For Dorothy

Seattle
My top picks include Pike Place Market, Olympic Sculpture Park, and Underground Tour. I also think the Seattle Public Library is very cool to see. Seattle Center has several attractions: the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, and the Museum of Pop Culture. As far as the Space Needle is concerned, you can get views of it all over the city (I personally think the ride up is overrated). You can take the monorail from the mall downtown to the Seattle Center, where you can also see the Frank Gerhy building that houses the Museum of Pop Culture. I haven't been to the Chihuly Garden or inside the Museum. 

You can see most things in a solid day--maybe a day and a half. See map.

Pike Place is a funky combination of beautiful fresh food and flowers, fish tossing, and bizarre shops. It can get busy, so maybe a morning visit with coffee before other activities.

The Olympic Sculpture Park is a bit of a walk from Pike Place. Depending on how much time you want to spend on your feet, I recommend it.

The Underground Tour starts at Pioneer Square. I've only done it once, and it likely depends on your guide, but I thought it was very interesting. 

Victoria, BC and the San Juan Islands

Victoria, BC is a beautiful city with stunning gardens and beautiful architecture. I've only ever done the trip from Port Angeles (Seattle - Port Angeles, 2.5 hours) and from Anacortes to Sydney, BC (Seattle - Anacortes, 1.5 hours; Sydney to Victoria, 30 minutes). Both of those trips allow cars. I'm not certain that the Seattle ferries to Victoria allow vehicles. 

As a kid, I loved the Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Craigdorrach Castle, The Empress Hotel, and parliament buildings. The Royal BC Museum is very good--be sure to check out the totems.

If you are looking for more urban attractions, visit Victoria. However, if you want to slow down and enjoy a more bucolic setting with calm water views, the San Juan islands are a better bet. You could even do both by taking the Anacortes ferry to one of the islands that has a terminal departing for Sydney, BC. I've visited Friday Harbor and Orcas and enjoyed both. 

on the ferry

Orcas

Orcas

Having to choose one, I'd recommend Orcas. I have stayed at the Cabins on the Point (for my sister's wedding) at West Sound, and at Eastsound (Outlook Inn). There are a variety of wonderful BnBs on the island. 

Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene is nice. It's been several years since I was there, and I admit I was a little disappointed in it when I visited. That said, it's a lake surrounded by mountains and trees, so you can't really go wrong. My opinion is that the San Juan Islands or Central Oregon are more beautiful.

Bend, Oregon 
We hope to retire in Bend. In the winter, there is skiing, and in summer there are trails, mountains, lakes, and rivers to explore (not to mention fantastic breweries). I can't believe I don't have a picture of the mountains. 

Things to do in the area:

• restaurants/breweries/pubs--Crux has a great view and good food whether or not you like beer, 10 Barrel also has pretty good food, Boneyard is my favorite beer and just opened a restaurant I haven't yet visited, McMenamins St. Francis School is a typical McMenamins (several locations in historic buildings throughout Oregon/Washington) with interesting decor and standard pub fare, often with service on hipster time
• visit the Old Mill District and Historic Downtown
• Pilot Butte--apparently, you can drive to the top for a view 
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument--hiking through obsidian fields and lava flows
• Smith Rock State Park--hiking area with rock climbing; interesting to see but can be hot in the middle of the day
• Sisters, OR is a small, western town that has a rodeo and a quilt show in the summer. It's a combination of artsy hippie and cowboy ranch.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

Smith Rock

 North Oregon Coast (home)

I may be a little biased, but there is simply nothing like the North Oregon Coast. Not only are the views incredible, but there are some charming towns along highway 101. (There are also plenty of duds, but the scenery and the cute ones make it worthwhile.)

Astoria 
When I was a kid, Astoria was not the hip destination it is today. It has become one of my favorite places to visit. The mouth of the Columbia, the bridge, the Astoria Column, the historic town . . . 

• Josephon's Smokehouse for smoked fish
• Fort George for beer
• Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe
• Urban Cafe 
• Buoy Beer Company for beer and food with great views
• Street 14 Cafe
• Astoria Column (column on top of a hill with stairs you can climb, but also just fun to see from the bottom--great views either way)
• Flavel House Museum--historic home with some interesting family drama
• Columbia River Maritime Museum
• Fort Stevens State Park--(south of Astoria) historic military base, jetty, wreck of the Peter Iredale

Fort Stevens

Gearhart
Gearhart is my hometown. It's tiny and quiet. I love a walk through the dunes to the beach and either coffee and a pastry or a meal at Pacific Way Bakery and Cafe. If you go, you will likely walk right along the park where I was married. There is a historic golf course with a McMenamin's Pub where we celebrated at my wedding reception. 

Seaside is the tourist center. It has an arcade and some typical tourist shops, but for more charm, keep heading south to Cannon Beach. On the way, though, stop at Bell Buoy for some fresh, Dungeness Crab.

Ecola Park has spectacular views. In the town of Cannon Beach, there are art galleries, breweries, restaurants, and touristy shops. Sleepy Monk Coffee has the best coffee, and I love Bill's Tavern for halibut fish & chips. Bruce's Candy Kitchen is also a tasty visit. Be sure to check the tide tables to see the intertidal pools at Haystack Rock.