8 Nicest Small Towns In The Pacific Northwest
The picturesque Pacific Northwest (PNW) is deep, dramatic, and diverse, with enchantments all across. All this authenticity is bottled through charming towns, like the lavender capital, Sequim. These eight come with a sense of place, pride, and peace, offering the best vibes, views, and variety for a one-of-a-kind getaway.
Whether you are after the beaches and the scenic railroad in Rockaway Beach, covered bridges in Cottage Grove, or Ashland's literary festival, circa 1935, the PNW is not a place to settle for ordinary. With tourism on the rise, the nicest towns rile you up for the unconventional with an infectious, outdoorsy spirit.
Ashland, Oregon
This gem in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley brings out the playful side of the rugged PNW. There is a different type of drama during the months-long Oregon Shakespeare Festival, featuring events and productions through October. Dubbed the Theater Hub of the Pacific Northwest, Ashland is one of the friendliest towns for family recreation, like at Lithia Park. Home of the iconic festival, its winding trail is ideal for long walks or a bike ride along the waterway, with scenic diversions for picnics and photos.
Beyond the gardens, green lawns, and a historic fountain, the park's entrance is lined with theater venues to return for a show in the evening, such as the popular Oregon Cabaret Theater. Yet, not all drama is reserved for the stage. The nearby dog-friendly Acid Castle Boulders Trailhead offers a rocky ascent to a top overlook. With few others up for the challenge, you can hear the wind rush over the mountains in solitude, experiencing an amazing connection to nature and the town in the valley below.
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Just south of Eugene, the southern tip of the Willamette Valley feels like a fresh breath from urbanity. Some 20 miles from the city, Cottage Grove shines with personality in the charismatic company of six covered bridges. All equally captivating, the restored 1925 Chambers Covered Railroad Bridge on the Row River was operational until 1951. You can cross a scenic swinging bridge and saunter through Centennial Covered Bridge to the shopping district in the historic downtown.
Cottage Grove, the “Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon,” boasts impressive murals alongside well-preserved buildings and pockets of natural beauty. The nearby Bohemia Park is ideal for relaxing, playing, and picnicking, with a beautiful water fountain, play structures, and a water park in the summer. Moreover, the Row River Trail features the 1920 Mosby Creek Covered Bridge from "Stand By Me" near the trailhead. The 15-mile-long, paved trail offers glimpses of the lush rolling hills and clear rivers.
Friday Harbor, Washington
Beyond its role as the county seat and commercial center, this charming seaport is all heart. Located on the eastern edge of the eponymous, largest island of the San Juans, you can take a ferry to multiple destinations like Anacortes and Port Townsend, while inter-island transport is free. Home to inviting galleries and unique museums, there is plenty to explore in town before bouncing off. For a little getaway, swing by Turn Island Marine State Park, with boat access only, next to San Juan Island.
Boasting a walkable downtown, Friday Harbor gets travelers riled to discover the local way of life, whale watching, and kayaking tours. So grab a java from Salty Fox Coffee to enjoy at the Sunken Park. The Whale Museum is a crowd-pleaser, featuring artwork and artifacts that showcase whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem. Finally, Jackson Beach Park offers serenity along the undeveloped shorefront, with photoworthy and panoramic views to the horizon, before concluding the evening at the local brewpub.
La Conner, Washington
Known for the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, this charming seaside town welcomes thousands in spring. After a scenic drive through the region's vast tulip fields, there is more bloom than meets the eye in La Conner, playing the perfect host with seafood and art delights. That elegant emerald-hued mansion in the corner of your eye is the one and only Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, exhibiting the region's long-standing tradition of fiber art inside 1891 Victorian architecture.
Swing by the free-entry Museum of Northwest Art for some of the finest PNW artists on rotating exhibits. A cultural stroll downtown often ends along the historic waterfront; if not at the surf-and-turf spot, then at the next-door La Conner Pub & Eatery, an enduring family-run hangout with a full menu and bar. Better save room for dessert from the nearby bakery and cafe. You can observe local bird life and fishing boats navigate the channel, and stroll north to meet the sunset at the marina.
McMinnville, Oregon
Hidden amidst woodsy parkland and lush vineyards, this lively college town makes for a glorious escape along the South Yamhill River at the heart of Oregon’s burgeoning wine industry. If you haven't heard of the annual UFO Festival, the alien costume parade is a spectacle not to be missed in May, celebrating a once-sighted UFO in 1950. In addition to a public golf course, travelers enjoy an array of lodgings, horseback riding tours, or even hot air balloon rides to soak in the beauty of the valley.
Stay acculturated any day through the historic downtown and the legendary Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum tucked to the side, with its out-of-this-world playground plus the Wings & Waves Waterpark. There is an excellent array of dining, several winemakers, and craft breweries downtown that turn unwinding into a local form of art. Ask any resident epicurean about the favorites, and they will point you to ALF's Homemade Ice Cream & Burgers and Golden Valley Brewery & Restaurant.
Rockaway Beach, Oregon
Unique like its name, this coastal city with a small-town heart and a laid-back atmosphere boasts one of the state's most beautiful geographic locations. Tucked between Tillamook Bay and Nehalem Bay, the seven miles of sandy beach are made for kite flying, clamming, crabbing, and your classics, all year round. From swimming and boating to beachcombing and long sunset walks, travelers enjoy the easy access via Minnehaha Street to view the Twin Rocks Arch starkly rising from the blue ocean.
Just north, the 41-acre Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site offers beach access and fishing opportunities, picnic tables, and amenities. Rockaway Big Tree Trailhead is a lovely 1.1-mile wooden boardwalk trail through a wetland, with summertime berries and blooms. Meanwhile, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is central to family-friendly recreation, chugging along the coast from Rockaway Beach Station with a narrator along a heritage railroad.
Sequim, Washington
This charming town on the Olympic Peninsula draws visitors during the annual transformation under the purple veil of beautiful fields and curated lavender farms. The mild, sunny climate is ideal for exploring the outdoors, whether that be a lavender farm, a local trail, or the nearby national park. Lavender fields bloom from late June through August, with a peak in mid-July. Carrie Blake Park is ideal for leisurely recreation along a one-mile looping trail, ponds, fountains, and local wildlife.
Among various options, Purple Haze Lavender Farm has a dreamy atmosphere near the shore. Explore the heavenly scented rows upon rows, plus a shop on site for bath and beauty, an ice cream stand, and a U-cut available to surprise a loved one back home. The Olympic Discovery Trail cuts through town, winding past the Dungeness River Nature Center, with some paved sections that are ideal for bike rides, hiking, and side trips, such as the 1857 New Dungeness Lighthouse on Dungeness Spit.
Wallace, Idaho
Though this enigmatic town in northern Idaho's Silver Valley left its mining boom behind, the telling nickname of the Silver Capital of the World stuck. Also proclaimed the "Center of the Universe" in 2004, this adverse title is cemented as a manhole cover at the corner of Bank and Sixth Street. Having turned into a hub for recreation, Wallace holds fascination for mountain bikers and history fans alike. Its well-preserved Victorian architecture and modern attractions bear quite a rustic chic effect.
Listed entirely on the National Register of Historic Places, Wallace emits warmth through stoic sites like the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum. In addition to the underground Sierra Silver Mine tour, with a neat gift shop, many enjoy the dog-friendly hike to the Pulaski Tunnel Trail. It is a beautiful foliage adventure along a crystal-clear creek, filled with the scent of cedar and pine, where wildlife and markers tell the story of the 1910 fire and Ed Pulaski’s heroism, which famously saved 45 firefighters.
This dramatic and alluring corner of America encompasses Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, with some definitions extending into Northern California, Montana, and Canada. Even the desolate corners are accessible from big cities like Spokane, Eugene, and Coeur D'Alene.
True beauty comes from the heart, so open yours for adventure, soul searching, and relaxation. In addition to essential lodgings, food, and shops, you will find neat ways to discover the PNW, inviting galleries, unique museums, discovery trails, and historic tours.
