10 Slow-Paced Towns to Visit in Oregon
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark reached the end of their nation-spanning journey throughout the many places they explored, they ended up in one of the most rugged and untamed regions in all of America—the Beaver State of Oregon. Home to both beavers and a number of slow-paced small towns worth visiting, Oregon continues to captivate explorers with attractions riddled down the coastline, high up in the snowy mountains, or deep within the valleys and near-barren deserts of the land. However you wish to sojourn through Oregon’s slow-paced towns, keep in mind the many beavers that nibble about in the unchanged woodlands and riverways of Oregon. Most importantly, have a good and jolly time in these lackadaisical destinations in the Beaver State.
Cannon Beach
Get whooping and roaring with merriment as you lounge in the Pacific Ocean at Cannon Beach. Only about 90 minutes from the city of Portland, this small coastal town got its name for a shipwreck years ago in which the only remains were a cannon jutting out of the sand. Since then, it has attracted thousands of visitors from all over due to its lush sand and a 235-foot-tall rock formation called Haystack Rock.
Those curious as to the kinds of destinations one can enjoy in Cannon Beach can head over to Arcadia Beach, Ecola State Park, and Hug Point State Recreation Site to wade and waddle about in splendid tide pools. You can also get a perfect view of the surrounding landscapes from atop the Silver Point Interpretive Overlook. Should you ever wish to stay longer in Cannon Beach, consider booking a room at The Waves Cannon Beach or the Inn at Cannon Beach.
Hood River
Deep within the Columbia River Gorge and in the shadow of Mount Hood, the small town of Hood River will sweep you off your feet. Quite literally, you can get your feet off the ground by experiencing windsurfing escapades from Mount Hood’s scenic slopes. All you have to do is head out of town to take either the Cooper Spur Trail or the Timberline Trail all the way to the mountain and even to its highest point possible.
From there, you can witness the town and all of the Columbia River Gorge in its widest splendor and soar all over it from a glider. But if you are a down-to-earth person, you can just stroll through the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge or pitch a camp in the many available grounds there. But if you are also not one to spend the night outdoors, you can always huddle and hunker down at either the Hampton Inn & Suites Hood River or Columbia Gorge Hotel and Spa.
Baker City
Baker City is a welcoming small town that many have lauded as “eastern Oregon’s basecamp.” Serving as an important trading nexus between Portland and Salt Lake City since the year 1874, Baker City gives travelers access to the breadth and depths of the Blue Mountain Ranges, specifically the Elkhorn Mountains and Wallowa Mountains.
When traveling through the Farewell Bend State Park, you may come across the remnants of wagon ruts left behind during the Oregon Trail, while the Eastern Oregon Museum and Baker Heritage Museum contain other exhibits and informational panels about the Oregon Trail. Last but not least, you can feel like an authentic pioneer when staying in historic lodgings like the Geiser Grand Hotel.
Joseph
Experience the "Little Switzerland of America" with the small town of Joseph. So named after Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe, this small town on the Wallowa Mountains has both an impressive viewpoint of the Hells Canyon, recreational opportunities on Wallowa Lake, and skiing and snowboarding adventures on the snowy slopes of Wallowa Mountains. Most importantly, the townsfolk celebrate the annual Tamkaliks in honor of the town’s namesake and Chief Joseph’s people.
The Wallowa County Museum gives you a comprehensive history and context about Joseph’s inception and development. Meanwhile, the Wallowa County Farmers' Market offers year-round delicacies fresh from Joseph’s croplands. Last but not least, the Eagle Cap Wilderness shelters much of Oregon’s biodiversity. No need to feel unwanted in the Little Switzerland of America, especially when you are keeping yourselves warm and cozy at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast, Eagle Cap Chalets, Flying Arrow Resort, or Trouthaven Resort.
Yachats
From the Siletz phrase “dark water at the foot of the mountain,” Yachats (pronounced yah-hots) is home to the naturally dark rock formations located at the Yachats Ocean Road Natural Site. Thor’s Well, a natural drainage hole, can also be found within the area and has continuously drained the Pacific Ocean and pooling its waters to an as-yet undiscovered destinations. If you want a great vantage over Yachats and its rugged coastal territories, you can always take the Ya’Xiak (yah' khik) Trail and Amanda's Trail all the way to Cape Perpetua, the highest point on the Oregon Coast.
There are many more mysteries and surprises to be enjoyed in Yachats’ dark water at the foot of the mountain, so you ought to first book a room at either the Overleaf Lodge & Spa, Ocean Cove Inn, or the Yatel Motel for a more comfortable stay in town.
Silverton
Gold may be a popular gleaming metal, but silver certainly has its allures and attractions. In “Oregon’s Garden City” of Silverton, you can appreciate all the grandeur and splendor of Oregon’s rural outdoors, which is only 45 miles away from Portland. Whether you are traipsing through the 80-acre botanical fields of the Oregon Garden—replete with several splendid festivities year-round, such as the Arts in the Garden—or traversing the "Trail of Ten Falls" at the Silver Falls State Park to admire the many waterfalls in the region, you will be remiss if you miss out on Silverton’s beautiful outdoor sceneries.
Most importantly, you should definitely not miss out on the Canterbury Renaissance Faire for medieval jousts and Renaissance-themed activities transpiring in the month of July. Many allures await in Silverton, so do feel safe and sound when sleeping in lush abodes like the Oregon Garden Resort, the Silverton Inn and Suites, or Edward Adams House B&B.
Ashland
Are you a lover of the Bard, William Shakespeare? Do you want to experience plays and performances aplenty even though you may be far away from Britain? Then, get ready for the beloved Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the small town of Ashland. Starting from the month of February and ending in November, both locals and newcomers to Ashland can partake in many of Shakespeare’s seminal plays. If you have concluded your own inspirational, tragic, or comedic roles in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, you can always head over to the Ashland Artworks Gallery and the Schneider Museum of Art to admire some of Ashland’s most prominent artworks.
You might also be interested in exploring Siskiyou Mountain or Mount Ashland or perhaps traipsing about Lithia Park and the Rogue River Valley. Either way, you will most certainly feel well accommodated in places like the Swank & House, The Winchester Inn, StayAshland, or The Bard’s Inn Hotel.
Sisters
Sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers will all be amazed by the dynamic attractions around the small town of Sisters. From the three extinct volcanos in the Cascade Mountains, which gave the town its name, to the Three Sisters Wilderness, filled with some of Oregon’s desert denizens, you will undoubtedly find no end to the mesmerizing landscapes in Sisters. At the Deschutes National Forest, admire the tall ponderosa trees and forests Oregon is known for, while at the Smith Rock State Park, you can see over 650 acres of near-arid and barren features.
Take the Pacific Crest Trail for a more scenic tour of Sisters, or attend the Sisters Rodeo every year from June 5 to 9, which has been praised for being "The Biggest Little Show in the World." If you are curious to see more of Sisters’ many wonders, you can always book a room at the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge, the Black Butte Ranch Vacation Rentals, or the Long Hollow Ranch.
The Dalles
Approximately 20 miles away from Hood River lies one of the oldest communities in Oregon, The Dalles. Originally a Native American trading hub for over 10,000 years, The Dalles has developed significantly into a more modern town after pioneers planted a firmer foothold in the 1800s. Even Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited this small town in the year 1805 during their last leg of the westward journey, which the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum explain.
There is also a historic US Army Outpost from the 1850s called Fort Dalles, which you can explore, while the nearby Maryhill Museum of Art (in Washington) offers a more modern and artistic look into The Dalles and the Columbia River Gorge. You will most certainly not feel unwanted and unafraid when you are sleeping dreamily in cozy accommodations like the Cousins Country Inn, Comfort Inn Columbia Gorge, or Celilo Inn.
Astoria
Have you ever heard of or watched the hit film The Goonies? If so, then you can relive the toddler’s treasure-hunting escapades at the “little San Francisco” of Oregon, Astoria. The exact place where the aforementioned movie was shot, Astoria, contains many recognizable landmarks for fans of The Goonies, such as the Astoria Riverwalk, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and the Columbia River itself. Outside of all the film references, you can always buy a beer or learn how beer is made at the Buoy Beer Company.
Enter the derelict military base of Fort George and take a tour through Astoria’s many seafood restaurants vis-à-vis the Astoria Riverfront Trolley. Finally, when you get exhausted from all the traveling, refresh yourself and sleep soundly at the Astoria Riverwalk Inn.
As exhilarating and rewarding as journeys are, sometimes you may want to catch a decent break or spend a hiatus in a comfortable and lazy location. Fortunately for you, there are a plethora of slow-paced towns to visit in Oregon that serve as tremendous and terrific termini for your weary feet. In places that have accommodated great adventurers like Lewis and Clark and where quirky attractions like Shakespearean festivals and The Goonies references are abundant, you will not be bored nor too agitated by all the slow-paced and lackadaisical simplicities each town exudes. Give yourself a much-desired vacation in the Beaver State’s slow-paced small towns.
