My most favorite places to visit in Washington are Seattle, the San Juan Islands, Mt Rainier, the Methow Valley, and the Pallouse in the SE corner of the state..

Oregon and Washington share the Columbia River Gorge. In Oregon, I like the Historic Columbia River Highway for waterfalls and the view from Vista House, and in Washington I like Highway 14 for sweeping views of the river and Mt. Hood.

My most favorite places to visit in Oregon are the coast from Cannon Beach to Brookings, Mt. Hood via Highway 35 from Hood River, the high desert around John Day NP, and the Wallowa Mountains in the NE corner of the state.

There is much of interest in between.

HTtY

Fooey - lost a post getting this page, our faorite lodge in Oregon up on Mt. Hood: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

Anyhow - there are a number of good posts under these states - and a bonus of Washington is taking the ferry over to Victoria - on the big island of Vancouver - where you can find some great English pubs and High Tea - and also - getting out to Tofino and a Temperate Rain Forest.

In Oregon - love driving the Coast and also - hiway 97 in the center of the state - from the Southern end - including Crater Lake - up past snow capped cinder cones in the Cascades - and also checking out some of the rivers and lakes.

Big cities or small towns? Mountains, oceans, or deserts?
Hiking? Mountain biking? Shopping?
Eating choices? Give us a clue.

Prefer small towns, mountains, oceans, hiking (moderate).
Love all food, beer and wine.

Put Newport, Ashland, and Bend on your list for Oregon, then.

Thanks!
Do I have time to visit Oregon, Washington, and Victoria without spending most of my time on the road?

I spent 9 days in Washington and 12 days in Oregon--didn't even scratch the surface. I think you would have a better time picking just one and really doing it right, IMOP. We enjoyed both trips equally. Never did make it across the border, but that would be great too.

San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier were may favorites in Washington. Olympic National Park is very diverse and I didn't think it had the wow and awe factor. But, while I would give Mount Rainier a 10. I would give Olympics a 9 for mountains, a 9 for rain forest, and a 9 for beaches/ocean, and Sol Duc Falls area really something to see. So, while they aren't 10's, there are several 9's very close to each other. It's a very nice park with something different every few miles. Whale Watching in San Juan Islands was awesome. We went with Maya Whale Watching. Flowers are unbelievable at Mount Rainier.

Oregon
We included Mt St. Helens on this one. This is hard to describe as pretty, but it one of those things that you'll never forget. Columbia River Gorge waterfalls are great. Mt Hood is very nice. Crater Lake is amazing. Oregon Coast is much like the coast in the Olympics-you really can't go wrong with either. We went as far south as the Redwoods in CA on this trip. Enjoyed Oregon Caves too.

I would spend a day or two in both Portland and Seattle.

I'd disagree with your comparison of the Washington & Oregon coasts, SB.

Can you clarify about the differences between the Washington and Oregon coasts.

Well, I'm biased, living in Oregon but remote, desolate and starkly beautiful are words I'd use to describe the Washington Coast.
Majestic, quaint(towns), inviting are words I'd use to describe Oregon's. Others can add their own opinions.

Just the Olympic National Park Coast is what I saw in Washington. My comparison of them being similar is that they are nothing like Gulf Coast, Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, or Southern CA beaches. Sure, they are not the same but you will find good tidepooling, clear water. The sea stacks are what I found to make them seem similar.

I have driven the entire coast from San Luis Obispo to Northern Oregon/Cannon Beach. That part seems very similar to me. It is what I consider the prettiest coast in the 48 states that I have seen. I don't really think you can go wrong with any of it or the part in the Olympics that I saw. All very nice.

The OR and WA coasts are vastly different. Bbqboy made the best description of them. I have lived in several locations in both OR and WA (live in OR now) and have been visiting these coastal locations for years. Night and day.

A mountain range with 266 glaciers is probably a 10

Sorry about dredging up an old post, but planning a trip to either Oregon or Washington in September. Only have a week and don’t want to rush so it’s an either or. We hike extensively and generally love the outdoors.

Want a coast with spectacular natural beauty, but like small towns for good food and maybe a fun bar. Nothing too fancy, but not on real tight budget either. Have been to Big Sur and North of San Francisco (Point Reyes). Also been to Mount Rainier so not on the list (though agree spectacular). Sounds like Washington coast more spectacular, but limited accommodation and few if any towns. Map makes it look like a fair number of towns on Washington coast at least south of the park. Am I reading this right or is Oregon just as spectacular, but has nice towns we may like more?

You would do best to start a new thread of your own. It will get more traction.

In my mind they were both very good. Now, I only did the part along the Olympic National Park area in Washington. I drove the entire coast of Oregon. Do you want to stay in one spot or do you want to do a different destination each night? That might make a difference too. It seemed to me at the time that a lot of the places did have a 2 night min.

spiro--The only town on our OR coast that has the two night minimums is Cannon Beach. The others towns don't have the same demand, so those hotels don't do it. Some will for popular weekends like 4th of July or Labor Day, but otherwise that is not the norm at all.

I encountered that at Seaside, Astoria, and Tu Tun Lodge at Gold Beach. That was 3 years ago, so perhaps things have changed, but I did encounter that several places along the way. Of course, you would have to check. We were not there during a holiday. It was the last two weeks of July.

More annoying than a frequent two-night minimum in Cannon Beach is the religious adherence there to the 4:00 p.m. check-in. Cannon Beach is the one place in the country where I have seldom been given access to a room before the check-in time, and several times it has been well after 4:00 p.m. before I was given my room keys.

Okay, I stand corrected, you are getting responses.

I like the Oregon Coast more. One thing no one is mentioning is that it is not as pleasant to drive the Washington Coast in its entirety. You need to cut clear inland around Willapa Bay, and Raymond and South Bend are not exactly on anyone's Favorite Destination lists. I've been there, and despite the cute little carriage museum, it's a sad, worn area. I would not recommend it at all. I cannot help you with farther north. My daughter's friend is crazy about the Twilight movies and they have been to Forks. The mother said there was not much else to it.

I have not spent time in Ilwaco, but trust Gardyloo's opinion. I did not care for Long Beach, but did like Oysterville and the area farther north on the spit. All the same, if you are intrigued you could include that southern bit in a tour of Oregon's North Coast. In fact, it is easier to get to from Portland than from Seattle.

I should clarify what I mentioned about my friend and the northern Washington Coast: Besides the Twilight connections, there was not much else to recommend visiting the town of Forks, itself.

spiro--It is definitely not the norm, but nothing is 100% either. Which hotels were they in Seaside and Astoria? It would be good to know for when others ask.

HTTY--We haven't had that issue at all about checkin times. We have stayed at the Surfsand numerous times over the years, as well as several other hotels in CB and haven't had any issues with that. We are headed back in a couple weeks, so will be curious to see if we come across that at all.

I don't remember which places I even stayed at now. I just know that I experienced it at several places when attempting to make a 1 nights reservation. I'm sure it is more so in Cannon Beach area, but I think other places require a multi night on weekends too.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/oregon/the-oregon-coast/hotels.html

Above is an article on Fodors. It confirms what I found.

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g1438848-i12636-k3532287-Need_Input_on_Oregon_Coast_Itinerary-Oregon_Coast_Oregon.html

Above is the same comments on TA.

Thank you all for the great advice. We prefer two night minimum stays regardless. Booked flight into PDX arriving late Friday then return the following Sunday afternoon. Gives us 8 nights to enjoy not counting Friday when we will stay by the airport somewhere. We booked 2 nights at Crater Lake Lodge (Wednesday/Thursday)and decided on 2 nights in Yachats. Final two nights either Mount Hood or Portland.

Leaves us two more nights for the coast, trying to decide North or South end. Before this started thought Cannon Beach was the place, but sounds kind of touristy. Will drive through though. Yachats looks like our speed, can you recommend an area with a similar vibe maybe a couple hours north or South? Could be southern Washington or Northern California.