tell me about your city (chicago, pdx, seattle etc)

[turnipmonster]

hello OOT,
I'm taking a cross country road trip. I'd love thoughts/observations on fun things to do, cheap/cool places to stay, cool national/state parks and/or campgrounds, and good places to eat in the following areas (no steakhouses, please):

1) chicago

2) portland, or

3) seattle

4) eugene

5) yellowstone national park and surrounding area

including stuff in between any of the aforementioned is much appareciated, particularly between yellowstone and chicago. thanks so much for your help. if I am missing something ultra cool, let me know about it!