6 Playfully Peculiar Towns In Washington
While Washington State’s best-known attractions draw the crowds, an increasing number of tourists are forgoing attractions like Seattle’s Space Needle and Mount Rainier in favor of less-crowded, often quirky, small-town destinations. The best of these often overlooked places to visit present the kind of playful spirit you simply can’t duplicate, featuring the kind of unusual landmarks and weird cultural experiences that make a Pacific Northwest adventure so unforgettable.
From Bavarian villages to Wild West outposts and Hollywood film locations, these six communities have embraced their off-the-wall identities with enthusiasm. To find out more about these authentic yet sometimes absurd experiences, have a read of this list of six playfully peculiar towns in Washington worth visiting in 2025.
Leavenworth
Located in the scenic Cascade Mountains of central Washington, Leavenworth was a once-struggling logging town that has transformed itself into a fun alpine-themed wonderland akin to Helen, Georgia (only with bigger mountains). Like Helen, the town’s quirky decision to reimagine itself as a Bavarian alpine village draws countless visitors to its downtown core where every building feels as if it has been transplanted from Germany.
Among its most peculiar attractions is the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, a fun place to visit with over 9,000 nutcrackers from 60 countries, including some from the Stone Age. Oktoberfest is of course a great time to visit as the town’s streets fill with lederhosen-clad revelers enjoying authentic German beer and bratwurst at venues like München Haus. The Christmas season is also celebrated here, with countless decorations set up for the Village of Lights festival.
Feeling adventurous? Try river rafting down the Wenatchee River with Osprey Rafting. If here in winter, 120 miles of cross-country ski trails are available and regularly groomed (Osprey also rent skis). For accommodations, the Posthotel provides plenty of romantic luxury with saltwater hydrotherapy pools and steam baths, while the 4-star Bavarian Lodge provides traditional alpine-style rooms with mountain views and year-round heated pools.
Roslyn
Roslyn gained international fame as the stand-in for Cicely, Alaska, in the 1990s Emmy-winning television series, Northern Exposure. For TV buffs, the Roslyn Cafe mural that appeared in Northern Exposure’s opening sequence still graces the downtown core and is the perfect selfie spot, while the Roslyn Museum features displays related to the show, along with maps for those wanting to partake in a self-guided tour of the show’s hot spots.
Cicely's Gift Shop is another iconic Roslyn location with a strong connection to the hit TV series. Still owned by a local who made many appearances as an extra in the show, this must-visit store features Northern Exposure memorabilia and collectibles. The town also hosts a dedicated event celebrating the show. Called Moosefest, which draws diehard fans from across the USA.
Other big draws include the town’s well-preserved late-19th-century architecture, as well as the unique Roslyn Cemetery. Here, ethnically segregated sections serve as unique cemeteries-within-a-cemetery and tell the story of the immigrant miners who built this community. Before you leave town, grab a beer at The Brick Saloon Bar. Established in 1889, it’s Washington's oldest continuously operating tavern.
Winthrop
When State Highway 20 opened, the residents of Winthrop decided to greet the anticipated tourist traffic with a dramatic makeover. Following Leavenworth's successful example, they hired the same architect to transform the entire downtown into an 1890s Wild West frontier town, complete with wooden boardwalks, false-front buildings, and hitching posts for horses. A strict "Westernization" architectural theme was also enforced throughout downtown.
Three Fingered Jack's Saloon is one of the most interesting spots to visit. Named after a local butcher who lost digits on the job, it holds the title of Washington's oldest legal saloon and serves hearty American fare while maintaining a frontier atmosphere. The Winthrop Emporium is another town staple and stocks everything from milk to fishing poles and souvenirs, as well as a first-rate coffee counter.
For outdoor fun, the town and its surrounds boast many hiking trails, as well as those for mountain biking and horseback riding. Easy trails include the Patterson Lake Trail and Black Bear Tail, while the Goshawk Trail is ideal for experienced hikers. When the snow falls, Winthrop is popular for cross-country skiing with one of the most extensive groomed trail networks in North America.
Concrete
Featuring one of the least romantic (yet definitely peculiar) place names in Washington, the town of Concrete wears its industrial heritage proudly. Now a popular gateway to North Cascades National Park, it earned its name from two massive cement plants that dominated the local economy from the early 1900s until 1969. But it's the town's peculiar landmarks and Hollywood connection that makes it truly unique.
It's impossible to miss the ruins of the Washington Portland Cement Company on the shores of Lake Shannon. Known locally as Devil's Tower, these huge concrete silos have become a magnet for graffiti artists, photographers, and ghost hunters who have reported paranormal activity at the site. While technically closed to the public for safety reasons, the haunting industrial ruins remain one of the area's most photographed landmarks. The silos and Concrete High School served as backdrops for the 1993 film, This Boy's Life, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
Another town highlight is the Henry Thompson Bridge, completed in 1918 and once the world’s longest single-span reinforced concrete bridge. You can learn more about the bridge and the town's cement-making history at the Concrete Heritage Museum. The North Cascades Vintage Aircraft Museum in Concrete is also worth a visit for its collection of old aircraft and artefacts.
Westport
Westport’s longstanding status as a working fishing village has been supplemented in recent years by its new standing as a center of surfing culture. Its popularity with wave riders from Seattle and Portland has earned it the title of "Pacific Northwest Surf City," and its three distinct surf breaks that cater to all skill levels. Beginner surfers should head to Westport Light State Park. Facing due west, the beach here picks up the most swell and is home to BigFoot Surf School, an ideal facility for those needing instruction.
Westport Light State Park is also where seasoned surfers can catch waves bouncing off the Westport Jetty. Other surfing spots include the Cove and the Groins, a series of five rock jetties protecting the marina. And don’t be shy about visiting in winter, as you’ll experience the most consistent waves during this season.
Westport Harbor Marina is the place to go if fishing’s your thing. Known as the "Salmon Capital of the World" in the 1950s, the town’s fishing fleet has since diversified into other species as well as sport fishing. Here, you can book thrilling deep-sea fishing adventures departing from the Westport Marina Charter Boat Basin. One of the best (and the oldest), Westport Charters has been around since 1955 and offers a variety of fishing excursions. Afterwards, grab some fresh seafood from Merino's Seafood Market (their fish and chips are a must) and wash it down with a pint from Blackbeard's Brewing Company.
Republic
If you’re into fossils, you’ve likely already heard of Republic. Located in the northeast corner of the state, close to the Canadian border, Republic sits atop an ancient lakebed containing some of North America's most significant post-dinosaur fossil finds. A visit to the Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site is a must for its unique public fossil digging program, a fascinating experience that allows amateur paleontologists to help hunt for 50-million-year-old fossil treasures.
The digging takes place at the Boot Hill fossil site, and best of all, you can keep some of what you find. The Ferry County Historical Museum is also worthy of a visit. In addition to its displays relating to the area's gold mining and lumber heritage, the building itself was built in 1911 and is of interest.
The Final Word
It’s an indisputable fact that Washington's playfully peculiar small towns are must-visit destinations when you’re in the Evergreen State. Whether it’s donning lederhosen in Leavenworth, hunting for relics in Republic, or catching waves in Westport, these communities have successfully transformed themselves into some of the quirkiest tourist destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever you enjoy doing, you’ll definitely want to include these six playfully peculiar towns in your Washington travel itinerary.
