Ashland Travel Guide

Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland is a town immersed in cultural. There are also nine other theatre groups, featuring a wide variety of performances, including musicals, comedy and experimental theatre. Shakespeare and other plays are presented in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's outdoor Elizabethan Theater, Angus Bowmer Theatre, or the "New Theatre" which replaces the Black Swan. Music is everywhere in Ashland, with opera, bluegrass, folk singing and chamber music being only some of the offerings for visitors. Celtic music jam session occurs ever Sunday afternoon at 2 P.M. at The Black Sheep. Ashland has an impressive selection of places to eat and drink all in walking distance of downtown, so everyone will find something to their taste.

Located approximately 15 miles north of the California border on Interstate 5, Ashland is close to Crater Lake National Park, the headwaters of the Rogue River, and the Oregon coast. Everywhere you look, there are reminders of the past, from pioneer vintage buildings to Victorian houses.

Popular places to stay include The Palm Motel, The Stratford Inn, The Columbia Hotel, and The Ashland Springs Hotel.

Ashland also has scores of bed and breakfasts, several in fine old Victorian homes. The Ashland B & B Clearing House (541-488-0338) represents networks of inns and can provide reservation information on bed and breakfasts in the area. 

In addition to the wide variety of cultural offerings, Ashland has many forms of recreation. Skiing Mt. Ashland is a popular wintertime activity. There are 23 ski runs, 80 miles of cross country trails, and, best of all, it's only 15 miles from downtown Ashland. Ashland, built on the banks of Bear Creek, also has the Bear Creek Bike and Nature Trail. A favorite of bikers, the trail runs along Bear Creek, then down the valley to Medford. There is river rafting and jet boat rides on the Rogue and Klamath Rivers, and many pristine mountain lakes for anglers to try their hand at catching steelhead, salmon and trout.

Ashland also has a state-of-the-art interactive science museum, the ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum. Amaze yourself with over 80 interactive science exhibits, Science Live! performances and hands-on activities. This exciting family attraction offers a dynamic atmosphere great for explorers of all ages with frequently changing shows and exhibits. Special events throughout the year include indoor and outdoor festivals, lectures, school programs and summer camps. Open Saturdays from 10 to 4, and in the summer open Thursday through Sunday, from 11 to 5.

For a great view, take a balloon ride or ride in a vintage biplane and see Pilot Rock, Lithia Park, downtown Ashland and Emigrant Reservoir. Mountain bikers will find the 28 mile Lithia Loop Mountain Bike Route a pleasure and a challenge. Riding the 31 mile Siskiyou Crest Mountain Bike Route, you will see spectacular views of the Siskiyou Mountains and Mt. Shasta. Golfers can tee off at one of the five golf courses in the Ashland/Medford area. Ashland also has two wineries that offer daily wine tasting.

For culture, recreation or beauty, Ashland is a special place, a treasure for all to enjoy.

For Further information, feel free to visit the City of Ashland website:

http://www.ashland.or.us or the chamber of commerce at http://www.ashlandchamber.com