When I took a career break road trip, one of the states we spent the most time in was Oregon. After a few days of checking out the things to do in Bend, Oregon, we headed south past Crater Lake and on to Medford, Oregon. Medford is the heart of the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon and is the largest city in the Rogue Valley, followed by Ashland and Grants Pass.  Over 200 sunny days each year make this the perfect destination for hiking, rafting, fishing, boating, golf, wine, and theater.

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Things to Do in Medford Oregon

This is a small sample of the things to do in Oregon’s Rogue River Valley and Medford. I would love to come back and explore more Medford attractions! With so much sunshine, Medford is a beautiful destination for solo travel, romantic getaways, or family fun with kids. This is just a small sampling of what to do in Southern Oregon. I would love another trip back to check out even more Medford Oregon things to do.

Rogue River Rafting

A visit to the Rogue River Valley isn’t complete without a spin on the river that gave the valley its name. There are plenty of options, from jet boat day trips to multi-day whitewater trips. A 4-day float trip with OARS is what originally brought me to the area. We had cold and rain for almost the entire time (mid-September), which can be challenging and frustrating when you are putting up and taking down a wet tent every day, putting on wet wool clothes every morning, but hey! It helps to have the proper whitewater rafting clothing a rainy day on the river still beats a sunny day in the office!

Book a Rogue River 1/2 Day Raft Trip

We had several cool bear sightings.

And the sun came out (or at least the rain stopped) on the last day!

Harry & David Factory Tour

Medford is home to Harry & David, which happens to be the largest employer in the Rogue Valley. That lush soil and temperate climate that's great for wine is also great for growing fruit! There is a Harry & David store in town, where you can join a factory tour for just $5. I was able to grab the last tour on a Friday (they don't run on weekends.) It was pretty fun to see all the gift baskets being assembled, and we got to see how MooseMunch is made. (Hint: giant blocks of butter!) Harry & David ships over 1 million gift baskets and 2.5 million Towers of Treats each year. When I visited in September, they were really ramping up for the holiday season, with major hiring events and advertising. I was ready to apply, just for the employee discount and free fruit! I'm a big fan of Harry & David and often send baskets for gifts, so it was reassuring to see the quality and care that goes into their products.

After the tour, I used the $5 coupon from the tour to stock up on snacks for an upcoming girlfriends getaway weekend!

Shop Harry & David's collection at Amazon.com!

Rogue Valley Wineries

Named as one of the top 10 wine travel destinations in the world by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Southern Oregon is a great place to plan a wine tour. There are organized tours, or you can build your own itinerary using the resources available at Travel Medford.

We visited RoxyAnn Winery once learning it was dog-friendly. In addition to orchards and a tasting room, they also have beautiful event spaces. What a great spot for a celebration!

If beer is more your jam, grab your growlers and check out the Medford Ale Trail! There are tons of breweries around Medford, Oregon.

Artisan Corridor

Medford's Artisan Corridor is technically in Central Point, but just 10 minutes from downtown Medford. In this small area, you'll find Lillie Belle Chocolates, Rogue Creamery, and Ledger David Cellars. I sampled lavender chocolate at Lillie Belle and had a grilled cheese sandwich at Rogue Creamery. I was bummed that I couldn't stock up on their famous Blue Cheese, but I was headed out on the Rogue River rafting trip the following day, and I knew the cheese wouldn't keep. The samples were delicious, though!

Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is a gorgeous National Park but it's very remote! You can't be this close and not make a special trip to see Crater Lake National Park. Just over an hour's drive from Medford, this National Park is a must-see on any Southern Oregon road trip itinerary. Unfortunately, I visited on the heels of some major wildfires, so the rim drive was closed and visibility severely compromised, but I got just enough of a taste to know I need to return and stay at the Crater Lake lodge so I can witness a sunset and the night skies!

Dog-Friendly Parks in Medford

Bailey and I found several dog-friendly parks in Medford, Oregon. Bear Creek Park in Medford has a great playground and nice trails that follow the creek through a residential neighborhood. Hawthorn Park is another Medford park we visited during our stay. The park has a splash pad, and two fenced-in dog areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs.

Other Things to See in Medford Oregon

• Upper Table Rock or Lower Table Rock are both popular hiking trails near Medford
• Medford Railroad Park is a fun little museum run by volunteers, with cool model railroads on display
• In nearby Central Point, the Crater Rock Museum has a fantastic collection of rocks, gems, and minerals.
• For the performing arts, check out the Craterian Theater, which often hosts concerts, dance performances, and theatrical tours.
• Jackson County has several lakes and reservoirs to explore, including Howard Prairie Lake, Diamond Lake, and Applegate Lake.

Medford Restaurants

In our travels, I've found that breweries are usually the most dog-friendly places to grab a bite. And Oregon has lots of them, including many breweries in Medford, Oregon. These are a few of the dog-friendly Medford restaurants that we sampled.

Wild River Brewing

Wild River Brewing's 5 Southern Oregon restaurants feature famous pizzas & award-winning handcrafted beers. The Medford location was just 5 minutes from my hotel and offered a dog-friendly patio and great service.

Paisan's Pizzeria

Paisans is a small family Italian place on a corner just a block from Main St. They have a few tables outside, but it is counter service, so you do have to go indoors at some point to place your order and pay. (They also add 0.35 for any credit card transaction, FYI) Paisans sells pizza by the slice, which is pretty awesome because what solo traveler needs to eat a whole pizza?!

Harriman Springs Resort & Marina

Harriman's is technically in Klamath Falls, but chances are you will include some other towns in your Southern Oregon road trip and Harriman's is a great dog-friendly place to stop for a meal. The place was cleared out as we just missed all the fire-jumpers who were staying here.

Buttercloud Bakery

Buttercloud Bakery also has a dog-friendly patio, but it was jam-packed when we visited, so I grabbed a scone to go. Judging by the popularity of this place, and my tasty scone, it's worth checking out when you visit Medford.

In N Out Burger

I finally got to try this West Coast institution after seeing it on social media for years! The location near the mall has outdoor seating, so you can bring your furry friend along. The burgers are fine, the french fries are meh, but the milkshakes are amazing!

Where to Stay in Medford

As a decent-size city, there are plenty of places to stay in Medford and the surrounding Rogue Valley area. During my stay in Southern Oregon, I stayed in two different Medford hotels. The Rogue Regency Hotel is pet-friendly and has no pet fees! I think that's a first for us on this trip. The hotel offers budget-friendly rooms near the Rogue Valley Mall, as well as two on-site restaurants and an indoor pool.

I also spent 1 night at the Courtyard Marriott Medford upon returning from my Rogue River rafting trip. It is not pet-friendly, but Bailey was still at the kennel and I had Marriott points to use! This was my first stay at a Courtyard Hotel for a long time, and I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the room was. I also took advantage of the laundry room to wash out all my soaking wet clothes after a wet week on the river.

Browse Medford hotels on Booking.com

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Travel Medford covered my lodging for two nights at the Rogue Regency. These are solely my personal opinions and I was not financially compensated for this post.