I should not automatically assume that every web-surfer on the planet knows where the Columbia George is, even as most people might know Oregon's general location. So here are some maps, starting with Oregon's place on the map and going down to the specific places where a lot of these pictures were taken.

Oregon is in the Northwestern part of the USA:

Portland and surrounding locations. Note the main highways to the coast.
Hy 18 goes to Lincoln City and Hy 26 goes to Seaside.
Hy 22 east out of Salem runs just south of Silver Falls State Park.

Here is a map of Portland, clickable to a link to a larger version. Note the lavender lines I added so that you may know where my cameras clicked in or near the city itself.

This is the area directly west and south of Portland. I can drive to Seaside in about an hour and fifteen minutes. Here are 3 locations mentioned in my table of pictures.

East of Portland: Columbia Gorge.
State parks.
Waterfalls (including Latourell and Multnomah). Viewpoints galore.
Mount Hood Wilderness, where I need to start exploring.
In other words, too much good stuff.

Here's how to get to Silver Falls State Park from Portland, a 1.5 hours drive.

Now you know how I can just drive a day trip, go get a shot of something incredibly beautiful and then come back. :)