7 Coolest Washington Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025
Anchoring the northwestern corner of the contiguous United States, Washington State is perfect for keeping cool this summer. Why? With an abundance of chill ocean beaches, refreshing mountain lakes, stunning alpine wilderness, and quaint maritime villages, Washington offers plenty of lovely land and seascapes to beat the mid-year heat. And for an extra summertime treat, the Evergreen State even has a wine country town that knows how to stay cool in and out of the cellars.
For some more ideas on where to go to experience the ultimate Pacific Northwest summer escape, here are seven of the coolest Washington towns for a summer vacation in 2025.
Snoqualmie Pass
About 56 miles east of Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass is fairly close to the hustle and bustle of the metro region, yet the mountain scenery makes it feel a world away. During the winter, The Summit at Snoqualmie draws in adventurous skiers, but in summer it opens up some ten miles of trails for mountain biking. To the south of The Summit is Keechelus Lake, a perfect spot to fish for kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and burbot. In addition, Keechelus Lake allows boating, and the area has multiple hiking trails.
Speaking of hiking, Mount Margaret features a trail sporting steep paths, clever switchbacks, and panoramic views of the South Cascades. Also try Stampede Pass for a 31-mile trail through mountain meadows and forest for hiking, biking, and off-road vehicle rides. And a short drive away from all of this, you will find Cabin Creek Lodge for cozy, classic mountain lodge accommodations.
Oroville
Nestled on the shores of Osoyoos Lake by the United States-Canada border, Oroville is a town that may truly be as good as gold. After all, this town began to boom with the discovery of gold around 1892, and the Oroville Depot Museum offers a nice entry point to begin digging into Oroville’s rich history. For a more immersive historic experience, head out to Old Molson Ghost Town to tour this expansive outdoor museum chock-full of vintage mining equipment, well-preserved log cabins, and landmarks like the old schoolhouse.
Back in town, there’s plenty more to see and do at the lake, including boating, fishing, swimming, and paddling. (The town provides boat ramps at Veterans Memorial Park and Deep Bay Park, and both parks have sandy beaches for easy entry by foot.) There’s also Oroville Golf Club, which offers up to 18 holes of golf with gorgeous mountain views. For the coolest place to stay and play in Oroville, book a cabin at Veranda Beach on the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake.
Walla Walla
Situated near the southeastern corner of Washington, Walla Walla is fast emerging as the Pacific Northwest’s coolest new wine country region. Downtown has a compact yet robust assortment of winery tasting rooms, like those for Vital Wines, Spring Valley Vineyard, and Plumb Cellars. While in town, you might also want to check out the Kirkman House Museum to tour an 1886 Victorian manor full of period furnishings, as well as the Museum of Un-natural History for a remarkable presentation of Gerry Matthews’ sculpture art.
If you’d like to dive deeper into Walla Walla’s wine scene, reserve a tasting and go with a designated driver to experience the magic of Kinhaven Winery, Caprio Cellars, and Alton Wines. In addition, you can book a stay at Yellowhawk, a boutique resort with its own on-site winery that specializes in world-class sparkling wines.
Ashford
Sitting around 83 miles south of Seattle and right by the foot of Mount Rainier, Ashford is a tiny mountain town offering a wealth of great adventures. Since Ashford is only six miles from the Nisqually Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, head on over to hike the park’s epic trails, climb to the 14,410-foot peak of this stratovolcano, and discover special gems like the subalpine Lake George and the columnar lava cliffs near the headwaters of the Puyallup River.
Beyond the national park, Ashford has even more mountain-high treasures awaiting your discovery. The nearby Gifford Pinchot National Forest has plenty more to see and do, including hiking the High Rock Trail and reaching the beautiful waterfalls at Big Creek Falls. To the west of town, Alder Lake has a more easygoing waterfront park that’s great for swimming, paddling, boating, and fishing. Back in town, check into the Wellspring Spa and Woodland Retreat, relax in your own woodsy cabin, and treat yourself to some fine in-house spa treatments.
Seabrook
About 80 miles west of Olympia, Seabrook is a carefully master-planned oceanfront community that can make quite a pleasant surprise addition to your summer plans. When in town, you have easily walkable access to Seabrook Beach, a clean and tidy expanse of white sand beach that can be quite fun for the whole family. If you’re up to explore more of Washington’s Pacific shores, Pacific Beach State Park has another lovely stretch of white sand beach and a patch of coastal wetlands that’s good for wildlife watching. Meanwhile, to the south of town, Mocrocks Beach has some pristine and remote-feeling shores with prime conditions for surfing in the water and clam-digging at the shore.
Moving inland, Seabrook has an extensive and easily navigable network of trails for hiking and biking, along with sporting facilities like horseshoe pits, tennis and pickleball courts, and bocce ball courts. Seabrook also offers a wide selection of vacation rental units to accommodate however big or small of a group you will be traveling with.
Port Townsend
Perched on the northeastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend is a unique maritime village that comes across as effortlessly cool. Not only is Port Townsend a fairly short drive away from the magnificent mountains and temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park, but Port Townsend also has some of its own hidden treasures. Go to Fort Worden Historical State Park to tour a turn-of-the-20th-century complete with Victorian homes and historic gun batteries, and stay to roam the park’s beaches and paddle around Point Wilson. (On a good day, you might spot wildlife like sea otters, sea lions, and orcas!)
For even more amazing adventures, go downtown to wander through the lush gardens of Chetzemoka Park, spot art inside a historic courthouse and jail at the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum of Art + History, and set sail on a vintage catamaran with Northwest Maritime. When it’s finally time to call it a day, spend the night at The Bishop Hotel, an independently-owned all-suite boutique property with special amenities like on-site gardens and an organic wine bar and cafe.
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor may be the largest town on San Juan Island, yet it’s still a snug and cozy village with a large assortment of attractions and amenities. Hop over to The Whale Museum to learn more about the Salish Sea’s most famous residents, and do a whale watching tour with Western Prince to see these incredible creatures out in the wild. Discover a wide array of art from around the world at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, find cool contemporary gems by local artists at WaterWorks Gallery, and catch a show at San Juan Community Theatre.
To the south of town, there’s plenty more to experience at San Juan Island National Historic Park, including beautiful beaches, the Mount Finlayson hiking trail, and the Cattle Point Lighthouse that’s been guiding ships to safe harbor since 1935. Back in town, the Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites offer cozy, comfy, and eco-friendly rooms and suites along with a lavish gourmet breakfast every morning.
Stay Cool This Summer In These Refreshing Washington Towns
Washington State has a great variety of small towns that provide great escapes and cool vibes. Head up to Snoqualmie Pass for all sorts of fun on the mountain, and try some more explosively awesome alpine scenery at Ashford. Splash into the ocean and play at the beaches of Seabrook, and explore the many fascinating nooks and crannies of San Juan Island and Friday Harbor. Whether you’d like to soar to new heights in the Cascade Mountains or set sail at the Salish Sea, Washington is a very cool state to do a summer vacation.
