Oregon to SF - avoid Coastal Route
 

We are traveling from Portland OR to San Francisco in mid June. We don't like driving the Coastal Route and are hoping to get suggestions for interesting towns, cities, natural wonders etc. to visit on our way South. We hope to take 4-5 days for the drive. When we get to SF, we'll be visiting family and friends.

You could spend a night at Wolf Creek Inn. I stayed there last summer with a group- had a great time- they have a restaurant so you can dine there- which is a good thing as there is not really anywhere else to go.

http://www.historicwolfcreekinn.com

Thanks for the quick suggestion-I'll check it out!

Crater Lake and Napa/Sonoma wine country are a couple of possibilities. Ashland, Oregon is a pretty interesting town with its Shakespeare Festival. These will easily fill up 4 or 5 days.

I'm making this trip myself in June, but I plan to cut over from Grants Pass to Crescent City to drive through the redwoods. Don't know if that works for you if you want to entirely avoid the coast.

Another stop that is interesting is Oakland, Or- historic town with Tolly's Restaurant- has an old fashioned soda fountain and a restaurant with pretty good food. The main street has several antique stores to explore.

When I did the trip, we had lunch at Tolly's, spent the night at Wolf Creek.

Do you want to stick to places right along I-5 or willing to drive a few miles off the freeway?

Turtle Bay in Redding is nice but it will probably be hot.

McArthur Burney Falls State Park & Lassen Volcanic National Park are slightly out of the way but totally worth it.

http://turtlebay.org/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=455
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm

Five days to go 650 miles is a nice leisurely pace. You will have plenty of time for Crater Lake, Ashland (Shakespeare Festival), Mt. Shasta, Burney Falls, Lassen NP, Grass Valley, Sacramento (Old Town), and Napa Valley on your way to San Francisco.

We, on the other hand, never tire of the incomparable Pacific coast and redwood forests.

HTtY

You have plenty of time to come over to see the high desert of Oregon. Take US 26 up past Mt. Hood (or I-84 and Rt. 35) to see the waterfalls and Columbia Gorge. You hit US 97 in Madras on the way to Bend. Visit the High Desert Museum. The next day go to Crater Lake.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Due to a fear of heights, my husband won't drive roads without guardrails. Coming out of Yosemite was a nightmare last year. He'll be a terrified passenger so having me drive is out of the question. I'll check out all the suggestions and hopefully we can get to some of the sights on roads that don't hug the edge of cliffs.

Thanks for the explanation. It is unfortunate that your husband has a fear of heights, but you are lucky he is a guy who likes to travel now and then.

On the return you might take 101 to Crescent City, 199 to Grants Pass, and then I-5 home, or I-5 to Redding, 299 to McKinleyville, 101 to Crescent City, 199 to Grants Pass, and then I-5 home. They are both much more scenic than I-5 all the way.

HTtY

I agree --- go to Crater Lake. It's amazing - you will never forget your first glimpse of the lake.

Your husband won't like crater lake and the drive to central oregon will flip him out possibly. Stay on I5. Visit univ of oregon in Eugene, also Ashland, and Jacksonville OR is a cute western type town w a great outdoor theatre The Britt. See who's playing and catch a show. There's a wild animal sanctuary down that way too. Visit the Redwoods by the N Cali border, easy walks avail.

there are some great wineries in Oregon off 5 and a couple of covered bridges that are very fun to see in Southern Oregon. If you like Antiques, there are some towns that have quite a few antique stores. Will google and report back on the names. I've been to 2 but names have escaped me right now. Agree about Ashland and also there is a great music festival every year in small town outside of Ashland. Worth a go

Aurora (off 99) just outside of Portland, Coburg, outside of Eugene are the two towns with lots of antique stores tht I was thinking about and the music festival is the BRITT in Jacksonville outside of Ashland. the BRITT has all kinds of music from blue grass to classical, great outdoor venue. Schedule and tickets on line. NIce B&B's in the area to stay in as well.....

covered bridges.....Oregon has the largest collection of covered bridges in the West and one of the largest in the nation. Google it and you will c where they are located. All in Southern Oregon.....