Oregon coast
 

Hi. We will be going to Portland this July and we wanted to also stay a few days on the coast someplace. Has anyone been to Mendocino, CA? If so, I am looking for that type of town. Quaint, veg friendly, good views.

The usual answer is Cannon Beach, which tries very hard to be "quaint." I'm also something of a fan of Ilwaco, WA, which isn't on the coast per se (it's at the mouth of the Columbia River) which is much, much smaller than Cannon Beach. Close to Ilwaco is the marvelous Cape Disappointment State Park, with its lighthouses, waves on rocks, Lewis and Clark interpretive center, and Waikiki Beach (the other one.) But for a few days I'd probably stay south near Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park, and do day trips around the region.

But if you have a few days, you might consider heading further south for a couple of them, down to Yachats ("ya-hots") on the central coast. This is also a pretty location, close to a lot of fine scenery. You could travel to or from Yachats via the Willamette Valley wine country if so inclined. Then on the way back to Portland you could visit the Johnston Ridge observatory overlooking the Mt. St. Helens caldera. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/AbGgHfbCSpqyqbLj7 . Note the map doesn't show Johnston Ridge because the road is currently closed for the winter. It's up the road from the Hoffstadt Creek bridge, which is shown. The north bank of the Columbia is a much more scenic and historic route than the main roads through Oregon out to the coast.

Good ideas from Garyloo! On the way south to Yachats, make a stop at the Tillamook cheese factory. I hope they still have a tour this year. They make some great ice cream in addition to cheeses.
Just after you go over the big bridge south of Newport, stop to see the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
On the way back to Portland, you might want to visit the Evergreen Air & Space Museum near McMinnville. Inside the large building devoted to aircraft they have the "Spruce Goose" on display.