Luxury doesn’t have to mean five-star hotels and white-tablecloth dining. To some, luxury can mean living your best life, indulging in whatever makes you happiest — whether that be world-class wine or golf, paddling the rapids of a Wild and Scenic river or taking a guided snowshoe trip through the pristine wilderness of Crater Lake. You can find it all amidst the diverse landscapes and friendly communities of Southern Oregon. Here are some trip ideas to consider booking for now or next season when you’re looking for something with a little extra sparkle.
Relax on a Vineyard, Farm or Riverbank in the Rogue Valley
Play: Considering a special moment or intimate event? Picnics can be luxurious ways to relax in nature, especially if someone else packs the basket and sets you up in a breathtaking setting. Kelly Hammond Events creates carefree experiences, bringing the ready-made event (canopy, table, comfy seating and amenities) to locations like a local park or winery so you can truly enjoy the time with your loved ones. Enjoy a two-hour meal al fresco, then they’ll clean up for you.
A trip to the Rogue Valley wouldn’t be complete without wine tasting, so why not glam it up with a private tasting or two? Irvine & Roberts Vineyards in Ashland offers curated tastings and spectacular views, while Del Rio Vineyards offers private and group tastings at its scenic vineyard in Gold Hill. For multiple wineries in the Rogue or Applegate valleys led by a certified wine educator, Latitude Wine Tours can personalize wine tours to your specific tastes.
Eat: One of the region’s must-visit spots specializing in elevated Japanese- and French-influenced cuisine is at MÄS, which sources regional meats and seafood as well as local produce to create what it calls Cascadian cuisine. Reservations are a must and you’ll be treated personally by James Beard Award-nominated chef/owner Josh Dorcak at an intimate chef’s counter or private tables. Its sister restaurant, NAMA, offers fresh and aged seafood in the style of a creative Japanese izakaya bar.
Stay: The Rogue Valley is home to several lovely vineyard stays including Hummingbird Estate in Central Point, Weisinger Family Winery in Ashland and Troon Vineyard in Grants Pass. Other indulgent options include the boutique Jacksonville Inn — with its own restaurant and wine lounge — and Willow-Witt Ranch, a 445-acre property in the Siskiyou Mountains outside of Ashland with a variety of accommodations ranging from a spacious Meadow House to cozy farmhouse studio and luxurious wall tents. For some riverside luxury with rustic charm, check out the historic Weasku Inn in Grants Pass on the banks of the Rogue River — a favorite vacation spot for Hollywood legends like Clark Gable, Carol Lombard and Walt Disney.
Whitewater and Fly-Fishing in the Umpqua Valley
Play: With more rapids per mile than any other Oregon river, the Wild and Scenic Umpqua, north of Crater Lake, is a thrill seeker’s dream. The turquoise waters are home to exceptional Class III and IV whitewater and are truly stunning, with volcanic towers over the canyons and riverside trails for hiking and mountain biking. Book an all-inclusive rafting trip with a local guide like Orange Torpedo Trips, based in Merlin. Its popular North Umpqua River package (during the season, May through August) offers two days of rafting through whitewater with plenty of scenic views and wildlife.
Eat: For hearty New American cuisine like braised short ribs, macadamia-crusted halibut or spice-rubbed pork chops, spend the evening dining at True Kitchen + Bar in Roseburg. The wine list features bottles from the Southern Oregon AVA, including Paul O’Brien Winery, which has a charming urban tasting room in downtown Roseburg if you’d like to stop for happy hour.
Stay: Steps from the sparkling North Umpqua River, the Steamboat Inn has been a haven for fly-fishers, hikers, cyclists and others looking for adventure surrounded by pristine beauty. Spend the night in a rustic riverfront cottage before a guided fishing excursion on the river, or enjoy one of the many wine dinners offered by the inn during the summer season.
An Enchanted Snowshoe Tour in the Klamath Basin
Play: Let the experts at Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures guide you along the pristine wilderness of Crater Lake (October through mid-April, weather permitting). The three-hour snowshoe tours take you through the wintry landscape to learn about local geology, wildlife, culture and history. The tour is open to ages 12 and up, with snowshoes and poles provided. Sorry, Fido needs to stay at home.
Eat: About an hour and a half south of Crater Lake, you can warm up with cedar-plank salmon and local wine — or the signature half-pound burger and local ale — at the Ruddy Duck Restaurant, which anchors the Running Y Ranch Resort in Klamath Falls.
Stay: Set on 3,600 acres with views of the Cascade mountains, the Running Y Ranch Resort offers a host of upscale accommodations including chalets and custom homes. There’s also a full-service spa, the only Arnold Palmer-designed golf course in Oregon, and easy access to family-friendly skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and other cool-weather fun.
Hang Gliding, Stargazing and Steaks in the Oregon Outback
Play: Lakeview is known as the hang-gliding capital of the West, due to the wide-open skies, and you can take a full-day lesson along with three friends at Oregon Hang Gliding School or another outfitter to get a glimpse of it firsthand. If you’d rather take in the skies from the ground, you’re in luck: Lakeview is also one of the best places in the U.S. for stargazing, thanks to the pristine night sky, nearly free from artificial light.
Eat: There are just two main choices at Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake: steak or chicken. Guests can choose between a massive cut of top sirloin or a whole roasted chicken, both done the same way the restaurant has been doing it for over 30 years. That’s just the way the adoring fans like it. The food here isn’t the only thing that’s legendary — the sunsets sinking into the high-desert horizon are pretty spectacular too. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time and bring cash, as no credit cards are accepted.
Stay: Aspen Ridge Resort in Bly is a dude ranch set on 14,000 acres of Oregon’s Fremont-Winema National Forest. If solitude is your idea of luxury, it doesn’t get more luxurious than this: mountain lakes, wildflowers, elegant log cabins and lodge rooms, and no need to go far for supper if you’d rather stay in. Enjoy a mesquite-grilled steak dinner at the lodge restaurant and call it a day well spent. For something more dramatic, hikers may want to consider booking a stay at the recreation cabin Drake Peak Lookout (open June 15 to Oct. 15), deep in the forest, 25 miles northeast of Lakeview. Book early for the best availability.
