Ashland, Oregon

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20 minutes over the northern Calif. border. Ashland is a college town with lots of shopping, parks, theater, art and of course outdoor activites. Camping, fishing, winter skiing, water skiing. Lots of free places to parking lot camp or in the great outdoors. Tons of Hippies, young and old.

The hill and valley environs of Ashland Oregon speaks to the hippie mind with an eastern slope of lush greens created by flowing water contrast by rolling oak cover hills to the West. Under the cover of a celestial sky. Like a garden in the sun, Ashland has long born the fruit of many artists and seekers. Give time to Ashland and you will experience a living museum of the movement that predates that of the Haight.

Ashland is hands down the most magical, incredible and delicious country in oregon (just my humble opinion of course!). lithia park is a trippers delight, filled with duck ponds, a human sized rat wheels to play on, trees of every family and a gazillion and a half hiking trails for you and your pals to discover! on any given day you will see little billows of smoke arise and big, wandering eyes enthralled in all natures majesty. i cant say enough about this wonderful place filled with beauty, spirit and the best vibe you can possibly imagine! if you do take a road trip on over, you must check out evo’s downtown. its hip beyond belief, not that every place in ashland is not, but it is a hippie lovers delight! peace to you all, and i hope your paths will someday lead you to this breath of fresh air!

0 thoughts on “Ashland, Oregon”

  1. Incredible is this place! I was at the Walk For Peace event that was being held at the Wellsprings (aka Jackson Hot Springs) and all the people were simply kind. I was in utter shock when I was able to be friendly with people I hardly knew (try doing that in some conservative town in this state of Oregon). Unfortunately, thanks to the Shakespearian Festival, Ashland has attracted a rather annoying, elitist, pretentious, and snobbish “more-intellectual-than-thou” types amongst some college students. I find that very annoying because they really believe that the worlds revolves around them. It’s nice to be fascinated with Renaissance art, scupturing, acting, painting, or whatever, I have no problem with that. It’s only when they start believing that they are superior beings because they’re in to this stuff is what really annoys me. Aside from that, this is perhaps the best town I have ever been in, as far as the counterculture scene is concerned, with the possible exception of Eugene.

  2. Another perk around Ashland is the Pacific Crest Trail which runs a few miles south of town. If you’re looking for real freedom, jump on that trail and if you’re heading south, you’ll hit Mexico in a few months or if you’re moving north, you’ll hit Canada sooner than that. I walked the whole trail in 2001 and I must say it was freedom in the finest sense – 6 months of rising to the sun (but sometimes later depending on what I wanted to do) and sleeping by dusk. You can rest on the path or find a nice river to relax near and there are no police or even park rangers to harass you. Just you and nature. Now is that a haven or what?

  3. A correction needs to be posted: the event I went to in Ashland was actually called World Peace & Prayer Day, not Walk For Peace. My only complant of World Peace & Prayer Day was the rather narrow age demographics of the people attending, most of them were around the 16-25 age range (where are all the old-timers?). I found that slightly irritating, because even if they were in tye-dyes, and they actually had a rather mellow attitude, and you can actually talk to them, their knowledge of the 1960s seems rather limited (and many act as if they never heard of the Beatles, and only know of the music being performed on stage, mainly local acts I didn’t find particularly good). I did meet this one girl there from Utah at the event, used to be a Mormon and once attended Brigham Young University (a place, as everyone knows, that is hardly a liberal bastion), changed her ways and started wearing the flowers and beads (how about that? Someone from a conservative upbringing becomes a hippie). One booth was selling stickers, and my favorite was “Smokey the Bear”. Basically, it’s Smokey the Bear smoking on a joint. Anyway, after returning to Eugene to visited, noticing how corporatized and strip-malled that town has became, I have to say, Ashland is actually even nicer than Eugene. If only the snobs in Ashland (who act like high society from Victorian-era England) would just go away, Ashland would be perfect. Someone has told me Ashland is being taken over by yuppies, but when I was there, I really didn’t notice, this isn’t Boulder, Colorado, after all. But sadly, most of the rest of Jackson County (the county Ashland is in) is conservative, as is most of Southern Oregon (lots of logging towns, right wing militia activity, and even rumors of Klan activity). But Ashland is so unlike the most of the rest of Southern Oregon you might as well be in the Bay Area, but on a much smaller scale, to call it the San Francisco of Southern Oregon would probably be quite accurate. I’ve been to many of these “hippie havens” in Oregon and Northern California, and so far Ashland is the best.

  4. Ashland just really blew me away. I just went there again and the town really far exceeded my expectations! I finally got to really explore Ashland, especially the shops. I was amazed just how friendly and open everyone is. I was able to speak my mind, which you can’t do in my home town (Lakeview, Oregon). I previous criticized Ashland for having its pretentious and snotty element, but this time around, I was completely shocked just how down-to-earth and unpretentious everyone was, even in the ethnic shops! I guess I had the wrong impression when I attended World Peace & Prayer Day (which did seem to attract the more undesirable trust-fund hippies, and way too narrow age-demographics – that is, the 16-25 age range, for the most part). I was really pleased with the age demographics of Ashland itself, ranging from high schoolers to Baby Boomer-types who were around in the 1960s, with no age range particularly dominant (where in Lakeview, my town, it seems like the teenagers – under the age of 18 – and the old people – over the age of 60 – are the most dominant). Living in Ashland is quite expensive, and I’m sure living in the city limits on a fixed income might be next-to-impossible, but even if you can’t live there, the town will amaze you. I really did for me (and it’s too bad most of the surrounding areas is conservative – if you travel a few miles out of town on Hwy. 66 or Dead Indian Memorial Road, you’ll find bullet holes on road signs which means that you’ve entered redneck territory – although I’m sure a few hippie types are living in those hills, but you wouldn’t know if you don’t live in the area). If your local redneck town is getting you down (because it has too many churches, a Jesus Fish on every other car, and speaking your mind seems to be sinful), or you live in a large, liberal city, but finding friendly people is next to impossible (because of the usually drawbacks of crime and traffic), you need to visit Ashland!

  5. Die hippies, die! God hippies suck! Did I mention that hippies suck?
    If I catch you parking lot camping I’ll flatten your tires!

    Sincerely,

    A Rich Old Retired Bastard and Typical Ashlander

  6. This is to all of you negative, uptight, so-called “hippies”: Listen to yourselves passing judgements on everyone calling them wannabe hippies because they weren’t alive during the late 60’s. What right do you have to judge? My idea of a hippy is someone who is a pacifist, respects nature, unconditionally gives love to ALL humans and only detests one thing: war. You call yourselves hippies or peace lovers… you’re hypocrites! You should all try to be a bit more mellow and judge yourselves before others- you sound like a bunch of grumpy, close minded old folks. You give the word “hippy” a bad name! Lighten up, enjoy life and “Live and let live!”

  7. I live in Ashland. There’s alot of good weed and free food. Alot of campers and friendly welcoming people. Come visit us! You will fall in love with our enchanted city! Just watch out for pork!

  9. Gosha’mighty dang, I and mine’ll be drifting to Ashland, soon. Thanks for so fine and dandy a synopsis of the site we westering dreamers have targeted. A 21st century Oregon Trail is beckoning those of who take pictures and leave footprints. I only leave one footprint, actually, what with bein’ an amputee…
    We will be doing a bit of “guerrilla journalism” and a lot of thinking & dreaming and driving on…
    Thanks for the excellent review. If you could use an editing bored (and you could), please do not be too timoid to contact me, Rod at :prp30@hotmail.com
    Hoping to see you, soon.
    Peace to you,
    Rod

  10. I have often linged for a place to relocate and actually begin to enjoy life. It is my utmost and sincere intention along with a fellow traveler to be in Ashland in a hop, skip and a jump, and for Rod I know he will wnjoy the humor. North Topsail Beach is a small community on the eastern shore of the Carolina North, that i had intended on perching, however, after reading reviews posted by my fellow hippies, I have decided to follow my bretheren to your local. Spirituality and serenity is something that I have longed for wuite some time and now is the time. I look forward to participating in physical and intellectual events with people like myself, you know after and extended period of years I may even try to force my hand into the local political circle to continue in help broadening the minds of the narrow minded selfish right wing population that makes life somewaht intolerable for people like to me. Ashland calls with all the cools, people, places things and the climate. As my friend so penned, the Oregon trail beckons. See ya soon.
    Love and peace to all Paul

  11. Excuse the type errors, as I have a left ulnar nerve injury that prevents clean swipes of the keys, I hope that the climate in Ashland along with some natural springs, hot and cold with an undetrmined amount of mother earth’s natural medicine (marijuana) will resolve this annoying physical issue. Oh and by the way hippies are great people, did I mention that they are great loving people, who after all are only the making of good speed bumps in the minds of the, well you know.

    Peace and love Paul

  12. To the writer Rod Personette,
    I hope that you are reviewing this post as it is very important. Ashland is still going to happen, the events yesterday just through in a small kink, but have been resolved. I need to know if you want me to goto Ashland via Asheville or just straight to Ashland, the home of the free, let me emphasize free in all aspects, that is why that I cannot wait to get there, either way i will have to wait on you for a seven day period, unless that is that you want to go ahead and justtravel to Asheville first together tomorrow Thursday, as I have arranged for fudning through a very dear friend. I apologize to the reviewing community of hippie.com as I know that this is not a forum to pass personal messages, but this is a very important peice of communication, as smoke signals are frowned upon in the dry season here in the foothills of the great Smokey mountains. Rod meet at the library at 2 p.m. today Wensday the twentysixth.

    PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL PEACE AND LOVE TO ASHLAND AS I AWAIT YOUR SERENITY AND PEACE.

  13. Ashland is a truly great town!! People here are more openminded than other places around, pluss there is good weed, good food, beautiful parks, and for the most part -nice people. but then, there are the tourists who think that they own the town. Immagine walking down the sidewalk. it is hot, almost 100 degreas. and you are surrounded by people walking every which direction, and dont even bother to move for you when you ask politly. that is downtown ashland in the summer time. Tourists who think they own the place. But then you move up into the park (lithia park), you walk by the duck pond surrounded by tourists. However not as many as the sidwalks. you keep walking into the shade of the trees, there is a family sitting in the grass haveing a picnic. You hear children at the playground. you keep walking, there is a group of teens playing frisbe. and if you keep walking you will go across bridges over lithia creek, maybe even pass through places smelling of weed. if you go far enough you will get up to the resevor, catch people swimming, tanning, jumping off the rope swing (if it hasnt been cut down). Ashland is the funnest town, and if your not an outdoor person (which i hope is not true) then maybe you could catch a play, and bee like the rest of the tourists in the sidewalk trapping you, as you sweat like a mad dog!! well peace…

  15. I am from a very small hillbilly town if you will in Pa. I have raised 3 children here and my oldest daughter at about 20 had visited the west coast and came back to tell me she was moving to Oregon to spread her wings.It was the hardest day of my life to let go of my beautiful baby girl but I knew she was a very strong willed and beautiful girl who would be ok!! She traveled across country by car and saw so many new and exciting things and met some very nice and careing people.When she arrived in Bend Oregon she found a job and settled down[some what][she is and always will be a free spirit]!! She spent a couple yrs there and then moved on to Ashland….she would call me and say Mom this town is so awsum…..I am so happy here…the people are so kind and careing…they talk to you…they say HELLO…I am happy here!!! Well I finally got to visit Ashland and was there for the birth of my first grand baby….my visit was for 3 wks and I was so amased at the people there…they were very kind,they did say Hello…it was wonderful…..I missed the birth of my grand baby[due date was WAY off] I came home to Pa and my daghter gave birth about 2 weeks later[with a midwife at that which is more a west coast thing then here ]and I was very very nervous about that] but my daughter was only in labor 3 hrs and gave birth at home to a beautiful beautiful baby angel girl!!! Her midwife was wonderful and of all the horror stories I hear of births here at hospitals my blessings to all those midwifes in the west coast.Ok I guess I have really rattled on here and I guess I just want to say I am a hippie from way back and I am glad I lived the life I have and that my daughter had the guts to go clear across country to find a nice place like Ashland and it doesnt matter what we wear or how we live we are ALL HUMAN and God looks at us all the same.my daughter had a totoly beautiful, beautiful baby girl[my grandbaby] in a tepee and I could not be any more prouder of her…she stands up for what she beleives and she is one of the kindest careing woman I will ever know!!!! She may dress a little differant and you might call her a hippie but she would be the first person there to help if you needed anything….So it just really made me feel sad when I read the comment that said they would slash a hippes tires…WOW you know what that could be my daughters tires you slash and my grandaughter could be in that car……HOW IN GODS WORLD WOULD YOU FEEL THEN.GOD BLESS ALL IN ASHLAND!!!

  16. uh.. lady.. nobody really cares about your fucking daughter. oohhh…. your baby girl can suck my cock.. oh wait she already did. i thought maybe you could have taught the bitch better.whatever man i am just looking for some smack. oh but good news for ya she did have a nice tight pussssy. maybe you wanna get with me to??? notatruesmoker@hotmail.com

  17. Hippys are without a doubt the LOWEST form of scummy lifeform anywhere. How do you know a hippy is living with you? He talks smack about everything you do (environmentally enlightened -they think) and he refuses to pay his way or leave. I was born and raised in southern oregon and the most aggrivating thing that I can think of is an uneducated waste of space whose parents PAY him (or her) to stay away at college taking basket weaving /philosophy or anthropology and fucking up our WORKING logging harvests with their corporate funded green peace bullshit. Go back home and make your parents deal with you -we’re tired of you assholes!

  18. I really do feel for you two ASSHOLES….Talk about upbring and education WOW!!!!! It is without a doubt a pity that you both had idiots for parents….to bring such retards into this world!!! You must really have a sexual hangup sweetheart….whats wrong cant get REAL sex you have to use an innocent girl and your imagination??? By the way my daughter works and most likely is paying to keep you two loosers alive!!! You are very sad individuals………I really hope someday soon you both get what you REALLY deserve and it is a long,slow torture!!!!! Take care and God Bless!!

  19. I can not believe the crap that is posted on this board (yes … including my own). What is wrong with you people? The amount of bull shit on this board is amazing. I would try to porosely mispell thangs butt its two herd.

  21. Hello,
    I was just at Burningman and saw a great guitarist. I want to hear more of his music…get a CD etc…..
    He was playing in the Swingers camp with 3 guys playing drums..
    I would love to get his contact
    information. I heard he was from Ashland, Oregon and his name is
    Scott….last name is something like Beeman, Beekman, Bingman …..
    anyway I was kind of floating and didn’t get the spelling….
    If you could help me out that would be great!
    If you know him I would love to extend an invitation to San Francisco
    to play a show or two. I could set up a cool place to play.
    I’m sure he’s been through here but who knows!

    Thank you,
    Noah SF
    sfnomadic@yahoo.com for a response

  24. johnny with the dreads is in juvie, his mom has maynard. is that all, person who was asking?

    everyone else, please don’t move to ashland. all things should be kept in balance and my town is in danger of losing it. some say too many left wingers, some say too many right, but my point is…

    quit moving to ashland, which we’ve already perfected. stay in your own crappy town and fix it so you like living there, assholes.

  25. Calling all my hippie brethren!! Bring your humor, your marihuana, and your pubic crabs! Ashlands is the HIPPIE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!!!
    Bring your friends, your friends friends!!
    Bring your intestinal bacteria! Bring your dead and dieing! COME ONE, COME ALL!!! …to the Hippie HEAVEN that is ASHLAND, OR!!
    Naked virgins run wild and cops don’t seem to exsist here!!!
    You can smoke CRACK on City Hall and show your crack to the public!
    Drink water out of the rain spouts!!! Take a CRAP on someones lawn!!!
    IT’S ALL GOOD here in Hashland, OR!!!!
    WHooooooooooooooooooooooooooo>>hackHACKcoughsputter<<,

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