Things to Do in Medford
If rugged mountains and wild waters are your idea of the perfect getaway, you’ll feel right at home in southern Oregon
Wedged in the Rogue River Valley and sheltered by the Siskiyou Mountains, Medford's outdoor splendor comes with a hefty helping of sunny, warm weather. Dive head first into delightful day trips to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the crystal-clear water of Crater Lake.
Rollin' on the River
Grab your gang and get out onto the wild waters of the Rogue River. Feel the tug of a salmon on your line or scream in delight while bobbing along its dramatic whitewater on a guided rafting or kayak expedition. Or hike your way into the wild along the Upper Rogue River Trail, a National Recreation Trail that tracks the river for some 40 miles, giving you peeks at remnants of its volcanic past—pumice canyons, black lava gorges and lava tubes.
Cruising Out to Crater Lake
It's like traveling right into a dream: you come over Oregon Highway 62 and it appears before you, Crater Lake, a sapphire-blue jewel set within 2,000-foot cliffs. You could gaze down on the clear water gathered in this volcanic crater for hours, but budget your time since fun beckons from all sides. Bike the 33-mile rim road for the fantastic views, hike down into the caldera or sail over the blue waters on a boat tour from Cleetwood Cove. In winter, add a cross-country ski adventure to the package.
Celebrate the Bard or the Band
Travel back in time to Elizabethan England, when Shakespeare was just another young playwright organizing outdoor performances of plays that have since become classics. Ashland is only a few miles south of Medford, but its home to world-class repertory theater called the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. You'll discover all the trappings of the Bard here, from a magnificent outdoor theater, to costumed dancers and lute music. Join the crowd of others taking in a play, wandering lovely Lithia Park, watching the free Green Show dancers around the fountain or shopping the quaint boutiques.
Good Grub in Southern Oregon
Treat your clan to exceptional pizza, terrific salads and cold beer at Medford's Kaleidoscope Pizzeria and Pub. Lunch in the shady garden on summer afternoons is particularly delightful. Or indulge in authentic Italian food like gnocchi or scaloppini at Pomodori Bistro and Wine Bar. Nearby Ashland—a college and festival town—offers myriad restaurants along the river with patio dining at very reasonable rates.
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