Geranium macrorrhizum or G. 'Biokovo' or 'Karmina' are great choices. The first is best for shade--doesn't like direct sun for long periods. The last two are slightly smaller and do very well in sun. Both bloom in late spring, the latter two longer than the first and they are also slighly smaller. All are highly deer resistant, highly weed suppressing, non aggressive and very easy to grow and care for. They will be evergreen.

This area will be walked on. ahow tall do they get, and how do they handle being walked on? thank you!

Well, no, they shouldn't be walked on constantly. Can't think of a groundcover for you other than grass that can be walked on regularly.

Not sure I would consider violets tbh. The perpetual production of seeds without flowering or pollination (cleistogamy) tends to lead to horrendously dense and over enthusiastic coverage - a major league garden thug, in other words. Up there with buddleja for world domination...but as ever, ymmv.