Jacksonville’s Historic Buildings
Jacksonville, Oregon is an old gold rush town. One of the first founded in this area of Southern Oregon (in 1851). And you can still see and feel this history everywhere in the tiny town.
From the museum cataloging the journey of the miners and earliest settlers to the historic buildings (mining supply stores, feed stores, blacksmith, etc) that now house more modern businesses, you get an authentic ‘old timey’ feeling in Jacksonville’s downtown historic district. Though, today’s Jacksonville comes in a slightly more polished package.
*the ‘historic district’ of Jacksonville was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966.
Fewer Crowds-Just as Much Appeal
While Jacksonville has a lot of appeal as a place to visit if you’ve heard of it or been to it, it’s not nearly as well known or popular as Southern Oregon destinations like Ashland (thanks in large part to it’s famous all year Shakespeare Festival) or famed destinations such as Crater Lake and Coos Bay. But this is good news for visitors. Fewer crowds means a more peaceful environment and a slower pace vibe. After all, isn’t that why people travel to small towns?
The Touvelle House Bed and Breakfast
This historic bed and breakfast in Jacksonville is enough reason alone to visit this charming town! Just a couple of blocks from downtown, the luxuriously furnished yet simply classic Touvelle House will charm you with it’s crackling fires, plush common rooms, heavenly beds (with fantastic linens) and home cooked breakfasts (complete with fresh scones and hot egg dishes). If you have to leave earlier than the scheduled breakfast time there’s even a special menu you can choose from ‘to go’ with items like quinoa bowls, granola and yogurt or smoothies (your choice of a large selections of healthy ingredients).
Owners Shawn and Jamie have only owned the B&B for a few years but Jamie grew up in Southern Oregon and it’s clear these two are passionate about running a comfortable and welcoming bed and breakfast. The little additional touches they’ve added such as kindle readers loaded with The Oregonian (local paper), a bevvy of Southern Oregon travel magazines stacked on side tables, a constantly crackling fire, comfy lounge rooms with books, DVDs and games make this place feel like a (much nicer) home away from home.
It’s Home to the Britt Music Festival
Jacksonville is the location of the now famed Britt Music and Arts Festival (named after Peter Britt one of the first miners to find gold in Jacksonville), a concert/series of shows that runs every year from June through August in an outdoor ampi-theater surrounded by trees. Each year the Britt Festival attracts thousands of music lovers and major headliners.
The Friendly and Plentiful Deer
You will see dainty little spotted dear prancing around pretty much everywhere in Jacksonville. There are as many deer as there are people! They are regular morning fixtures in the front yards of most houses (nibbling on this plant or that plant) and are not as skittish as the deers where I come from (Northern California). They won’t run away if you approach them slowly and quietly. And, they all look like Bambi.. Always a nice way to start off the morning.
* I was guest of Touvelle House for this trip but as always, all opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own.
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