RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
People in Southern Oregon enjoy the great outdoors.  Mount Ashland (7,533 feet) dominates the Siskiyou Mountain Range and is located just 34 miles south of Medford.  There are 23 ski runs, and both downhill and cross-country skiing is available.  Wildlife is plentiful for those hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.  The Oregon Caves National Monument, Crater Lake National Park and many lakes and rivers offer any outdoor enthusiast plenty of room to play.

THEATER, ART AND CULTURE
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers a 9 month schedule of plays, from Shakespeare to modern, in its four theatres.  OSF is located in Ashland, and is truly a world-class theatre with equity actors and lavish productions.  The Craterian Theatre in Medford offers year-round productions, musicals and live music and dance.  The region also offers the Peter Britt outdoor music festival each Summer, with performances ranging from Classical music with full orchestra, to dance, jazz, blues and folk/rock performances “Under the Stars.”  The Rogue Valley Symphony, State Ballet of Oregon, Rogue Theatre in Grants Pass, Art Attack Theatre, Actor’s Theater, the Oregon Cabaret Theater, Rogue Opera and Oregon Stage Works are just a few of the many theatres and live performance venues in the region.

TRANSPORTATION
The Medford International Airport connects you to the world, with daily flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle.  Medford is located between Portland, Oregon (277 miles) and San Francisco (390 miles), and is just a one hour flight to either city.  Oregon roads are free from congestion, and traveling by car is an easy way to get around.  Interstate-5 runs up from Redding, California, through Ashland, Medford and connects to Eugene, Portland and Seattle.  The Rogue Valley Transportation District offers a network of bus lines, and includes clean-burning compressed natural gas vehicles.

EDUCATION
Southern Oregon is home to Southern Oregon University, located in Ashland, Oregon, and Rogue Community College, in Grants Pass and Medford.  The Medford, Phoenix/Talent and Ashland School Districts provide excellent primary and secondary education, and there are nearly 30 private schools to add to the public school system.

RESOURCES
Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
Ashland Chamber of Commerce
Medford Mail Tribune
Ashland Daily Tidings
Oregon Department of Education
Southern Oregon Visitors Association


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