Hi,
When you read my other post, keep in mind the seasonal weather conditions. You plan on traveling in February. For some of the attractions I mention - Crater Lake National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Saint Helens - there can be road closures and limited access due to snow. So check their websites (links on other post) to see what is normally closed during the winter and to check any alerts about current conditions closer to your travel dates.
As far as meeting people, that is entirely up to you! Americans are friendly. So if you put yourself out there and strike up conversations, you can meet some nice folks. You may be able to find some small inns as you drive along the coastal highway. You can search our hotel reservation page to see what's available. www.usatourist.com/english/reservations/reservations-hotels.html. The hotel descriptions list the number of rooms, which can give you and idea of how big the place is. Of course Bed & Breakfasts tend to be very small. The owners are in the business because they enjoy meeting new people and breakfast is often around a large communal table. So it is a great setting to meet new people when traveling. But in the U.S. B&B's can be quite expensive. You can search this site to get an idea of properties and prices. http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-961348-10597410
You asked about what to do in Seattle and Portland.
Seattle - The top tourist attractions are the Space Needle, the Waterfront and the Pike Place Market. These are the 3 places that I would say every visitor should go. In February, it can be rainy and the views from the Space Needle won't be as grand with overcast skies. But I think that it still gives a nice perspective of the city and it's surrounding water. You just may not be able to see the mountains. If you have the time take a boat tour. Argosy at the waterfront and Ride the Ducks at the Space Needle can both be fun. The ducks go on land and water. Pioneer Square is the historic district. Though the area has been rebuilt after a great fire and refurbished throughout the years, you can still imagine what it was like during the Gold Rush days. If you have even more time to kill, you can visit some of the neighborhoods. Fremont has some nice shops and restaurants/bars. It's a popular destination for the locals. Capitol Hill is popular among the gay community but is popular destination for a night out for everyone. Alki Beach in West Seattle offers nice views of the city and the Sound. You can catch the water taxi from the waterfront or drive if you have a car. The water taxi will drop you off about 1 mile walk from the commercial area where you'll find some nice cafes. That walk is on a trail along the water, so it's quite nice. For more information, visit our Seattle pages. www.usatourist.com/english/places/washington/seattle.html.
Portland - I don't know quite as much about this city. I recommend visiting Powells Books. It's a huge bookstore and is a popular tourist attraction. Portland has a nice Chinese Garden for relaxing in. www.portlandchinesegarden.org/ Their Japanese Garden is thought to be as authentic as you can find outside of Japan. www.japanesegarden.com They also There is a nice walk along the riverfront. The Pearl District is an area in the city that has some nice galleries and cafes. http://www.explorethepearl.com/ I hear Pittock Mansion is nice to tour for a taste of Portland History. www.pittockmansion.org Portland is called the Rose City. So a visit to their Rose Garden would almost be mandatory. http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?ShowResults=yes&SearchText=international+rose During other times of year the Saturday Market is nice to visit. Unfortunately it does not run in January or February.
Have fun!
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