re: tell me about Oregon for a vacation

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We drove East from Seattle, through Ellensburg and the Yakima Canyon. We crossed into Oregon and drove the Columbia River Gorge, which was worth the trip alone.

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True. Also, Walla Walla is a very overlooked wine region. I think Walla Walla County has 50K people, but their are 140 wineries in the county. The downtown probably has a dozen tasting rooms, and the area out by the airport probably has 30-40 more.

The drive along the Columbia River Gorge on I-84 is amazing. The change in topography as you drive through Oregon is also amazing.

The Oregon coast is beautiful, but can be rainy during the winter. If the temp is 80 in Portland, it will be 62 in Cannon Beach. You'll probably find 62 at the beach to be amazingly comfortable, especially if the sun is shining. The beaches are not like Florida beaches at all. The Oregon coast beaches are made for exploring tidal pools, finding interesting driftwood, climbing rocks, etc. Swimming is not something I would advise, since the water will be cold. Astoria, Cannon Beach, Newport, Florence, and Bandon, are all very cool coastal towns. The Pelican Brewpub in Pacific City is one of the coolest places to have a meal on the planet.

If you drive through the coastal mountains into the Willamette Valley, Portland is a great city for food, drink, and people watching. There are a number of interesting places to visit. Although the natural scenery isn't as good as Seattle. there is a ton of great scenery within 2 hours (including the aforementioned Cannon Beach and Pacific City).

The Willamette Valley sits between the coastal mountain range and the Cascade Mountains. East of the Cascades, the topography changes from looking like you're in a scene from the movie Twilight, to a scene from a western movie, with buttes, tumbleweeds, and canyons. The mountains return when you get to the eastermost part of the state.

Hood River is a beautiful spot in the Columbia River Gorge. It is one of the best places in the world to windsurf. Mt Hood is the backdrop.

Bend is great for hiking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, skiing, and other outdoor activities. Beautiful mountains surround Bend, and the Deschutes River runs right through the middle of town.

Other great spots include Multnomah Falls, Crater Lake, Cove Palisades, Smith Rock, and the Wallowa Mountains (The Alps of Oregon in the eastern part of the state). There are a seemingly unlimited hiking options that will take you to canyons and waterfalls that are great opportunities for photos.

If you want to snow ski, white water raft, wind surf, hang out on the beach, hike, ride dune buggies, fish, drink fantastic beer and wine, and eat at some fantastic restaurants, Oregon would be a good option. You can do all of that in the summer in Oregon.