Medford (Oregon)
From Wikitravel
Contents
Medford is a city in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon.
[edit] Get in
Medford, southern Oregon's largest and most diverse city is brimming with historical and cultural attractions and offers regional tax-free shopping. At 1,382 feet above sea level, Medford is protected by surrounding mountains, and the area is favored with a mild climate. Annual average rainfall is 18-20 inches, about the same as San Francisco. The seasons are clearly defined, temperatures are generally mild overall, and yearly snowfall is three to four inches on the valley floor. The median winter temperature is 36 degrees. Summers are warm with a median temperature of 94 degrees and an average of 15 days over 100 degrees. Humidity is low.
[edit] By Plane
The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, located in Medford, is the areas regional airport serving Jackson County, the entire Rogue Valley, and seven addition counties. Currently there are four airline carriers servicing the airport with approximately 56 arriving and departing flights daily. Non-stop jet service to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
[edit] By Car
Medford is just 27 miles north of the California border, 118 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, and 75 miles west of Klamath Falls. Medford's location gives it ready access to numerous feeder highways. Medford is about midway between Portland, 273 miles to the north, and San Francisco, 373 miles to the south. Interstate 5 runs right through the middle of the city with an exit at both the north and south end of the city for easy downtown access.
[edit] Get around
- Medford currently has no passenger rail service.
- Medford's bus system, run by Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD), transports passengers all around the city, and as far as Central Point, White City, and Ashland.
- It is relatively easy to walk all of downtown, as it is not very big.
[edit][add listing] See
- The enormous malevolent Blackbird statue at 1810 W. Main Street.
[edit][add listing] Do
- Rafting on the Rogue and Upper Klamath Rivers. Check out Momentum River Expeditions [1], Noahs Rafting [2], for 1/2, one day, and multi-day trips.
- Go on the Haunted Brothels and Opium Dens of Medford walking tour [3]. Meets noon Saturdays at Sixth and Central.
- Tour the Harry & David plant.
[edit][add listing] Buy
- The Harry and David store is near the South Medford I-5 interchange. You can get items listed in their catalog, often at reduced prices. Or pay as little as 29 cents a pound for the "Royal Riviera" (or Anjou) pears for which H&D is noted, at some other stores - these would be pears that are cosmetically not perfect, but still just as flavorful.
- Downtown is an area undergoing considerable renewal in the past few years, after a period of deterioration. There's a number of small shops, bars, and restaurants along Main Street. Parking is free on the street and in the parking structure on 6th Street between Riverside and Central. Rogue Community College and the relatively new Medford library are on the south side of downtown.
- Rogue Valley Mall is the largest mall in Southern Oregon. It's near the North Medford I-5 interchange.
- Along Biddle Road one finds a major commercial area. At the south end is the Medford Center. Going north one finds restaurants, Bi-Mart, Barnes&Noble, and the Food4Less, a large supermarket with discount prices.
- Crater Lake Center is another shopping area, to the north out Highway 62. It has a Costco, Wal-mart, Office Depot, Lowe's and other large stores.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Grilla Bites, 226 East Main St., 541-245-9802, [4]. Monday-Friday: 7:30am - 8:30pm; Saturday: 8:00am - 8:30pm; Sunday: 8:00am - 6:00pm. Organic grilled sandwiches, salads, soups, juice bar, coffee, and tea. Open for breakfast, lunch dinner. Vegetarian fare. $3-$10.
- Porter's Restaurant, 147 N. Front Street (West of Central and Riverside Avenues), ☎ 541-857-1910, [5]. evenings. Very nice historic train station, converted into upscale dinner house. This restaurant features nightly specials, extensive local wine list, and exceptional steak and seafood options. Brunch is served seasonally on their gorgeous patio. The bar ambiance is unmatched. $$-$$$. edit
[edit][add listing] Drink
- 38 Central (fine art of casual dining!), 38 N Central (6th and Central), ☎ 541-776-0038, [6]. mon-sat. Great place with the best food in the valley! Casual, cool, urban and trendy: Voted Best Steak, Best Seafood, Best Wine Bar. New owners & chef from Napa Valley -- wine cool and the place to be seen! $$. edit
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Camp
Theres a KOA in Gold Hill, to the northwest down I-5; another commercial campground is out Highway 140 about ten miles east of White City. Farther away are national forest campground, but they are a bit of a commute.
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Motels
- Best Western Horizon Inn, 1154 E Barnett Road, ☎ +1 541 779-5085 (toll free: +1 800 452-2255, fax: +1 541 772-6878), [7]. edit
- Candlewood Suites, 3548 Heathrow Way, ☎ +1 541 772-2800, [8]. edit
- Courtyard Medford Airport, 600 Airport Road, ☎ +1 541 772-5656 (fax: +1 541 772-3475), [9]. edit
- Holiday Inn Express, 1501 S. Pacific Hwy, ☎ +1 541 732-1400, [10]. edit
- Motel 6 Medford North, 2400 Biddle Road, ☎ +1 541 779-0550 (fax: +1 541 857-9573), [11]. edit
- Motel 6 Medford South, 950 Alba Drive, ☎ +1 541 773-4290 (fax: +1 541 857-9574), [12]. edit
[edit] Get out
- Mt. Ashland, located about 18 miles south of the city is a great ski resort.
- Wildlife Safari located is 96 miles north of the city in Winston. It is a zoo with great prices and one of the only zoos in North America that allows close and personal elephant encounters.
| Routes through Medford |
| Eugene ← Central Point ← | N  S
| → Talent → Redding |
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