Anyone recommend a good itinerary for a week long road trip in washington state with 2 kids (age 8/12) starting in seattle. Time period: early april about 7-8 days.

Here's a route I'd recommend - https://goo.gl/maps/h8rJ7zqSZJH2

Note mountain areas are still under deep snow and the National Park Service requires vehicles to carry chains if you want to visit parts of Olympic or Mt. Rainier NPs in the snow zone. So I've put together a route that avoids areas prone to snow.

Start by stopping at Snoqualmie Falls, which ought to be full of water from spring rains and some melting mountain snow. Continue over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 and south to Yakima.

From Yakima continue south on US 97 through the Yakama reservation and through some great "old west" country to the Columbia River at Maryhill. Stop at the Maryhill Museum and the nearby Stonehenge replica then head west along the north shore of the Columbia to Hood River. Take a day to explore the Hood River Valley, which might have some orchards in bloom, with Mt. Hood looming above.

Then continue west on the old Columbia River Highway (which parallels I-84) with stops at the Bonneville hatchery where you can visit Herman the Sturgeon and feed the baby fish, then see Multnomah Falls and any of the other waterfalls along the gorge walls.

Continue west through Portland and out to the Pacific coast at Astoria, then across the (awesome) mouth of the Columbia to Cape Disappointment, with its lighthouses, waves-on-rocks scenery, and very interesting Lewis and Clark interpretive center.

Then north on US 101 to Lake Quinault and Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, followed by a visit to the amazing Hoh Valley rain forest - eerie and beautiful in the spring. Continue around the north side of the Olympic Peninsula and across to Whidbey Island by the ferry from picturesque Victorian Port Townsend. Visit Deception Pass at the north end of Whidbey Island, then cross back to the mainland (by bridge) to the pretty waterfront village of La Conner.

The final leg is a tour through the daffodil or tulip fields (depending on the timing) in the Skagit Valley back to Seattle. Be on the lookout for migratory snow geese in the valley - they can put on quite a show.

You can do this at your own pace. I'd probably look at overnights in Yakima, Hood River, Astoria, Lake Quinault, Forks or Port Angeles, depending on your pace. You're not going to encounter high prices or full hotels at this time of year, and of course be prepared for rain, especially on the Pacific coast. They don't call them rain forests for nothing. And weekend traffic in the Skagit Valley during the tulip bloom can be awful, so heads up.

The only change that I would make to Gardyloo's route would be to take US 26 out of Portland.
When you hit US 101 go a few miles south to Cannon Beach and see at least Haystack Rock. By all means stop in Astoria to see the Astoria Column.
We also have a tulip farm in Oregon (----shoe).
US 30 between Portland and Astoria is not scenic and is quite dangerous.

Oregon's tulips:
http://www.woodenshoe.com/events/tulip-fest/tickets/

With children in April, Oregon would be my choice in a routing that includes the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Bend and Lava Land, and the beautiful Oregon coast. On this path you will find museums, and aquarium, sea lion caves, and outdoor activities for the whole family.

The last time we were in the ONP off season a lot of it was closed. Maybe things have changed.

HTtY

Bring warm clothing and good rain jackets. Layering is important. Seattle has a great waterfront, ferris wheel, Pike Place Market and the tram to the Space Needle. There is a high speed ferry to take you to Vancouver Island if you all have your passports. Everything in Victoria is walking. It's a cool victorian town on the waterfront.

If you rent a car, which you will need to do if you want to do anything outside the city, you can drive up to the San Juan Islands. Take the ferry. The Pacific NW is beautiful. And my dad's advice that I lived by for 20 years. "Do what you are going to do and don't worry about the weather." If you heed that advice it's the most beautiful place in the world!

Thanks for the route and additional suggestions. This is great! Appreciate it.