North California Road Trip

We are staying with family in Concord (CA ) for 9 days from 25 Sept.

We plan to drive north to south Oregon for a 3 or 4 day road trip but have never been to that area and have no idea where to go and what to see( or the time needed to drive around the area).

Any suggestions on a 4 day/3 night intinerary which would make the most of our time.

North California Road Trip

Ashland Oregon is a nice town to visit and they have the Oregon Shakespeare Festival there. They show a lot of different plays--not just Shakespeare. Check out their website: http://www.orshakes.org/

North California Road Trip

Try this -

Day 1: Cut across to 101 and head north then across to the coast at Bodega Bay. North on Highway 1, a windy road with great views. Continue through Jenner and past Fort Ross SP (worth a stop). Overnight in beautiful Mendocino which has a great selection of B%26amp;B%26#39;s.

Day 2: Continue north. 1 meets 101 at Leggett. Just past Garberville take The Avenue of the Giants which runs parallel to the main highway and through the big trees of Humboldt Redwoods SP. Continue north on 101 through more big trees and overnight in Eureka or Crescent City or somewhere (limited options) in between.

Day 3: 199 inland to Grants Pass. Maybe time for a jetboat excursion on The Rogue River or explore the %26#39;wild west%26#39; town of Jacksonville. Overnight in Ashland, another town with a wide range of accommodation and of course The Shakespeare Festival.

Day 4: A long drive (300 + miles) back south on I-5. Possibly time to stop in or around Mount Shasta and/or Shasta Lake.

Your other option is to head straight up I-5 on day one and explore more of Southern Oregon. The coast is said to be beautiful (we are heading that way in early October) and you can also visit Crater Lake as a day trip from Ashland.

Hope that helps get you started.

adamhornets@yahoo.com

I agree with Adam. . . the coastal route up to Mendocino and beyond is worth it. For years I%26#39;ve stayed at the Pine Beach Inn (between the village of Mendocino and Ft. Bragg). It%26#39;s not the Ritz or the Fairmont, but it%26#39;s situated on 12 acres of property, is quiet, has moderate prices and a private beach. . . .

Also, you can cut back over to Hwy. 101, to continue north, on Hwy. 20 at the south end of Ft. Bragg. . . it%26#39;s about 33 miles from the coast to the town of Willits, where the 101 intersects. . . . This route on the 20 will take you through the Jackson State Redwood Forest, which is pretty awe inspiring. . . .

Have fun and enjoy. . . .

If you get to Crater Lake and take I-5 for either leg of the trip, try to see Mt. Shasta or especially Lassen Volcanic National Park.

All of this is part of the Cascade range, which also contains Mt. St. Helens. This is among the most likely of U.S. mountain ranges to ';go off'; in the foreseeable future. Lassen is especially fascinating, with hot springs, fumaroles, boiling mud pots, and sulphur odors issuing from holes in the ground. There is also wildlife, including bears. It seldom gets very crowded.

Also on I-5 farther south, if you like birds and have time, pop in to one of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge sites. Several of them are located around Willows, Wlliams, Colusa, and Marysville).