My wife Sandy and I have lived in the Rogue Valley for over a decade. We live in Jacksonville and are a few blocks from where the cottages are located, We like to hike the Britt trails and enjoy everything that Jacksonville has to offer. The restaurants downtown are wonderful and we have many local vineyards with tasting rooms in town.

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 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.

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 – Jacksonville’s 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 historic Jacksonville.