Assuming they are meaning Vancouver BC, Hwy 101 is actually quite a ways out of the way, as nice as it may be.

They don’t. I just got one and it doesn’t have my photo.

I think they do have photos on them. At least they used to. But it's just a piece of paper, so a lot of places won't take them. You'll have to see how it goes.

Passport card is only $65, lasts 10 years, and is only $30 to renew for future reference

It’s just a piece of paper right?

Obligatory mention. Don’t try this, no matter how habituated they are to humans. I saw a woman at port Townsend get kicked in the head by a deer

The Olympic peninsula is full of beautiful old growth forests and the beaches are wonderful, not like Florida beaches though. I’d highly recommend going to hurricane ridge in the Olympic national park

Port Townsend: Pffft, where's the other six?

I live in Lakewood ( Oakbrook) when I go for walks the deer just stand there. Feels like you could pet them.

definitely not. just got mine last week

Up the coast. Take your time. Stop at Kalaloch Lodge if nothing else, but places like Moclips are cool at the beach as well. If wanting to see brand new; Seabeck
Continue on around the peninsula, a side trip to Cape Flattery (if the reservation is open) - maybe a side trip by Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge (might need chains - or at least have them in vehicle, but if a sunny day, road should by clear and dry). Onwards to Sequim (a cool animal park you can drive through), then to Port Townsend. A beautiful historic town on the water. Walkable. Fort Worden State Park just north of downtown. Then take the ferry from there to Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Wrong direction but I would backtrack slightly to Langley and stop to visit/walk/drink/eat. Then back up the spine of Whidbey Island to Deception Pass Bridge. After that Anacortes. Go from Anacortes up via Edison (good food) and Bow to Chuckanut Drive. Take it all the way into Bellingham. Hang in Bellingham before continuing north. White Rock just across the border has a beautiful boardwalk along the bay. Vancouver and surrounding area can easily be two weeks. Or drive from Bellingham into the mountains and up to Mt Baker (long one way though and can be crappy last miles up if snow).

This trip combines the WA coast with BC (near Vancouver) mountains and is pretty straight due north.

If having time and you’d like to see the Cascades and more, can drive east from Portland (along the Columbia or up via Mt Hood and then down to Hood River), cross the Columbia River (many locations) then take US-97 up towards Yakima (Palm Springs of WA). Continue from there up to Wenatchee. There either take US-2 west towards Leavenworth (fake German town, beautiful around Xmas and winters), Steven’s Pass (chains likely required to carry) and I-5 (for a beeline to BC). Or you can continue north on US-97, Chelan (vacation paradise in summer and shoulder seasons), Omak, Conconully, into the BC Okanagan (Osoyos, sunniest spot in Canada) and take the Crows Nest Highway (3) towards Hope and Vancouver. Or go north to Kelowna through the wine districts. From there you can head west and loop back towards Vancouver, further west towards Merritt and Lillooet to approach Whistler from the north and then onto Vancouver. Etc.

All a matter of time, what you want to see, weather, desire to carry chains or not, etc. Unless in a real rush, I would avoid taking I-5 up from Portland to Vancouver. Just a busy freeway with not many views - although coming into Seattle and seeing the skyline is cool.

Whenever I say "the islands" in conversation, I'm always referring to the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island. I know it doesn't make sense because they're in different counties.

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Yes, that's true. Whidbey is a single island, cited as the longest in the country. I was asking what they were referring to as "the islands". It doesn't make sense in local parlance. Folks say "The San Juans". But where are "the islands". Like Fox and Anderson? Indian and Marrowstone?

Whatever that means. I take it you haven’t been to a rez before.

This picture specifically I know is Whidbey island.

If you drive up the Washington Coast, La Push is a Native American owned beach and they have a resort there that we’ve stayed at many times. You might even be able to get lodging this time of year!

There are quite a few great places where you can see and learn more about Native American culture in Washington State, and in British Columbia!

https://stateofwatourism.com/discover-washingtons-american-indian-heritage-sites-and-museums/

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I am, but high school in this town was hell as many high schools in small towns are.

Not a hiker?

What islands?

*Native American (not Indian) communities are not tourist attractions.

Wipe your conscience.

Best place to grab breakfast after a morning trek up Si. Done it more times than I like to count, but hot tasty breakfast waiting makes it worth it!

Mt Si! I been on that one!