Welcome to Southern Oregon - A Land of Limitless Wonders
In the mid-1800s, settlers arrived in what is now Southern Oregon with dreams of finding gold. Yes, there was gold here, but that proved to be the least of the treasures that this region has to offer. Fertile land, majestic mountain chains, and a mild climate stopped the settlers in their tracks. And just like so many others who have since found their way to Southern Oregon, this nurturing landscape spoke one word to them:
Home.
Over the next century, the region prospered into an agricultural and cultural playground. Many of the towns that sprang up have maintained their historical charm of days gone by, while others have adopted the big city energy of commerce and trade—giving all of Southern Oregon a balanced blend of both the old and the new.
So what do we have to offer? Plenty. For starters, there’s Crater Lake National Park, a collapsed volcano that now surrounds the deepest—and bluest—lake in the United States. From the outer rim of Crater Lake begins the headwaters of the world famous Rogue River. Its 215-mile journey through Southern Oregon begins in a pristine national forest where it rushes through collapsed lava tubes, then flows past Mill Creek Falls, into Lost Creek Lake, within view of 9,492-foot Mt. McLoughlin, alongside the Table Rocks near Medford, and then meanders through Grants Pass before entering its last leg—a designated wild and scenic river area that cuts through the coast range of the Siskiyou Mountains. Rafting, kayaking, hiking, camping, fishing, or just relaxing on the shore are a but few of the activities that the Rouge River has to offer. For its majestic finish, the Rogue empties into the Pacific Ocean among the isolated beaches and statuesque sea stacks of the Oregon Coast. (But to get there, you have to drive through a towering redwood grove, so you may want to leave early.)
On the cultural side, we have the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, and the Britt Music Festival, which draws some of the biggest names from every genre of music to an outdoor amphitheater in Jacksonville. In Medford, you can shop for gourmet food and fruit baskets at Harry and David and then take in a show at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Or you can catch an Old West-style rodeo at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. But no matter where you go in Southern Oregon, you’ll find some of the friendliest folks in the whole wide world!
Let Us Be Your Guides
The Passport2 Network is your online treasure map for everything you need to know about this amazing region: where to stay, what to eat, and what to do. Thinking of moving here? Then you’ve come to the right place. Our relocation guide is just a click away.
So come join us. There’s plenty treasure for everyone!
