<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/Ashland/">Ashland</a> is best known as home to the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/how-shakespearean-can-oregons-most-shakespearean-town-actually-get-we-spent-a-day-finding-out.html">Oregon Shakespeare Festival</a>, but there’s much more to the Southern Oregon town than Shakespeare.
On this week’s episode of the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/pnw%20pod/">Peak Northwest podcast</a>, we’re heading south for a few days in Ashland, where we explored the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/08/genre-bending-yellow-face-blends-comedy-identity-and-history-at-oregon-shakespeare-festival.html">Oregon Shakespeare Festival</a>, wandered through downtown, tried some unusual food and found a few <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/we-braved-ashlands-macbeth-themed-escape-room-heres-how-it-went.html">unexpected ways</a> to experience the city.
I’m joined by two of my coworkers, retail reporter Veronica Nocera and visual journalist Allison Barr. The three of us recently took a newsroom road trip from Portland to Ashland, making a few stops along the way and spending several days exploring the area.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
<ul>
 <li>What it’s like experiencing the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a larger trip, rather than traveling to Ashland just for a show.</li>
 <li>Some of our <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/this-enchanting-ashland-cocktail-bar-brings-shakespeares-fairy-forest-to-life.html">favorite restaurants</a>, businesses and unexpected finds in downtown Ashland.</li>
 <li>What to do in Ashland between Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows, including some unusual ways to explore the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2026/09/ashland-walking-tour-celebrates-playwrights-with-locally-made-plaques.html">playwright’s connection</a> to the city.</li>
</ul>
 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Ashland is best known as home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, but there’s much more to the Southern Oregon town than Shakespeare. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading south for a few days in Ashland, where we explored the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, wandered through downtown, tried some unusual food and found a few unexpected ways to experience the city. I’m joined by two of my coworkers, retail reporter Veronica Nocera and visual journalist Allison Barr. The three of us recently took a newsroom road trip from Portland to Ashland, making a few stops along the way and spending several days exploring the area. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What it’s like experiencing the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a larger trip, rather than traveling to Ashland just for a show. Some of our favorite restaurants, businesses and unexpected finds in downtown Ashland. What to do in Ashland between Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows, including some unusual ways to explore the playwright’s connection to the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/Ashland/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ashland</a> is best known as home to the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/how-shakespearean-can-oregons-most-shakespearean-town-actually-get-we-spent-a-day-finding-out.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oregon Shakespeare Festival</a>, but there’s much more to the Southern Oregon town than Shakespeare.
On this week’s episode of the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/pnw%20pod/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peak Northwest podcast</a>, we’re heading south for a few days in Ashland, where we explored the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/08/genre-bending-yellow-face-blends-comedy-identity-and-history-at-oregon-shakespeare-festival.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oregon Shakespeare Festival</a>, wandered through downtown, tried some unusual food and found a few <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/we-braved-ashlands-macbeth-themed-escape-room-heres-how-it-went.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">unexpected ways</a> to experience the city.
I’m joined by two of my coworkers, retail reporter Veronica Nocera and visual journalist Allison Barr. The three of us recently took a newsroom road trip from Portland to Ashland, making a few stops along the way and spending several days exploring the area.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
<ul>
 <li>What it’s like experiencing the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a larger trip, rather than traveling to Ashland just for a show.</li>
 <li>Some of our <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/09/this-enchanting-ashland-cocktail-bar-brings-shakespeares-fairy-forest-to-life.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">favorite restaurants</a>, businesses and unexpected finds in downtown Ashland.</li>
 <li>What to do in Ashland between Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows, including some unusual ways to explore the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2026/09/ashland-walking-tour-celebrates-playwrights-with-locally-made-plaques.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">playwright’s connection</a> to the city.</li>
</ul>
 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Planning an Ashland trip? Here's what to do beyond the Shakespeare Festival

<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2026/09/fall-is-coming-to-oregon-heres-what-were-most-excited-about.html">Fall is one of the best times</a> to head into Oregon’s forests, and for <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2022/12/how-to-hunt-for-mushrooms-on-the-oregon-coast-peak-northwest-video.html">mushroom hunters</a>, it also marks the start of matsutake season. These fragrant, highly prized mushrooms can be found in forests across the state, but finding them takes some knowledge, patience and plenty of walking.
On this week’s episode of the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/pnw%20pod/">Peak Northwest podcast</a>, we’re heading into the forest to learn more about one of Oregon’s most sought-after wild mushrooms.
Joining me is Jess Liotta, an independent <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2025/11/chanterelle-mushroom-foraging-for-beginners-peak-northwest-podcast.html">mushroom forager</a> and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. We’ve talked about chanterelles and morels on the podcast before, but this time we’re diving into matsutakes, from where they grow to how to identify them and what to do with them once you get home.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
<ul>
 <li>What exactly a matsutake mushroom is and what makes it different from other Oregon mushrooms.</li>
 <li>Where matsutakes typically grow, including the types of forests and regions where you’re most likely to find them.</li>
 <li>What to look for when searching for matsutakes and how to distinguish them from other species.</li>
 <li>Jess’ favorite ways to cook and eat matsutakes, plus the flavors and foods that pair well with them.</li>
</ul> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Fall is one of the best times to head into Oregon’s forests, and for mushroom hunters, it also marks the start of matsutake season. These fragrant, highly prized mushrooms can be found in forests across the state, but finding them takes some knowledge, patience and plenty of walking. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading into the forest to learn more about one of Oregon’s most sought-after wild mushrooms. Joining me is Jess Liotta, an independent mushroom forager and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. We’ve talked about chanterelles and morels on the podcast before, but this time we’re diving into matsutakes, from where they grow to how to identify them and what to do with them once you get home. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What exactly a matsutake mushroom is and what makes it different from other Oregon mushrooms. Where matsutakes typically grow, including the types of forests and regions where you’re most likely to find them. What to look for when searching for matsutakes and how to distinguish them from other species. Jess’ favorite ways to cook and eat matsutakes, plus the flavors and foods that pair well with them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

<a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2026/09/fall-is-coming-to-oregon-heres-what-were-most-excited-about.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fall is one of the best times</a> to head into Oregon’s forests, and for <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2022/12/how-to-hunt-for-mushrooms-on-the-oregon-coast-peak-northwest-video.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">mushroom hunters</a>, it also marks the start of matsutake season. These fragrant, highly prized mushrooms can be found in forests across the state, but finding them takes some knowledge, patience and plenty of walking.
On this week’s episode of the <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/topic/pnw%20pod/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peak Northwest podcast</a>, we’re heading into the forest to learn more about one of Oregon’s most sought-after wild mushrooms.
Joining me is Jess Liotta, an independent <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2025/11/chanterelle-mushroom-foraging-for-beginners-peak-northwest-podcast.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">mushroom forager</a> and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. We’ve talked about chanterelles and morels on the podcast before, but this time we’re diving into matsutakes, from where they grow to how to identify them and what to do with them once you get home.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
<ul>
 <li>What exactly a matsutake mushroom is and what makes it different from other Oregon mushrooms.</li>
 <li>Where matsutakes typically grow, including the types of forests and regions where you’re most likely to find them.</li>
 <li>What to look for when searching for matsutakes and how to distinguish them from other species.</li>
 <li>Jess’ favorite ways to cook and eat matsutakes, plus the flavors and foods that pair well with them.</li>
</ul> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The fragrant, highly prized mushroom hiding in Oregon’s forests right now — and how to find it

Peak Northwest will take you to some of the most beautiful and interesting destinations in our region. Meet your guides, Jamie Hale and Jim Ryan. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Peak Northwest will take you to some of the most beautiful and interesting destinations in our region. Meet your guides, Jamie Hale and Jim Ryan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peak Northwest will take you to some of the most beautiful and interesting destinations in our region. Meet your guides, Jamie Hale and Jim Ryan. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Coming Soon: Peak Northwest

Hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

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