6 Prettiest Small Towns In The Pacific Northwest

Scattered throughout the immense region, some of the prettiest towns are island destinations in Washington. Encompassing dreamlike scenery of turquoise surf, exposed cliffs, and striking sunsets, Manzanita embodies Oregon's rugged coastline and soft-sanded beaches in one of the state's most photographed towns. Idaho entrances visitors with frigid alpine lakes and spearing mountains. Whether you're skiing near Sandpoint, Idaho, or exploring the national park behind Port Angeles, Washington, each bursts with the distinctive flavors of the region. The area's allure is amplified by remote vibes yet easy access, particularly in these six prettiest towns in the Pacific Northwest, which draw visitors year-round.

Anacortes, Washington

Rightfully, the crown jewel on Fidalgo Island's northern tip, Anacortes draws visitors with an island blend of fresh-caught seafood and coastal vibes. Many visit during the annual Tulip Festival in the nearby Skagit Valley, accessible via highway. Cap Sante Park tips the island's hook in town with wildlife trails and elevated vistas. Kiwanis Waterfront Park has a pretty beach to relax while watching the sails. With a beautiful marina and a variety of stays, it is also a jet set to the San Juans from the Washington State Ferry Terminal.

Boasting beautiful heritage buildings, there's something for everyone, like eclectic shops, even a castle, and stunning museums like the spectacular Maritime Heritage Center housed in a rare, giant 1939 steamboat. Departing from the terminal at First Avenue hop across to Guemes Mountain Trailhead, among other trails on the island overhead, and check out this pretty town from the other side. In addition to the summertime market, Anacortes celebrates wine and art waterfront during the Anacortes Arts Festival or Anacortes Uncorked.

Bainbridge Island, Washington

Accessible via highway from the Kitsap Peninsula or a 35-minute ferry from Seattle, this lovely small city is a pretty blend of natural beauty and history, often overlapping. Though home to wineries, public beaches, and charming hotels, the remote vibe enhances its mystic appeal, whether indulging or exploring. Starting at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art near the ferry terminal, catch the Seattle skyline from Rockaway Beach Park. Fort Ward Park occupies a former military base with an underwater scuba park and a paved beachfront trail.

It is easy to feel like the only inhabitant for whom the island puts on a magic show, with the most unique sights at Bloedel Reserve, 150 tree-filled nature acres of forests, gardens, and a reflection pool. Blakely Harbor Park features graffiti on portions of an old mill, while Fay Bainbridge Park offers east-facing beachfront views of the Cascades across the Puget Sound, picnic shelters, a kayak launch, and campsites. After a moderate hike through the dense fir and cedar of Grand Forest West, unwind downtown between bookstores, cafes, and boutiques.

Manzanita, Oregon

Encompassing dreamlike scenery of turquoise surf beating exposed cliffs, Manzanita is the third-most photographed in all of Oregon; it shines like a squeaky clean sand dollar along these shores. Boasting seven pristine miles of white-sand beaches, rentals are readily available to step into the striking sunsets over the hazy horizons. Descending from Neahkahnie Mountain to the sheltered Nehalem Bay, explore the state park beach beneath this large coastal headland, other capes, and beautiful wave action.

Whether you're among the few beachgoers along the picture-perfect sands, ringing the bay in a kayak, or paddleboarding, there's also biking and horseback riding with rentals in town. The bay offers excellent crabbing and clam digging at low tide, plus fishing for Chinook salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead trout. After a hike through spruce and pines at the backdoor, the walkable downtown with nautically named streets welcomes you in the pine- and sea-breeze-infused scents for boutique shopping, seafood, and a seasonal farmers market.

Port Angeles, Washington

This hip and historic city tips the central coast of the Olympic Peninsula. There's plenty pretty right here, before diving into the million acres of wilderness, including the Hurricane Ridge and the nearby wonder of the glacial Lake Crescent, once carved and filled by clear-water views to almost 60 feet deep. Between the sea and the mountains covered in old-growth forests, shop, view local art, and dine on fresh-from-the-sea cuisine, plus craft drinks. The aptly named Crown Park offers easy views over your next stop upon descent.

Ediz Hook juts into the Pacific like a golf club, offering serene wildlife and mountain views along a rock-strewn beach, the Harborview Park, perfect to explore in the breeze with your dog. Starting at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, bike, hike, paddle in turquoise waters, or fish for wild salmon in the rushing rivers. Ending the day along the pier downtown, it also connects to the 28-mile Olympic Discovery Trail for a scenic hike or bike ride. With ferry access to Victoria, BC, adventures are truly boundless.

Sandpoint, Idaho

Not so much a hidden gem, Lake Pend Oreille is the crown jewel of northern Idaho. Sandpoint prettifies the lake's curved northwestern edge, at the mouth of the Pend Oreille River. Take the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail, winding around the bay to the City Beach Park. This picturesque lakefront offers laid-back vibes along a sandy stretch caressed by placid waters. Between the sparkling waters and mountains, there's pretty scenery to chase in every season, like from Mickinnick Trail Head 13, come colorful fall.

Towering above this pretty town, Schweitzer Mountain is an alpine resort with thrilling ski terrain, springtime wildflowers, and good vibes year-round. A prominent landmark, the Long Bridge/Sandpoint Bay Bridge is the only highway bridge spanning the state's largest lake to Sagle, with the best views from the highway-adjacent dog beach or Third Avenue Pier Park. Sandpoint downtown is a foodie's dream, home to the stately MickDuff's Brewing Company that could pass for a museum or government building.

Seaside, Oregon

Just 90 minutes from Portland, this north coast town is often overlooked for Cannon Beach. Between the two, Ecola State Park offers scenic views of the Haystack Rock. Seaside is alluring, with its own bustle, like an intimate aquarium where you can feed seals. The downtown, spliced by the Necanicum River, is filled with nostalgia and amusements. Take the 1.5-mile promenade on foot or bike, then dive into Broadway Street. The main beach is flat and gorgeous for refreshing swims, razor clam digs, and strolls along miles of sand. Seaside masterfully blends its own flavor into nature and historic landmarks as if painted right into spectacular ocean views, like Seaside Pipe, the Lewis & Clark Salt Works, and Painted Rock Beach. Just north, Necanicum Estuary Natural History Park is full of wildlife and magnificent natural beauty to while away an afternoon until sunset.

Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there's also a ton of flavor in each pretty small town. Each seamlessly blends the line between natural beauty and culture, like the historic vibe on Bainbridge Island and the artsy spirit of Seaside. These six prettiest small towns in the Pacific Northwest get their appeal from natural surroundings, sharing the good vibes with visitors downtown, filled with hospitality, nostalgia, and amusements. Because, frankly, a pretty face comes off as vain without a grateful heart with its own beat.