We love where we live and we want you to love it too
Maybe that way you’ll come visit us again. Meanwhile, we want your stay here to be as jam packed and joyful as can be, so this is where we’ll compile our best bets for things you might want to see or visit while you’re here. As always, contact us at dempseyflemington@gmail.com at any time with questions on anything that follows. For those visiting from out of town, we strongly encourage you to arrive early or stick around to see what the PNW is all about. It’s a long journey, so you might as well make it worth your while.
Jacksonville and the Applegate Valley
Jacksonville was a major mining town in the mid 19th century and its historic center maintains that feel today. It is a lovely walking town, filled with boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, and home to the Jacksonville Woodlands (a vast trail system accessible directly from downtown) and Britt Gardens, the site of a massive, summer-long music and performance festival (brittfest.org). From here, it is a 25-minute drive to Yale Creek Ranch.
While You’re Here…
The Britt Festival Catch a show? We haven’t ourselves attended a Britt Fest show yet, but we have walked around the amphitheater, which seems a lovely spot to catch a show. If you’re in the area for more than just the weekend, keep an eye on this website for schedule updates.
https://www.brittfest.org/performances/
Cerberus Coffee There are several coffee shops in downtown Jacksonville, but this is our favorite. They’ve got tasty vegan donuts, as well.
East Applegate Ridge Trail Perhaps our favorite hike in the region. Who doesn’t love a ridge?! Extremely accessible out-and-back trail without much gain or loss of elevation. A lot of bang for your buck, so to speak. Even a small 1 to 2 mile outing is worth it. (Note that the drive to the trailhead is on a well-maintained dirt road.)
https://www.blm.gov/visit/east-applegate-ridge-trail
Jacksonville Woodlands Pretty park in downtown Jacksonville with an extensive system of trails. Home to the Britt Fest and Gardens. Short walk from anywhere downtown.
https://jvwoodlands.org/maps-trails/
Acorn Woman Lakes If you’ve got a little more time on your hands and are up for a bit more of a drive (including about 30 minutes on a dirt road), the lower/main lake here is an A+ swimming spot and absolutely worth the trip.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70358
Ashland
While You’re Here…
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Since 1935, now a renowned theater festival with an eclectic lineup that, despite its name, stretches well beyond Shakespeare. More importantly, it all takes place in a handful of gorgeous theaters, none more so than the Allen Elizabethan Theatre, an open air setting that is certainly among the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen a play.
Lithia Park Ashland’s Central Park, for lack of a better comparison, which follows Ashland Creek and eventually ends in the Watershed trail system (see below). Most days downtown in Ashland involve a coffee and a stroll through the park. We spend so, so much time there letting Cora stumble wherever she likes, point at ducks, and swing to her heart’s content at the playground.
Ashland Watershed A vast and beautiful trail system that begins above Lithia Park and stretches across the top of the town, eventually connecting with a few other trail systems and climbs up to Mt Ashland and the PCT. There is a large parking area at the base and some great short hikes to get your heart rate going—hard to avoid steep hills in Ashland.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=82957
Skout A very great indoor-outdoor tap house at the foot of Lithia Park. They’ve got a great drink selection, good food, and a really amazing setting. Bundle up if it’s chilly, but they’ve got plenty of overhead heating and fire pits. Combine with a walk through the park.
Gil’s & Ruby’s Yet another fantastic food and tap house situation. These two businesses sit side by side and share services. Both serve food, but Gil’s is where you’ll find the extensive tap list. There’s a fantastic patio and a very lively atmosphere. Ruby’s has a number of good vegan options for food.
https://www.gilsofashland.com/
The Growler Guys Yeah, it’s another tap house. Sue me. But it’s summertime, and this place also has a tremendous patio (and the most extensive beer list in town). Food is meh, but there’s food.
https://thegrowlerguys.com/locations/ashland-oregon/
Mt Ashland You can drive yourself to the summit of a real-deal mountain in about 40 minutes, or you can stop off somewhere down below and connect with the PCT and other trails for some lovely summer hiking. There are vast backcountry roads to explore here and it is refreshingly uncrowded for a high alpine experience. Hit us up if you’d like some guidance on where to stop, or just point yourself toward the Grouse Gap Shelter ( https://bit.ly/43iKzbu ) for a fabulous lunch spot.
Coffee
All of the following are stellar options. We’re spoiled here.
Mix https://www.mixashland.com/
Remix (a spinoff of the above) https://www.remixcoffee.com/
Case (two locations) https://www.casecoffeeroasters.com/
Ashland has been our home for the past 2.5 years and we’ve grown quite fond of it during that time. For a small town, it is vibrant and bustling, especially during the spring and summer when the Oregon Shakespeare Festival takes center stage (no pun intended). If you’re into hiking, trail running, or mountain biking (or skiing in the winter), this is certainly one of those places to be, as you’re never more than a few minutes from a very spectacular trailhead. There are a number of great restaurants and tap houses to be found in and around the main strip, and the coffee scene is impeccable.