8 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest remains largely untamed. Beneath its volcanic, snow-capped mountains, small towns await wanderlust souls with open hearts, seeping with unreplicable beauty. Each town is eager to welcome visitors after a scenic drive, a ferry ride, or both from Seattle to Port Townsend. Yet, only a handful make it to the unspoiled reaches of its diverse landscapes.
Beaten by surf-worthy waves with unspoiled beaches and wild island nature, the further you travel, the more that beauty is amplified. Away from mainstream tourism, you'll discover surfable waves pounding desolate beaches with tidepools and whale watching in La Push. From the friendly charm of Langley to the underrated serenity of Manzanita, these towns each offer something unforgettable.
Gold Beach, Oregon
Hidden along the rugged southern Oregon coast at the mouth of the Rogue River, Gold Beach is a year-round destination with a unique "Indian Summer" through October. From Gold Beach Coffee Books & Art to Barnacle Bistro, you can explore the incredible stillness of this warm shoulder season. A trail winds from the visitor center to a beautiful beach for scenic walks and picnics. Strewn with boulders like the Kissing Rock, this legendary roadside attraction adds a romantic touch framed by the picturesque beach, other boulders, and perennial grass.
Gold Beach’s remote beauty enhances the appeal for those seeking desolate beaches to photograph, fish, and enjoy river rafting in the serene nature, with whale sightings and world-class windsurfing waves. Minutes south along Hwy 101, Cape Sebastian Trail is a spectacular hike with views of coastal headlands and capes. Just north across the river, Otter Point State Recreation Site offers extensive trails and unusual sandstone rock formations. Before leaving, be sure to check out the sunken Mary D. Hume, a 19th-century steamer that pays homage to maritime history.
Hood River, Oregon
The Columbia River's shore is particularly rugged around these parts, transitioning into the Columbia River Gorge to the east and masking this little town from the oblivious. Here, a Native American tribe watched two white men—Lewis and Clark—"drown themselves" along the rapids. Since it was tamed by several dams, the area is now the windsurfing capital of the world, while Hood River plays perfect host to families and adventurers. Whether you're in for the gorge or windsurfing, power up at Broder Øst on a Scandinavian breakfast.
Hood River Waterfront Park is adjacent to Port Marina Park, where the eponymous river empties into the mighty Columbia. It is perfect for an afternoon at the crescent-shaped beach, with picnics, a boat launch, and watching the sunset. Exploring the area's cliffs up the shore, Koberg Beach State Recreation Site offers swimming, fishing, and camping. Meanwhile, Hwy 84 parallels the asphalted Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, a great hike, kid-friendly walk, or biking with river views, wildflowers, peaceful pull-offs, and clean amenities.
Joseph, Oregon
Surrounded by the breathtaking Wallowa range of northeast Oregon, this little mountain gem boasts enormous charm as the "Little Switzerland of America." It is a scenic drive-up, with good vibes downtown, to score world-class fine art, browse local crafts, and saunter along the Joseph Oregon Bronze Artwalk, a series of life-sized bronze sculptures. Joseph crowns the glacial Wallowa Lake, across the Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, a dog-friendly spot for a hike in the encompassing mountain views that complete the picture-perfect scenery.
The highway winds along the eastern shore to Wallowa Lake State Park, with hiking trails, campsites, and a cable car to Mount Howard. The surrounding Eagle Cap Wilderness comprises over 360,000 acres of high alpine lakes, rivers, meadows, bare granite peaks, and U-shaped glaciated valleys. The area draws bicyclists, hikers, photographers, and families. After adventures, drop by the stately Wallowa County Museum, and finally, relax at the incredible Embers Brewhouse over pizza, suds, and cider outdoors in beautiful fall weather.
La Push, Washington
Full of natural beauty, La Push is perhaps the most vibrant destination for nature lovers, with ancient history, local folklore, and Hollywood glam to explore the wild land and sea. The First Beach welcomes Twilight fans to a picturesque seashore from the screen, and the Quillayute River brims with salmon, halibut, tuna, and trout. There's an easy trail to Second Beach and camping for permit holders, with an authentic atmosphere amid beautiful sea stacks, with seals and eagles overhead.
La Push is a surfer's dream and a hiker's sanctuary, in solitude with real wild wildlife. Third Beach is the most remote via a trailhead from the highway. Check out James Island Viewpoint or set out from the town's beautiful marina. At the river mouth, Rialto Beach is a jutting spire of a seashore with sea stacks, rock formations, driftwood, and migrating whale sightings in April and October. After handling the waves without crowds, recharge at River's Edge Restaurant.
Langley, Washington
Often overlooked for Coupeville at the northern end of Whidbey Island, this charming seaside villa perches high on a bluff overlooking the Cascade Mountains and Saratoga Passage. Langley is quaint and artistic, perfect for families and serenity seekers to discover its larger-than-life personality. Check out the shorefront Whale Center from Seawall Park, which is focused on local orcas and whales and has a gift shop. Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar feeds your soul in cozy rustic vibes, serving Pacific Northwest seafood, raw oysters, beer, and wine.
Keen to its founding in the late 19th century by a fifteen-year-old and one of the first with an all-female city council, Langley's thriving artist colony began in 1915. Having flourished into one of Washington's initial designated Creative Districts, it packs the one square mile downtown with venues. There's no shortage of entertainment options for day and evening, including multiple theaters, like Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, the adjacent Whidbey Children's Theater, and the Island Shakespeare Festival, plus musicians and local galleries.
Manzanita, Oregon
Manzanita boasts seven miles of pristine white sandy beachfront along the Pacific with a landscape of spruce and pines at the back door. It is one of Oregon's less-visited and most photographed areas. Next to Cannon Beach, this north coast city is a picture of serenity, with endless ways to capture your perfect shot. In addition to surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, Haystack Rock is visible from the Ecola State Park between the two towns. It is easy to feel like a local with fewer tourists and beach bodies scattered along the sands.
Protected by the headlands, the weather is perfect for a weekend of exploring and beach lounging. Descending from Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain into the sheltered Nehalem Bay, the state park offers an open beach to unwind in the rhythmic ocean action, watching the cloud wisps colliding with the headland and capes at the stunning Oswald West State Park to the north. The lovely walkable downtown offers boutique shopping, seafood cafes, coffee shops, and a fabulous seasonal farmers market.
Port Townsend, Washington
At the end of Hwy 20, Port Townsend is both well-known and off the beaten path. It is accessible via ferry to the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula. Just minutes from downtown, Fort Worden Historical State Park welcomes visitors with its century-old military bunkers, windswept beaches, and panoramic hiking trails. It's a fitting gateway to this picturesque getaway, with views of both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges.
The remote appeal enhances its timeless charm, making you feel as if you are in an entirely different place and period. This Victorian seaport with the soul of an artist is an ideal blend of fascinating history and outdoor adventure, with vibrant festivals, world-class dining, and a robust art scene. Discover its deep maritime legacy in an authentic vibe, surrounded by a bay, a strait, and an inlet on three sides of the Quimper Peninsula. Historically a boating paradise, Port Townsend is a jet set with fantastic marinas to the Puget Sound, the San Juans, and beyond. The 48th annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, the largest in North America, is set for early fall. On a clear day, the majestic Mt. Rainier peaks to the east, and Mt. Baker to the north.
Sunriver, Oregon
Just 15 miles south of Bend, on the doorstep of Deschutes National Forest, and 25 minutes from Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Sunriver has it all and then some, like award-winning golf courses. Tangled within hundreds of miles of paved biking and walking paths, the banks of the Deschutes River are perfect for kayaking under the bridges. At the same time, LaPine State Park offers camping to the south with easy access to the beautiful Lava Island Falls. Benham Falls East Trailhead is an excellent hike through ponderosa forest along the Deschutes River to its turbulent rapids, suitable for bikes, kids, and dogs.
There are bike and ski rentals, friendly locals, and delicious restaurants—everything to get you hyped for volcanic wonders and waterfall trailheads. First discovered in 1889, you'll rediscover Lava River Cave on a self-guided tour in a mile-long lava tube. Then, Newberry National Volcanic Monument features a caldera, lakes, and obsidian fields. While in the area, the world-class High Desert Museum reveals secrets about this region in eastern Oregon, plus hands-on, kid-friendly activities.
A Unique Trip In The Pacific Northwest
The unreplicable Pacific Northwest encompasses Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Beyond its national forests, the Cascades, and even temperate coastal mountain rainforests, mystical shorelines blend into hazy horizons, and beautiful islands are some of the region's earliest-settled. Technically, if you live in Seattle, you are a PNW local. Channel your inner explorer along the untrodden paths and family-friendly trails. Exposing you to the untamed PNW, these eight towns offer a homegrown vibe in an authentic atmosphere so you can feel like a local, a stone's throw from drama.
