20 Amazing Things To Do In Grants Pass, Oregon

1. Visit The Glass Forge Gallery

The Glass Forge began its journey in Grants Pass on the Memorial Day of 1998. Founded by two master glassblowers, this place has since become a staple in the city.

The inside of this gallery is covered with unique art pieces made with care by talented glassblowers. Visiting this place allows you to purchase the highest quality glass items.

You can pick up seasonal giftwares, vases, orbs, and even bowls to bring back home from your visit. Anything you purchase here is going to last for centuries reminding you of your time in Grants Pass.

2. Shop At Grants Pass Growers Market

Running from November through March, this place is the one for anyone looking to connect with the locals. This place is located close to the Glass Forge Gallery which makes it a great place to spend an evening.

At this popular market, one can find fresh locally made products like vegetables, bread, and pastries along with some handmade crafts from popular local artists. A market deeply rooted in local tradition, shopping at the Grants Pass Growers Market is also a suitable way to support the community of farmers and artists.

3. Explore The Evergreen Federal Bank's Bear Hotel

To reach the Evergreen Federal Bank's Bear Hotel place you will have to either walk or drive a short distance from the downtown. Despite having a name as a hotel, this place doesn't serve as one.

Instead, it is a one-of-a-kind art gallery that showcases Evergreen's community art projects. Started to promote and support local artwork, this place now holds a collection of fiberglass bears created by local artists.

However, to view this artwork, you will have to visit Grants Pass during the summer season. Meanwhile, other seasons of the year bring a unique flare to the place with numerous customer appreciation events underway.

4. Learn About Local Art At Grants Pass Museum of Art

The Grants Pass Museum is another wonderful place to visit while walking through the historic downtown. This place is widely recognized for its collection of fine arts that dates back to 1979.

The gallery is a learning hub full of resources and artworks connected with local and international culture. Each of these pieces inside can be explored to understand more about the craft and its cultural significance.

5. Visit The Grants Pass Visitors Bureau

Although this place lies a few numbers below in the list, it is the first place one should visit. An ideal location to start a journey, the Grants Pass Visitor Bureau is full of valuable resources.

Starting from maps and brochures to information on the most popular tourist sites, here you will find nearly everything. You might even receive some insights into the city's culture and history from the helpful staff inside.

A statue of a caveman and a few animals at the entrance are another major highlight of this place.

6. Spend Time At Riverside Park

Riverside Park is located next to the Rogue River which runs right through the city. It is one of the best parks in the area with playgrounds, rose gardens, long matured trees, and different sports fields.

Paths that wander through the beautiful landscapes take you past all these places. After a short walk, one can stop by the open fields and enjoy the serene beauty of the park.

For a fun day with friends and family soccer fields, softball fields, and disc golf courses can be explored. During your visit, the park won't disappoint you at any cost providing you ample opportunities for fun and relaxation.

7. Catch A Show At Rogue Theatre

Rogue Theatre is an entertainment house ideal for spending a fun evening or an afternoon at Grants Pass. It is a place you can stop by while returning from or traveling to Grants Pass Museum of Arts.

This place hosts a combination of events that keeps on changing almost every single day. Shows here range from comedy to musicals and concerts to theatrical performances.

Most of the performances showcased here feature local talents doing their best to keep the audience entertained. In the meantime, if you wish to attend a specific show, the events calendar of the theatre is recommended.

8. Raft The Rogue River

A great sport for refreshment during summers, rafting at Rogue River is the best thing one can do in Grants Kelly. This trip takes one on a memorable journey on the wild and scenic Rogue River.

Challenges along with some of the amazing scenery, comfortable camping, and delicious meals, make the entire rafting tour full of fun and excitement. Different points with heavy currents add an extra layer of thrill to the journey.

If rafting does not feel very entertaining, one can even replace it with a kayak or paddle float to experience the area's beauty from a different perspective.

9. Walk Through The Downtown With A Map

As you return after a thrilling rafting experience, the next place you want to explore is the downtown of Grants Kelly. When visiting this area, stop by the Downtown Welcome Center to collect the map to find the best spot for yourself.

Holding this map, you can now begin your journey through the downtown that is full of history and architectural beauty. Shops and galleries with unique items lined along the way make the place more happening.

During festive seasons, the downtown feels way more alive with events and activities. Shop for antiques, have a chat with locals, and end your exploration with a tasty meal at one of many restaurants.

10. Have Fun At Reinhart Volunteer Park

A serene place to stop by, Reinhart Volunteer Park offers a peaceful retreat from the city crowd. It is one of the largest parks along the Rogue River that features everything from sports fields to fishing ponds and walking paths.

To explore the actual beauty of Grants Pass, this is the place you do not want to miss at any cost. Even your kids will have a fun time inside with multiple playgrounds full of modern amenities to keep them engaged through the day.

While kids have their share of fun, parents can spend time enjoying the beautiful views of the river and surroundings. The changing colors of nature every season give this place a unique flare, making it an ideal family place to visit throughout the year.

11. Hike Or Bike The Cathedral Hills Trail System

If you still feel a lack of adventure despite rafting through the Rogue River, situated just 6 miles from downtown is the perfect place for you. The only things one can find in the Cathedral Hills Trail System are multiple exploration-worthy loops of different difficulty levels.

Winding through the beautiful flora and fauna of the region, these trails can be either hiked or biked by most people. Horseback riding is another great adventure to perform at Cathedral Hills Trail System.

These trails are best enjoyed early in the morning or late afternoon. This way, you get to enjoy a great sunrise or sunset and make the hike more memorable.

12. Play A Game At Grants Pass Golf Course

Another great place to enjoy a later summer afternoon is without any doubt the Grants Pass Golf Course. Serving the locals as well as visitors for a long time, this place is best enjoyed with competitive friends or family members.

This course is situated close to serene hills and is surrounded by nature from all the way around. Seen inside are well-maintained fairways, a duck-filled pond, and a noteworthy clubhouse.

For the ones with no interest in getting involved in the fields, the Grants Pass Golf Course also has a cafeteria to sit around and enjoy the views with an evening brunch or a cup of coffee.

13. Try Fresh Milk Products At Rogue Creamery Dairy Farm

The Rogue Creamery Dairy and Farm is a business owned by a family in Grants Pass. It provides a sustainable shelter for cows of different breeds. Spending an evening here after an entire day of exploration in the city is an ideal way to catch up with friends and family.

They offer a wide variety of food options for lunch, snacks, and even some dairy products to bring back as gifts for your loved ones. Just grab your favorite and enjoy it at one of the various picnic areas inside the farm while watching the cows in action.

14. Explore The Pottsville Oregon Historic Museum

Offering a peek into the local history, the Pottsville Oregon Historic Museum is located around 8 miles from downtown Grants Pass. It is best known for its collection of thousands of items related to the early days of Oregon.

Interesting items like steam-powered tools, tractors, mining equipment, toys, collectibles, and many more can be seen during a visit here. All these items have been kept safe in two different museums since 1959.

As a history geek, visiting this place will give one enough knowledge to understand how things actually worked in the city before the revolution. To explore all these, one can take a ride on a horse, a cart, or a buggy at a small fee.

15. Visit The Schmidt House Museum

Once a family home of the city's one of the prominent families, this museum is currently managed by the Josephine County Historical Society. At the moment, the society provides guided tours of the house for visitors.

During this tour, one can view many original pieces and furniture providing an insight into the daily lives of the Schmidt family's past. You will also find a few additional items donated by the Josephine County area to make the museum more interesting.

The Schmidt House Museum remains open from Tuesday to Friday, with a $10 charge per person for the tour. However, you will have to reach the place before 2:30 pm as it is the time when the last tour leaves.

16. Visit The Nearby Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside

The Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside is one of the significant botanical sites in the entire Oregon. It is an easily accessible place where one can see a wide variety of interesting rare wildflowers. A 0.3-mile-long boardwalk is one of the major highlights of this place.

This boardwalk is often considered a short trail that winds through the fens and provides a close look at the carnivorous plants. Moreover, local wildlife like birds, small mammals, and insects can also be seen along the way.

After a short stroll, you can even stop by one of the few picnic spots and enjoy a meal in nature before returning back.

17. Taste Some Local Chocolates At Sandi's Candies And Fudgery

For a day full of sweetness, Sandi's Candies and Fudgery is the best place to visit in Grants Pass. This place is full of tasty gourmet, fudges, and many other chocolate items to make one overwhelmed.

As one of the oldest chocolate sellers in the city, this is a great place to buy some tasty treats for your kids as well as close ones back home. The owner of this place herself is a sweetheart.

She is easy to find and is often seen making chocolates and serving the customers. The vibes of this place along with an opportunity to chat with Sandi is what makes this place stand out among all the others.

18. Drink Craft Beers At Weekend Beer Company

In a city popular for its breweries, there is no way one can miss out on trying the local beers. And for that, this is the place you should visit. Although the Weekend Beer Company is mostly recognized for its craft beers, it is a family-friendly place with a few non-alcoholic options as well.

This company also owns multiple food trucks offering some of the best food choices with a local flair. The Weekend Beer Company is open year-round with occasional free events to attend for visitors and locals alike.

19. Float The Rogue River With Hellgate Jetboat Excursions

Floating the Rogue River with Hellgate Jetboat Excursion is a little less adventurous way to enjoy the serene beauty of the area as compared to rafting. It is fast, convenient, and doesn't need any physical effort.

You simply have to book a spot on a group tour and hop on the jet for a memorable journey. The tour takes you past different beautiful sites and unexplored regions of the Rogue River.

Meanwhile, the most preferable time for this tour is probably late evening as the changing colors of the sky during the sunset hours deliver some mesmerizing vistas. This tour is also a great way to connect with other visitors riding along while sharing personal travel experiences and stories.

20. Enjoy A Meal By The River

Before returning home, you surely want to have a meal to taste the local cuisine. However, to make it more interesting, finding a restaurant by the river is a great idea.

Taprock Northwest Grill and the River Edge Restaurant are the two popular options with an affordable and mouth-watering menu. They offer a casual dining experience along with some of the best views of the river.

The soothing sound of running water, boats passing by and the beautiful scenes make the meal more pleasant. This particular experience is going to add another beautiful memory to your tour diary of Grants Pass.