We are planning a one week trip for early october. we would like to do day hikes, see some fall foliage, nice greenery and hopefully have good weather. We are debating going to WA or up around vancouver. we would fly into either seattle or vancouver and rent a car.

Any ideas?

we have been to vancouver island and whistler years ago.

Do you recommend the cascade loop? what parts of it? nice romantic B&B/ place to stay?

Shld we add a san juan island? which one? we have been to orcas. I have been reading about lopez on this site.

I notice you have received no replies. I can make suggestions about Washington, but I have some questions. Have you ever been to Mt. Rainier, the Olympic National Park, or Whidbey Island?

HTTY

How about Deep Cove ~ North Vancouver?

Day hikes on Seymour, Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon Park ~ with the 'free' suspension bridge. Cypress - West Vancouver as well as visiting Horseshoe Bay ~ taking a boat trip.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Vancouver

Romantic B&B ~ Caveat, I haven't been to this particular B&B, but I do like the area. Unfortunately, you won't get the sunsets that West Vancouver gets, but going October it should be a little quieter, and with the North Shore weather ~ just pray about getting an Indian summer. November can be really really wet.

Lockehaven Waterfront Bed and Breakfast
http://www.lockehaven.ca/index.html

They seem to like longer stays during the off season, but you never know you might be able to negotiate for a short stay?

BTW totally off topic, but for 'all' travel lovers ~ "Enchanted April" is playing @ the Taproot theater... Got my tickets! I love that film!

http://taproot.org/

A cascade loop would be precluded if the snow comes in and closes the North Cascades Highway. The pass is closed through the winter time.

If it were me, I'd go to Vancouver and save the Cascade Loop for a warmer time of year (check the North Cascade National park web site for typical closing and opening times. Carry chains if you do end up going that way.
In Vancouver, it is a lower elevation so you can get around, even if there is precip.

There is a lot of nature just outside the city of Vancouver - or even in it. The parks are an integral part of the City. I second the Lynn Canyon suggestion. A great park for hiking around and the bridge is free. Also, the little nature center is a gem, and they used to have a cafe there.

Vancouver and north vancouver have good websites where you can find out all about the amazing park system, the top notch aquarium, the museum a UBC [you could spend a day with the totem poles, masks and drawers & drawers of First Nations (Indigenous people in Canada) works of art]. There are formal gardens, a multitude of restaurants and art galleries. You can take a ferry to nearby islands. Not sure if farmers markets are running in October, but you can search on line for that, too.
You should also be aware that the winter olympics are coming up, so you may want to avoid construction around any of those venues. On the other hand, I bet you could get some cool Olympic parephenalia. We got Olympic pins there 3 summers ago and can barely wait to put them on our hats! I think the City has a page about the Olympics that might help you learn where the impacts are.

Also, there is a free weekly paper in Vancouver that I think is calle The Straight. You can see it on line,a nd can access its list of readers' favorites.

I'd say save your fabulous Cascade loop for a time when the highway is sure to be open.