Schools Southern Oregon boasts of many schools, public and private. In fact, the state of Oregon consistently scores highest among all states in SAT scores among its college-bound students. Rogue Valley schools often lead the pack among Oregon's schools by up to 80 points in SAT scores. Parents in the area are also encouraged to take a strong interest in their children's education. Schools in the area boast an unusually high number of volunteers who make each school a community focused on giving the students the best possible chance for academic achievement. Extracurricular activities are extremely popular at area schools, providing students an opportunity to shine in activities in which they excel. Nearly 30 private schools round out the choices available to students presented by the excellent public school system. They range from Montessori schools to church-affiliated preschools, kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools. The highly acclaimed Southern Oregon University in Ashland provides college courses for degree or enrichment, as does the local Rogue Community College. Transportation You will find the roads in the area free of congestion and well-maintained, providing a convenient way to travel the short distances for everything you will need. The Rogue Valley Transportation District maintains a convenient route serving the area with a force consisting entirely of clean-burning compressed natural gas vehicles. Paratransit services are also available. Fares are kept quite low. Airlines serving the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport are United, United Express, Horizon Air and Delta. Rental cars are available, and there are no parking hassles or delays common to many airports. In addition, the Ashland Municipal Airport provides general aviation services. Other points of interest Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ashland Chamber of Commerce Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce Medford Visitors and Conventions Bureau Oregon Real Estate Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater Southern Oregon Visitors Association Harry & David Operations Corp. is the largest employer in Southern Oregon. As a Harry & David employee, you will enjoy not only the benefits of working for one of the industry's best companies, but also the local prestige that comes from being identified with an institution that is recognized and respected. In addition, there are few places in the United States where you can enjoy the superior climate and pristine surroundings of such a beautiful region while still benefiting from everything a world-class employer can offer. Medford, with a population of just over 66,000, is the business, commercial and professional center of Jackson County (population: 187,000), a status it has enjoyed since its founding when the Oregon and California Railroad built the area's first railroad station here in 1883. The Cascade and Siskiyou mountains surrounding the Rogue River Valley keep Medford's annual rainfall low, under 20 inches. Snow can be heavy in the mountains when you want to go skiing, but it remains light in the valley where you live, and normally melts within a few hours. Today, Medford and the surrounding area provide all the necessities of modern life in a clean uncrowded setting, with a variety of recreational and cultural attractions that cater to a wide range of tastes. Medford is between Portland (277 miles) and San Francisco (390 miles), with either city within a short one-hour flight. The airport is only 15 minutes from your office. In addition to the local daily newspaper, Portland's Oregonian and the San Francisco Chronicle are readily available throughout the area. Recreation You cannot be in any part of Southern Oregon without enjoying all the excitement and adventure of the great outdoors. Even looking out at the night sky, the many stars seem to stand as silent witnesses to the idyllic splendor of your new home in the Pacific Northwest, an area that has caught and retained the imagination of the world as a pristine natural setting that beckons you to total immersion. The lure of the Clean Waters You will see many places and business names that include "The Valley of the Rogue". Southern Oregon's identity is largely taken from the Rogue River, which flows 215 miles from that spectacular body of water, Crater Lake, the nation's deepest lake, to the Pacific Ocean. The 32 mile wild and scenic section is protected by Federal law and is one of the most remote river courses in the United States. Boating, fishing, camping, whitewater rafting, and hiking on scenic and rugged trails are among the most popular activities that this magnificent river affords. Crater Lake National Park, located at the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range just 80 miles north of Medford, is a favorite spot for all the same activities that can be enjoyed along the Rogue. And there are other lakes even closer to Medford, all set within the green valley and backed by spectacular mountain views, completely accessible by car, that also have excellent resorts and water sports facilities. Some offer superb marina facilities to enjoy chartering boats or a place to berth your own vessel. The Call of the Snow-Capped Mountains Mount Ashland (7,533 feet) dominates the Siskiyou Mountain Range, and is located just 34 miles south of Medford. The mountain offers 23 ski runs and provides both downhill and cross-country skiing and snowboarding. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also available at Diamond Lake, Lake of the Woods, Fish Lake and Hyatt Lake. Both the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society have active chapters here, as you might expect, with regular scheduled outings. Wildlife is plentiful throughout the area, and hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail or the hundreds of other trails within an hour or so of town can bring you up close and personal. For those who wish to plumb the depths of the earth as well as scale its majestic peaks, Oregon Caves National Monument, a labyrinth of magnificent limestone rooms and galleries, is located just 80 miles southwest of Medford. Playing in Town The communities of the Rogue Valley have not been content to enjoy the wilderness surrounding their cities, but have taken pains over the years to ensure that spacious and well-maintained city parks are also available in Medford, Ashland and Jacksonville. There are many fine public golf courses throughout the area. You'll also find great health clubs, tennis clubs and sporting events, and there are venues for roller skating, ice skating - you name it. Theatre Tony Awards are not only won on Broadway. The crown jewel of Southern Oregon arts is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The Festival's re-creation of the Globe Theatre brings people from around the world to Ashland in a nine month season that includes not only world renowned productions of the famous Elizabethan bard, but also numerous modern works and world premiere performances. When it comes to Shakespeare, London may be the only place that attracts more attention than Ashland's world renowned productions. Music, Dance, Drama Historic Jacksonville, five miles from Medford, is a turn-of-the-century western town that seems to have been stopped in time; major movie studios have sought out its authentic main street that still retains the color and feel of the old West. And during the summer months, it is also the setting for the famous Peter Britt Music Festival, a renowned venue for the world's greatest performers in classical, country, folk, jazz, dance and musical theater. Here, performers come from all around the world not only to entertain you, but also to learn from the masters of their arts at the Summer Arts Training Institute, where the masters serve as faculty. How about free performances of the State Ballet of Oregon in the park on a summer evening? You can also enjoy any number of outstanding performances by the Rogue Opera, the Rogue Valley Symphony, and the Medford Civic Ballet. No less than five theatrical groups also entertain the community with a full schedule of productions of many classical and new dramatic works. What if you just want to catch the latest movie? You can choose from almost 30 screens within a short drive. Local History and Art The biggest museum in the area may be the town of Jacksonville with more than 80 buildings in the historic district, where you can settle back into another age. Your guests will be enchanted when they stay in one of the many fine bed and breakfasts along the tree-lined streets of Jacksonville or Ashland. There are also numerous galleries showcasing the works of sought-after local artists and the ancient heritage of the Pacific Northwest, museums and meticulously restored homes that tell the stories of the pioneers that settled the Rogue Valley, a children's museum, and, as you might expect, a museum dedicated to the heritage of Elizabethan England.