Ashland is a charming small town nestled in the Southern Oregon Rogue Valley. Just 16 miles north of the California border, Ashland is a unique destination for visitors due to its many cultural offerings and beautiful natural surroundings.
Downtown Ashland
Start your day in Ashland with a caffeine fix at Noble Coffee. Noble is the premier coffee roasting company in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley and one of the best coffee roasting companies in the United States. If you are looking for something a little more substantial, the place to go for breakfast is Brothers’ Restaurant on Main Street.
Take a stroll down Main Street to check out some of the local stores. Bloomsbury Books, Unicorn Gifts & Toys, and Paddington Station are all worth a visit. Prize Shoppe is a great boutique with one-of-a-kind finds.
Outdoor Activities
Rafting
One of the most popular activities in Ashland is rafting the Rogue River. Morrison’s Rogue Wilderness offers full and half day rafting trips. Their recreation trips are fun for the whole family, as their guides steer you down the river through the calm pools and moderate rapids.
Lithia Park
Ashland’s largest park, Lithia Park is 93 acres of hiking trails and nature. Lithia Park Trail is a great choice; it is short and listed among America’s National Register of Historic Places. The forested park contains lawns, duck ponds, tennis courts, a sandpit volleyball court, picnic areas and playground equipment.
Wine
For wine lovers, nearby Applegate Valley is beautiful wine country. Fifty miles long, the Applegate Valley heads north along the clear Applegate River. The Applegate Wine Trail is a group of 18 unique wineries that produce a diverse array of wines. Pick a few and have a fun afternoon of wine tasting.
Theatre
Photo: T. Charles Erickson
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the nation’s true artistic treasures. Each season, running from February through October, they present 11 classic and contemporary plays on three unique stages. With tours and fun educational events, this is a theater experience you’ll never forget.
Tip: The Green Show is a free outdoor performance series offered four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Past acts have featured one-man shows, jazz, dance groups, and many more.
Eat
Standing Stone Brewing has an outdoor patio with views of the mountains for a pre-show meal. Not only is the beer brewed on-site in small batches, but the menu is focused on high-quality, local and organic ingredients from nearby farms.
Another dinner option is Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, offering unique cuisine, wines, and cocktails focusing on the best of Ashland and Southern Oregon.
Bonus: Stay at The Ashland Springs Hotel, an elegantly restored 1925 historic landmark in the heart of downtown Ashland, next to Oregon Shakespeare Festival theatres.
