northern california
 

9 day trip in september; fly into SFO and will drive to Ashland, OR and back. Would like to see Redwoods & wine country & golf.
What do you recommend as a good route north - thinking 101 with some time on highway 1; what must-sees on the way up. South from Ashland thinking I-5 to Napa. Good stops for golf along the way north or south? Would love to avoid total traffic gridlock if possible! Thanks - Chilidog

Once north of Santa Rosa on 101 you shouldn't have to worry about gridlock unless constrction projects create choas. And in SF it depends on the time of day and day of the week, but it is almost always rush hour-like crossing the Golden Gate.
One route north is to swing off 101 and onto Highway 1 just north of Marin City. Point Reyes National Seashore, Bodega Bay and Tomales make interesting waypoint. At SR 12 turn inland to Santa Rosa, then back to 101 to Healdsbrug. Lots of wine opportunities all arouid. Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexandar valleys can't be beat.
Then stay on 101 through the Redwoods, Eureka, more Redwoods, to Crescent City then US 199 to OR 238 through Applegate and Jacksonville to Medford and 101 to Ashland. This is the south end of the OR wine country with more Merlots and Cabernets than Pinot Noirs.
If you take 5 south, you could make a swing through Lassen Nat. Park via Redding and rejoing 5 at Red Bluff. Also, some side road to places such as Dunsmuir, McCould and Mt. Shasta are interesting.

Good advice - and I would add - try to get to Crater Lake http://tinyurl.com/6rhbnzo
when visiting Ashland. If it's full at their Lodge - you could spend a night at the nearby Diamond Lake Resort - fairly rustic but a beautiful setting. http://www.diamondlake.net/

And perhaps the best golf you could find in the US is right over on the Oregon Coast at Bandon Dunes - which is set up like the Scottish Links courses. World Class. http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/

There is also a good golf course at Eagle Point - not far from Ashland - and over the hill - at my home town of Klamath Falls (a little over an hour from Ashland), the Running Y is a georgeous course that was designed by Arnold Palmer http://www.runningy.com/ - and has 9 holes oriented to the Lake and 9 holes through the woods.

You might also enjoy taking a jet boat ride up the Rogue River - from Gold Beach. Here is one company and there are others: http://www.roguejets.com/

thanx boom_boom & tomsd. Best Redwoods? Need I bother with the national park? Any info on Shasta Lake area; also how about Silverado Resort in Napa?

<i>Would love to avoid total traffic gridlock if possible!</i>

I've never experienced "total traffic gridlock" on any of the roads you mention.

HTTY

If you take the route outlined by boom_boom above you will drive right through Redwoods National Park, so yes, do stop there.