eroz

Thanks everyone for your help planning our trip! Started out from Portland heading to Florence, golf was tough in that wind! Ocean Dunes is pretty banged up so if you're really into golf Sand Pines is probably worth the extra money. Old Town Inn lodging was super convenient, walk to everything and clean. Beachcomber was the local tavern and packekd for the Sat night prime rib special. We just had sandwiches and they were fine.

Winchester Bay was worth a quick stop esp. since they had an outdoor fest going. Lots of great places to stop and hike down to a private cove all along the coast! Bandon is cute also, the Dunes course is $265 for a round plus a caddy-yikes! We looked but didn't play needless to say! Overnight in Gold Beach-this town is just beach, not much else going on. It was windy and the beach was empty and a bit cold. Gold Beach Inn was right on the beach and clean, but thin walls.

Coast S of Gold Beach is very pretty and highly recommend the detour into California to Crescent City to see the redwoods. Easy to walk groomed trails. Don't cut over early like we did on 197 I think was the road, go down 101 and then back up 199 to catch all the awesome trees. We learned later we missed some great spots.

Grants Pass, great tavern called the OFfice right on 6th street to hang with the locals. Dinner in Ashland at Pasta Piatti, good food and great deck. We enjoyed Ashland a lot, incredibly cute town with lots of dining and shopping opps, not to mention the Shakespeare festival. Nowhere was too crowded though. White water rafting with Pete's Momentum Rafting, I mentioned it on another post response and highly highly recommend them. Siskiyou Tavern also had a great outdoor area and good food. Stayed at the Manor Motel just N of downtown, easy walk, clean and cute and cheap (we look for economical, clean safe places to stay as we explore and aren't in our room much!).

Rogue Creamery in Central Point was worth the stop on the way to Jacksonville. See a concert at the Britt if you can, small beautiful venue. We stayed in Jacksonville a short walk from town at the Stage Lodge and it was fabulous for only $92. Huge room, clean, fridge, super king bed etc. La Fiesta had great food and another nice outdoor dining area. Jacksonville Pub for a quick beer and local hangout.

NIce drive up to Crater Lake on 162, beautiful views of the Rogue River. Last 2 nights at Crater Lake Lodge, lakeview is worth the extra cost but ask for a room opposite the dining area. Food smell permeated and we were right above the outdoor balcony. There's no AC so windows are open and you hear everything going on outside, there's no curfew out on the patio and people were out there drinking and cursing one night. A quick way to spoil a blanket of stars night. The restaurant on the way up to Rim Village is decent. The lodge dinner itself was disappointing but you're a captive audience so paying for the view and experience. Crater Lake is worth it, full day or 1-2 nights, easy rim drive, some easy hikes and they provide a great map to point on things to see. The boat ride is also worth the hike up and down to get to it.

Overall a wonderful first trip to S Oregon and I highly recommend it!

beachbum

Heck, as long as you're gonna play in that wind, may as well be at Bandon or Pacific Dunes! Next time... ;-)

Thanks for the report, eroz.

kimamom

Thanks for the report, the Rogue Creamery is so great, we love the Oregonzola and the Crater Lake bleu cheese there. ***kim**

travelinandgolfin

What did you think of Port Orford and Brookings?

Where the towns themselves worth a stop, or where they like Gold Beach?

eroz

Port Orford was small but looked like it had a small downtown area worth a stop. Brooking was large with the Fred Meyer grocery store and Walgreens! I didn't see any signs for a historical area but there would be plenty of choices there to eat or stay.

Yes, the Oregonzola is the cheese we got to bring to the concert at the Britt. Yum! There is also a chocolate factory next door to the creamery but I was able to force myself into the car and not go into it. We also did drive into the Applegate valley?/winery area outside of Central Point. Totally different that Willamette, more barren but lots of little wineries.

Joanel

How was traffic, crowds when you were there? early Aug?

eroz

Not much traffic or crowds. and vacancy at hotels along the coast which is rare. We made reservations ahead of time just to be safe. I read somewhere people are staying closer to home and not as many people live in S OR so maybe that was why? Some RVs on the road but nothing too bad at all!