Oh sorry, to clarify, I didn't mean stop to look at schools, I meant if you are headed to Seattle for whatever (not sure what there is to do in Seattle, I lived there and don't really think of it as a tourist destination of any kind, but maybe Vancouver?), definitely take the train since it's a fun train (even though it will leave 6 hrs after it is scheduled to leave) and then might as well do a stop in Portland on the way. Just to hang out and check things out for a couple days since there's lost of fun things going on and interesting people. Not to look at schools.