About Ashland

Discover Ashland

As you are driving over the I5 north into Oregon, having finally traversed the lofty Siskiyou mountains, you begin to descend into the glorious Rogue Valley. You peek out your window and one of the most spectacular sights in the world begins to unfold. Far below lies a breath-taking vista of open fields, wineries and an 850-acre lake with hiking trails, along with green and beige draped forested hills, farms, and horse ranches. And at the base of this Alpine-like paved ride, is the stunning little gem of a town, Ashland. Indeed, many an “Ashlander” has been known to exclaim, “I was driving through Ashland and needed to have the tires checked; I never left.” Another resident recently explained, “My husband and I were looking for a place with a small-town feel, great schools for our children, an environmentally conscious community, with outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, but also one that had a grasp of the fine arts, music, and theater. Not to mention noteworthy restaurants. We didn’t think such a place existed – until we found Ashland.”

Southern Oregon offers a slower pace of life. Our neighbor to the south, California, has 40 million people. Oregon has 4 million and the majority of them live further north. That is quite a difference, and it makes Southern Oregon easier to navigate on many fronts. Our communities in Southern Oregon are highly livable. No traffic jams. One of our highest benefits is that we have some of the strictest land use laws in the nation. We maintain our lush agricultural lands and our pristine forests. You can drive 25 minutes and be up at the mountain lakes, have dinner up at Lake of the Woods resort and be back in bed by 10. You will not find the foothills of the Siskiyous covered in tract housing, just open terrain. As you drive into town you will marvel at the rich open farmlands. No neon signs or billboards in Ashland. Just great community planning that keeps Ashland beautiful, livable and charming.

On a lovely, sloping hill overlooking Ashland Plaza lies the Elizabethan Globe Theater, just one of four attached to the world-famous, Tony award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Plays by the Bard, classic musicals, popular contemporary plays, and offerings by new playwrights are showcased eight months out of the year. These are world class productions with a season typically featuring 4 Shakespearian plays and 7 contemporary plays. There are a number of Off Bardway theaters including the frequented Oregon Cabaret Theater.

A short walk to the Plaza is a surprise. Restaurants offering every cuisine imaginable dot the sidewalks all through town. Sushi lover? There’s plenty of it. Nouvelle or Continental cuisine? Just up the block. A small, out-of-the-way boutique restaurant with locally sourced ingredients and regional fine wines? It’s just around the corner. Not up for a meal? There are pubs with microbrews and sports bars too. There are four wineries in Ashland featuring sublime reds and crisp, clean whites and tasting rooms in between. Try Weisinger’s, one of the oldest in the region; they truly are a favorite, or a newer venue with old world charm and extraordinary views Belle Fiore; Roberts and Irvine another favorite with sensational wines and spectacular views, or Grizzly Peak, growing world-class grapes, offering long finishing wines and entertainment throughout the year.

Minutes away, Mount Ashland towers over the town like a miniature Matterhorn beckoning skiers and snow boarders day and night. For outdoor enthusiasts there is no end of things to do like, walk, jog or bike in eight, beautiful parks, including 100-acre Lithia Park, right in the heart of downtown, with a newly refurbished Japanese garden, a collection of incredible flora from around the world featuring over 250 species of trees, a bandshell, two duck ponds, sports courts and a rhythm all its own. The creek runs through Lithia Park and provides a great place to cool off in the summer. There are acres of trails and walking paths, running through the Ashland hills to the headwaters (partially designed by Golden Gate Park designer John McLaren). There’s also North Mountain Park, a wildlife habitat devoted to teaching locals and visitors about conservation. It features three soccer fields, two baseball fields, a playground, picnic areas and creek side walking trails.

Southern Oregon University, in the heart of town, graduates 1,300 students per year. It specializes in Psychology, Nursing, the Humanities, and the fine arts. World class pianists and musicians perform year-round in the acoustically outstanding Music Recital Hall. Prices are affordable, the music sublime. SOU also features the Schneider Art Museum, with exhibitions and special projects ranging from historical to contemporary art. And this is the perfect place for seniors to expand on their retirement experiences by signing up for affordable courses through OLLI the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, also at SOU. Ever wonder who was the real Shakespeare? You can investigate at OLLI. Ever try and guess your Enneagram? You can figure it out at OLLI.
Are you into holistic health? Ashland is your mecca. Spas, health retreats, yoga and tai chi classes abound. This is the place for young families, students and retired professionals who want a fascinating but slower-paced way of life. There are an abundance of neighborhoods, nestled within other neighborhoods like Russian dolls. Newer Craftsman-style homes sit agreeably next to renovated cottages. Stately homes built at the turn of the last century sit near newer contemporary homes or townhouses and condominiums, complimented by tree-lined streets and in the hills there are recently built, sprawling houses and large cottages and mid-century moderns with spectacular views. You’ll find every style of home imaginable.

If you are retired and looking for community and activities, there are several areas in Ashland that will give you both. For those with school-aged children, there are three elementary schools, one middle school and Ashland High School. There are numerous charter schools and private schools. Most residents support the high school football games and on Friday nights you can often hear the whoops and hollers of locals cheering on the team. There are parades too: Halloween, Festival of Lights, Gay Pride, and the Fourth of July. The whole town joins in. Don’t let the parade pass you by. Check out Ashland today.