Haven't been to the Petrfied trees, we just thought the "geyser" was a total joke and waste of time.

Clos Pegase is another nice winery in that area. Great wine and nice artwork to view there, but Sterling will be fun with the kids. ***kim***

I've been looking into this in more depth & have decided to go with recommendations to go up the coast. Sorry for the detour to Napa, but looks like lots of traffic, wineries won't be open, hotels are expensive, a geyser is actually a sprinkler, etc.

Here's our plan:

SF - Bodega Bay (How is the Inn at the Tides?)

Bodega Bay to Fortuna (hotels are basic -is the Best Western clean?)

Fortuna to Coos Bay (hotel?)

Coos Bay - Lincoln City to Portland through some of the wine district.

Have recorded all sites suggested by all of you that are along the way. Now trying to line up hotels. Or can we wing it & stop when we're tired?

The Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa is much nicer than Inn at the Tides. We actually left one hotel there, I forget the name & checked into the BBL. Luxury hotel, very nice property with excellent restaurant on-site.

Coos Bay is totally uneventful, with nothing but a saw dust pile there. Good Luck! I think the Red Lion will be your best bet there, they have a pool and pretty decent restaurant.

Lincoln City is not very pretty, IMO. The best scenery is from Newport over to Astoria. Your kids will enjoy a stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I hope they like coastal scenery!

***kim***

Why don't you consider a stay at Gold's Beach? The Sand n Sea Motel is an oceanfront property that's a great little overnighter. Walking paths to the beach, jacuzzi, etc. At least your kids would have something to do there. They have they jet boat rides, also from Gold's Beach.

Newport is much nicer than Lincoln City, at least take the kids to the aquarium so they can have a little fun! Where are you staying in Portland and would you like suggestions for fun things to do there with kids?

What will they do while you're in the tasting rooms? My kids sit in the car and listen to music or play their guitars while they ever so patiently wait for us. We don't bring them on our Napa/Sonoma trips to the Wine Country. ***kim*** :)

Thanks kimamom for all your suggestions. It really helps to talk to someone who knows the area. We chose Coos Bay & Fortuna for driving distances, not because they were great destinations. We were not planning to tour those towns, just to overnight there. But if there's a better place nearby those points, we can adjust. Gold's beach might be a bit too far south - it would make the leg into Portland longer, and there's a lot to see in that area. I wasn't planning to stop at Lincoln City - just cut up to Portland in the way that beachbum suggested. (Definitely spending time in Newport.) Perhaps just driving through the wineries - seems like a pretty drive to Portland. If there's a good winery tour that we can take the kids on there, they'd probably enjoy it. In Portland, staying at the Residence Inn Riverplace (not thrilling but my sister's choice - she's meeting us there). Open to any suggestions there - we're spending a day in the city and a day at the Multnomah Falls. Then we're high-tailing it back to San Fran via route 5 with perhaps an overnight stop 3 hours from Portland.

My kids love Portland. Take them to the zoo, my 20 yr. old and his fiance had a great time there a couple of weeks ago. The Rose Gardens are also nice and of course, at their ages they most love to shop. Pioneer Place has great shops for everyone.

If you're there on a Sat., the Saturday Market is lots of fun. Multnomah Falls is gorgeous, we have one of my favorite photos of me with our Vizsla in front of them. Sounds like you're finalizing your plans well. There's lots to do and see in Oregon, as you can well see from the posts here. ***kim***

Fortuna? Nah, check out Ferndale. Much much cuter.

Gardyloo, I am considering the Victorian Inn there (other B&Bs don't seem to have 2 beds for families). But they're $145 per night vs. the $90 at the Best Western, and I'm being cheap. We have a 9 day trip & I've been spluring in SF and Bodega Bay. But I have to admit that it does make a difference to the way a vacation feels!

Gardyloo, The other problem is that my kids don't really appreciate "cute" or "romantic" or "historical". They like "cool" or "luxurious" but not 4-posters or claw-foot bathtubs. Is there any awesome place in Ferndale that accomodates families that you particularly recommend?

No, I know what you mean. IMO most of the Eureka area is really blah; Ferndale has some character, but I shouldn't be inconsistent and say I don't like Cannon Beach (OR) for its cutesiness and then turn around and say the opposite about Ferndale.

So go with Fortuna, or, maybe better, Arcata, so that you don't have to snake through downtown Eureka in the morning. Arcata is easier access to/from the Samoa Cookhouse, anyway.

ikemarrus: stick with your Best Western with your family and save the B&B's for a romantic, couple's trip. Do you travel much with your kids? Just curious! The B&B's almost never have pools which are great for energy release when traveling with kids. ***kim***

Coos Bay.... I feel for ya.. Pretty much the only thing it's got going for it is the local tribe's casino. Either Bandon or Florence are better alternatives, though you might have trouble finding acceptable accommodations in Bandon.

I'm a local, and I've thought for the last five minutes about what my 12 and 17 year olds like to do in Portland. Came up with nothin' other than hangin' at Pioneer Square or Pioneer Place. If your kids are into it, I think you can rent rollerblades to skate along the water front.

Multnomah Falls is definitely not an all day deal unless you're planning to hike in the area. After you've seen the falls, continue up the gorge to Hood River, noted for world class wind-surfing (kids might think that cool). Then head up to Mt. Hood, stop at Timberline Lodge, and back into Portland on 26. If you've time on the mountain, there's a "kickin'" alpine slide in the Government Camp/Ski Bowl area. I'm sure your kids would like that.

See Beachbum, I have a tribe of teens at my house, this is my concern that the kids will go BORED!!

Bandon is a great suggestion, anywhere but Coos Bay! LOL Bandon does have a BW property there, oceanfront that we stayed in one year. And there's some fun shopping in downtown Bandon. I just don't want ikemarrus to have a Chevy Chase vacation!!! ***kim***

Yes, we do travel with our kids alot. We also travel with our dog (but not this time). When we travel alone, we do romantic B&Bs (although I'm having a hard time remembering this LOL). When we travel with kids, we do big rooms, queen-sized beds, TVs, pools, exercise rooms & a hot buffet breakfast. And it doesn't hurt to be on the beach. Bandon (or Reedsport?) it is.

(Chevy Chase has nothing on us!)

where should we stop for the night on our return down route 5? We'd like to stop 3 or 3-1/2 hours outside Portland.

I like the Portland and Hood River suggestions. In Portland, we may also go to the OMSI (are kids too old?), Powell's books (for me) and the gardens (Japanese, Chinese). Any thoughts?

OMSI is great for any age. Check their website for all the details and exhibits. We went to the Titanic exhibit this spring as well as the submarine tour. My dh is a retired Submarine Officer so the tour was a must do for us, lol! Many of our old neighbors in Seattle have come down just for this tour though and they loved it.

The Chinese Gardens are amazing! I was there on a school field trip this spring with 13 yr olds and they all were very interested...so that says a lot!

Powells...a definite must do!

I'd shoot for Grants Pass on the drive south. But you might push on to Ashland (4.5 hours), which would be a nice place for breakfast before getting back on the road.

I'd thought about OMSI, mms. But I don't think I'd ever get my 17 year old in there (except maybe for IMAX), and the 12 year old would go only because she's more compliant. I think your kids need to be into that sort of thing (science) to enjoy it, ikemarrus.

There are a number of boats/ships, ranging from a lunch/dinner cruise to jet boats, offering trips up/down the Willamette River. Not nearly as exciting as the Rogue, but still maybe something the kids would enjoy.

Beachbum--I don't think you need to really be into science to enjoy OMSI, but thats just my opinion. Whenever we have been there have been kids of all ages. We had not been to OMSI in years, and our first time back was with extended family of all ages and I was really surprised at how much there was. I would bet your 17 yr old would love the sub tour...the people who had never experienced it before were not wanting to leave. Course I had a hard time pulling my dh away also, lol! Yes, the IMAX there is fun...the dome theater with seats that lay back. If you go out of curiosity let me know what you think. I know everyone likes/dislikes different places:)

Totally agree with Beachbum, I'd ask the kids what they want to do. The Zoo is a a lot of fun, wouldn't miss it!

Grant's Pass is a great suggestion. I would stay at the Riverside Inn, www.riverside-inn.com and take the Quick N" Scenic two hour trip up the Rogue. ***kim***

Anyone hear of the Mill Casino & Hotel in North Bend near Coos Beach. Well rated on Tripadvisor. We got a bayside room for a good rate. Seemed very nice on the phone & said kids were welcome and feel comfortable. We're not big gamblers but not anti-gambling either. Could be interesting people-watching.