The City of Ashland is the artistic jewel and cultural center of Southern Oregon. The area boasts dozens of excellent Bed and Breakfasts for visitors come who attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Cabaret Theater, Oregon StageWorks, the Rogue Opera and the Britt Music Festival in nearby historic Jacksonville as well as numerous art galleries and the Science Works Museum. The First Friday Art Walks are special evenings when the many studios and galleries are open with refreshments and special shows. Bed and Breakfast vacationers also enjoy Ashland's city-wide fiber network, local breweries, wineries, restaurants and public events at Southern Oregon University. For Ashland Bed and Breakfast vacationers, theater attractions, fine dining, wineries, and shopping options are complemented by the surrounding splendor of the valley and mountains. Whether you want to ski, raft, hike, or enjoy the beauty from lookout points, the Pacific Trail crossing the Siskiyou Mountains, Pilot Rock, Table Rock and other nature hikes. Lithia Park, laid out by the designer of Golden Gate Park, stretches up Ashland Creek into the mountains and features floral displays for all seasons and special events in the Band Shell. It also features tennis courts, ice rink, and planned and spontaneous events. Fourth of July and Halloween bring special parades and outdoor art, craft and food vendors. In the summer, there's Emigrant Lake for swimming and boating, Irongate Lake for fishing, and the Klamath and Rogue Rivers for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking. Mt. Shasta, Crater Lake, Klamath Lake and the Oregon Caves are great day trips. Bed and Breakfast proprietors take pride in helping guide visitors to special features and activities in the area.