Each month here on the ol’ blog we’ll highlight an area of interest within a short drive of Country Willows. This week we present to you an entire town!
Historic Jacksonville is located about five miles west of Medford on Highway 238. You'll enjoy shopping in Jacksonville with plenty of quaint specialty and antique shops. When you work up an appetite there's no shortage of wonderful restaurants and cafés. It's no wonder Jacksonville was named one of the "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Frommers! It has a lot of cool things to offer.
Jacksonville is home to the Britt Music and Arts Festival where you’ll find worldclass entertainment on a beautiful naturally formed amphitheater. It's the Pacific Northwest's premier outdoor summer performing arts festival. Set among ponderosa pines and native madrones the venue features a pavilion with modern lighting and sound and has stadium and grass seating.
photo credit: James Montes DeOca
As you drive into Jacksonville, the welcome sign tells you it is “The Heart of Southern Oregon Wine Country.” There are nine wineries in Jacksonville proper and over 150 wineries in the Southern Oregon region. Country Willows Innkeeper, Linda Kilcollins, can make a personal recommendation of her favorite wineries and tasting rooms. The Jacksonville Wine Trolley provides round trip transportation to six Jville wineries from the downtown Wine Trolley stop. It’s only $25 for an all-day pass!
photo credit: Craig Alan Photography
If you’re a history buff, Jacksonville is a National Historic Landmark with over 100 historic buildings. It was founded after gold was discovered in Jackson Creek in 1851. The Jacksonville Trolley Tour presents a narrated overview of Jacksonville history which highlights the town’s beautiful vintage homes and commercial buildings. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and depart from the Visitor Information Center. The town’s annual Haunted Trolley Tour is a big regional event and runs October 26th-30th.
Other seasonal events include the Victorian Christmas celebration in the month of December. All of Jacksonville’s businesses are beautifully decorated with lights and fresh garland. There’s a parade, Father Christmas, complimentary cider, carriage rides, historic Beekman House Tours, trolley rides and more!
To get information on all things Jacksonville, visit the Jacksonville Chamber website or call 541-899-8118.
Be sure and check back in to find out where we’ll be visiting next month!