Originally Posted by rjque
Also, you should be forewarned that you'll find more acceptance of gay people in rural Alabama than you will in Southwest Washington. This area is extremely conservative (as evidenced, in part, by the big "Uncle Sam" billboard in Centralia). There's really no reason to stop between the Oregon border and Olympia, anyway, so this shouldn't be an issue.
I haven't done the Southern parts of the Washington coast but I loved the Northern coast. It's not as scenic as the Oregon coast but it's much more remote and there are very cool sidetrips available in the rainforest.
I think this is a little unfair, though I haven't been to rural Alabama to compare (I have friends who live there, though). My partner and I vacationed in Washington a few years ago and found nothing but wonderful people and beautiful scenery. We drove from Portland out the Columbia River to Astoria and up the Olympic Peninsula. Wonderful towns, gorgeous views, even some hidden fabulous restaurants (our favorite was The Sanctuary, in Chinook WA, across the Columbia from Astoria OR). The Olympic National Park is fabulous--rainforests, mountains, hiking....
Also, both Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier are between PDX and SEA, and both are well worth seeing and hiking. St. Helens is especially close to Portland and a wonderful day trip.
Centralia might not be the GLBT vacation destination of a lifetime (though Eric and I stayed a night there and were fine), but the area is certainly not Alabama.
-Michael
PS--The drive east from PDX out the Columbia R. gorge is awesome as well. Multnomah Falls is one highlight.