road trip: Ashland/Portland/Seattle

We%26#39;re planning a week long road trip with 2 night stops in Jacksonville/Ashland, OR, Portland then Seattle--suggestions for dining (seafood!), interesting stops along the way, things to do in the area? Its our first time in the area =)

Thanks!

road trip: Ashland/Portland/Seattle

I%26#39;ll let the %26#39;local experts%26#39; fill you in on most things. You can definetly spend 2 nights just walking around Ashland and Jacksonville.Here are my ideas... Go to Lithia Park and taste the %26#39;Lithia water%26#39; at the fountain, I like visiting the Shakespeare information center, even if you don%26#39;t go to a play, just to see some of the amazing costumes, etc. You could go hiking at Table Rock north of Medford. As far as interesting, nothing is more kitchy than the ';Oregon Vortex'; in Gold Hill-North of Ashland. It%26#39;s only open until Oct 31.

I%26#39;d get off I-5 in Eugene as it is pretty boring between Eugene and Portland. Take highway 99 through the farm country and old main streets if you have time. Don%26#39;t know how close you want to stick to the I-5 corridor, but if you have time stop at Silver Falls State Park-about an 1hr east of Salem- lots of nice waterfalls.

road trip: Ashland/Portland/Seattle

I have not spent much time in southern Oregon, so will leave that for mistletoe.

Chinookgirl is right about getting onto 99W if you want some scenery though. Just try not to do it on a weekend though...it gets really backed up in a few areas, especially in Dundee.

I really like Silver Falls, but not for a quick stop. You need to get out and really hike around the trails to see all the beauty of it.

A great stop on the way to Seattle is Mt. St. Helens, if you have never been. Again, it is not a quick stop by any means, as the best visitors center is 50 miles east of I-5...but very much worth it! If you can do this side trip, make the time.

Hi cali26 and welcome to the TA forums. Have you decided where to stay in Ashland? We have stayed numerous times at the Plaza Inns %26amp; Suites which is a great place in a nice location. The Suites are very nice, we like the Spa King Rooms.

Another one of our favorite places to stay is the Ashland Springs Hotel, located right in downtown Ashland. We love the Peerless in Ashland for dinner. I have a review with photos of one of our meals there under the Ashland Restaurant Section. Chateaulin is another favorite of ours. You can walk here from The Springs. The do a really nice Fixed Price meal that includes two glasses of wine for $35/pp. Have fun! :)

Hmmm...... Interesting stops along I-5. Almost oxymoronic. Sacramento to Ashland isn%26#39;t bad after you pass Redding. But between Ashland and Seattle, I%26#39;d suggest a couple detours, one to the coast, and another to the mountain.

The coast detour would be at Oregon%26#39;s exit 136, where you%26#39;d get on hwy 138, and head out to Reedsport, then up the coast. The stretch between Florence and Newport is arguably the most scenic on the Oregon coast. After that you%26#39;d have several options for cutting back inland, depending on your time, but hwy 18, just north of Lincoln City would take you to Portland through the heart of Oregon%26#39;s wine country. Of course, if it%26#39;s dark......

The mountain detour would be St. Helen%26#39;s, 40 miles north of Portland, which I think would also be well worth your time, depending somewhat on the weather.

Next time we%26#39;re in Ashland, we%26#39;ll stay at Ashland Creek Inn (http://www.ashlandcreekinn.com/), across the street from the Plaza where we stayed a couple nights last year. Ashland Creek Inn is a B%26amp;B sort of place, with an almost european feel, and possibly the best location in town. I%26#39;m surprised syrahgirl is recommending the Plaza as it%26#39;s been panned on this forum recently. As if you didn%26#39;t have enough meal suggestions, I%26#39;d add Lark%26#39;s, which is in the Ashland Springs Hotel. Wonderful food served in a room furnished appropriately to the hotel%26#39;s early 20th century beginnings.

Sticking to the early 20th century, in Portland I%26#39;d recommend Hotel DeLuxe, and old hotel (formerly the Mallory) recently remodeled with a 1930s - %26#39;40s Hollywood theme. As for restaurants, all the best will have seafood of some sort. Personal faves now are Alberta St. Oyster Bar %26amp; Grill, Fenouil, and Carlyle.

Are you looking for hotel and dining suggestions in Seattle too?

For dining in Jacksonville, try the Bella(www.bellau.com)! The oyster shooters are great, and the meals are excellent. Nice cocktails and a variety of beer and wine in the bar.

In Ashland, I like Greenleaf. If it%26#39;s warm try sitting on the patio, along the creek.

In Portland, try Bistro Montage (www.montageportland.com). It%26#39;s on the East side, not far from OMSI.

As far as attractions along the way... are you traveling with children? Either way here are some to keep in mind along the I-5 corridor in Oregon (you should be able to ';google'; most of these):

Southern Oregon: Lithia Park, Shakespeare backstage tour, Harry %26amp; David, Jacksonville Museum, Oregon Vortex

Mid-Valley (Salem/Eugene): Silver Falls State Park, Oregon Garden, Willamette Valley Vineyard, Enchanted Forest, Salem Riverfront Carousel, U of O, Gilbert House Children%26#39;s Museum, Hendrick%26#39;s Park, Bush House %26amp; Deepwood

Portland: Oregon Zoo, OMSI,

We live in Southern Oregon. For restaurants in Jacksonville, the best for a nice dinner is Gogi%26#39;s. (By the way the restaurant someone mentioned is called The Bella Union, not Bella).

In Ashland, there are a lot of good restaurants to recommend. Our favorites are the Peerless and Amuse. For more fun try Tabu (tapas) or Kat Wok (pan-Asian). They are both excellent. Also, for super casual try Standing Stone Brewery - great pizza, hamburgers, roasted chicken, fish, etc. For breakfast, if you are in Ashland, Morning Glory%26#39;s is a must. It is across the street from the University, so you would need to drive there if staying on or near the Plaza.

If you enjoy food, particularly cheese, a stop at the Rogue Creamery in Central Point (just 15-20 min. north of Ashland) would be fun. They have won international awards for their cheese.

In Portland, Southpark Seafood Grill %26amp; Wine Bar has very good seafood, I just found out. Good Pizza too!

Interesting Stops:

Oregon Vortex just outside Grants Pass

Rogue River Jetboats in Grants Pass (if it%26#39;s not too cold)

Wildlife Safari in Winston

Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, just south of Salem

Jacksonville

Oregon Garden

Willamette River Jetboats (if it%26#39;s not too cold)

Mt. St. Helens

That%26#39;s all I%26#39;m coming up with along the corridor - there are plenty of things, of course, during your stay you can enjoy right in the cities.

If you like to wine taste, plan a stop at the Paschal Winery around Ashland. Gorgeous grounds and very good wine. They make a nice Pinot Gris and you can also purchse the Dobbes Family wines there. Dobbes makes a really nice Pinot Noir.

Abacela is also in Southern Oregon, their tasting room is rather small and uneventful but the wines there are excellent. The Vintner%26#39;s Blend and Viognier are very nice ones to sample. Cheers! :)

Yes, J%26amp;S, SouthPark is great for seafood, is this the first time you were there? The service is great too, isn%26#39;t it ?

I will have to try the pizza next time, that is something I am still looking for -good pizza :)

There is a poster here from Jacksonville, maybe they will have more ideas for you, cali26..

Although mistletoe and Johann %26amp; Sandra, Mtngrl and Chinookgirl as well as 5forfun %26amp; familyof4 ( are you two related? lol) all have excellent advice..