You can use Topaz as a plug in from LR. My preference is to start in LR then to PS and from PS utilize different layers with Topaz or other software. AI Clear is pretty good, you'll need Topaz Studio and purchase the AI Clear and several other effects. Your other option is to just use Topaz Studio (Free with a few capabilities) with some additional purchases, it offers layers and working with RAW. As far as Topaz performing better than LR, yes in several of their effects, Precision Contrast, Precision Detail, HSL Color Tuning, and you can utilize artistic effects such as Impression, Glow, Simplify and Texture Effects. I'm sure you'll find more about Topaz vs LR if you search this site - Good Luck and have some fun.

Nice - here is one from my yard, taken a couple weeks ago

Both are equally as good, my personal preference is LightRoom Classic CC in that Capture One can be used as a plugin, best of both worlds. With LR every other processing program will work as a plugin and you have the ability to use PS straight out of LR. For Capture One everything including layers can be accomplished within one program however if you need something other than that particular program in your workflow then you have to save the image and then take it into another software preference. I take advantage of the abilities to use any processing in my workflow so a typical flow would be LR, PS, Plugins (On1, Skylum, Topaz, NIK), PS for fine tunes and back into LR for final tuning/saving. So, to keep it simple go with the product that gives you the most latitude and that would be the Adobe suite. Good luck and have some fun while doing it.

Looks like Topaz - if you used Lightroom/PS in the processing workflow find the copy in LR that you made the JPG from, right click - Edit In - Click the Original button and you should get the layers in PS that were used in your workflow. Hopefully that will help you.

Linda - Sounds as if you may need to add memory to your machine, if you don't already have at least 16GB. Mine even gets slow with 16GB at times with EL Capitan, been afraid to update to the latest version (Hi Sierra) with my late 2012 model.

WD does have some good options - I have 2 devices. A cloud device (4TB) that hooks to the router so I can share data between multiple computers and a My Book (8TB) that acts as an external only. I'm in the process of mirroring between the two however it is labor intensive to do so, for some reason the My Book just is not very compatible with the cloud devise. If I were you I'd think about a large storage device such as the WD Cloud so you can share between with multiple computers - the caveate is your internet - mine is very sluggish (Dish Based) that's why I added the My Book External. In terms of space I'd consider 8TB or larger with mirroring built in, just a suggestion.

Central and Southern are the most spectacular for photo opps. From either Lincoln City or Newport you can hit either North/Central/Southern coast all week long, if you chase the lighthouses, waterfalls and special locations that have been mentioned. I personally take my motorhome, many camp grounds along the coast, I tow a car so I park and then explore. There are however many hotels along the coast, I'm thinking of Waldport or Depot Bay for easy access, likely the most expensive would be Newport or Bandon. Port Orford would be a good place to hit both Central and Southern coast. You'll never see everything in a week - you'll see once you land in a location and start discovering - you can also head inland a bit and chase covered bridges. March through October are likely the most spectacular months you'll catch all kinds of weather which will give you dramatic shot opps. Have fun and explore often.

Use both Luminar and Aurora as a plug-in for both Lightroom and Photoshop, typically as part of my workflow. Can't seem to break my Lightroom habits due to the asset manager, basic adjustments and final adjustments prior to saving. It does appear that given some time Skylum will surpass LR & PS, then I'll use it as a stand alone.

Same concept as Bill de, agree with Whuff, if you use a PP software like Lightroom use 'Lens Correction' and 'Transform', most software has the same features just named a little different.

Kerry Park - Night time shots of city/Sunrise shots of city with mount Rainier in the background.

East Shores Of Alki - Great locations along this stretch to take city shots day or night.

Seattle Center - Space Needle (From ground and from observation deck) Architecture - Music Museum (Exterior) - Chihuly Glass exhibit (Art).

Waterfront - All kinds of photog opportunities.

Fishermans Terminal - Docks are open with so many opportunities for great captures. - After that drive over to the Locks - many opportunities there as well.

All of that should keep you busy enough for the time spent there - bring your umbrella and rain coat but don't let the rain scare you off.

Looking at it full screen - pathway to the unknown, such as life.

Fires are mostly in Eastern Oregon & Washington, with more in British Columbia so, depending on the winds some days good and some bad, this is the perspective around Puget Sound. I would think your idea of Yosemite then to the Northern California coast and follow the coast up Oregon would be your best bet. Some of the most beautiful coastlines are Northern Cal and Oregon all the way up, you could do day trips from the coast inland to find waterfalls and whatever else you want to photograph and you could do wineries in both Calif, Oregon, and Washington, lots of photo ops there as well. From the Oregon coast you could run up the Gorge into Eastern Oregon & Washington, supposed to get some moisture this coming weekend, so that should clear skies a bit and slow any fires. Hope this helps a bit.

Here is something that might help your decision:

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/surrounded-by-fires-in-oregon-cle-elum-evacuations-underway-air-quality-plummets/?utm_source=The+Seattle+Times&utm_campaign=0fcceb0285-Morning_Brief_09_04_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5beb38b61e-0fcceb0285-122380285

If you already own On1 RAW Jerry it should be a free update, I just updated recently. Your query is a tough decision particularly if you haven't had the SW around to utilize when you want to play and learn. The 30 day trial really isn't enough time to dig in and find out if you'd really use it or not, $49.00 isn't a huge investment therefore, I'd jump in with both feet if that is indeed what you need to do. I'm an avid LR to PS user and swear by them, I use On1/Topaz/Luminar as PS plug ins however there are times particularly if I want an easy and quick way to replace a sky I jump from LR to On1 Layers then back to LR to finish with PS.

The D70 is my backup camera now that I have a D750. It is a great camera and I still use it on occasion, it's DX rather than FX so crops are a little tighter than FX and megapixels are a little less but will shoot with FX len's. Might as well use it and enjoy it and upgrade if you get into it and want to expand capabilities. Have fun.

If your looking at the images on a computer maybe a monitor color calibration would be in order, are you looking at RAW or JPG, if RAW a little PP would be in order, if non of these work you have other good suggestions above.