8 Friendly Towns To Retire In Washington

To retire in Washington state is to give yourself the gift of community in small towns where everyday life can be active, social, and rewarding. From Lynden’s Northwest Washington Fair and hands-on classes at the Jansen Art Center to Sequim’s lavender weekends and walks along the Dungeness sand spit, there is no shortage of reasons to consider this coastal state in the Pacific Northwest. Residents can enjoy riverfront trails in Wenatchee, live music in Port Townsend, and scenic views in Gig Harbor. These eight towns combine community events, outdoor access, and cultural life.

Lynden

Lynden is home to the largest Dutch settlement in all of Washington State, as well as some of the largest raspberry producers in the country. In August, Lynden hosts the annual Northwest Washington Fair, a huge celebration of the area's agricultural heritage that invites attendees to participate in competitions, wholesome entertainment, and social events. You can even learn a thing or two about farming while you're at it.

The Jansen Art Center is another spot that fosters community connection and hands-on learning, with workshops and classes, as well as a gallery that displays works by local artists. And if you want to enjoy the expansive outdoors, Berthusen Park sits just a few miles northwest of town, with miles of trails for year-round recreation, including horseback riding.

Wenatchee

Located in pretty much the geographical center of the state, Wenatchee is perfectly positioned to be an explorer's paradise. One great place to appreciate the region's environmental diversity is Burch Mountain & Eagle Rock, a hike that offers unique scenery depending on the time of day and certainly the season. Spring brings wildflowers, while the fall colors of autumn are notoriously stunning. The Apple Capital Loop Trail is another great way to get out and explore. This paved trail along the Columbia River can be walked at your own pace or biked.

At the end of April, Wenatchee hosts their annual Apple Blossom Festival, which lasts throughout the week into May. This annual community celebration showcases the people, heritage, and industry that make this place so unique. The festival includes parades and activities ranging from golf tournaments, arts and crafts vendors, food stalls, live entertainment, and carnival games.

Sequim

Sequim rests within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, making it one of the driest towns in the state with about as much annual rainfall as Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the town is also near some of the wettest temperate rainforests in the United States. One of the biggest events of the year here is the Sequim Irrigation Festival. It's the longest-running festival in Washington state, and it celebrates the infrastructure that brought water to the arid region, enabling its fertile growth and prosperity. The three-day affair includes a parade, captivating performances, and showcases of local arts and crafts, as well as games and plenty of family-friendly activities.

Another important celebration is the Sequim Lavender Weekend, celebrating Sequim's thriving lavender industry. Every third weekend in July, you can enjoy lavender-themed activities like picnicking in lavender fields, picking lavender, and educational farm tours. There are community activities at Carrie Blake Park, too. To see more than just lavender, the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is the world's longest sand spit. It shelters marine life, shorebirds, and ducks, making it the perfect spot for a quiet walk with binoculars in hand.

Port Townsend

Off the beaten path, but no less welcoming, is the town of Port Townsend. Steeped in arts, culture, fascinating history, and outdoor adventure, this is a chance to experience a historic seaport with a strong and vibrant artistic soul. A good taste of those arts can be seen through places like Centrum, which hosts festivals and live performances out of Fort Worden Historical State Park. From blues to chamber music, fiddle, jazz, ukulele, and red hot strings.

For a taste of history, the Jefferson County Historical Society's Museum of Art & History is housed in the historic City Hall building, which was once a courthouse and county jail. Pick up a passport to enter and explore the Rothschild House along with the Commanding Officer's Quarters, giving you a glimpse of what life was like for the town's early settlers and Native American peoples, as well as a bit of marine history. One of Port Townsend's biggest events is the Olympic Music Festival. Presenting a summer season of concerts where you can experience world-class performances at the Wheeler Theater. Some of the highlights include the Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship and the annual children's concert.

Port Angeles

Framed by one of the country's largest national parks, Port Angeles is a blend of small-town vibes and natural splendor. You can get that sense immediately from exploring the Olympic Discovery Trail, a paved path that travels from Port Townsend to La Push via Port Angeles and a number of other towns and villages along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. It's a scenic ride that can take as little or as long as you like. Naturally, Olympic National Park is a common draw, making Port Angeles one of the more popular backpacking towns in the region. The park protects nearly a million acres of diverse ecosystems, including a temperate rainforest, glaciers, mountains, and over 70 miles of wild Pacific coastline.

If you prefer some art with your outdoor exploration, the Outdoor Art Park at the Fine Arts Center's Webster's Woods will give you five acres that feature dozens of sculptures artfully placed and camouflaged among the trees. The Fine Arts Center is also where the town hosts one of its most popular events, the Wintertide Light Art Experience, which happens near the end of November. Watch how the park transforms and lights up the longest nights of the year, creating a magical nighttime experience unlike anything else.

Gig Harbor

Scenic beauty and vibrant charm come together in Gig Harbor. Outdoor explorers have activities like Cruise Hobbes, which allows you to set sail along Gig Harbor's waters on a personalized sailboat. If you prefer dry land, the Cushman Trail provides a 6-mile path you can walk, bike, or run and features local wildlife, resting areas, and overall great scenery for the area.

Shopping is also abundant with a variety of local stores selling all kinds of unique items. Crumbl is a particularly unique shop specializing in an ever-changing menu of gourmet cookies and other sweet treats. Meanwhile, the Maritime Gig Festival is another great time where the community comes together and celebrates the summer season with live music, a parade, and various local food and craft booths.

Camas

On the banks of the Columbia River, Camas is a picturesque spot that boasts an abundance of natural beauty and plenty of things to see and do. In the summer, the town celebrates Camas Days, a hometown festival that features everything from your typical parade, street vendors, and live music to bathtub races, a wine and microbrew garden that covers a whole city block, and a wide range of family-friendly activities.

The downtown historic district also has something for everyone all year round. Swing by the 1927 restored Liberty Theatre and enjoy a unique blend of blockbuster movies, independent films, cult classics, and visual art. Camas Bike & Sport also rents bikes, which allows you to explore the vibrant historical charm of the town without the need to own, store, and lug your own bike around town. As you explore, you'll find artful bike racks, canopy trees, and striking architecture. And if you're feeling hungry, swing by Backpacker Pizza for gourmet, stone-baked pizzas made with local, seasonal ingredients.

La Conner

La Conner is beloved as a weekend getaway destination, but it could just as easily be the perfect place to retire. As a whole, the community loves art and supports artists in various ways. For starters, there is the Museum of Northwest Art, featuring a collection of pieces with a focus on the 20th-century Northwest School art movement. The MoNA also hosts an annual auction. Another popular event is the annual Art's Alive! event, a premier art show that draws visitors from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. For outdoor recreation, one great spot to check out is the Swinomish Channel, where you are likely to see seals, bald eagles, great blue herons, and otters among the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Choosing any of these Washington towns means settling into a place with built-in opportunities to stay engaged. Whether it is attending Camas Days, biking the Olympic Discovery Trail near Port Angeles, browsing galleries in La Conner, or enjoying festivals in Wenatchee, daily life is shaped by shared experiences. Together, these towns offer retirees welcoming communities, scenic settings, and calendars filled with activities that encourage connection.