Jaunt to Jacksonville
This historic Gold Rush town near Medford is all kinds of adorable — and the best way to experience it is on foot, strolling the streets of what Frommer's dubbed “one of America's top 10 coolest small towns,” popping into shops and checking out the cafes and eateries.
Grab a latte and avocado toast ($10.50) or a bagel breakfast sandwich ($9) at The Good Bean, a cozy wood-paneled coffeehouse that roasts its own beans. Slurp a float, a cone or a sundae at Violets & Cream, which offers 28 flavors of premium, small-batch ice cream. The Jacksonville Gold Rush ($7), for example, tops salted waffle ice cream with caramel sauce, whipped cream, butternut pecans and butterscotch caramel gold dust.
There are wineries on the outskirts of town — Dancin Vineyards is especially lovely — plus a lavender farm that opens to the public in June and July of each year, and boutique hotels and inns to tempt you to stay awhile.
DON'T MISS >> If you plan your vacations around live music and other shows, check out Jacksonville's Britt Music & Arts Festival. It's held on the hillside estate of Gold Rush pioneer Peter Britt every summer. This year's lineup ranges from the Gipsy Kings and Bonnie Raitt to Jim Gaffigan.
DETAILS >> The Good Bean opens at 6 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 7:30 a.m. Sundays at 165 S. Oregon St. in Jacksonville; www.goodbean. com. There's a Medford location, as well. Violets & Cream opens at 11:30 a.m. daily at 150 S. Oregon St. in Jacksonville; violetsandcream. com. Find details on the Britt Festival, which runs through Sept. 11, at www.brittfest.org.