Family Fun Things to Do in Ashland Oregon

Family fun things to do in Ashland Oregon abound! The myriad options that we propose in our “What to Do” section here at Insight to Ashland makes it abundantly clear that adults have many ways to entertain themselves, but Ashland also has much to offer to families and children of all ages as well. Here are 20 ideas to help you plan for a day full of family fun!

ScienceWorks

Take the family to Ashland’s educational and fun hands-on science center, complete with interactive exhibits, science shows, outdoor garden and year-round programs. Science Works is a great place for kids and their parents!

Sportsology Exhibit at ScienceWorks

Oak Knoll Golf Course

Located just southeast of exit 14 off I-5, Oak Knoll Golf Course has a 9-hole, Par 36 course and a covered driving range.

Oak Knoll Golf Course

Emigrant Lake & Water Slides

Emigrant Lake offers an abundance of fun things to do in Ashland Oregon, including swimming, water slides, fishing, picnic areas, camping, and boating.

Fun things to do in Ashland Oregon image

Emigrant Lake

North Mountain Park & Nature Center

This park is particularly wonderful for children with its hands-on fun things to do in Ashland Oregon Nature Center, educational Enthobotanical Trail, Native American Display, 2 separate play areas and various baseball and soccer fields.

Fun things to do in Ashland Oregon N. Mountain Park image

North Mountain Park

See a Movie

Always a great option, Ashland has two movie theaters in town. The Varsity Theater is centrally located in downtown, and Ashland Street Cinema is located in the south end of town on Ashland Street.

The Varsity Theatre

Outdoor Guided Tours

There are a variety of companies in and near to town that offer outdoor fun things to do in Ashland Oregon, such as: rafting, fishing, jet boating, biking, horseback riding, hiking, birding, cross-country and snowshoe tours, and visits to Crater Lake, the Redwood forests and the coast.

Zipline

If you are looking for a wild day with wild views, try Rogue Valley ZipLine Adventure a try in Gold Hill.

SOU Athletics

Catching a sporting event at SOU is fun for the entire family. SOU participates in cross country, football, basketball, softball, track and field, women’s soccer, wrestling, and volleyball.

Mt. Ashland Ski Area

Mt. Ashland is a great, nearby winter sports spot. Not only that, it also offers a great place for a summer walk or hike with incredible views of Mt. Shasta, the Siskiyous and Cascades. Mt. Ashland is the perfect place to catch a variety of fun things to do in Ashland Oregon.

Mt. Ashland Ski Area

Ice Skating Rink

Another location to enjoy a winter’s day is the ice skating rink in Lithia Park, typically open from around Thanksgiving through February. This is a favorite amongst Winter fun things to do in Ashland Oregon.

Farm Tour

How about taking the kids to a farm for “open barn days”, tours of a ranch, birding, dining, hiking and even farm stays? Willow-Witt Ranch emphasizes such ideals as “wild beauty, land preservation, alternative energy production, and sustainable agriculture.”

Ashland Farm

Shopping in town

Perhaps you would like to treat your children to a toy or some new clothes. Earth Friendly Kids is a resale shop with toys, books and furniture; Bump has adorable baby clothes; and Bug a Boo Kids has toys and clothing options.

Skate Park

If your children are looking for a wild ride, take them to the Ashland Community Skate Park, where they can enjoy biking, skateboarding or scootering.

Ashland Skate Park

Daniel Meyer Pool

When the heat ramps up, the Daniel Meyer Pool is the place to be. Open from Mid-June through Labor Day, the pool offers a bit of everything – swim lessons, lap swim, and open swim. The pool does charge for use – pricing and the pool schedule can be found here.

Ashland Public Library

Ashland’s public library is a beautiful building that is inviting for the entire family. Read a book, enjoy a magazine or rent a DVD – the library offers didactic entertainment for the entire family.

Ashland Public Library

Oregon Vortex

Located in Gold Hill, the Oregon Vortex turns your world upside-down. Your kids will get a kick out the mysteries and oddities of the vortex.

Eat something sweet

Ashland has a few fun spots to satisfy the sweet tooth in all of us. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has a wide variety of chocolates and candy, the Yogurt Hut has delicious self-serve frozen yogurt and toppings, Zoey’s Cafe & All Natural Ice Cream is a great spot for ice cream, and Mix has tasty handmade desserts and ice cream.

Enjoy nature

When in Rome, as they say. Taking your family out into nature is a great way to enjoy your time in Ashland. Whether it’s for a walk, hike, bike ride, or any other form of outdoor activity, it is highly recommended.

Sailing at Hyatt Lake

The Green Show

6 nights a week (every day but Monday) at 6:45pm, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival kindly puts on a free show outside of their theaters off Pioneer St and just south of Main Street. The shows run from June through mid-October and offer a bit of everything. See the calendar of shows to pick out the show(s) that interest you and your family.

Green Show

Spend a day at Lithia or One of the Many Other Ashland Parks

Ashland’s extensive park system offers a wide variety of activities and fun for the family. From volleyball, tennis, basketball courts, to water parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, open fields and so much more. Visit our “Parks” page for more details on what to do, where.

Lithia Park