9 Small Towns in Washington with the Best Downtowns
Like so many of Washington's best small towns, Edmonds boasts a creative downtown with markets, museum exhibits, and performances at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. Poulsbo celebrates its Scandinavian roots with annual Viking festivities that completely transform the downtown. And Friday Harbor adds waterfront strolls at Fairweather Park, a few minutes from downtown. The 9 towns below have the cutest downtowns in the state.
Edmonds
The Edmonds Creative District includes the heart of downtown Edmonds, a walkable small town oozing with art, culture, and community spaces that are almost always full and thriving. Edmonds was the first town that Washington recognized as a creative district, and the residents lean into that recognition with various events and landmarks honoring and promoting artists.
The Edmonds Center for the Arts is a large venue that can hold over 700 individuals, with more than 130 events produced by local and touring artists and organizations. The performing arts center presents various performances including dance, comedy, theater, and poetry. The Edmonds Historical Museum is a great place for history buffs, housing vintage fire fighting gear, summer markets, a model train room that honors the history of railroads in Washington, and old Victorian furniture and dollhouses. Visitors can see these exhibits and more along the Art Walk Edmonds event held monthly. Since 2002, Edmonds has encouraged businesses to promote local artists and show off their art.
Winthrop
Winthrop is a gorgeous small town, and the Old West architecture scattered across its downtown district will visually separate it from any other town in Washington. Old, weathered hitching posts, boardwalks, wooden storefronts, and painted signs will take visitors back in time. Local landmarks like the Shafer Historical Museum and Winthrop Barn Auditorium contribute to that vintage aesthetic. The Shafer Historical Museum is dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of four local historic cabins and “castles.”The Winthrop Barn Auditorium is a vintage barn transformed into an arts center housing all sorts of performances and community meetings.
Visitors will understand Winthrop’s passion for skiing when they attend the annual Methow Valley Winter Festival, an event that brings the community together and welcomes newcomers. When tourists have finished their journey through Winthrop’s “Wild West” district, they can start a journey along the Susie Stephens Trail, a low-stress, scenic hike that brings walkers over the Methow River.
Roslyn
Roslyn is a small coal mining town founded in 1886. The Roslyn community continuously honors its heritage and foundations that literally built the town it is today. Nestled in Washington’s mountains, Roslyn’s origins are unique, and its downtown district is a great place for outdoor activities, superb dining, and comfortable lodging. The Roslyn Downtown Association’s mission is to preserve Roslyn’s historic Main Street. In the heart of the city, Roslyn Pioneer Park serves as a gateway to the Coal Mines Trail, which features over 20 historic and natural landmarks dotting the path.
The Roslyn Museum is the best place to dive deeper into the local history of coal mining and how coal was the common language spoken between people of different nationalities who spoke different languages. The museum also offers a fun, interactive scavenger hunt where visitors of all ages can scour the premises for vintage, historical artifacts.
Langley
Langley is a literal waterfront town, and the Langley Main Street Association is an organization dedicated to the economic revitalization and preservation of Langley’s oldest buildings. Known as the "Village by the Sea," visitors can learn more about Langley’s history through scattered narrative panels. History plaques are also located on several downtown buildings, such as the Langley Marina and Post Office, presenting their origins.
Visitors can stroll down Langley’s streets to meet local artists at the Langley First Saturday Art Walk. The Langley Whale Center is one of the town’s greatest attractions, and a must-visit destination for families. They offer a Whale Sightings Map so guests can catch as many local animals near Langley as they can, such as the common Gray Whale and Harbor Seal. Staying in the downtown district, the Clyde Theatre, built in 1937, is a local landmark and a town favorite to see movies, new and classic.
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is a beautiful waterfront town in Washington with plenty of natural and historical landmarks that celebrate their history and location. The San Juan Historical Museum campus features a collection of old structures like an original farmhouse, carriage house, root house, and milk house from the 1880s. The museum also features old structures like the San Juan County Jail, built in 1894, and exhibits highlighting the history of farming, fishing, and logging industries that dominated Washington’s economy.
The Whale Museum offers plenty of informative tours and classes that promote the stewardship and protection of whales and aquatic ecosystems. Marine Naturalist Training informative classes occur twice each year and are perfect for all ages. Further along Friday Harbor’s downtown district, visitors can relax, enjoy the sun, and stroll through Fairweather Park with gorgeous waterfront views, picnic spaces and even an artificial waterfall.
Leavenworth
Home to a variety of outdoor excursions, local spots for drinking and dining, and annual charming festivals, with the Cascade Mountains as a backdrop, Leavenworth is a storybook small town come to life. The Waterfront Park offers a fun, relaxing atmosphere with the best view of the Wenatchee River that runs straight through Leavenworth.
The Heidleburger Drive In is a popular local establishment that has been operating since 1970 and is a far more intimate, unforgettable experience compared to seeing movies in a classic theater. From Archaic nutting stones to modern acrylics and metals, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum is a great, family-friendly destination that complements Leavenworth’s downtown aesthetic. The town even has its own amusement park, the Leavenworth Adventure Park, located right off its main road. Leavenworth is a Bavarian village due to its European architecture, even more vibrant whenever they throw their Maifest, Rock Fest, and Cascade Celtic Festival celebrations, each complete with dancing, music, and vendors. Ingredients needed to forge lasting memories.
Walla Walla
Walla Walla is a small town that feels alive thanks to numerous historic buildings and the town’s emphasis on art and the artists who create it. Downtown Walla Walla has no shortage of fun, inviting activities, such as live music, art walks, farmers' markets, and parades. There is always something to do, and guides like the Walla Walla Heritage Walking Tour make exploring even easier, taking tourists along the Downtown Historic Trail, Historic Homes Trail, and more.
The Gesa Power House Theatre is not just a stage. It is a community hub. The theater hosts concerts, comedy nights, documentaries, and so much more. The Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center, which opened in 1928, is one destination on the Downtown Historic Trail, thanks to antique interior objects still on display, like its original clock and phone booth. The Museum of Un-Natural History is unlike any other museum in Washington. Guests won’t find conventional historical exhibits. Instead, they’ll wander the wacky, energetic, and enigmatic collections of artist and comedian Gerry Matthews, housing strange amalgamations of art and real-world materials.
Ellensburg
Immediately after Ellensburg received its name in 1875 the town expanded from what is now the downtown core. The Ellensburg Downtown Association created a rich, comprehensive map of Ellensburg’s downtown district with everything locals and visitors would ever need to plan a trip or chart a day’s visit, from shopping and dining suggestions to park locations.
Opening its doors in 1961, the Kittitas County Historical Museum has collected and preserved Ellensburg and Washington history. With over 9,000 square feet of display space, exhibits feature antique automobiles and collections of thousands of items such as military memorabilia, photographs, and service records. Ellensburg is an artistic town that honors both its past and present artists. The Clymer Museum of Art constantly rotates new exhibits showcasing incredible artists, with a steady gallery of John Ford Clymer classics from their archives. The Ellensburg First Friday Art Walk incentivizes even more exploration through downtown Ellensburg, showcasing performing and visual arts on the first Friday of every month for over 25 years.
Poulsbo
Visitors will recognize Poulsbo as a unique small town from the first second they set foot in their downtown district. Filled with historic buildings rooted in their Norwegian origins, Poulsbo has earned the reputation of Washington’s “Little Norway.”
Poulsbo is a gorgeous waterfront town looking over the beautiful Liberty Bay, and they have their own monthly Art Walk for local artists to show off their talents to all visitors passing through. The Heritage Museum captures the culture and daily lives of Poulsbo families in the early 20th century, with old technology and period clothing on display. The buildings aren’t the only things that evoke history. The annual Poulsbo Viking Fest celebrates its Scandinavian heritage with parades, carnival rides, live performances, and even a "Nordic Fashion Show" in the Poulsbo Waterfront Pavilion, where competitors will show off their authentic Viking garbs and traditional Scandinavian attire.
Washington Downtowns Transformed by Art
Each of these nine small towns houses visually distinct downtowns, with their own historic roots, flavors, and annual activities that celebrate past and present residents. But one thing they all have in common is their love and celebration of art and those who create it. Ellensburg’s Clymer Museum of Art has a constant rotation of new exhibits so that every visit feels fresh and unique. The Walla Walla Heritage Walking Tour ensures no traveler will miss a piece of history or a landmark with a picture. These downtown areas of Washington are beautiful, and they encourage you to see them through their many markets, festivals, and art tours.
