The journal
Notes from life in the valley.
Short essays on weekends, schools, and towns from someone who works here every day. Tim Bell writes the journal between town tours and open houses, and it is where the guide's longer stories live.
2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Tim Bell
A local's weekend on the Upper Rogue: Butte Creek Falls to Shady Cove
The stretch of the Rogue that runs past Eagle Point is quieter than the famous rafting run downstream, and it is where locals go to reset. Here is the loop I recommend to newcomers.
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2026-09-30 · 5 min read · Tim Bell
What newcomers actually ask when they tour schools here
School questions come up on almost every relocation tour I run. Here are the ones that matter most, and how the valley's districts break down.
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2026-09-30 · 5 min read · Tim Bell
An afternoon in Jacksonville: history, wine, and the Britt Bowl
The historic district is small enough to do properly in one afternoon, if you do it in the right order. Here is my standing route.
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What should the journal cover next?
The journal is a living doc: Tim writes it in response to the questions families ask on tours. If there is a town, a school, or a weekend you want to see covered, tell him.
Ideas welcome
Suggest a journal topic.