Another Pac NW native here -- this is a reasonable & solid itinerary. One suggestion: when you leave Seattle for Forks, go north to Anacortes & Whidbey Island, then take ferry from Coupeville on Whidbey Island to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. From there you can drive counter-clockwise through the Olympic Peninsula visiting the sites that you mentioned and ones (like Sol Duc) that others have noted, without having to double back. Maybe stay the first night after leaving Seattle in Port Townsend (a nice town), Sequim or Port Angeles.

Anonymous wrote:I would stay in Hood River (not Portland) when doing the Columbia River Gorge. You could do a bit of the Fruit Loop as well if you had time.

Agree, it doesn't seem like you will have enough time in Portland to really experience it so you may ask well just skip it and head to Hood River, which is so beautiful. If you are there on a Tuesday night, check out the music at The Ruins, kids are welcome. https://www.theruins.org/

I would stay in Hood River (not Portland) when doing the Columbia River Gorge. You could do a bit of the Fruit Loop as well if you had time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, for feedback. We go in May. Are booked for flying into Seattle and out of PDX. Realize we may be pushing it with driving, but think there will be enough great scenery/stops to make it worthwhile.

Will take advice and do two nights in Seattle. Also pretty set on 2 or 3 nights on Oregon Coast. Just have to decide on where to stay for Olympic Natl. Park part of trip. Would prefer one spot for 2 or 3 nights versus multiple hotels. Finally, will do only one night in Portland.

See if you can still get a cabin at Sol Duc or a room at Lake Crescent. Sol Duc is a pain to get to, but I think it’s the best spot in ONP. (Seattle native here.)

I would do one night at Lake Crescent (closer to Hurricane Ridge) and 1-2 nights near Forks. Normally I am all for minimizing packing/packing, but starting in Seattle, doing Hurricane Ridge and then driving to Forks seems like a lot for one day, esp with kids. Plus Lake Crescent is beautiful. Sol Duc is great too - but it does add about an hour or driving each way. Lake Crescent is right on/off the main road (and restaurant there is very good - esp for a national park). Kalaloch lodge is also great if you want to stay in the park on the coast -- it is much more scenic than Forks.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Seattle, the Embassy Suites is in a good location and the suites plus free breakfast make it nice for families. If the Seattle Mariners are in town, they have a beautiful ballpark. I am not a big baseball person but I had a great time at the game we went to there.

You could add a day/night in Seattle and be sure to take a ferry! You could go to West Seattle or take a day trip to Bainbridge Island or Whidbey Island.