I am in full summer vacation mode. We are already on the road since last week Friday and slowly the vacation routine is kicking in. I was going back and forth about going to Germany again this summer but it turned out that my brother’s family would be away on vacation while we would have been there. Also: I really wanted to find out if a family vacation without visiting family is more relaxing. I do love my family but sometimes it feels like I need another vacation after hopping from one relation to the next. I can report back now in two weeks time.
Instead of going on a long flight we packed up our car and went on a two week roadtrip to Oregon. Our first night landed us in Ashland, Oregon. It’s about 5 and a half hours from the Bay Area. I originally wanted to stay in Redding our first night and drive towards Crater Lake from there but with all the fires burning currently the air quality is really bad in those areas.
Ashland is a cute town that also runs the yearly Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I opted not to get tickets this time but it does sound fun. Instead we just walked through town and Lithia Park a bit and had dinner outside next to a stream. It was hot and felt like summer. Heading back to the hotel me and the kids had a swim in the pool before turning in for the night.
Day 2 was only a three hour drive from Ashland to Eugene. We arrived in time to have a late lunch at the Eugene Saturday market that offers food, music, arts and crafts. And since it was still a little early after that for hotel check-in we headed to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. We saw 9600 year old shoes, learned about something about the origin of Oregon, animals that used to live there and kelp forests. There was also a pretty cool exhibit about wolfs. After that we checked into our hotel and after some relaxing had some dinner nearby at McMenemins North Bank. It’s right next to the Willamette river and sitting outside it almost felt like having dinner somewhere in Germany near the Rhine river.
That’s it for day 1 and day 2. More traveling to come. Do you prefer staying in one place for vacation and venturing out from there or are you team roadtrip? I never did roadtrips when growing up but I do appreciate them now. I like both for diefferent things. Roadtrip it is for us this year.
Home here and there 
How fun you get to go on a summer roadtrip with your family. I haven’t been on a proper vacation with Jon… in a long time. I feel like we always prioritize visits to Germany (which, don’t get me wrong, are my preference because I just miss my parents and sister so much), but it’s not always a “vacation”… You know what I mean.
Can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
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I do know what you mean all to well. This year the timing going to Germany would not have worked out as well since my brother is in Sweden and my sister in law is moving. It was good timing to go on this trip instead of making the trip overseas. I just really wanted to see some more of the country I call home now. I am also going to my Highschool reunion soon so I feel a bit better seeing my family then. Oregon is beautiful! I bet you would like it.
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SO MANY of our vacations are to visit family, which fills my soul and makes me happy. However. I really like going on vacations without family. France, Hawaii, etc.
If you stop in Ashland on your way home, I have 2 thoughts. 1. Get some Marionberry pie at the Ashland Baking Co (or elsewhere). We would get a whole pie and bring it home. 2. If you decide you’d like to see a play, and they are sold out, we have bought them day of. Locals with season tickets sell them in front of the theater earlier in the day. At least they did years ago when we tried, not sure why it would change. So fun.
Enjoy Oregon! When we go there, it is to visit family. My sisters and their families, and my step-mom, live in Portland. And my dad, until he died in 2017. Oregon = Family to me. ❤
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I thought it would be nice to see some of the country we live in and Oregon does not disappoint. The only downside are the fires this year so I think on the way back we just stick to the coast. Thank you for the advice though. I have the feeling it won’t be our last trip to Oregon.
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