Crater Lake

Planning a trip to north Cal + Crater Lake (Oregon) for ~ 9 days during the summer.

Have 3 little kids under 6 yrs. of age.

Interested in recommendations on places to stay that will provide short commute on one hand and will allow more then one night stay on the other to avoid the hassle of frequent packing/unpacking. Cabins/motels no camping this time. Also would love to hear of kids friendly places in the area and recommendations for planning the trip, how many days to dedicate to each place etc.

Thanks.

Crater Lake

%26gt;%26gt;Interested in recommendations on places to stay that will provide short commute... and... how many days to dedicate to each place etc.%26lt;%26lt;

Short commute to what places?

Crater Lake

Traveling with three small kids in mid-summer over significant distances. Glad that period in my life is long in the past. Now it%26#39;s my kids%26#39; challenge with their kids.

Anyway, let%26#39;s see what I can suggest. From the Bay Area, I would think the lower redwoods around Garberville would be your best bet for first stop. It%26#39;s about a 4-hour drive up 101 and the area has quite a few things the kids will like and remember: drive thru tree, Trees of Mystery, Avenue of Giants (I think everyone who has ever been there has lined up their kids against a giant redwood for photos). There are cabins and motels in the area, but not many and I wouldn%26#39;t want to wait for arrival to hope to get anything. Book ahead. Over a couple of days, you might like to play in the Eel River, which is very tame in the summer with lots of safe areas, but wild in the winter. Bring flotation toys for the kids and keep your eyes on them. (2 days?)

The next leg is a bit tricky. You could go up through Crescent City and cut across on #199 to Grants Pass (at least 6 hours) or find some place like Cave Junction to stop for a night. That would leave you a short drive the next day to Grants Pass, where you can stay a few days, making a day trip to Crater Lake on one of the days.

On your way home, you could spend a night or two in the Mt. Shasta/Shasta Lakes area.

Keep in mind that all inland areas, including the Garberville area, will be HOT! Grants Pass and the whole run down through Redding and Sacramento will probably be in the high 90s or low 100s.

Near Crater Lake, you might try Diamond Lake Resort. It%26#39;s old, very old, but I think they have family cabins and there is boating and swimming in the lake. It%26#39;s just a few miles to Crater Lake. Crater Lake itself has *very* limited lodging.

As a matter of fact, I much prefer Diamond Lake to Grants Pass. Thanks, half-Brit. We stayed in one of the cabins with our family several years ago and it was great. We weren%26#39;t expecting much and that%26#39;s what we got. The kids thought it was great and so did we. There is a safe swimming area (unless the algae are raising a fuss) and another about 10 miles down the road. Now that the lake has been cleared of chub, there%26#39;s a good chance even the little kids can catch a trout or two. Lots of outdoor activities, ability to do own cooking if you wish (you can rent a bbq if you don%26#39;t have one) or take advantage of the restaurant. You can bike/hike, etc.

And it will be cooler than Grants Pass.

to mt. shasta and lassen volcanic national park.

Thanks much, how much time would you recommend spending at Crater Lake? How much is there to do around?

%26gt;%26gt; How much is there to do around? %26lt;%26lt;

Quite honestly, not much, other than what oregonpoppa has told you about Diamond Lake.

There is a boat ride on Crater Lake, but it is a one mile hike down to the boats and a one mile hike back up a *steep* hill, at high elevation. Not sure if the children are up to it?

In what park are these redwoods located?

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=422

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g32419-Garberville_Ca鈥?/a>

Going up Hwy 101 you have a series of redwood state parks before you reach the widely dispersed Redwood National Park and its various sections. One of the first (the first one I ever camped in more than 50 years ago!) is Richardson Grove State Park. I know there%26#39;s a well reviewed Best Western in Garberville, but don%26#39;t know what the cabin situation is in places like Weott, Myers Flat, etc. For generations, the Hartsook Inn was a famous standby, but it has been closed for quite awhile now. Others in the forum or in the northern California forum may have up to date info. This is the area I figured would be your first destination.

Half-brit is wrong. hike down to boat is one mile hike back is 2 miles, at least it seemd that way.

I have stayed at Diamond Lake resort a half dozen times, both in cabin and in motel. It is good for me but i hesitate to recommend to people I do not know. I did it for work things, so my wife has never stayed there, but she has seen and thinks it would be fine with her. we normally camp in that area.

but if the Marriot your thing Diamond lake is not,