Southern Oregon is a diverse region known for its stunning landscapes, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions. Home to the Rogue River, the area is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and fishing. The region also boasts Crater Lake National Park, one of the most stunning natural wonders in the United States. Southern Oregon is known for its award-winning wines and is home to many wineries and vineyards. The area’s cultural attractions include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Britt Music Festival, and the Ashland Independent Film Festival, making Southern Oregon a great place to visit for both outdoor and cultural experiences.
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations from friends all over the state, we realized that wasn't going to work....
There are places in Oregon where history whispers instead of shouts. No crowds. No big signs demanding your attention. Just a narrow trail winding through towering trees, the soft hush of wind through redwoods, and the quiet understanding that something extraordinary...
There’s something almost surreal about standing beneath a redwood tree. The scale doesn’t quite make sense at first. You look up, and up, and somehow still can’t find the top. The air feels cooler. The light turns soft and green. And for a moment, everything else...
The line stretches out the door, people stand shoulder to shoulder, and somehow… nobody seems bothered by it. That’s usually the first sign you’ve found somewhere worth your time. In Medford, that place is Luigi's Italian Sandwiches — a no-frills sandwich shop that’s...
There aren’t many places in the United States where you can watch a giraffe stroll past your windshield or hear a lion roar just a few yards away from your car. But in Southern Oregon, that experience is surprisingly real. Damara Zebra roam the grassy hills of...
There are places along the Oregon Coast that don’t just feed you — they stay with you. The kind of places where the windows fog up from the fryer, where rain taps lightly on the glass, where the scent of fresh seafood wraps around you the second you open the door. The...
Somewhere in Southern Oregon, tucked away near the Cascade–Siskiyou Wilderness, not far from Klamath Falls, there’s a place where the lights don’t just go out: they never come on. No windows.No screens.No glow from your phone.Not even the faint outline of your own...
Tucked away in the lush forests of southern Oregon, just off Highway 62 on the road to Crater Lake National Park, sits one of Oregon’s most beloved hidden gems: Beckie’s Café. This rustic log cabin restaurant has been welcoming hungry travelers since 1926, and nearly...
Crater Lake’s only trail to the water is closing in 2026. Here’s what’s happening, how long the closure will last, and what it means for your next trip. A few years back I tried to make it down the Cleetwood Cove Trail to Crater Lake's shore. I'd been to Crater Lake...
Step back in time at a little roadside stop where retro A-frame cabins, vintage charm, and modern comfort create a unique roadside escape. Travelers cruising down I-5 in Southern Oregon might do a double take when they spot a row of eye-catching A-frame cabins rising...
This past week, Oregon made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. More than 300 animals were seized from the West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon after authorities uncovered a nightmare behind its gates. Investigators described filthy, overcrowded enclosures,...
You may think of Myrtle Creek as one of those freeway-side towns you have no reason to visit (unless the kids are bugging you for a bathroom break). Allow me to give you one reason to make a detour: Tommy's All-American Burger Company. This isn't just any burger...