On Real Estate & More – August 2018

I am sitting in my camper at Lake of the Woods as I write this article, reflecting about life. I usually write about land use or real estate issues, but summer is upon me and I want to talk about this wonderful Rogue Valley we call home. The Rogue Valley really is unique. The mild climate, idyllic natural setting, and relative isolation have made the valley a popular retirement destination. But it has also attracted families looking to move here for the small-town quality of life, as well as adventure seekers looking to take advantage of all the outdoor activities.

For the adventure seekers, the Rogue Valley is a virtual mecca. Hiking and mountain biking trails abound; in both Ashland and Jacksonville, trails start right in town and offer miles of hilly and forested adventure. There are plans underway to build a trail system that spans from south of Grants Pass to the Jacksonville Forest Park trail system, where it meets the “JackAsh Trail” in Jacksonville, to provide a continuous trail from Jacksonville to Ashland.

There are beautiful campgrounds close by in every direction, from coastal parks to area lakes to riverside sites. You’ll find world-class fishing and rafting along the Rogue River among other area rivers, and places such as Applegate Lake and Emigrant Reservoir that offer paddle boarding and kayaking, as well as waterslides, fishing and motorized boat activities.

In the winter, there is skiing, cross country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing, all within a few hours of the valley floor.

Nearby family friendly sightseeing adventures include Crater Lake, the Oregon Caves, and Wildlife Safari, to name just a few.

For those seeking cultural opportunities, the Rogue Valley forms the cultural and economic heart of Southern Oregon. The valley is home to a pair of well-known attractions—the Britt Music Festival and Ashland’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival—and to dozens of museums, art galleries, theaters, fine restaurants and lively music venues. It’s also the site of Oregon’s 19th-century gold rush, an era preserved within the boundaries of our home, historic Jacksonville.

For the foodies among us, the mild climate offers a long growing season to provide both abundance and a variety of foods. There is a farmer’s market every day of the week in the valley, and multitudes of small farms who offer farm shares or U-pick opportunities. Near Jacksonville, you can buy pies, blueberries, strawberries, eggs, peaches, pears, grapes, bread, and even sheep or beef from local farmers all within a few mile stretch. There are also local farm stores that offer organic produce, plants and flowers alongside preserves, pickles, sauces, and ready-to-eat dinners. There are online sites that offer fresh local produce and other locally-made essentials delivered right to your door.

If that is not enough, the Rogue Valley offers perhaps the richest diversity of climate and widest variety of wine grapes in Oregon. Southern Oregon’s climate creates a European-like growing season that distinguishes it from all other west coast growing regions and makes it an ideal place to grow wine grapes. The region is suited to grow over 70 different grape varieties and there are now over 150 wineries in Southern Oregon.

All of this claims many a heart of those who visit the Rogue Valley and make it their home. It certainly has mine!