FUN-travel: 2nd 2015 Road Trip – Bend To Grants Pass, Oregon To Home!
September 29, 2015 by Susan Clarke
Mike’s Back Yard
- After a decent breakfast at the Hampton Inn we hit the road. Our route to Grant’s Pass took
Me & My Granddog Max
us over the mountain past Crater Lake. It would have been great to have a chance to see it without snow but the thick smoked sky from the wild fires had rendered it with extremely poor visibility.
- We spent the next two days with our son Mike (and granddog Max) at his secluded hilltop home surrounded by lush forests. It was delightful!
- We headed for home with planned stops to pick up our “wine club” selections. (You can’t drink those darn shipping charges.) Lodi was our first stop at Oak Ridge. We were really lucky as the wine maker was having a tasting and let us join in!
- It was our first time staying at the Bella Vino B & B. They offer four rooms, all suites, in this lovely home right downtown. We had the whole place to ourselves which was divine. The back yard is lush and inviting just like the B & B is. When we arrived the owner offered us a bottle of red or white wine with cheese and crackers. Full breakfast in the morning included fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, meat and a variety of breads. Bonus – good hot strong coffee!
Smoke Filled Mountain View
FUN-food – Pietro’s Italian Restaurant was recommended by the people at Oak Ridge Winery and it was lovely. The outside patio is expansive with beautiful raised-bed gardens that grow their fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. The portions are really large and the wine list pretty good.
- From Lodi we headed to Paso Robles with a stop at Clavo and then on to Talley in Arroyo Grande to pick up more wine club selections.
Bella Vino Backyard
FUN-food – Embers in Arroyo Grande is the hip, hop, happening place. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s an event! You need to get there early or there’s a long wait and for good reason. We arrived just before 6 pm and got the last table in the bar by the hostess desk. Great spot for “entertainment” as you get to see everything going on from the kitchen to the bar. Food was excellent (we had a pizza and salad) and our server Jill wonderful. The menu changes every month. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in town.
Our Room
Trip FUN-fact – We drove a total of 3105 miles and spent $502 for gas. And it was great not having to deal with airports!