OREGON: THE BEAVER STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
Traveling can
be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New friends
are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It can be
a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a hobby
and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
ASHLAND, “Where Shakespeare Happens”
Ashland is a city in Southern Oregon located at the south end of the Rogue
Valley, only about 15 miles from the California border. Ashland is a small town, home
of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the largest and oldest regional
theaters in the country. Southern Oregon University balances the tourist population with
students throughout the year. The weather is relatively mild, with a few days
of snow in the winter, several days of 100F weather in the summer. Some believe
that the town resembles northern Italy or Switzerland, with snow covered peaks
in the winter, a lake not too far away in the valley, and a nice, small-town,
community feel that is oh-so-rare these days in the States.
There are two main business districts: one downtown, centered on the
Plaza and running southeast along Main Street toward the library. This historic
boutique shopping area is home to many amazing restaurants. In fact, you'll
have a hard time finding a bad meal. Connected to this area is 93-acre Lithia
Park which was designed in part
by John McLaren (also the designer of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park) in
1914. The other business district is around two miles to the southeast along
Siskiyou Boulevard where it meets Ashland Street/Highway 66, near the Southern
Oregon University campus and the Ashland Shopping Center. Ashland has a limited
number of drive-through permits, and thus fast food joints. Wendy's, Taco Bell,
Subway and other chains are still open in Ashland.
Outside of the business districts, Ashland offers a host of outdoor
attractions. The famous Pacific Crest Trail, Crater Lake, rafting, biking and
Mount Ashland ski slopes are all
nearby.
Many public places, including most hotels and B&BS, coffeehouses and
even pubs offer free wireless Internet access.
THINGS
TO DO
·
Ashland Independent Film
Festival, held each year in April.
·
First Friday Artwalk is a free event
held the first Friday evening of every month in which the galleries and
wineries join force. Patrons stroll Ashland's many galleries to meet the artists,
see demonstrations and enjoy free refreshments and entertainment.
·
Lithia Artisans' Market
Downtown arts and crafts market,
behind the Plaza on Calle Guanajuato, along Ashland Creek (seasonal, weather
permitting).
·
Oregon Shakespeare Festival ,
15 S. Pioneer Street, +1 541-482-4331, (boxoffice@osfashland.org).
February through November with no plays on Mondays. One of the largest venues
for production of Shakespeare's plays in North America, OSF provides a
continuous run of theatrical works from early spring until late fall. In a
single weekend, adventurous theater lovers can easily fit in 3 or 4 plays. The
rotating repertory season of 11 to 13 plays per season typically includes three
Shakespeare pieces, with the remainder made up of modern classics, contemporary
pieces, and often one or two world or West coast premieres, with as many as
nine different productions simultaneously in production. The staging and acting
is of consistently high quality, and the festival is very popular and buying
tickets in advance is highly recommended. Last-minute travelers can pick up
spare tickets at the on-site box office or by holding up a sign on the festival
plaza (aka "the bricks"). If you come during the spring or fall
and/or see shows on Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday night you can sometimes get
Rush tickets from the box office for 50% off. Call the box office the day of
and ask if they think any shows will rush.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://traveloregon.com/7wonders/
I did 'Othello' at the Oregon
Shakes - I was at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for two and a half years.
That's where my training is.
James Avery
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