fiogf49gjkf0d Throughout Oregon, the hamlet of
ASHLAND
, forty miles southeast of Grants Pass, is identified with William Shakespeare - a real anomaly among the rest of the timber and dairy-farming towns. Since 1945, the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
has been held here between February and October, packing audiences into the half-timbered
Elizabethan Theatre
in Lithia Park. Its setting, between the Cascade and the Siskiyou mountains, is magnificent; there's good skiing in the winter and river rafting in summer; there's also some excellent contemporary fringe theater - not to mention pleasant cafes, galleries and a friendly atmosphere throughout.
The
Angus Bowmer Theatre
, adjacent to the Elizabethan Theatre, stages both Shakespearean and more recent works, while the appropriately named
New Theatre
has a mostly modern repertoire. The three theaters share the same box office (tel 541/482-4331,
) and tickets average around $40, sometimes half-price on the day; standing room at the Elizabethan Theatre costs $10. For a further helping of contemporary drama, try the
Actors Theater
, three miles north in the tiny town of
TALENT
, at Main and Talent streets (tel 541/535-5250,
), or the
Oregon Cabaret Theater
, in a renovated pink church at First and Hargadine streets (Feb-Dec; tel 541/488-2902,
).
The
visitors center
is at 110 E Main St (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; tel 541/482-3486,
), and there's a seasonal information kiosk - with longer hours - at the entrance to Lithia Park off Main Street. Greyhound
buses
drop passengers on the edge of town near the I-5 freeway exit. Ashland has over sixty
B&Bs
($75-200), most of which are in charming Victorian homes. Ashland B&B Network (tel 1-800/944-0329,
) or Southern Oregon Reservation Center (tel 1-800/547-8052,
) can get you a room (and theater tickets). Perhaps the finest B&B overall is the
Mount Ashland Inn
, five miles south at 550 Mt Ashland Ski Rd (tel 541/482-8707,
; $160-200), offering five marvelous suites in a scenic wooden lodge, with fireplaces, hot tubs, and fine breakfasts. In town, nice local
hotels
include the restored
Ashland Springs Hotel
, 212 E Main St (tel 541/488-1700,
; $75-160), easily the town's most prominent building, with a charming, two-story lobby, day spa, afternoon tea, and nicely appointed rooms; and the cheaper
Windmill Inn
, 2525 Ashland St (tel 1-800/547-4747,
; $75-130), with complimentary breakfast, spa, swimming pool, and convenient location near I-5. For budget options, the
Ashland Hostel
, 150 N Main St (tel 541/482-9217,
; $18), is friendly, clean and well-located, while the no-frills
Palm Motel
, 1065 Siskiyou Blvd (tel 541/482-2636,
; $50-75), is one of the better
motels
on this stretch of road.
The main choices for
eating
and
drinking
can be found along east and north
Main Street
, near the entrance to Lithia Park. The choices vary widely, from the good and affordable
Ashland Bakery Cafe
, 38 E Main St (tel 541/482-2117), to the pricey, eclectic entrees of
The Firefly
, 23 N Main St (tel 541/488-3212), and the upscale French
Chateaulin
, 50 E Main St (tel 503/482-2264). Overall, your best bet is
Greenleaf
, 49 N Main St (tel 541/482-2808), an inexpensive but excellent eatery with standards like pasta, burgers, salads, and seafood nicely crafted with fresh, tasty ingredients.
Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):
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