10 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Washington You Should Visit
Have you ever desired a vacation or a quick getaway that felt like a dream or a whole other realm? Washington's beautiful towns, surrounded by stunning landscapes and water views, have got you covered! Come to Forks, the rainiest city in the region, to experience the raw beauty of the PNW, including a Twilight tour, or hit "Sunny Sequim," a wild card with its Lavender Festival and only 16 inches of rain a year.
Washington State is all kinds of beautiful, from history to nature to its rich culture. Find plentiful vineyards, the coastal beaches and rainforests, and the Columbia River. The largest in the Pacific Northwest region, it flows for 1,243 miles (about 2 000 km) from the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, to Washington, and into the Pacific. Along with its tributaries, the river and streams pass through many towns, offering even more waterside recreation right from the doorstep.
Ellensburg
Ellensburg, the real heart of the state, epitomizes all its best in one small town's space. Whether you are an art lover, a history enthusiast, or an outdoors fan, this one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations has got you covered. Enjoy easy access in the middle of Central Washington for an immersive small-town experience of all your favorite pastimes with your loved ones in historic beauty.
Ellensburg boasts a beautiful downtown area surrounded by a real treasure trove of recreation and relaxation in nature, with stunning, verdant landscapes for fishing and hiking. Take a morning stroll down the historic centerfare with a coffee in hand or choose a cute cafe like Vinsman's Bakery or the highly rated Palace Cafe, also great for dinners, to enjoy the views over some java. Now get inside all those charming buildings around you for boutique shopping, gallery and museum visits, and more restaurants, or venture natureside for a picnic before the popular Jazz in the Valley with world-wide followers.
Forks
Although one of the rainiest places in the whole US, Forks is an unmissable paradise in the heart of the Olympic Peninsula, amidst a rainforest with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and a rugged beauty. With all its misty mystery and rainbow-reflecting raindrops heavy on the leaves on those sunny summer days after rain, make every raindrop worth the scenery and fresh feel away from the city soot. Moreover, the thriving nature surely loves the downpours with verdant, lush landscapes for the best hikes to the glorious views.
Find attractions at each step, like a cafe for a cozy cup of java, and wait for the sun to come out to hit Rialto Beach. Visit the Forks Timber Museum and explore the Hoh Rainforest and hidden gems along the Bogachiel State Park trails. With some of the best fishing in the state, you can indulge in your favorite pastime before a family Twilight tour for cherishable memories. Among the many accommodations, the Misty Valley Inn, just off Highway 101, immerses you in peace with nothing else but river views and elk-filled meadows. Enjoy the best sleep to the sounds of rain and a homemade breakfast that will make you feel like you are just where you are meant to be—in the middle of nowhere.
Friday Harbor
This stunning town, gracing the second-largest island of the archipelago, San Juan Island, is one of the San Juan Islands's principal cities. Find Friday Harbor in the far northwest of the state, astounding upon approach, with beauty at every turn, and replete with attractions. Take a stroll along the winding streets to the working harbor, which has welcomed visitors for generations as a historic seaport town. Now a spun-out tourist hotspot, it retains a quaint feel of the past, with modern accommodations like the Snug Harbor and Marina offering the best view. Its unique geographical area is bountiful in nature for all types of vacations, like beachgoing, waterside trails, and in-depth hikes to overlooks.
From shoreside lounging to fun water pursuits for all, the Whale Museum and the San Juan Islands Museum of Art will also pique your interest. Whether browsing through the boutique storefronts along Spring Street, its shopping district, or island-hopping on ferry day trips, you can bond with your loved ones and find separate excitement for all to make memories. Enjoy a family escape or a couples getaway with a remote feel and Rocky Bay Cafe, great for romantic dinners, among other local restaurants to fill a weeklong vacation.
La Conner
La Conner, an entryway into the neighboring Puget Sound and the enchanting Fidalgo Island in under 10 minutes, bursts with scenery and exciting opportunities. Get charmed by the warm atmosphere with friendly locals on a getaway for beautiful waterfront strolls and exciting adventures around. One of the state's best and most popular parks, Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island, connects to southern Whidbey Island. The village itself, in the heart of the Skagit Valley in far northwest Washington, blends rugged Pacific Northwest beauty with comfortable recreation and several blooming attractions.
Come next spring for the La Conner Daffodil Festival and Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to celebrate the colorful, scented events with crowds from across the world. You will meet scores of painters and artists inspired to emulate the different tones of the region's sensuality at this time in their works. Stay for the warm weather hikes in the sea-salted air with varying landscapes from Skagit Bay to Swinomish Channel and easy beach access. Try your own hand at sketching the serene nature surrounding the iconic architectural structure of the Rainbow Bridge, or simply enjoy a scenic picnic there under the sun.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles, the entryway to Olympic National Park, is an unmissable town in the state and Washington's summertime escape to nature, bustling in the warmer months. Come for all the great hiking around, like Hurricane Ridge, with plentiful vistas along the way and notable outlooks to the final viewpoint. Built upon the former town of Port Angeles, you can adventure below street level to explore the underground with Port Angeles Heritage Tours along the hidden tunnels, with sights and landmarks along the way.
The special town tucked away on the coast between Port Angeles and Sequim is home to plenty of dining spots with waterfront views, accommodation options, and boutique shopping galore. Choose the affordable luxury of Eden by the Sea, a bed and breakfast with the feel of a private park, right out of Snow White, with frequent wildlife and bird visitors to the postcard-like setting worthy of a few nights stay.
Port Townsend
This beautiful Victorian-era town situated on the Olympic Peninsula is both sophisticated and homey, with nature abounding at the fantastic Fort Worden Historical State Park next door. A second-to-none embodiment of the state's best features, you can enjoy elegant sights and modern attractions on a family getaway, a romantic escape, or a road trip with friends. Take a stroll through the park, a real outdoor museum with a military history of the town and inviting beaches. The port town's appreciation for local craftsmanship, evident for generations, is in your face with the stately buildings and the present-day Port Townsend Farmers Market, bursting with cultural sights, artisanal crafts, and more.
Find plentiful excitement in the quintessential downtown that seems to defy gravity with its Vicrorian grandeur in between dining and shopping, many in the historic buildings. Sightsee the center stage of the Rose Theatre, which hosts an intimate movie theater atmosphere for nostalgia seekers. The waterfront abuzz features marvelous family spots like the Port Townsend Marine Science Center with intriguing, interactive exhibits. Spend a day in the gardens, sprawling up and outward in various shapes and colors at Chetzemoka Park with a gazebo, and return to town for the annual Victorian Festival, a salute to Port Townsend's deep heritage.
Prosser
The cute, deeply historic town bursts at the seams with nature and family attractions. Discover the rich past of its viticulture and more about the region's heritage at the Prosser Historical Museum, with impressive exhibits. A quick stroll away, Vintner's Village is abuzz with winteries and aficionados from around the country, drawn to its enticing tasting rooms and the lush, local vineyards. Add more flavor to your escape at Chukar Cherries with widely sought-after gourmet cherries. Visit the Princess Theatre for a center stage of local productions and the Prosser Farmers Market to stock up on fresh local produce for a picnic or to bring home.
For a real dash of excitement, take a hot air balloon ride, popular among honeymooners and couples on a romantic getaway. You can also watch the kaleidoscopic sky from the grounds for a free spectacle of colorful balloons during the Great Prosser Balloon Rally—unforgettable over a fresh-air picnic on a hill overlooking the town. Just down the road, Sage Bluff Alpacas love meeting curious faces, delighting the young and the old with an Andean touch to the scenic charm of Washington.
Sequim
Sequim, pronounced "skwim," is a real charmer of the state along the Olympic Peninsula, with beauty unlike any other in Washington. It is no wonder that this nature-inspired seaside community is home to many artists, with decorated streets and beckoning outdoors around. Enjoy easy access on a short drive in between Port Townsend and Port Angeles to hit the town's famous, annual Lavender Festival in July, lending Sequim its renown "Lavender Capital of North America" moniker. The sprawling festival of natural beauty alongside the blooming fields takes over the entire town in sensual scents and beauty under the sun. Speaking of the persistently sunny weather here in the Olympic Rain Shadow, with only an average of 16 inches of annual rain per year, unlike the typical Pacific Northwest, "Sunny Sequim" is a real outdoorsman's dream.
Whether browsing through nature sights or visiting the flavorful coffee shops in town and unique shopping opportunities like lavender farms and craft stores, you have the surrounding ocean waters and Olympic Mountains as the backdrop to it all. Start a morning at the favorite Hurricane Coffee Co. and prowl through arts and crafts at local galleries and markets, as well as boutiques for every shopaholic or window shopper's dream. Sightsee the beautiful New Dungeness Lighthouse, just a short drive to the north, on the picturesque shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Along Sequim Bay to the east, John Wayne Marina brims with scenic dining places, sightseeing spots, and comfortable lodging along the shore. Immediately to the south of town, the entrance to Olympic National Park takes you to the Hoh Rainforest and Hurricane Ridge on a hike.
Wenatchee
Wenacthee may be just a speck on the map right in the heart of the state, but it surely is a beautiful one. Bursting with flavors, the town in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains to the west is favored for its juicy apple trees and waterside recreation along the river winding by downtown. Start with a morning stroll through the awe-inspiring Pybus Market and explore the Apple Capital's sweet sights outward—a total outdoorsman’s paradise!
The Warm Springs Inn & Winery will host you warmly with a luxurious b&b set on the banks of the Wenatchee River, complete with fun evenings sharing a bottle of wine. From a peaceful night’s rest to a delicious breakfast, you will step out recharged to explore the tasteful outdoors, like the mountains calling for days of adventure with picnics or a day hike and back to downtown Wenatchee for dinner.
Westport
This tip-of-the-peninsula town, 70 miles west of Olympia, embodies the quintessential Washington's ocean scene, with rugged views, pristine beaches, and fresh seafood abounding. Take a stroll along the 18 miles of immaculate beachscape for a scenic spot to lounge and enjoy water sports during the summer, like in front of one of the numerous picturesque lighthouses by the shore. The town with a "nautical tinge," to say the least, is home to the iconic, state's tallest Grays Harbor Lighthouse, at 107 feet.
Curate your own adventures, from chartered boat rides and fishing adventures to all-day beach lounging in a close group and finding Washington's best surfing experiences in Westport. Visit the lighthouse information center for insights and take a guided tour before settling down by the structure with the desolate Pacific Ocean in front of you. Westport feels both freeing amid all the water sights and concentrated with a galore of attractions in and out of the water. Employ this southern gateway to Grays Harbor and the rest of the Pacific Ocean for boating sports, fishing, and sightseeing tours.
The state, home to many artists seeking inspiration from nature, brims with an arts and culture scene, including galleries and boutique shopping between real culinary creations and cute coffee shops. These towns, full of creative minds and world-wide visitors, exemplify Washington as one of the most liberal states in the US.
For sensual events, visit La Conner in Skagit Valley during the Daffodil Festival and Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, complete with a beautiful waterfront and the nearby Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island. Visit Wenatchee for a taste of the state's over 175 000 acres of agricultural land for apple growing. Find historic beauty in the Victorian downtowns and the old port towns' waterfronts, replete with record-breaking lighthouses.
