6 Best Downtowns In Washington
Washington is an imaginative state with some of the US's most visually stunning downtowns, and we're not talking about Seattle, though you can easily access many from the Emerald City. Port Townsend springs to mind, hands down the most stunning seaport laden with Victorian architecture and easy access via the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, so you can also visit the first town on the list.
Head inland to Leavenworth via the Empire Builder line, connecting Seattle to Chicago daily with a stop at the Leavenworth Icicle Amtrak Station. Whether it's a road trip or a train ride, you'll experience the mountainous scenery of Washington State, all while looking forward to the Alpine Bavarian Village under the holiday glow through February, from beer gardens to sledding along Main.
Edmonds
Just north of Seattle, Edmonds retains the retro charm of a once-booming mill town alongside modern art venues, making for a well-rounded weekend or a day trip until sunset. The thriving community grew from Brackett’s Landing North, its oldest site, providing trails and picnic space next to the sandy beach and the ferry departure to Kingston via Puget Sound. The 12-stop "Stages of History" tour explores public art and sites like the Edmonds Historical Museum in a 1910 Carnegie Library.
Life revolves around the waterfront district, with distant views of the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound to the west. The iconic pier extends a ways from the sandy beach near all the seafood restaurants. Since the '60s, the vibrant marina has lured recreational boaters, while kids and pets play at the adjacent park with picnic space, an off-leash area, and a sandy beach. Just north, you explore the Stamm Overlook Park's diverse flora and watch the sunset over Whidbey Island with your pup.
Friday Harbor
Built as a maritime, military, and agricultural center for the San Juans, this thriving seaport is a departure point for popular whale-watching and kayaking tours around the channel, plus free ferry access to its sister islands in the Salish Sea. Blending remote vibes with a slower-paced yet vibrant lifestyle, the enchanting historic district is a great place to start on a stroll along the waterfront. Steps from the landing and down Spring Street, grab a coffee from Griffin Bay Bookstore & Cafe.
Everything is within a walk, like the Whale Museum in a 1892 building or the San Juan Historical Museum, depicting the local heyday. From toys to ice cream and boutiques, you'll find locally sourced fare and island libations in place of fast-food chains. The modern San Juan Islands Museum of Art offers rotating visual art exhibits and the annual Artists' Registry Show featuring regional artists until Feb 23. In addition to shuttles and a trolley around the island, you can rent a bike or a moped in town.
Leavenworth
Transformed in the 1960s from a struggling timber town into a PNW hotspot, Leavenworth greets you with unrivaled charisma on the edge of Wenatchee National Forest in the Cascade Mountains. With an abundance of snow and fewer crowds, now is the perfect time to plan your magical escape inside a snow globe. Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, Bavarian Alpine Village shines bright, with shops and restaurants illuminated by over half a million lights through the last day of February.
Beyond exploring the Bavarian-themed Front Street, one of the state's most distinct main strips, you'll come across dozens of Alpine-style buildings between bakeries, breweries, and beer gardens like the chalet-style Bavarian Lodge. From the Greater Leavenworth Museum at the city hall to the Nutcracker Museum, housing over 6,000 nutcrackers from over 40 countries, you can go sledding at Front Street Park and soak in the views of the snowy Cascades along the Wenatchee River's trails.
Port Townsend
Boasting a Victorian-era downtown, this historic seaport city is praised for the striking profile at the tip of the Quimper Peninsula, with pockets of rain forest scattered about and the North Cascades view on a clear day. Surrounded by the coastal beauty of the greater Olympic Peninsula, you can peel back layers of scenery, from the coastal landmarks and beachfront at the Fort Worden Historical State Park to elevated city views on a hike and cruising by with a cacophony of seagulls overhead.
From the 1889 Starrett House Inn, a notable, private Queen Anne-style residence, to the Museum of Art + History inside the 1892 City Hall, you can explore downtown and uptown on foot. Home to artists and craftspeople drawn by the area's beauty, historic lodgings are integral, such as the elegant Palace Hotel, offering retro charm in a Victorian brick building from 1889, steps from the bayfront. Kah Tai provides a natural extension for the public, with trails, wetlands, and picnic areas along the lagoon.
Poulsbo
The cozy town in the heart of the Kitsap Peninsula took fate in its reins, earning the distinction of "Little Norway" upon capitalizing on its colorful heritage and stunning vistas that reminded first settlers of home. Founded in the 1880s along the fjord-like Puget Sound, Historical Poulsbo draws thousands to explore in a friendly, walkable, Norwegian setting, tasting local treats between cultural landmarks like the tiny, nautical-themed Poulsbo Maritime Museum and marine life at the SEA Discovery Center.
From Red Plantation for antique furniture to bathtime pleasures and books at Away with Words, each stop is unique along the historic Front Street, like creative donuts at the Sluys Poulsbo Bakery. Grab a coffee from this family-run standby since 1966 to stroll along the Liberty Bay, watching boats, seagulls, and the sunset. In addition to lodging in the heart of the historic district at Hotel Scandi, you can join Norwegian pancake breakfasts on the first of each month and the second Saturday Artwalks.
Walla Walla
Walawála Plaza is outfitted with public seating to relax and people watch at the intersection of Main and First Ave, the focal point of downtown dining and shopping on the historic gathering grounds of the Cayuse and Walla Walla people, reflecting this significant connection through design and public art. In addition to the social aspects with restaurants and art galleries, Pioneer Park (est. 1902) is a place to retreat in nature with an aviary, a duck pond, ball fields, and picturesque walking paths.
Alongside historic landmarks that reflect the 19th-century pioneer hub and mission site, you can sift through the Antique Mall for unique treasures. From the Victorian-era Kirkman House Museum to tours at the Seven Hills Winery, established on the site of a 1904 woodworking mill, Walla Walla's tasting rooms downtown source straight from the highly acclaimed Walla Walla Valley and Washington wine country. Other tasting options include the Beer Parlor and the Thief Fine Wine & Beer.
Like faces, downtowns express the overall mood through vibe and the extent of friendly demeanor in walkability and curated venues that reflect local lifestyles. All as one, these six offer walkable districts, modern lodgings, and local charm. More than that, these are some of the most sought-after small towns in the PNW, with views of the rugged region.
Friday Harbor is a kid- and dog-loving island town on San Juan Island, while Poulsbo delivers Norwegian-style attractions along the fjord under 1.5 hours east of Seattle, including a ferry. Walla Walla is an immersive wine destination, and those seeking a quick escape won't be remiss in the first town's historic waterfront front-row seats of the distant Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound.
