Washington -- Inland or Coastal?

[Tailwinds]

After reading through Kirkendall & Spring's book and looking
at the Adventure Cycling maps, there seem to be two pretty
different ways south through Washington (I'll be starting in
Seattle -- or Bremerton to be exact).  Adventure Cycling
has you go more inland, close to interstate 5.  Meanwhile,
Kirkendall and Spring have you going along the coast.  

What would you suggest?  Inland seems shorter, but it's hard
to argue with being on/near the coast.  

[TheDaltonBoys]

Tailwinds - you said it best already, "...hard to argue about the coast". Plenty of "Inland" to go around...do the coast. Enjoy the voyage. Mark of the Dalton Boys

[LobodeSolo]

I took the inland route from Anacortes to Astoria. I chose the route after looking at the contours included in the book and seeing lots of hills I didn't want to get discouraged with all the climbing at the beginning of my solo tour to San Diego. The book also mentions that it is drier on the inland route. I left in mid September and it poured until I got to the CA border. Years later I drove from Port Angeles to Astoria along the coast and it didn't seem as hilly as I would have guessed from the book. I think it is a coin toss. If youare touring the whole Pacific Coast you will see lots of coast from Astoria down except in Northern Ca. The hill back to the coast at Leggett to Ft Bragg is a treat!! Have fun. I did!!