The Tin man and family are going on a family vacation in Washington (the state). We have never been to Washinton, Oregon, or Idaho. We plan on spending time on the Olympic peninsula, in Seattle, a trip up to Vancouver, etc… It’s the ETC… part that needs filling in. What are some: “You have just got to (see, do, stay, ride, etc…).” We will be driving up from Colorado so anything that a “Don’t Miss”, please let me know. We will be going the end of July.
Visit Mt. St. Helens. Nature at it’s best. When you come to Seattle, don’t forget to bring lots of batteries and bottled water. By July we’ll have rolling blackouts and water rationing.
There was a great thread on this very topic several months ago. Let me see if I can dig it up…
Ah yes, here it is. I just read through it again, and everything – especially my own advice 
– still seems germane.
And my report on our trip.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=31745
After nearly a year, what sticks out in my mind are:
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Be prepared for the fact that if you’re going to drive all the way around the Olympic peninsula, it’s a LOT of driving, with not very many bathrooms. Limit the soda pop consumption for the Back Seat Dwellers.
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To actually see Mt. St. Helens, you’re going to have to do a lot of driving to get to where you can see it.
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I would add to the vacation report that if you like geology, find a time slot to look at lava beds in Idaho. They had some right on the Interstate from Montana south into Idaho (can’t think what number it is.) Anyway, at some point just after you get into Idaho there’s a turn-off with a small visitor center and a hiking trail through some actual lava beds. Very cool for kids age 6 through 14. Craters of the Moon is way out of your way, if you’re on a schedule, so this was the next best thing.
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To a “don’t miss” list I would add Dinosaur National Monument. Definitely.
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Ocean Shores, Washington, had a nice big sandy swimming beach. And if you stay at the state park, you just walk through the trees about a quarter mile and there it is, the Pacific Ocean.
Are you camping/RVing? Stock up on bug dope. 
Yes, and get GAS before you head up into the mountains. half a tank may not be enough. I say this out of experience.
Mt. St Helens
Mt. Ranier
Crater Lake
Sea Lion Caves
Cape Disappointment
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
There’s just so much to do! And I was there on business.
When I lived in Vancouver, BC I always enjoyed enjoyed Stanley Park and the Aquarium. And Granville Island is nice if you enjoy window shopping and farmer’s market-type stuff.
You also won’t have much trouble finding good places to eat in Vancouver. In particular, check out Granville Island again, as well as parts of Cambie St. and Broadway Avenue.
You may also want to consider taking a ferry out to Victoria on Vancouver Island, although that’s hard to do unless you plan to stay in Victoria overnight.
(Tourism Vancouver also has a web page.)
Interesting: Other than the mention of Idaho, everything appears to be on the western half of the state. Since I was originally a dry-sider, here’s a few more suggestions:
Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge in Goldendale, WA. Also worth going to see because it’s right on the Columbia river, and the Gorge is gorgeous!
If you’re driving from Eastern to Western Washington, especially end of July, make sure your car has a good air conditioner. Eastern Washington is very hot and dry in the summer. (It’s mostly irrigated desert).
A drive across the state is a great way to discover just how VARIED Washington is. Besides the desert, the east side has its own rain forest, plus the beaches, lakes, mountains, etc.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, stop in Leavenworth, the “Bavarian” town in the Cascades. It’s a cute little town that has a very German feel. While you’re there, head on over to Cashmere and tour the “Aplet & Cotlet” candy factory.
On the east side, I do recommend a visit to the Olympic rain forest, simply because it’s beautiful and very peaceful.
Actually, there is so much to see and do here in Washington you probably won’t be able to do it all. I suggest contacting the Washington State Tourism Board and asking them to send their brochure, that way you can pick and choose what most appeals to you.
Have a great trip!
caircair’s right, there’s a lot more up here than just around the Puget Sound basin.
Here’s something near Spokane WA that I’ve always wanted to check out:
And here’s the canine equivalent, about an hour and a half south of Seattle:
I can definitely recommend Wolf Haven from personal experience; the sunset howl-in is really, really cool. And I mention Cat Tales just as an east-of-the-mountains possibility, even though I haven’t been there and can’t really vouch for it.
Can’t resist a plug for my old home, Whidbey Island and Deception Pass.
I’ll also second the Mt. St. Helen’s idea and the Victoria idea (especially Butchart Gardens… should be beautiful in the summer. I’m definitely not a flower guy, but I was impressed with the place.)
Starting from Washington and moving south:
The fish market in Seattle and all of the good eats and coffee. (Don’t miss the Olympia oysters, great shellfish.)
Port Townsend, nice old houses.
Chimacum, the Chimacum cafe (killer home cooking).
La Push, outstanding sea stacks and beach views.
Ho River Rain Forest, The Hall of Mosses (do the hike, it is one of the most beautiful mile long paths you will ever walk).
Ruby Beach, more killer scenery.
You must, you must, you must drive the entire coast of Oregon. It is some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire world. The art deco bridges and beaches are simply stunning.
Rougue River Brewery, try the “Old Crustascean”. It’ll put your pud in the mud.
There is an Air Museum in the blimp hangars somewhere along the way that merits interest.
The Tillamook cheese factory, for excellent cheese and butter.
The Pendelton Mills for the only beautiful plaids outside of Scotland.
In Lincoln City there is a small seafood shack called Val’s (I think) that has the finest shrimp and salmon.
Sea Lion Caves, one of the largest animal inhabited grottoes on the entire pacific west coast.
Crater Lake is not to be missed either, it is stunning.
Try and dip south into Lassen Volcanic National Park and hike into Bumpass Hell. You will enter another world that looks like something out of planet Star Trek.
Come back up on I-5 and hit Portland, it is one of the better cities on the West coast. The rose gardens are magnificent and Powell’s books is not to be missed.
There is a fruit wine maker in the Willamette valley that is nationally famous for their product that you will want to investigate.
Whatever you do, DO NOT MISS THE COAST OF OREGON, IT IS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL!
Aack!!! My geography sucks! The rain forest in Washington is on the WEST side of the state!
I must second Zenster’s bid for the coast of Oregon. One of my favorites is Cannon Beach, home of Haystack Rock. If you visit, stop by the Cannon Beach Bakery and take home a loaf of Haystack Bread – it’s great!!
Make that Salty Von’s in Lincoln City, Oregon.
On your way from Port Townsend out to the west coast of the Olympic Penninsula, be sure to take the detour south out to Hurricane Ridge. It provides a sweeping panorama of the Olympic Mountains, their glaciers and, on clear days, a view all the way to Mount Rainer. Check the weather so that you don’t arrive to a cloud-bound summit, but it is well worth the hour long drive each way. The contrast between surveying the snow capped peaks and then, later, hiking in the dense, moss-studded rainforest of the Ho River valley is something to behold.
If you see three things in the Olympic Park let them be:
Hurricane Ridge
Ruby Beach
Ho River Rainforest, Hall of Mosses Trail
What you see will be etched permanently into your mind.
Seconds on these two! Also, in La Push you can rent ‘camper’s cabins’ for about 50 bucks a night… A-Frame cabins, with a queen size bed and a sleeping bag loft for the young ones… about 100 yards or so from the beach,
As you have stated that you are driving up from Colorado, some part of your trip will be spent on I84 through Southern Idaho. Please don’t assume that my lovely home state is just like that all over! They put the freeway there because it is along the course of the Snake river and is therefore a realitively easy passage. It follows the course in several places of the “Oregon Trail”.
Short side trips, Shoshone Falls, the “Niagra of the West”.
Drought year, sure hope there is still water going over it come July. 
Malad Gorge State park. Right on the freeway near Jerome. Get out and take a hike to the Devil’s Washbowl. Man what a view! Good eats at the Farmhand Restaurant at the Jerome Exit. Although covered by farmland, you will be passing over a very large Lava flow, for miles and miles and MILES! Pillow domes all along the roadside. Thousand Springs near Hagerman. Water from the Lost River that flows through the cracks of the Lava flow leaps out of the shear cliff face on the north side of the Snake River Canyon. Drought may reduce waterflow. Out of Time gotta go to work, but there is a reason they call it the GEM state. e-mail or Yahoo Messenger for more. Feel free.