Redwoods, Crater Lake, and the Slots

Our home base at Medford/Gold Hill KOA Journey was perfect for our adventures to Redwood National Park in California and Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The KOA had outstanding communication, sending us text messages about the check-in process before our arrival and welcoming us once we settled in, asking if we needed anything. It’s these little touches that make a big difference!

Medford/Gold Hill KOA Journey

The KOA staff were fantastic and provided several dinner recommendations. After a long day of travel, cooking was out of the question. We decided on Massey’s Bar & Grill. I had the Oregon Funguy Burger, which was delicious. Shelly and Marie enjoyed their flatbread options—Buffalo Chicken for Shelly and Black & Blue for Marie. Bonus: Oregon allows slot machines in bars, so we had some fun playing slots after dinner.

Del Rio Vineyards

The next day, we visited Del Rio Vineyards in Gold Hill, OR. This 300-acre estate winery doesn’t import any grapes, using only what they produce. We sampled several flights: I chose the winemaker selection, which included a rosé, a white, and two reds—my favorite being the Merlot. Shelly went with the white flight and loved the Pinot Gris. We paired our wines with a charcuterie board while enjoying the scenic views.

Redwood National and State Parks

We planned a weekend trip to Redwood National Park, about 2 hours away, which coincided with my birthday. Our first stop was the Hiouchi Visitor Center for park info and stickers for Shelly’s National Park book. We learned that Redwood National Park official name is Redwood National and State Parks, because in 1994 the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation signed a memorandum of understanding governing joint management of the national park and 3 state parks, agreeing to the name "Redwood National and State Parks".

From there, we headed to Crescent City and saw the Battery Point Lighthouse shrouded in fog, which cleared up just as we were leaving. Then we went to SeaQuake Brewery, for dinner. We started with Bairdo’s Curds, garlic cheese curds fried to perfection, and side salads. Shelly had the Soppressata with Hot Honey pizza, and I went with Birria Ramen. Despite a few order mix-ups, it was a great meal. Apparently, ramen in a brewery is a thing now. Who knew?

Lucky 7 Casino & Hotel

That night, we stayed at Lucky 7 Casino & Hotel in Smith River. The rooms were large and recently renovated, and the beds were comfortable. After a few hours of playing slots, we had dessert in honor of my birthday (no candles or singing, thank goodness) at the House of Howonquet. The next morning, we had breakfast there too. Kudos to the wait staff for keeping our coffee mugs filled!

Exploring the Redwoods

Saturday we began our exploration of Redwood National and State Parks, with an off-roading adventure through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, followed by a hike in the Stout Memorial Grove.  We then drove down the 101, stopping at the Tour Thru Tree in Klamath and the Big Tree on Newton B Drury Scenic Drive. We capped the day with a visit to the Avenue of the Giants. Though not as impressive as Jedediah Smith, it was still a scenic drive. We even managed to squeeze "The Beast" through the Tour Thru Tree without a scratch. Skill or luck? I'll never tell.

Bear River Casino & Resort

Our evening accommodations were at Bear River Casino & Resort. There were many classic cars in the parking garage, and the kid in me started taking photos and spouting out the make and models. Come to find out, there was a big car show in the next town. To our surprise, we received discounted drink tickets and free breakfast vouchers. As part of the players club, you receive free play. With it being my birthday, I received a few extra dollars for play. So that evening, we played the slots. Winning birthday money and classic cars? Talk about hitting the jackpot.

Kaleidoscope Pizzeria & Pub

We wrapped up my birthday celebrations with dinner at Kaleidoscope Pizzeria & Pub and a movie. The pizzeria had a Grateful Dead theme and served incredible food, from the oven-roasted garlic and feta cheese dip starter to the specialty pizzas, The Alaskan and Popeye. We had so much food that we took some home.  This is a very rare event, as I usually do not eat leftovers.

Crater Lake National Park

On Monday, we drove a few hours to Crater Lake National Park, the only national park in Oregon. The lake, fed solely by rain and snow, was stunning. We took a short hike on the Sun Notch Trail to view the Phantom Ship and stopped by Vidae Falls on our way out.

Conclusion

Our stay in Medford was packed with memorable adventures. From the towering redwoods to the breathtaking Crater Lake, each experience added a unique chapter to our journey. We had a fantastic time exploring, eating great food, and making unforgettable memories

Until next time, keep spinning the wheel of adventure!

Happy RVing!

2KidsatHeart 🚐💨