Good sight-seeing places in the west coast?

Question

Not necessarily for sight-seeing, but just cool places to visit somewhere in California, Oregon, or Washington.

I can plan for a trip of around 4 days, 3 nights. Don't know yet if it's by car or by plane. It's just 3 people going: me (age 23), my mom (age 53), and my grandfather (age 75).

Thanks for your suggestions!!!

By the way, I live in California, so driving might be easier.

Answer 1

Oh my!! Where do I start?
Oregon is a gorgeous state! What there is to do there depends very much on what kind of things you like to do, but pretty much Oregon has something to offer for everyone.

Cities:
Portland Metro Area ... the excellent Oregon Zoo, Oregon Museum of Science and Technology (OMSI), a terrific downtown area, Rose Garden Event Center, and many other museums, art galleries, clubs, as well as the yearly Rose Festival and Parade.
http://www.travelportland.com/
http://www.oregonzoo.org/
http://www.omsi.edu/
http://www.rosefestival.org/

Salem ... Oregon's capitol city.
http://www.oregonlink.com/

Eugene ... one of the few 60's era counterculture cities still basking in it, with the Oregon Country Fair the big event in July. It's also a laid back and beautiful, very livable, city.
http://www.planeteugene.com/
http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt

Further south ... Medford, Grants Pass and Ashland (home of the Oregon Shakespearean Festival). All the major cities of Oregon are on the Interstate #5 corridor, I listed them north to south. One notable exception is Bend, which is becoming as much a major city for Oregon as the others, and it is nearly dead center of the state, on the east side of the Cascades.
http://www.ci.medford.or.us/
http://www.grantspassoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=8
http://www.orshakes.org/
http://www.visitbend.com/

Other notable towns:
Astoria, on the far northwest edge of the state along the Columbia river. Pristine and scenic, a number of movies have been filmed there including Kindergarten Cop, The Goonies and Short Circuit. Fort Clatsop, very near Astoria, is where Lewis and Clark wintered during their expedition.
http://www.oldoregon.com/

Coos Bay, on the southern Oregon Coast, once the worlds larges lumber export port until the timber industry dried up. Now home to a casino and the primary town in southwest Oregon along the coast.
http://www.coosbay.org/

Sisters, just east of the Cascades, near Bend, a resort and tourist town with lots of art and culture.
http://www.el.com/to/sisters/

Junction City, north of Eugene, home of the yearly Scandinavian Festival where the downtown area is turned into a Scandinavian City for 4 days.
http://www.scandinavianfestival.com/

Notable scenic spots:
Multnomah Falls, just east of Portland ... recommend you take the old scenic highway from Portland all the way to the Falls ... you will pass Crown point viewpoint, several other falls, and see a fantastic view of the Columbia and Washington State.
http://trips.stateoforegon.com/multnomah_falls/
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_150.php
http://www.vistahouse.com/

Oregon Caves, in southcentral Oregon, an awesome sight, with walk through tours of the caves, simply amazing.
http://www.nps.gov/orca

Crater Lake, also southern Oregon.
http://www.nps.gov/crla

Sea Lion Caves, Florence Oregon, central coast, the only caves on the mainland where you can see Sea Lions in their native domicile.
http://www.sealioncaves.com/

Things to do in Oregon:
Water sports of every sort, beach combing, hang gliding, sailing, deep sea fishing, whale watching, hiking, snow boarding and skiing, rock climbing, mountain climbing, windsurfing, camping, exploring wilderness areas, white water rafting, you name it, it can be done in Oregon!

I have only scratched the surface! There is so very much more, but I already made this way too long!

Answer 2

No need to go to Washington just spend your time in Oregon.
Crater Lake is an awesome place especially before tourist season. You can check out the Oregon Vortex in Nearby Gold Hill, but I think it's a crock. Take the long way back from Crater lake and go through Central Oregon. Great Golfing, Fishing, and outdoor sports there. Go up 97 to the gorge. Check out the wineries and sightseeing there too.