Jacksonville & the Applegate Valley
Historic Jacksonville is a must see on a visit to Southern Oregon. This gold rush town was the bustling center of activity, commerce and culture in the late 1800’s. The entire town has been designated a Historic Landmark and remains much as it was over 100 years ago. Old brick buildings, once occupied by saloons and frequented by gold miners still line the streets and are now home to unique shops, art galleries and fine restaurants. This quaint town is also a great starting point to explore the wineries of the Applegate Valley. Budget Travel calls Jacksonville one of ”America’s Coolest Small Towns” and with good reason.
Fun
What makes this town so special is its history and you can easily spend a day exploring just that. The city of Jacksonville has a detailed map http://www.jacksonvilleor.us/?page_id=22 showing all of the historic structures in town.
For a close up look at the history of the town check out the Jacksonville Museum of Southern Oregon History 206 N 5th, Jacksonville, Oregon, phone: 541-773-6536
Be sure to climb the hill to the Jacksonville Cemetery. This might sound like an odd way to spend an afternoon but this is a one of the oldest cemeteries in the state and provides a glimpse into the early pioneer history of the town. www.friendsjvillecemetery.org
Springtime is beautiful in Southern Oregon but Jacksonville’s peak season is in the summer during the Britt Festival. This summer-long music festival features world class artists performing at the lovely Britt outdoor amphitheater. Certainly worth a trip back here in the summer! www.brittfest.org
Shop
There are many shops and galleries lining California Street. If you have kids you will want to stop at Scheffel’s Toys specializing in high quality toys and serving Jacksonville since 1986. http://www.scheffels.com 180 W. California St.
Terra Firma specializes in gifts, toys and home décor. I never leave this shop empty handed. http://terrafirmahome.com/gift 135 California Street.
Eat
In true old west fashion Bella Union was originally a salon complete with shoot-outs (including a famous one involving a senator). Built in 1864 and restored after a fire in 1874, the current Bella Union has been serving fine Italian food featuring local ingredients since 1988. The historic brick building and wisteria covered patio are full of charm and ambiance. Certainly worth a visit when you are in Jacksonville. www.bellau.com 170 West California Street.
One of my favorite Thai restaurants in Southern Oregon is Thai House and that’s saying a lot because there are many good Thai restaurants here. This restaurant serves up some wonderful food at affordable prices. Open for both lunch and dinner. www.thaihousejville.com 215 West California.
Craving a cup o’ joe? Good Bean Coffee is a mainstay in Jacksonville, in business roasting and serving fine coffee since 1990. This fair trade organic coffee house is located in one of the oldest historic buildings in the state of Oregon, The Table Rock Billiards and Saloon build in 1852. www.goodbean.com 165 South Oregon Street.
Stay
There are quite a few unique places to stay in Jacksonville, many of which are B&B’s housed in beautiful historic buildings. For a complete list see www.jacksonvilleoregon.org/lodging.html
The Jacksonville Inn was constructed at the height of the gold rush in 1861. Built with local materials, they say you can see the glimmer of gold in the mortar. The inn includes rooms inside the original brick building as well as four cottages. In addition to a nights stay the Inn is also an acclaimed restaurant. Oregon Magazine has called it one of the best restaurants in the state while The Wine Spectator has given it an award of excellence in honor of their extensive wine list. www.jacksonvilleinn.com 175 E. California Street. Rates from $159
If you’re looking for suites complete with kitchens and modern amenities check out Elan Suites & Gallery. Here the hotel is an art gallery in itself with works by local artists displayed throughout. www.elanguestsuites.com 245 West Main Street. 541-899-8000. Rates from $180.
WineIn the past couple of decades the Applegate Valley has transitioned from a rural farming area to a well known wine growing destination. With gorgeous scenery and award winning wines a drive through wine country is certainly a relaxing way to spend a day. From Jacksonville take California Street which turns into Hwy 238. For maps and information on the wineries see www.sorwa.org or www.southernoregonwineblog.com
Many of these wineries are perfect for a picnic with picturesque views and beautiful grounds. Although a wine tour may seem like something that only the adults would enjoy it’s actually fun for the kids. Many of the wineries are very family friendly and even offer special family events. (The Easter Egg hunt at Troon Vineyard last year was a unique and fun way to spend the holiday.) Once you travel through the Applegate Valley you will find yourself in Grants Pass which is the topic of the upcoming part 3 of this series. (For part 1 see http://www.rogueinoregon.com/?p=512 which focuses on Ashland)
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