The Southern Oregon valley is a large community full of activities and pleasurable sights to satisfy anyone’s personal taste. As summer approaches and things start to wind down the lure to go out and do more becomes stronger. To aid you in your journey, here is a list of some of most popular places in Southern Oregon.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival — The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been around since 1935, and has been noted as a world-renowned theater. Over the summer months OSF puts on a wide variety of shows for patrons to enjoy, not just Shakespearean classics. If you’re not worried about a time crunch or potentially not getting a seat, OSF offers discounted rush tickets that are available approximately 30 minutes before every show.
The OSF’s Green Show is another good way to go if you’re looking for free events. Held out in the courtyard, the Green Show goes Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 6:45 p.m.
Britt Festival — The Britt Festival is another gem in the Southern Oregon valley. Each year the Festival puts on a wide variety of shows, with a few acts this summer being Cyndi Lauper, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Band. Tickets costs vary depending on the band but are generally reasonably priced, though lawn tickets tend to be the cheapest. Overall, the Britt Festival is a wonderful opportunity to go out with some friends or have a romantic date night. The opportunities are endless.
Oregon Caves — Up in the mountains northwest of Ashland lie the historical Oregon Caves. Originally discovered in 1922 by Ilijah Davidson, the caves have developed into a popular destination spot for tourists seeking a taste of Oregon history or caving adventures. The regular tour lasts approximately an hour with other specialty tours like the adventure and candlelight tours normally pushing two or three. Reservations should be made ahead of time, and visitors should allow extra time from wherever they are traveling from. It has also been said that the Oregon Caves Chateau near the monument is haunted, though these claims have never been officially proven.
Harris Beach — Located in Brookings, Harris Beach gives travelers the chance to experience the nice refreshing life in the northwestern Pacific coastal towns. Only a three-hour drive from Ashland, this scenic drive provides the perfect chance for a weekend getaway with the friends or family. At Harris Beach family and friends have been known to build forts, play sand volleyball, and hike around looking at the local sea creatures. This destination is perfect for getting one’s sea legs back into motion.
House of Mystery — There is a place where the laws of physics are completely ignored, this place is called the House of Mystery. Located in Gold Hill, the House of Mystery was originally opened in 1930. Before being opened to the public it was known to the local Native American tribes as the “Forbidden Ground.” Here, a person can be taller than someone who normally towers over them, and metal pipes have been known to fall at an exceedingly slow rate. This is a cool place to go for someone who is skeptical or at least a science buff.
