Ashland, Oregon is a lot closer to the coast than it seems. In fact, as the crow flies it’s only about 80 miles. If you’re wings are in the shop however, getting to Crescent City, CA is a lovely 2 hour and 40 minute drive that flirts among the National Forests of Six Rivers, the Rogue River, and the Klamath River. The latter part of the drive catches up to the Smith River: a clean, cool, blue-green oasis that offers a splendid break. Once in Crescent City, you are greeted by superb surfing opportunities, cozy lodging, and tasty restaurants.

South Beach in Crescent City spans 3.25 flat miles of soft sand that is perfect for beach-running, dog walking, family playing, kite flying, and surf spectating. With some of the best and most consistent surfing around, there are always a few surfers to be seen, though typical California crowding doesn’t seem to be a problem. Surfing South Beach is my preference, next to the tropical southern waters of Mexico and Costa Rica. The swell varies depending on what part of the beach you choose. Some waves are small and beginner friendly, some are larger and offer a more exciting ride. All waves are soft and merciful and break over sand so rocks are not an obstacle. As is always recommended, watch for about 20 minutes to decide which wave is calling your name.

Even in late October, a group of friends decided to grab a beach house for the weekend to exercise our surfing skills. After a five-minute search on TripAdvisor.com, we had a request submitted for a house close to the beach that slept six and would only be $55 per person, including the cleaning fee – another perk of northern California beaches: lodging is relatively easy and affordable.

The surf was excellent and we found some tasty and cheap eats: Perlita’s is a family run, authentic Mexican restaurant on Hwy 101 not too far from South Beach. Perlita’s has four stars on Yelp.com. Good Harvest Café is relatively new and offers healthier options than your run-of-the-mill clam chowder and fries and even has a vegetarian menu. We also opted to save money by buying groceries and cooking in the homey kitchen in our rented beach house.

Growing up in Ashland, I always considered the beach a vacation destination; however, my mind has been changed. Now when I have a day off, I often wake up early, pack the car, hit the waves, and am home in time for dinner.

We are really excited about a new event taking place in the Rogue Valley called Farm to Fork.  Farm to Fork was created to celebrate Oregon’s Farms, Wineries, and local food Artisans.  The mission of the FARM to FORK Dinners is to reconnect people to the true source of their food, to increase community awareness about the importance of supporting local & sustainable producers, to provide diners with an exceptional culinary experience, and to directly support local farmers, wineries and organizations that support small farms, food security, and greater accessibility to healthy, local food.

The dinners take place at farms that sustain the food on your plate or the wine in your glass.  Each event begins with a tour of the farm to highlight the farmers hard work and good, clean, fair food.  The  menu’s focus on seasonal harvest and are prepared by local chefs.  The proceeds of each dinner are directly contributed to the farmers and pro-food organizations.  The 2010 dinners will support Rogue Valley Farm to School and Friends of Family Farmers. Check out the 2010 Schedule to see which Dinners benefit which Causes.

For a full schedule of dinners throughout the summer check out Farm to Fork at http://farmtoforkevents.com/dinners/2010-schedule/

Another great way to experience some of the best Southern Oregon has to offer while also supporting a really great cause!

There are some great trails in the Ashland Watershed for mountain biking, jogging, or just hiking. They all ultimately connect to the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) further up the mountain.  I take my dog Lucy, to hike the trails a couple of times a week. Our favorite trail is Caterpillar. It starts at the top of the White Rabbit trail at Forest Road 2080, and goes until Lamb Saddle. It has a few switchbacks and moderate climbs. The best part about it is that you can loop back to the parking area on the Forest Road. It takes me about an hour and 20 minutes to do the entire loop.
Forest Road 2080 can be accessed by driving up Morton Street and turning left onto Ashland Loop Road. You will drive onto a one lane gravel road for about a mile until you come to a parking area, which is is the beginning of the hike.