I'd say do the skiing your first week, then drive into Hood River and then drive down the Columbia River Gorge into Portland.  I'd spend no more than three days in Portland.  Definitely go to Voodoo though and if the Timbers are playing when you're there, make sure you go, those are supposed to be really fun soccer games.  Spend more time in Seattle than Portland, it's a larger city and I liked it much more than I did Portland.  Like everyone's said, go to Pike Place, wander around and see what people are selling (I bought one of my favorite paintings there). Seattle is one of my favorite skylines, so take the Bainbridge island ferry and that's a cheap way to see the city from the water.  Go to a Mariners game if they're in town while you're there.  If you really want, you could go to the top of the Space Needle, but it's pricey to do so and it's just a view, but it's also something to say you did.  Anyway, enjoy your time in the NW and don't get caught up in the skiing, Portland and Seattle are two beautiful cities with tons to do in and around them, so make sure you take advantage of that.