[martin redman]

What I did find when we did our trip, you have to be prepared to keep stopping, as the view points are spectacular.
When in Newport, park up and treat yourself to lunch at the Safron Salmon, a small but very desireable cafe down by the water front, near the coast guard station. The fish soup is 'WOW'.
State Parks are many, the webb site is easy to use, plan the trip, book early. Get your walking shoes out, and be prepared to enjoy solitude on the beach. If you don't have a dog, rent one.
If you get to Illwaco, WA., go down to the dock area, there is a fish store there, big pots with shrimp and crab cooking, and the tuna is fresh, so fresh it will swim back to your car for you.
Astoria, a great place to walk the shop fronts, nice marine museum, a viewing tower on the hill, and one hell of a bridge accross the Columbia.