Southern Oregon Feature

The other wine region. The underrated Umpqua and Rogue River wine regions offer picturesque pastoral views and numerous tasting rooms. The warmer climate and varied terrain makes southern Oregon conducive to many more varietals than the more famous Willamette Valley.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This acclaimed festival draws drama lovers to Ashland nine months a year, and presents a wide variety of theater at three distinctive venues.

Quaint towns. Southern Oregon's own throwback to the Old West, Jacksonville abounds with well-preserved buildings and diverting eateries and bed-and-breakfasts. Ashland claims one of the prettiest downtowns in Oregon, with its hip cafés and urbane boutiques.

Wild wonders. Each fall more than 1 million waterfowl descend upon Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Rogue River is Oregon's white-water rafting capital.