11 of the Most Welcoming Towns in The Pacific Northwest
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, or simply the PNW, a region with rugged nature, warm-hearted locals, and a town for every taste! Each has a character and a flood of history to divulge, art to absorb, and nature that inspires. You can visit the beautiful tree-lined town of Camas or the Sunny Sequim, both with lavender fields to behold.
Whether you're looking to get away from it all in Manzanita, a Bainbridge Island town, or along the Olympic Peninsula in Sequim, you will feel at home with fellow local nature enthusiasts, artsy folk, as well as the student crowd—Ellensburg—we're looking at you. All across the immense PNW region, with its no-definitive boundaries stretching into BC and down to Montana, let's start mid-point in Oregon, home of the Shakespeare Festival.
Ashland, Oregon
Shining from within the hills and valleys, Ashland, an all-season outdoor party, invites you to unwind over delicious pairings, seasonally inspired performing arts productions, and an inviting shopping scene year-round. Come now for the holiday magic and skiing, or in the summer for hikes through the Rogue Valley and Siskiyou Mountains. Home to around 21,000 locals, the small town with a big heart has many tales to tell of its gold-rush era days and the legacy of the Oregon and California Railroad, completed in 1887, all along the thriving downtown Plaza, Ashland's historical and cultural heart, and its city park since 1855.
The renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival debuted in 1935 with three days in September, when William's spirit was most palpable, while the Ashland New Plays Festival welcomed new playwrights to present their unique works. Having kicked off the 31st Festival of Light on November 24th, which spans through New Year's, it is a shining backdrop to enjoy new cultural performances, the 60th season at Mt. Ashland's resort, and ice skating at the Rotary Centennial Ice Rink in Lithia Park under the Christmas lights.
Camas, Washington
Home to beautiful tree-lined streets downtown, Camas welcomes shoppers and families to stroll under the historic charm and small-town ambiance with a great selection of boutiques and eateries that you want to keep browsing! This mill town, founded in 1883, is now a center for culture, with a social scene of art galleries and modern services, as well as the century-old, beautifully remodeled boutique-style Camas Hotel. From fun hiking and biking trails to riverside views, you can unwind right here or in the many cozy BBs and comfortable vacation rentals when looking to hit up the nature around you.
One of the PNW's most treasured natural sights, the renowned Camas Lily Field draws worldwide fans for its vibrant wildflower blooms in spring. From Lacamas Lake to Round Lake, as well as the Washougal River, the mighty Columbia River, and the Gorge, you can enjoy every type of boating, fishing, and watersports, as well as plain lounging or thrilling whitewater rafting. With public art, rental shops, charming cafes, and other hidden nooks in the authentically charming architecture from the 1920s, browse an award-winning library and take in a movie at the historic theater!
Ellensburg, Washington
This magical city in the Evergreen State feels both like a step back in time and years ahead with its forward designs, innovative eateries, and top attractions. The Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center is a unique museum with historic displays on the past, present, and future of energy technology. Home to a real state-of-the-art design school, Central Washington University, there it is—the historical little town gets its youthful energy and inventive minds with a student population of 20,000 residents while you get great amenities and attentive, fairly-priced services!
The Wild Huckleberry Restaurant is the signature breakfast for fluffy pancakes that spill off your plate, while Ellensburg Pasta Company serves small-batch dishes of goodness like in an Italian grandma's kitchen! Dick and Jane's Spot, a private home turned top attraction, is a permanent art exhibit of a whimsical fantasy pastiche. You are welcome to enjoy the details from the outside, and even if you don't befriend the owners to peek in, there's a whole lot of old-fashioned architecture along the streets. This Pacific Northwest corner, with its unique culture and Ellensburg's welcoming attitude, feels like arriving where you belong amid quirky attractions and delicious food.
Leavenworth, Washington
Willkommen! Little Bavaria, where the German language feels surprisingly soothing to your travel-starved ears, was once part of the region's lucrative timber industry in support of the state's second-largest sawmill. Resisting to become just any other town, Leavenworth has built up on its diversity with a concerted effort to highlight Germanic roots since 1960. Following another wise decision of the 1929 ski jump plus the 360-degree vantage point and access to the surrounding peaks, Leavenworth's immerses with activities and eye-sore sights along photo-worthy streets around each corner!
The replicated community in the stunning Cascade Mountains is authentic to the core, thriving on its distinctive, folksy charm as a tourist magnet! Whether you're coming for skiing, the annual world-recognized Oktoberfest, or a sunny weekend, the warm locals embrace you with hospitality and advice on how to make the most of your time in the Bavarian Alpine Village. From the plentiful ski lodges, charming bed and breakfasts, and hotels for all budgets, you can dive into the thematic evolution of the town along downtown diversions. Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum features over 5,000 nutcrackers from around the world, including centuries-old "rock-teethed men."
Manzanita, Oregon
Manzanita, characterized by tranquility along a stunning seven-mile-long sandy beach with friendly local banter and the soothing sound of crashing waves, is a real gem along Oregon's northern coast! Keeping a low profile, this stretch of Manzanita Bay with little boat traffic is seeped in serenity with nothing but a bird call and an occasional airplane. You can explore around the homes on the lower west side and the higher east side bank, with many waterfronts and beach access—a crucial part of the enviable local lifestyle. With a bounty of nature to explore around the island, the wooded slopes host a wide array of different species, while the magnificent Neahkahnie Viewpoint is just off the clifftop Elk Flats Trail to the north.
With so many friendly engagements, clam, mussel, and oyster seasons are open for harvest year-round, while Nehalem State Park along the Spit is magnificent at sunset just south. One of the most quiet and peaceful anchorages on the Bainbridge Islands, with one of the highest concentrations of docks and buoys on the island, Manzanita welcomes you for strolls, beachcombing, and breathtaking sunsets. The remote, all-inclusive atmosphere with a laid-back vibe downtown adds to the quintessentially coastal retreat in the Pacific Northwest. Popular among hikers and mountain bikers, the two miles of trails at the inland Manzanita Park are fantastic on horseback!
Poulsbo, Washington
Jumping north from coastal Oregon to just inland from the coast of Washington, the town across Liberty Bay evokes a childhood memory of your favorite teddy bear with its name. This small town is one big state attraction wrapped up in its Scandinavian ancestry with a vibrant shipbuilding past you can learn about at the Poulsbo Heritage Museum and Poulsbo Maritime Museum. There is also the family-favorite Naval Undersea Museum, while the Martinson Cabin Historical Society offers accessible displays and exhibits emphasizing Norwegian roots. The revitalized waterfront district with Liberty Bay views from docks, kayak, and paddle board rental shops features a gorgeous waterfront park and a fun, educational Sea Discovery Center aquarium!
While the country across the sea may have a cold shoulder, this authentic copycat welcomes you to a refined fishing and sailing hub with annual events like the Viking Fest in May. Poulsbo's under 12,000 locals make up a hefty part of the state's improbable artistic scene and cultural center, with entertainment-laden streets, food, drink, and games for all ages! It is a regional destination for all ages, with the Cultural Arts Foundation Northwest, Jewel Box Theater, and Kitsap's Children's Musical Theater. The diversity of creative minds along this coast extends to delighting visitors at Dancing Brush Studio, as well as plentiful eye candy at Front Street Gallery, The Verksted Gallery, and Carrie Goller Gallery.
Sandpoint, Idaho
When you crave to “get social with nature,” the motto of this town, you can do so in the “most beautiful town in America,” according to USA Today! Blessed with some of the nation's most stunning natural features, Sandpoint nestles between three mountain ranges. Along Idaho's largest Lake Pend Oreille at the foot of Schweitzer Mountain, you can enjoy this state's most extensive ski and board resort this winter with fewer visitors than Sun Valley! Imagine the wealth of year-round outdoor activities on the shores of the magnificent lake with mountain views in the summer when you have a whole vacation to enjoy it at the local pace of this mighty, beautiful place.
Priding itself on authenticity sans the resort vibe, Sandpoint offers a world-class dining scene with acclaimed culinary establishments, entertainment, and overflowing arts, all under the stunning Selkirk and Cabinet Mountain views. Attracting hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers, you can unwind on a stroll along the historic Cedar Street Bridge Public Market with local craft, fresh produce, and culture. The vibrant downtown hosts a welcoming atmosphere through an impressive number of charming boutiques, unique restaurants, and art galleries for your viewing, browsing, and indulging pleasures at small-town prices!
Sequim, Washington
In the rain shadow of the Olympic Peninsula, this town welcomes all to experience Sunny Sequim. With clearer skies than any other part of the state, you can enjoy the stunning PNW nature and history tied to Native American tribes, as evidenced at the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Center. Sequim is an innovative town, that gives back to nature through sustainable practices like unique irrigation ditches from the late 19th century. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, visitors can enjoy the pleasant weather and explore the Dungeness Spit, Olympic National Park, and Sequim Bay State Park, with birding throughout.
An attractive "Lavender Capital of North America" since the 1990s, you can join in celebrating the state's natural beauty away from the gray city, with many fragrant lavender farms welcoming tourists for fine sights and care items for sale. The countryside of purple blooms creates a picturesque backdrop to a quaint town with excellent downtown shops, eateries, and cultural events like the renowned Lavender Festival in July at Carrie Blake Park. The Irrigation Festival is the oldest in Evergreen State, while the Dungeness Crab Festival is for foodies.
Sisters, Oregon
Deriving its unique name from the dominating Three Sisters peaks, Sisters nestles quaintly against the expanse of the Deschutes National Forest. Thanks to the immense and largely re-planted growth at the front door, this charming logging town of the past is a thriving outdoors destination for the outdoorsy and families with a pronounced old-west vibe and cowboy attractions. The invigorating nature calls for all-level hiking and spearfishing along the stunning natural landscapes of Three Creeks Lake and Sisters Community Park. Winding over 25 miles of trails, mountain bikers enjoy the Peterson Ridge Trail with views of all the surrounding Cascade peaks.
Sisters feels grounded and in pace with nature, welcoming you to enjoy down-to-earth, relaxing, and active pursuits without discerning locals from visitors. Among diverse attractions and cultural events, the townsfolk invite you to the annual folk festival and browse the world's largest outdoor quilt show, with fantastic reviews of being welcoming to tourists looking to browse or update their city cave. Hotel Sisters, a symbol since 1912, is now the Saloon & Ranch Grill and offers fun evenings aplenty. This integral weave in the cultural fabric of the town is one of the last reminders of the early 20th-century architecture in the area.
Walla Walla, Washington
Home to around 34,000 people, this larger town retains a homegrown vibe with welcoming locals and a downtown full of interesting diversions. "The town is so nice they named it twice"—a tongue-in-cheek nod to "New York, New York." Walla Walla's unorthodox moniker magnifies its reputation, while the townsfolk don't disappoint in living up to it. In fact, having starred in The Three Stooges, Pogo, Looney Tunes, and Merrie Melodies, these some of the most iconic televised comedy franchises of all time reveal the true spirit of town with good-humored residents who like to sprinkle good vibes onto visiting tourists.
It so happens that Walla Walla is in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's acclaimed grape-growing region, with its renowned locally cultivated wine. You can enjoy the whole bounty of the south-central portion of Washington State's varietals, including over 100 nearby wineries with tours, tastings, and light meals paired with the most finicky gourmand. With wine culture and the overbearing local welcome time, you can browse through antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and bookstores while prowling for gifts and a filling meal through delicious eateries to set off the booze.
Winthrop, Washington
Winthrop, an ideal town for a challenging cross-country skiing getaway without a packed resort vibe or a busy downtown, welcomes you into a rugged, pristine corner of the PNW. Straddling a small population of up to 400 year-round residents, Winthrop embraces a fair share of skiing enthusiasts with an impressive number of top-rated inns and B&Bs and an overarching sense of calmness, peace, and quiet atmosphere. Tiny on the inside, the lively town is spectacular. Step into the Old West streets with a cowboy vibe and dominating architectural presence from the period of Westward Expansion that delights families and historians alike!
With no kitsch, just lovely shops and local eateries, visitors can enjoy a sightseeing stroll along the buildings that emulate the style, including a saloon, as well as the Methow Valley Ciderhouse and Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Part of the Inland Northwest, Winthrop capitalizes on its geography, with a notable climate of continental snowy winters and stunning nature ideal for cross-country skiing. You can weave along the 120 miles of pristine ski trails through gorgeous tracts of countryside that turn into the most serene network of hiking trails in the warmer months, perfect for biking or horseback riding without a soul in sight—just the wildlife!
Discover the Heart of the Pacific Northwest
These warm-mannered towns are not just a place on a map but the pulsating stars of the PNW region, where locals open their hearts and homes for you to explore the natural bounty they get to enjoy every day! From the Lavender Capital of America to "The town so nice they named it twice," each will remedy your city blues and offer good company or a guiding hand to make the most of your well-deserved PNW escape!
The friendly towns of Sisters and Whinthrop have a Western theme, while the Bavarian-inspired Leavenworth peaks out from the Cascades. Rest assured, you will feel part of the homegrown atmosphere, hankering to return or road-tripping through the PNW—an adventure of a lifetime!
