Local Guide
The Local Guide
The places I send friends when they visit, and what I tell them before they go.
Farms and Markets · Applegate Valley
Applegate Evening Market at The Lindsay Lodge
A Wednesday evening market at The Lindsay Lodge on Highway 238, built around the valley's farmers, artists and makers. Come for produce and …
Outdoors · Upper Applegate Valley
Applegate Lake
A reservoir near the California line ringed by peaks, with swimming spots, kayak rentals, campgrounds and trails.
Food · Talent
Arbor House
Family-owned, with a menu that changes with the season. Dinner comes with soup, salad with house dressings, and bread, and the desserts are …
Breweries · Grants Pass
Area 61 Taphouse
An alien-themed taphouse on Merlin Road, on the way to Merlin, with a rotating lineup of food trucks, live music and a golf driving range ne…
Arts · Grants Pass
Art Along the Rogue
Each October, downtown streets become a patchwork of large-scale chalk murals, with live music around them. The 2026 festival ran October 2–…
Breweries · Talent
Art Bop Beer Co.
A small-batch brewery that doubles as a gallery and music room, with local art on the walls and live music without a cover. Owners Dave and …
Arts · Grants Pass
Barnstormers Theatre
A small, historic house on NE Evelyn Avenue staging plays and musicals with local volunteer casts, plus a summer production by its youth cam…
Outdoors · Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point
Bear Creek Greenway
A paved path running the length of the valley floor through Talent, Phoenix and Medford. It's easy on a bike or e-bike, with lunch stops alo…
Farms and Markets · Central Point, Sams Valley
Bigham Farms
A family farm near the Table Rocks. In season, there's an honor-system stand of produce picked that morning, plus a greenhouse of succulents…
Arts · Jacksonville
Britt Music & Arts Festival
Concerts on a wooded hillside above historic Jacksonville, from national touring acts and comedians to the Britt Festival Orchestra's summer…
Breweries · Ashland
Caldera Brewery & Restaurant
Caldera was the first craft brewery in the West to can its beer. Its big taproom off I-5 has mountain views and a menu built for a long lunc…
Arts · Talent
Camelot Theatre
A comfortable, modern house in downtown Talent staging musicals and classic plays with strong local casts.
Outdoors · Grants Pass
Cathedral Hills
A web of color-coded trails on the south edge of town, from easy loops to steeper climbs. The Outback Loop has the best view over Grants Pas…
Food · Phoenix
Clyde's Corner
The classic halfway stop on the Bear Creek Greenway.
Food · Ashland
Cocorico
A husband-and-wife restaurant: Chef Nat Borsi cooks and Grace Borsi runs the dining room. Everything is from scratch. Borsi calls his style …
Breweries · Medford
Common Block Brewing
A polished downtown Medford brewpub with a big, dog-friendly patio. Beyond the beer, it pours seltzers, wine and signature cocktails, with a…
Food · Jacksonville
Cowhorn Kitchen
A 22-seat restaurant with a menu reimagined by chef Josh Dorcak.
Wine · Applegate Valley
Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden
Certified biodynamic estate making Rhône-style wines, one of the valley's benchmarks.
Outdoors · Day trip, a little over 2 hours from Grants Pass
Crater Lake National Park
The deepest lake in the United States. The rim views and most trails are open year to year; check current closures before you go.
Arts · Medford
Craterian Theater at the Collier Center
Downtown Medford's main stage for touring concerts, comedy, Broadway-style shows and holiday events, including the Gingerbread Jubilee the w…
Wine · Jacksonville
Dancin Vineyards
Pinot and Chardonnay on a hillside near Jacksonville, with wood-fired pizza and patio views.
Food · Medford
Decant
Downtown Medford's special-occasion table. The menu changes often and builds around the best of Southern Oregon and the West Coast, with hou…
Wine · Gold Hill
Del Rio Vineyards
Big historic estate off I-5 near Gold Hill, and one of the region's largest grape growers.
Outdoors · Grants Pass
Dollar Mountain Trail System
Grants Pass's new flagship trail system, on the hillside just northwest of downtown. The city bought the land in 2019 for recreation. The sy…
Outdoors · Selma
Eight Dollar Mountain Boardwalk
An eighth-mile, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through a fen of carnivorous California pitcher plants, about 3½ miles south of Selma off Hi…
Food · Grants Pass
El Callejón x Speedy's Cantina
Order at the truck or sit down in the cantina next door. The tortillas, sope shells and horchata are made in-house, and the quesabirria has …
Breweries · Central Point
Ferment & Fire
House beer and pizza with a crust regulars rave about. Indoor and outdoor seating, and Tuesday trivia that fills the room. The four-pour fli…
Arts · Grants Pass
First Friday
On the first Friday of every month, historic downtown businesses stay open late with specials and refreshments. Live music, art displays and…
Farms and Markets · Grants Pass (Lower River Road)
Fort Vannoy Farms
A riverside family farm known for sweet corn and a well-stocked farm stand. U-pick tomatoes, blackberries and pumpkins. In fall it runs a bi…
Farms and Markets · Medford
Fry Family Farm Store
Organic produce and flowers, plus ready-made meals, pies and baked goods from the farm kitchen. The grounds host the occasional summer conce…
Food · Jacksonville
Gogi's
Brothers Joe and Gabriel Murphy run Gogi's at the foot of the Britt Gardens. Fodor's names it a Fodor's Choice. Every dinner opens with hous…
Breweries · Medford
Gold Rush Brewing & Cider
Family-owned, pouring both beer and cider, with gluten-free food and games inside and out. A good pick when your group splits between beer a…
Farms and Markets · Grants Pass
Grants Pass Growers Market
A community tradition since 1980, and the largest growers market in Southern Oregon, with more than 120 vendors on a spring-to-fall Saturday…
Arts · Grants Pass
Grants Pass Museum of Art
A second-floor gallery on SW G Street with rotating exhibits, an art library, and classes for kids and adults. Admission is free.
Arts · Grants Pass
Grants Pass Performing Arts Center
A modern auditorium on NE Olive Street with strong acoustics. It hosts the Rogue Valley Symphony's Grants Pass concerts and school and commu…
Farms and Markets · Medford
Harry & David Country Village
The hometown store of the pear company, with fruit by the case at good prices, local wine, specialty foods and the famous gift boxes.
Outdoors · Grants Pass
Hellgate Jetboat Excursions
Running jetboats on the Rogue since 1959, among the first jetboat companies in the country. The two-hour scenic trip covers 36 miles round t…
Outdoors · Selma
Illinois River Road
The drive west from Selma into Illinois River canyon country and the trailheads toward the Kalmiopsis.
Wine · Ashland
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards
High-elevation Pinot and Chardonnay just outside Ashland, with polished tastings and big views.
Wine · White City
Kriselle Cellars
Scenic estate above the Rogue near White City. A good bet for a sunset glass.
Outdoors · Selma
Lake Selmac
A quiet lake off Highway 199 with a fishing pier, boat ramp, playground and campground. No motorboats, which keeps it calm for kayaks and pa…
Outdoors · Ashland
Lithia Park
About 100 creekside acres running up from Ashland's plaza: a Japanese Garden, a koi pond, shaded trails and deer that don't mind you.
Outdoors · Shady Cove, Eagle Point
Lost Creek Lake
Swimming, boating and camping at Stewart State Recreation Area.
Outdoors · Central Point, White City, Sams Valley
Lower Table Rock
A flat-topped mesa above the Rogue with big valley views and one of the region's best spring wildflower shows. A short, accessible Oak Savan…
Food · Grants Pass
Lulu's For the Love of Food
A downtown bistro for breakfast and brunch with a twist. The crepes are the order. Go early on weekends.
Food · Ashland
MÄS
Chef Josh Dorcak opened this 16-seat restaurant in 2018, after starting it as a pop-up. Expect a long, Japanese-influenced tasting menu buil…
Outdoors · Prospect
Mill Creek Falls and the Avenue of the Giant Boulders
A short trail from Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint to two big waterfalls and a riverbed of house-sized boulders. It's the best stop on the d…
Outdoors · Between Rogue River and Gold Hill
Mountain of the Rogue Trail System
Southern Oregon's first purpose-built mountain bike system, on BLM land a few minutes off I-5 at Exit 48. About 13.5 miles of trail are laid…
Outdoors · Ashland
Mt. Ashland Ski Area
A local ski hill above Ashland. Its summit sits at 7,533 feet with 1,150 feet of vertical.
Arts · Ashland
Oregon Cabaret Theatre
Musicals and comedies in a converted church a block off the plaza, with dinner before the show and dessert at intermission.
Outdoors · Cave Junction
Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
A marble cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains, protected since 1909 and seen only on ranger-led tours. Park entry is free. You pay for the …
Arts · Ashland
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The anchor of Ashland, and among the oldest theater festivals in the country. Its 2026 season, the 91st, ran ten productions March 13 throug…
Food · Grants Pass
Partake
Downtown at 221 SE 6th Street, Partake puts an international bottle shop, a cheese shop, a lounge and a fine-dining room under one roof. The…
Food · Gold Hill
Patti's Kitchen
A small-town kitchen that makes everything from scratch, with portions that justify the exit off I-5. Biscuits and gravy, chicken fried stea…
Farms and Markets · Grants Pass (Williams Highway)
Pennington Farms
A family berry farm and scratch bakery in a renovated barn on the way to Williams. Pies, jams, pot pies and sausage baked in pastry, at picn…
Food · Grants Pass
Perez Kitchen & Bar
A brick-walled room on SW G Street with a menu that runs from comfort to creative. Reviewers single out the kimchi smash burger with spiced …
Wine · Williams
Plaisance Ranch
Working family ranch that also makes wine. Relaxed and very local.
Outdoors · Grave Creek, near Galice
Rainie Falls Trail
A rocky river trail starting at Grave Creek, where the Wild and Scenic Rogue begins. In season, salmon jump the falls.
Wine · Applegate Valley
Red Lily Vineyards
Tempranillo and Spanish varieties right on the Applegate River. Bring a blanket.
Food · Grants Pass
River's Edge
Tables and a deck right over the Rogue on Rogue River Highway. Steaks, pasta, and a calamari starter regulars order every time. This is wher…
Outdoors · Grants Pass
Riverside Park
The Rogue runs right past downtown here. River walk, gazebos, a big playground, a spray park and a disc golf course.
Farms and Markets · Central Point
Rogue Creamery
The creamery behind Rogue River Blue, which in 2019 became the first American cheese named World's Best Cheese at the World Cheese Awards. T…
Outdoors · Rogue River
Rogue River Greenway
The paved river path to Valley of the Rogue State Park.
Arts · Grants Pass
Rogue Theatre
A former downtown movie house on SE H Street, now a concert hall for touring acts and tribute bands. The auditorium is intimate, the balcony…
Farms and Markets · Ashland and Medford
Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market
More than 100 vendors selling produce, flowers, artisan foods, crafts and food-truck lunches. The Tuesday Ashland and Thursday Medford marke…
Arts · Ashland
Schneider Museum of Art
Southern Oregon University's museum: two galleries with a mix of contemporary work and surprising historic pieces. Admission is free, with d…
Wine · Jacksonville
South Stage Cellars
Tasting room in historic downtown Jacksonville pouring fruit from many local vineyards.
Food · Rogue River
Tailholt Coffee Co.
A cozy downtown coffee shop.
Food · Cave Junction
Taylor's Sausage Country Store
The Taylor family has made sausage since 1924, moved the business to Cave Junction in 1970, and opened this country store on the Redwood Hig…
Food · Medford
The Backyard Community Food Court
A family-run yard off South Riverside with picnic tables, a few trucks and even a barbershop. Terry's burger with chili is the headliner. Se…
Breweries · Ashland
The Noble Fox Restaurant & Brewery
It brews in the 1925 Oak Street building that was Standing Stone for 25 years, reopened in spring 2024 with the original brewing tanks still…
Breweries · Grants Pass
The Paddled Pub
Food · Phoenix
The Phoodery
Local kitchens around one courtyard, so everyone orders something different: Korean fried chicken and truffle fries from Truffle Pig, pork b…
Food · Grants Pass
The Twisted Cork
A downtown Grants Pass favorite pairing Northwest wines with seafood-forward plates: seared scallops, cioppino, coconut-crusted salmon. Pric…
Outdoors · Gold Hill
Ti'lomikh Falls
River access at the Gold Hill end of the Rogue River Greenway.
Outdoors · White City, Sams Valley
TouVelle State Recreation Site
A day-use park on the Rogue below the Table Rocks.
Wine · Applegate Valley
Troon Vineyard
Regenerative, biodynamic farm whose natural-leaning wines get people talking about the Applegate.
Outdoors · Sams Valley
Upper and Lower Table Rock
Two mesa-top hikes with valley views and spring wildflowers.
Farms and Markets · Ashland
Valley View Orchard
A historic organic orchard north of Ashland: u-pick cherries in early summer and peaches later. The Long Walk Vineyard tasting room is next …
Wine · Applegate Valley
Valley View Winery
One of the valley's longest-running wineries and a good first stop to get your bearings.
Breweries · Medford
Walkabout Brewing Co.
A no-frills taproom in north Medford with a food truck out back and a loyal trivia crowd. Regulars order the porter and the Hops and Stuff I…
Breweries · Grants Pass
Weekend Beer Co.
Opened by Grants Pass natives Brandon and Ashley Crews. Brandon brewed locally before they launched their own 2.5-acre taproom and productio…
Wine · Ashland
Weisinger Family Winery
Long-running family winery just south of Ashland. Low-key and welcoming.
Food · Grants Pass
Wheelhouse Coffee
Now has a shop on NE F Street, plus its coffee van at The Growler Guys. Seasonal drinks, matcha, and baked goods from scratch.
Farms and Markets · Grants Pass (Williams Highway)
Whistling Duck Farm and Store
A certified organic farm with its store in a big red barn. Produce from the fields plus local coffee, cheese, eggs, meats and the farm's own…
Farms and Markets · Eagle Point
Wild Bee Honey Farm
Wild Bee Honey Farm (formerly the Oregon Bee Store), 14370 Highway 62, Eagle Point. Raw honey, beeswax candles, beekeeping supplies and u-pi…
Breweries · Cave Junction
Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co.
A Southern Oregon fixture with taprooms in three towns: Cave Junction, Grants Pass and Medford. House beers, house root beer, and pizza that…
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Start with the towns
Every place in the guide sits in one of the communities. The town pages have the quick facts and what to check before you buy.