Taking a trip May 16-25.(8 1/2 days for touring) Arriving and departing Seattle. Most interested in natural scenery, easy short hiking(2miles or less), possibly short horseback or boat trip, but one day in town would be ok. Must do:

At least part of Cascade loop
Mt Ranier
Columbia River gorge with Mt Hood loop and possibly White River Falls

Would like to include as much as possible of these

Olympic National park
Mt St Helen's
Coulee Corridor
Crater Lake area (area accessible mid May)
Some dramatic coastline vistas (Where is best?)
Possibly a day in Seattle or day trip to Victoria

Obviously this is too much to accomplish in such a short time. Which should I skip, and is there anything I haven't listed that is a must do?
Thanks

I'll help you with Oregon. The north entrance to Crater Lake NP (off 138) will be closed until about July. You would have to come south on I-5 to exit 40 and take Rt. 234 over to Rt. 62 and enter and leave by the south entrance which is open all year. As far as coastline, drive all the way from the bridge at Astoria all the way to Reedsport. About 5 miles out of Reedsport on highway 38 you have a good chance of seeing Roosevelt Elk at 1 of 2 viewing areas. Continue on 38 over to I-5.
If you want to see the Cascades, when you leave Crater Lake take 62 east to US 97 and head north on 97. Plan on stopping at the High Desert Museum a few miles south of Bend. Bend is worth spending a night. Continue up US 97,197 to The Dalles and the Columbia Gorge and I-84. If you don't like driving the Interstate, go across the bridge and travel on Washington Route 14. I can't tell you what to skip in Washington or Oregon. It depends on how long you spend at each stop, the weather and what you really want to see.

I'd skip Victoria. You already have a LOT on your agenda (and quite a bit of distance/driving time) for only 8 days. It sounds like you're more interested in outdoors and nature over cities, so you could skip even seeing Seattle as well, in favor of more time for your outdoor activities.

I would eliminate Victoria, Crater Lake and Mount Rainier. Victoria is too time consuming, Crater Lake is too far, and the visitor areas on Mount Rainier will likely still have several feet of snow everywhere except the parking lots.

I would head north from Seattle and cross the mountains on US 2, continuing east to Grand Coulee. Then head south on US 97 all the way to the Columbia River near Goldendale. Tour the Gorge and Mount Hood. Visit Mount St. Helens en route to the Washington coast, somewhere like Ocean Shores or Quinault. Spend at least two full days on the Olympic Peninsula, hitting the Hoh rain forest and a beach or two (Ruby, Rialto) in the process, followed by Crescent Lake and Hurricane Ridge near Port Angeles. Return to the mainland via Port Townsend and Whidbey Island.

If you spend an extra day in Seattle you can take a day trip to Mt. Rainier if the weather's okay, or else go to Snoqualmie Falls (under an hour from town) where the water will really be flowing from melting snow in the mountains.

Wow, what an excellent plan! You should do exactly the itinerary suggested by Gardyloo. It's really perfect and you'll see plenty of truly spectacular scenery and at a reasonable pace to enjoy it all.

I suggest you drive to Hood River via I-5 and WA 14, visit Mt. Hood as a side trip from Hood River, and include the stretch of the Oregon Coast from Yachats to Astoria, as part of your itinerary.

You could, if you wish, visit Victoria as a day trip from Port Angeles.

The most scenic drive between Port Angeles and Seattle is the portion of Highway 101 that skirts the western shore of Hood Canal.

HTTY