Best Towns for Vacation House on US West Coast?

Continuing the survey of my most recent two posts, National Geographic Adventurer chooses as its top "next" adventure towns in West Coast states:

* Seattle, Washington
* Hood River, Oregon
* San Francisco, California

Runners up: Coos Bay, Oregon... Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii... Girdwood, Alaska... Joshua Tree, California...Leavenworth, Washington... Arcata, California...Klamath Falls, Oregon... Bellingham, Washington... Malibu, California.

Confession time: a few years ago, I wrote an article for AARP Magazine featuring Bellingham as being among the very best places where baby boomers could spend their prime years. Your thoughts on any of the picks?