Here are a few wonderfully short Western U.S. road trips recommended by Douglas Orton, a Seattle photographer and author. Please scroll down to the adventure below or follow the blue links for additional travel ideas.

*ASTORIA, OREGON

*FIVE FERRY LOOP: SEATTLE, OLYMPIC PENINSULA, VICTORIA, SAN JUAN ISLANDS.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*HELLS CANYON SCENIC BYWAY, ELKHORN DRIVE NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY LOOP, OREGON.

*OREGON SPRING LOOP, TULIPS! WATERFALLS! BEACHES!

*HIGH LAKES ROAD, WA, MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND LAKES.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE; OREGON, WASHINGTON LOOP.

*OLYMPIC PENINSULA LOOP, WA.

*VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., CANADA.

*OKANOGAN LOOP DRIVE.

*CURRENT EXHIBIT, ASSIGNMENT

SPRING OREGON LOOP DRIVE!

We took a few days to make this loop below Portland, through the Willamette Valley, over to the Oregon Coast, and back to Portland. In spring, leave I-5 at any exit, wandering down past Woodburn to Silverton. Along the way visit tulip fields and, later, Iris. Past Silverton visit Silver Falls State Park, which ought to be a National Monument. Cross back over I-5 to Corvalis for more flowers and the Willamette River, passing grass seed farms of Linn County and more covered bridges than in any other state in the U.S. From Corvalis, it's out to Newport for a coastal drive that will bring you north, back over the mountains to your start south of Portland. Four days. Click each thumbnail for more detail. For more spring botanicals, see Galleries 1 and 2! For more short adventures, follow the blue links above.

36 Images. Click for larger photo.