Ashland Downtown Plaza
Ashland, OR
In the heart of the Southern Oregon city of Ashland, Downtown Plaza is the city's main square and a great place to hang out and people watch. At the center is a fountain topped by a statue of a pioneer known locally as “Pioneer Mike”.
The basics
Many people come to the plaza to meet up with friends, hang out, or sample natural water from Ashland's Lithia Springs, which flows from eight bubbler-style drinking fountains right on the square. You may also find yourself at the plaza on your way to a theater performance put on by the city’s famous Oregon Shakespeare Company, or if you sign up for a self-guided scavenger hunt that explores the city's history.
Things to know before you go
- Ashland's Downtown Plaza is a great place to get your bearings while in Ashland.
- The square is wheelchair friendly.
- Bring an empty water bottle to fill up with free mineral-rich spring water from Lithia Springs.
How to get there
Ashland's Downtown Plaza is located right on Main Street in the heart of the city, directly north of Lithia Park. It's within easy walking distance of a few central hotels, and there's plenty of free parking in the area for visitors coming from farther away. The Rogue Valley Transportation District's bus number 10 also stops at the plaza.
When to get there
While you can visit the plaza whenever you wish, the best time to visit downtown Ashland, and the city in general, is during the summer season from June to August, when the weather is typically warm and dry. If you're a fan of theater, it's worth coming between March and October to check out the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival season.
Visiting Crater Lake National Park
Many travelers to Oregon use Ashland as a jumping-off point for visiting Crater Lake National Park, site of the deepest lake in the United States. The park is around a 2-hour drive away, which is within easy day-tripping distance by Oregon standards. Things to do at Crater Lake include hiking, guided boat rides, and driving the 33-mile (53-kilometer) Scenic Rim Drive, which encircles the lake.
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