8 Pacific Northwest Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness

You don't need a lot of friends when you have a few to count on. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) encompasses Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. This powerful trio has similar tastes for adventure and shared passions, like the beaches near Forks and Florence. The landscapes feel worlds apart, from rainforests and Mt. Rainier to the deepest canyon in North America.

These landscapes have long attracted settlers, who saw the rich natural resources, grounds to test human perseverance, or gave in to the natural splendor. Prevailing in homegrown vibes and modern attractions, each exudes friendly vibes with a natural playground at the back door and cultural festivals like Poulsbo's, settled along a fjord that reminded them of friends and family back home.

Astoria, Oregon

You may recognize this friendly town's face from 1985's The Goonies, Free Willy, and The Guardian, among several others, with memorabilia on display at the Oregon Film Museum. The Astoria-Megler Bridge, North America's longest continuous truss bridge, connects Washington to Oregon across the Columbia River. There is no better time to visit than when it opens to pedestrians in the fall (for one day only) to experience its grandness and views on a leisurely stroll.

Just off the Pacific Coast, Astoria draws nature lovers with rushing falls and woodland trails like the Richard Fenscak Cathedral Tree Trail to an ancient Sitka spruce. Ascent to the Astoria Column, built in 1926, immerses you in the visual splendor of the town and its history with vibrant murals and views from the observation deck topping off at 126 feet. The Columbia River Maritime Museum reveals Astoria's diverse heritage with a 30,000-object collection in a harborfront building.

Cottage Grove, Oregon

Though branded as the "Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon," visitors in Cottage Grove can expect a lot more than its famed six covered bridges. There is one right at the heart, Chambers Covered Railroad Bridge, providing handy cover in chance rainfall in a solid construction of its vintage wooden frame. Take the Row River Trail, a great cycling path past other historic covered bridges to the east, or a quick hike to the Historic Mosby Creek Covered Bridge from the trailhead.

While the covered bridges hold undeniable charm, discoveries overlap in the scenic outdoors. Embracing you in nostalgia, some will recognize sites from scenes in The General, Animal House, and Stand By Me. From the mural-strewn downtown to the nearby waterfalls, Cottage Grove keeps you chasing, which can get tiresome. Luckily, you are in one of the state's best towns to chill out. So take a breather in nature on a picnic at Row River Nature Park or Dorena Lake, minutes east.

Enterprise, Oregon

As a once-thriving ranch town turned into an arts hub, Enterprise still likes to giddy up, welcoming visitors to learn about craft and explore the scenic countryside. The veiny Wallowa River flows into Wallowa Lake. It is mere minutes south for lakeside recreation at this tranquil glacial lake with trails, campsites, and a cable car ascent to Mount Howard. Surrounded by the canyons and peaks of Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, there is something "wild" for every thrill seeker, like wolves.

Take the popular Hurricane Creek Trailhead, a forested hike with stupendous mountain views. Just 35 miles northeast, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is home to the deepest canyon in North America, covering two states. Enterprise stands behind its loud name. Browsing galleries and local works at Wallowa County Museum, get a taste of the rich agricultural heritage and another kind of local craft at the independent Terminal Gravity Brewery & Pub, which is worth the drive alone.

Florence, Oregon

Some small towns come with disproportionate personalities where you feel torn between attractions. They are oftentimes the friendliest. Florence's laid-back atmosphere and quietness make it unique. Its small-town blend of natural beauty, recreational activities, and history reveals a big chunk of the state's character as a whole. Every sight is iconic, like the Siuslaw River Bridge, an ornate drawbridge built in 1936 as part of the project that helped construct Salem's capitol and state library.

Welcoming visitors from near and far, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area encompasses miles of shifting sand dunes along the Pacific coastline. Sea Lion Caves is a privately owned wildlife preserve with sea lions, open to the public for a fee, where visitors can explore this bird sanctuary with tours. You can't miss the working 19th-century Heceta Head Lighthouse, poised starkly against the sea and sands that can be your memorable B&B stay with its six rooms in all the scenery.

Forks, Washington

Truly a "Twilight" zone—it just feels so remote at the heart of the Olympic Peninsula. Though many come to see Swan House, a nostalgic shot from the screen, Forks is a family-friendly destination with access to some of the PNW's best scenery between the Olympic Mountains and the Pacific beaches. Replete with charming stays and camping ops for every traveler, the only downside—the downpours—in the rainiest town in the contiguous US, with an average annual rainfall of 120 inches.

Surrounded by impressive recreational options, the wild rivers host native salmon and steelhead. To the south and east lie alpine meadows and rainforest valleys. So, embrace the rainy vibes on a hike through the Hoh Rain Forest. Get even wetter surfing at one of the beaches, like the iconic boulder-strewn Ruby Beach, 30 minutes out, or the nearby Kalaloch Beach, from the scenes. Back in town, the Forks Timber Museum delves into the reality of its logging and farming days.

Montpelier, Idaho

This mountain town may be slightly less famous than its French counterpart near the sea, but it is among the prettiest gems in the Gem State. Embracing visitors with wild west vibes and a rustic backdrop, plenty of recreational options exist to experience its unique charm, like a friendly game at the scenic Montpelier Golf Course. Drop by the National Oregon/California Trail Center to learn about the challenges early settlers faced in nature.

Home to the Butch Cassidy Museum, this restored 1891 Bank of Montpelier was the state's first chartered bank and is the last still standing that was robbed by Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch Gang in 1896, with photos and memorabilia on the same floor that the infamous bandit walked on. On the playground for adventures, the Scout Monument is a two-mile loop, great for kids. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is 15 minutes south with trails around the turquoise marvel.

Poulsbo, Washington

Thanks to its cultural richness, this is one of the PNW's most distinctive small towns. Nicknamed “Little Norway,” Poulsbo proudly carries its Scandinavian heritage at the head of Liberty Bay—the landscape that prompted the first settlers from Norway to settle the area in 1880 around the Puget Sound. This fjord estuary, of many flooded glacial valleys, reminded them of the fjords back home. Having embraced their new home, others followed, keeping heritage alive and thriving.

The Kitsap Peninsula is "flooded" with opportunities to explore the estuaries in a kayak, plus camping on the beach at Kitsap Memorial State Park. Poulsbo can be a quaint escape for shopping, complete with some excellent breweries, or relaxing in the fresh air and coastal views. Strolling along colorful timber buildings and Viking murals, drop by authentic bakeries for a kringle. Poulsbo Viking Fest celebrates its Nordic roots annually in mid-May with parades, live music, and traditional foods.

Tillamook, Oregon

Just a hop from the Pacific coast beneath Tillamook Bay, Tillamook is one of the PNW's friendliest towns and has two fishable rivers with steelhead. It is also the cheesiest town with a reputable brewing culture at its heart that pairs nicely with its historic agricultural prowess through local establishments. Learn how farmers founded and settled Tillamook and have been in cheese production ever since. Tillamook Creamery delves into the local methods.

Blue Heron French Cheese Company is worth the drive for tastings and goodies to bring back, including fine wines and craft beer. Drop by for a brewski—at one too many places—the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center, a charming museum, and the remodeled Tillamook Coliseum Theater for a full Tillamook experience. No visit is complete without a quick drive to Cape Meares Lighthouse at sunset at Cape Lookout State Park with its tentacled "Octopus Tree," oceanside trails, and views.

Despite varying personalities, the three states share a taste for adventure and the friendliest towns, unlike any other region. From dewy beaches to hidden mountain gems, some friendly faces appear on the big screens, and Florence boasts the Sea Lion Caves. Then, there is the lesser-known Pacific Northwest. Montpelier is the Wild West like you have never experienced.

Whether you are road-tripping it or after the local fever for adventures, it is easy to feel both at home and part of an independent film or fairy tale if coming with kids to one of these towns, unmatched in friendliness. Come say hello, get the gentle nudge to get out and explore, relax in the soundtrack of nature, and feel welcome to return.