Seattle and Vancouver are the biggest cities - very urban. Both are beautiful. They have a different

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My husband and I are planning a trip to Seattle this Fall with either visiting Portland OR or Vancouver. Since I know nothing about the West Coast, I just know Fodorites will help me out. We are in our 60's and usually take a trip to Europe but have decided to keep our money in the USofA this time.
Seattle and Vancouver are the biggest cities - very urban. Both are beautiful. They have a different feel. Seattle is grungier and funkier with a lot of interesting neighborhoods. Vancouver is cleaner and has an amazing downtown and park system - more planned and organized. Stanley Park and the entire waterfront is great. Vancouver has preserved asia travel guide more of the native American feel (totem pole culture). It is a mix of China and England, in a way.
Depending on how many days you have to spend, you could do all three. Fly to PDX and ride the TriMet light rail into the city. the end of the Red line is right outside the baggage claim at PDX. Spend a full day in the city before renting a car for such things as the waterfalls and Mt. Hood east of the city nad Astoria asia travel guide and the coast south of Astoria.
if you want to see the city of Victoria, take the Port Angeles ferry over. Return to Seattle and return the rental car and take the Amtrak bus or train to Vancouver. You really do not need a rental car in Vancouver since there is a great deal of the city that you can walk or take a HOHO bus to see including Stanley Park. I'm sure you can fly home from Vancouver.
My choice is Seattle and Portland, asia travel guide mostly because Portland is within an easy drive of two of the most spectacular natural attractions in the NW--the asia travel guide Columbia River Gorge (with its waterfalls) and the Oregon Coast.