6 Romantic Small Towns In Washington For A 3-Day Weekend
Since Washington is known as the Evergreen State, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that this Pacific Northwest state has plenty of special destinations that make for the perfect romantic getaway. How can one not fall in love with a vibrant and lush rainforest with scenery that looks like it emerged directly from a storybook? Or, if that’s not the right spot, there’s one of the Northwest’s most buzzy and beautiful wine country regions. And yes, Washington even has enchanting islands where all the cares of the world get washed away as loving couples spot some magnificent orcas swimming by. Washington may be famous for the cool weather at the coast, but this state really knows how to ignite the warm fuzzies inside. With this in mind, let’s see why these six romantic small towns in Washington make great picks for a three-day weekend.
Neah Bay
At the very northwesternmost corner of Washington and the overall mainland United States lies Neah Bay, a coastal town with vibrant indigenous culture and dramatically verdant landscapes. In town, visitors can stop at the Makah Cultural & Research Center to peruse the collection of the Makah Museum, check out the centuries-old artifacts recovered from the Ozette Archaeological Site, and learn about ongoing efforts to preserve the Makah language. From the main village, it’s a scenic drive out to Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the Olympic Peninsula where lush rainforest drops to the coast where the Salish Sea meets the larger Pacific Ocean.
Heading south from Cape Flattery, travelers will encounter some spectacular and pristine beaches. In particular, Hobuck Beach is a perfectly pleasant stretch of shore for surfing, birdwatching, and camping, while Shi Shi Beach has an amazingly beautiful patch of temperate rainforest that runs into the rugged Pacific Coast. For some more quality time at the beach to share with a special someone, there’s Hobuck Beach Resort, which has cozy cabins and full RV hookup sites located mere steps away from the sea.
Friday Harbor
With a name like Friday Harbor, this maritime town on San Juan Island is made for relaxing and romantic weekend getaways. San Juan Island is world-renowned for top-notch whalewatching, and travelers have several enticing options to get out and spot local residents like humpback whales, gray whales, and orcas. More specifically, San Juan Outfitters offers exciting kayak tours, while San Juan Excursions does whale watch cruises on a 65-foot motor yacht, Odyssey. Even from land, it’s possible to spot whales and other local wildlife (like eagles) at San Juan Island National Historical Park at the south end of the island, as well as the incredibly beautiful Lime Kiln Point State Park on the island’s west end.
When one is looking for the right place to host a romantic couple’s retreat on San Juan Island, one can look no further than Snug Harbor Resort. This waterfront boutique resort has spacious suites and cabins with stunning forest and sea views, along with an on-site marina with boat slips available for guests who really want to come sail away.
Walla Walla
Just above the Oregon border is the Washington town of Walla Walla, a dynamic and tasteful wine country outpost where beautiful vineyards grow and nurture some of the state’s sweetest treasures. In Walla Walla’s historic downtown, visitors will encounter a central core of tasting rooms that make for a satisfying evening wine crawl. For instance, Dossier Wine Collective has a snazzy tasting room serving highly regarded reds, whites, and rosés, and the nearby Moonbase Cellars has a fun and convenient tasting room to try their lineup of award-winning local wines.
For anyone hoping to fully experience the land where the wine is made, they can head out to Patterson Cellars to tour their winery and try their selection of New World-style wines, and to Pepper Bridge Winery for sustainable estate-grown Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, and Sauvignon Blancs. Then, to complete the perfect wine country weekend, couples can do a romantic stay at Yellowhawk, an 84-acre boutique resort set on a working winery that just so happens to be Walla Walla’s only dedicated sparkling winery. (Yes, they make great sparkling wines here. Cheers!)
Snoqualmie Pass
Perched high in the Cascades of Central Washington is Snoqualmie Pass, a solid choice for couples whose visions of romantic paradise involve a snowy winter wonderland. The main attraction here is The Summit at Snoqualmie, the closest ski resort to Seattle, with 65 trails across 1,994 acres that experience an average of 239 inches in annual snowfall. Also in the area is Alpental Ski Resort, an even more daring ski area with 24 trails across 825 acres offering up to 2,280 feet in vertical. Even for those who aren’t into skiing or snowboarding, they can visit Gold Creek Sno-Park for a designated snow play area and some 23 miles of snowmobile trails, and to Kachess Sno-Park for another 23 miles of trails for motorized and non-motorized recreation.
Nearby, guests can find refuge and a restful environment at Silver Ridge Ranch. Not only does this ranch offer campsites, but also deluxe glamping tents and lodge rooms, along with numerous additional creature comforts. Additionally, they provide snowmobile rentals through a trusted local partner.
Bainbridge Island
Just a short ferry ride away from Seattle lies Bainbridge Island, a pretty Puget Sound village that combines tranquil small-town vibes with big-city sophistication. At the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, folks can see a variety of works by talented local artists and find all sorts of special souvenirs (including jewelry, apparel, and home decor) at the museum store. Beyond the central village, visitors can go to Rolling Bay Winery and try their hand-crafted wines made from some of Washington’s oldest grapevines, and to Eleven Winery for a welcoming and relaxing environment to try their tasty, award-winning wines.
When it’s time to do a romantic date night, it’s hard to think of a better place than Bainbridge Bistro, a lovely local restaurant featuring locally sourced seafood, fresh artisan pasta, craft cocktails, and a great intimate setting. And to cap off the day, folks can spend the night at The Eagle Harbor Inn, a centrally located boutique hotel near downtown’s fine boutiques, galleries, and eateries, and one with cozy and comfy guest rooms that evoke the uniquely romantic spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
Westport
Westport stands tall on Washington’s Pacific Coast, around 71 miles west of Olympia, and it’s a small town with a whole lot of enchanting coastal charm. Grays Harbor Lighthouse is Washington’s tallest operating lighthouse (at 107 feet tall), and it sports spectacular 360-degree views of the ocean and the Grays Harbor bay. From the lighthouse, it’s an easy stroll to the beaches of Westport Light State Park, a quiet refuge that’s ideal for surfing, surf fishing, birdwatching, and hiking. And for couples who like the idea of a relaxing journey at sea, they can pop over to Westport Marina and do a scenic harbor cruise or a longer fishing excursion with Captain & Crew Charters.
A little farther south, Twin Harbors State Park has serene grassy sand dunes and driftwood-adorned beaches that are picture-perfect for easy beach walks, carefree “hunting” for sanddollars, and other fun activities like kite-flying and sandcastle-building. And a short drive south from Twin Harbors, folks can check into Breakwater Resort, an oceanfront oasis with a cool collection of cozy cottages and suites that make a great “home away from home.”
Fall In Love With These Uniquely Romantic Washington Towns
With its wealth of incredible landscapes and soothing seascapes, Washington has plenty of enticing options for romantic getaways. Out in Eastern Washington, Walla Walla is a bold and flavorful wine country town full of rolling vineyards and vivacious varietals. At the Salish Sea, Friday Harbor makes it easy to sail away to an enchanting place where the whales swim free. And on the coast, Westport is a relaxing beach town that’s perfect for chilling out and finding romantic moments on its endless sandy shores. With so many possibilities for romantic weekend trips, it might be hard for couples to limit themselves to just one weekend trip to the Evergreen State.
