We're 2 families with 3 teen girls. Have rented a house near Port Angeles for 1 week in late July. Would like ideas for easy day hikes in Olympic-- especially interested in seeing wildlife. Also want to do whale watching-- suggestions for good tour boat? Will we see critters during the ferry ride to Victoria? Thanks.

Living here in Seattle, I'm pretty familiar with the Ferry runs, and to be honest, seeing whales from a ferry seems to be fairly rare.
You should consider an actual whale watching tour. These boats use radio communication with other vessels, and sighting phone lines, to locate the pods as they travel. You'll be much more likely to actually see them this way, and you won't be dissapointed when you do.
Don't have much advise on the olympic hiking or wildlife really. I guess it's just your average wildlife to me...
raccoons, squirrels, deer, mostly...probably more bald eagles over there. The occasional bob cat, bear, coyote...we have occasionaly wolves on this side of the sound, but I don't believe there's many over there.
The water ways have porpoise, a variety of whales, seals, otters, etc. And of course, eagles, and other fishing birds.
You may want to check out the access.wa.gov webpage. They have some fabulous resources for activities and such!

Sarah