Melissa & Tom
THINGS TO DO
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is the center stage attraction of Ashland. It’s among the oldest and largest non-profit theaters in the country, celebrating over 80 years of Shakespeare plays, and today attracts international attention with over 700 shows each year. Catch a show while in Ashland if you can!
Chozu Bath & Tea Gardens
Chozu is home to beautiful bath gardens where you can slip into warm saltwater soaking pools, invigorate with a cold plunge, unwind in a steam room, and decompress in the sauna. There's also a tea lounge to drink, eat, and relax in afterwards!
Lithia Park
The largest park in Ashland right in the center of downtown, this gorgeous park spans over 2 miles of beautiful walking paths through a Japanese Garden, formal rose garden, two duck ponds, and lots of beautiful landscaping to admire. Also make sure to check out the Lithia Artisan Market that features many artists and craftspeople from Southern Oregon and Northern California - happening every Saturday and Sunday!
Wine Tasting
With over 150 wineries surrounding the area, there is no shortage of vineyards and wineries to explore! Southern Oregon is the fastest growing wine region in the world, and Ashland is the perfect jumping off point to discover the wines in this region.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is one of the grandest natural marvels of the American West and is accessible from Ashland in just over an hour's drive. This stunning natural landscape is an ancient caldera formed by a massive volcanic event over 7,000 years ago. Today, it’s filled with icy blue snowmelt and rainwater and is the deepest natural lake in the United States.
Umpqua Hot Springs
A handful of terraced cliffside pools that overlook the North Umpqua River, this secluded spot nestled in the Umpqua National Forest is quite a popular spot due to its natural beauty and relaxing hot springs.
Noho's Hawaiian Cafe
They serve authentic Hawaiian-style plate lunches and dinners, which means that all of their entrees come with two scoops rice & mac salad (my fave!)
In-N-Out Burger
This one needs no explanation... Tom and I will ALWAYS stop by an In-N-Out when we find one. Best burgers hands down!
Chetco Brewing Company
Rated one of the top 100 fan-favorite destinations in Oregon for 2020, this brewery offers vegan craft beers alongside rotating food truck fare and a great atmosphere to hang out!
Barnacle Bistro
Casual seafood joint that serves fresh local and seasonal products near Gold Beach. Their mussels, clams and fish n' chips look amazing!
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
One of the main reasons Tom and I wanted our wedding here was so that we could explore these 12 spectacular miles of secluded beach coves, seaside prairies, rugged cliffs, dramatic coastlines, and forested sea stacks and rock formations. Some notable stops include: Arch Rock, Natural Bridges, Whaleshead Beach, Indian Sands, Secret Beach, House Rock Viewpoint, and Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint.
Harris Beach State Park
Located just south of the end of Samuel H. Boardman is Harris Beach State Park, another great stop for picturesque views of sea stacks and miles of sandy beaches. It's also a great spot for bird watching and other wildlife, as it includes Bird Island - a National Wildlife Sanctuary and breeding site.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Just a little over 30 mins from the southern end of Brookings is one of the most awe-inspiring and unspoiled wonders of nature: the redwood groves of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, where old growth redwoods average 500-700 years old. Tom and I have always wanted to visit the redwood trees here! Even if you don't hike here, the Howland Hill Road drive is rated one of the best redwood drives anywhere.