Ketchum, Idaho - also known as Sun Valley. Should be lovely weather with those super chilly mountain town nights. Hiking, bike paths with easy rentals, river, fly fishing, walkable cute town with excellent food and a bit of a western flair ( not as much as Jackson) Could pair with Jackson if you like driving. Fly into Boise and get a car or fly right into small Ketchum airport.
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Pretty crazy busy. It’s pretty, but lots of cheesy tourist trap stores in the summer.
If you enjoyed Victoria and the OP, what about the San Juans? You could combine that with a trip out to Leavenworth or North Cascades NP.
Alaska would be an option too.
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I haven’t been to Whistler but have hiked in Banff-- what a fantastic vacation.
The drive from Calgary is boring, but the airport itself is efficient and easy in and out. Stay in Canmore (lots of empty ski condos in June) to avoid crowds. The national park itself is exceptionally well managed, and the rangers are really helpful with suggestions about lakes, mountains, paths, how to avoid crowds, etc. And the bus system- to cut down on traffic and parking issues-- incredible.
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Some CA schools finish end of May, others first week of June, so it starts to get busy pretty soon after that.
Mammoth is a good option in early June (less busy and slightly cooler than Tahoe, 8000ft instead of 6000ft) and has plenty of hiking and other activities. Some snow left but it’s not too limiting. This is from a hike in the first week of June 2018, a fairly average snow year, at just over 10,000ft (in Little Lakes Valley):
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Glacier NP is another good option, but there may still be snow on Going to the Sun Road during that time.
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I agree that the Sierra from Mammoth/June Lake all the way to Bridgeport or so is pretty spectacular. The bristlecones are amazing, I’d even say emotionally moving. It’s easily accessed from Reno, or a bit of a jaunt from LA.
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Go to Calgary. Then Banff and Lake Louise. Weather will be 60s.
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Northern Wisconsin around Chequamegon Bay is a nice area. Bayfield is beautiful, and you can explore Madeline Island and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
After that you could head over to Duluth, MN. Lots of hiking and outdoor activities available.
Edit to add: Duluth has an airport, although I’m not sure it would qualify as “major.” It does have 3 gates! 
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60’s during the day- but you need warm clothes once the sun goes down!
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The kids mentioned Niagara Falls, anything fun to do in the Toronto area or that part of Upstate New York?
Juno, Alaska. Beautiful place, plenty to hike, see, do.
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