10 Prettiest Small Towns In The Pacific Northwest
It's tough to nail down the prettiest towns in the Pacific Northwest, given that the entire region is set against lush rainforests, dramatic coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, and scenic river valleys. In Oregon, Astoria sits where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, under a hilltop column decorated with scenes from local history. Washington's Bainbridge Island is a ferry ride out of Seattle with the forest and formal gardens of the Bloedel Reserve waiting at the other end, and Winthrop plays the Old West straight on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. Meanwhile, Leavenworth has gone all in on Bavaria, down to a museum full of nutcrackers. When it comes to the best-looking destinations in the Pacific Northwest, these towns make the top ten.
Ashland, Oregon
This town near Oregon's California border is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The beloved event is full of beauty, both in the form of the performances and in the recreated Tudor architecture that forms the stages for the festival. For visitors to Ashland arriving outside of festival season, the town is filled with natural beauty in Lithia Park, 93 acres of forested canyon along Ashland Creek that begins right at the edge of downtown. The park holds a century-old gazebo, a historic Italian-style fountain, a Japanese-style garden, and plenty of trails to hike. Be sure to pop in to nearby downtown Ashland to explore some of the shops and restaurants, and check out the Ashland Springs Hotel, which was built in 1925 and remains a local Art Deco landmark.
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria sits on the south bank of the Columbia River, near the point where the river meets the Pacific. Start a trip to Astoria at the Astoria Column, a century-old marker decorated with images of local history. It stands atop a hill, and the climb up its interior stairway is rewarded with a view of the river and the town, with wooded hills beyond. After appreciating the natural vista, take in some man-made beauty at the Flavel House Museum, a Queen Anne home from the 1880s which now houses beautifully preserved examples of Victorian art and furniture. Or, enjoy the beauty of one of the youngest art forms at the Oregon Film Museum, which has taken over a historic jailhouse and turned it into a living tribute to the role Oregon has played in iconic films like Maverick, Coraline, The Shining, Paint Your Wagon, Twilight, and roughly 400 more.
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Accessible from Seattle by ferry, Bainbridge Island is both an island and a city, meaning waterfront views as far as the eye can see, plus plenty of attractions and amenities. Start off a visit to Bainbridge Island at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, which showcases rotating displays of contemporary art and craft from artists of the Puget Sound region.
No visit to Bainbridge Island is complete without taking in the area's natural beauty, and one of the best places to do so is at the Bloedel Reserve, which spans 140 acres of forest, meadow, formal gardens, and marshland. Then, try a taste of Bainbridge Island in a literal way at Bainbridge Vineyards, a farm-based winery that grows its own grapes on the island and pours them in an outdoor wine garden set among the vines.
Corvallis, Oregon
The home of Oregon State University, many people have heard of Corvallis as a college town, without realizing how much of it is worth a slow walk. Visiting the seat of Benton County means an opportunity to explore Avery Park and Natural Area, which is home to a rose garden and a retired steam locomotive, plus horseshoe courts that host an annual regional competition.
Downtown Corvallis is a riverfront district on the Willamette River, full of independent shops and restaurants. Stop in at the Arts Center of Greater Corvallis to view some local art, or even take a class and create some for yourself. Then, take in a show at the Majestic Theatre, which has been a hub of live entertainment in Corvallis since 1913, and today hosts a variety of concerts and plays year-round.
Hood River, Oregon
The seat of Hood River County, the town of Hood River is surrounded by some of the finest natural scenery in all of Oregon, which is saying something. Visitors to Hood River will immediately notice the Hood River itself, which is beloved by windsurfers in particular, but also those who enjoy rafting and kiteboarding.
For a more terrestrial experience of Hood River, check out the Fruit Loop, a 35-mile drive through local fruit farms, with roughly 30 on-farm stands and cideries to stop at along the way, plus orchards and gentle rolling countryside the whole route. All that fruit can be put to other uses, too, as seen at the Cathedral Ridge Winery, which makes more than 30 different wines, some of which have won awards. Stop by for a tasting, to buy some wine, or for one of their regular art exhibitions.
Leavenworth, Washington
How do visitors to Washington State end up in Bavaria, Germany? Simple. They go to Leavenworth. This town may be located in the Pacific Northwest, but it's impossible to miss its famous, Bavarian-style architecture downtown. One of those Bavarian-style buildings is home to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, a family-friendly spot that houses one of the world's largest collections of nutcrackers.
Visitors to Leavenworth can also meet some four-legged locals at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, which is home to friendly reindeer and bunnies guests can pet and even feed. Afterward, check in for the night at the Abendblume Bed and Breakfast, which is styled as a traditional ski chalet and features lavishly decorated, European-style rooms and suites.
McMinnville, Oregon
The seat of Yamhill County, McMinnville is located in the Willamette Valley and sits in the heart of Oregon's wine country. Visit the local wineries like Coeur de Terre, or try a tasting at the Acorn to Oak Wine Experience, which partners with multiple local vineyards, to appreciate the famous Pinot Noir and other varieties that the area produces. Not especially interested in wine? Not a problem. Explore downtown McMinnville, which includes a cozy historic Main Street filled with shops and restaurants. Downtown attractions include the Thursday farmer's market, and the UFO Festival held every May since 2000, built around a famous 1950 sighting just outside town and headquartered at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon.
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is the county seat of Washington's Jefferson County, and its only incorporated city. It sits on the Quimper Peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water. A couple of miles north of downtown, at the edge of Fort Worden State Park, stands one of the area's best-known landmarks, the Point Wilson Lighthouse, whose current octagonal tower was completed in 1914 and opens for tours on weekend afternoons in the warmer months.
Back in town, take a wander through Chetzemoka Park, which has been the jewel of the local park system since 1904, with flower gardens featuring heritage rhododendrons and rose bushes. Then, have a glass of wine from a Washington State vineyard at Siren's Pub, a gastropub with water views and a seafood-heavy menu with oysters and steamed clams among the draws.
Winthrop, Washington
This tiny town in the Methow Valley, on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, is a slice of the Old West in Washington State. Visitors can start at to the Shafer Historical Museum, which holds both indoor and outdoor exhibits that preserve and recreate Winthrop's past. Check out the antique cars or the historic sawmill.
Staying overnight in Winthrop can mean checking in to the Hotel Rio Vista, a family-owned downtown hotel with an Old West motif, located within walking distance of Winthrop's favorite shops and restaurants. Be sure to take the time to explore Pearrygin Lake State Park, a couple of miles up the road, where summer brings swimming and lakeside camping, and winter turns the grounds over to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Woodinville, Washington
Outside of Seattle and east of Bothell lies Woodinville, which just might be the prettiest town in the Greater Seattle area. Woodinville is famous for its wineries and tasting rooms, with local favorites including Airfield Estates, whose fourth-generation family vineyard sits on a former World War Two pilot training field in the Yakima Valley, and Chateau Ste. Michelle, which has poured wine under its own label since 1967 and moved into its French-style chateau in 1976.
Other top sights in Woodinville include a visit to the Willows Lodge, a hotel and resort that also offers a spa and several restaurants at different levels of formality. Or, for a relaxed summer evening, check out Wilmot Gateway Park, which hosts free outdoor concerts on Wednesday evenings in July.
Beauty Runs Deep in the PNW
Prettiness in the Pacific Northwest tends to come from the same few ingredients, arranged differently in each town. Water plays a large role, whether that means the Columbia at Astoria or the wind that funnels down the gorge at Hood River. Restored and borrowed architecture also helps set the stage. Ashland stages Shakespeare against recreated Tudor timber, and Leavenworth commits to Bavaria block by block, while Winthrop and Woodinville build their looks out of Old West boardwalks and working farmland instead.
