11 Picturesque Small Towns in Oregon for a Weekend Retreat
Admitted to the Union in February’1859 as the 33rd State, Oregon, situated in the Western United States’ Pacific Northwest region, is celebrated for its outstanding natural beauty. Being one of the country's most geographically varied states, Oregon boasts snow-capped mountain ranges, flourishing forests, fertile valleys, semi-arid shrublands, high deserts, sandy beaches, and plenty of water bodies. Oftentimes, bigger urban metropolises like Portland, Gresham, and Eugene, as well as the state capital Salem, hog all the limelight from holidayers who visit the Beaver State to spend their extended vacations. However, innumerable small towns that dot this state’s picturesque terrain will surely captivate the hearts of every tourist who visits these gorgeous locales on their weekend escapades.
Astoria
Clatsop County’s seat of government, Astoria, is located along the Columbia River's southern banks at the extreme northwestern part of the state. Established in 1811 and named after John Jacob Astor, a German-born American businessman, this charming port town is Oregon’s oldest town and the earliest permanent American settlement to the west of the Rockies. Placed at a short distance from the mighty Pacific and surrounded by forests, the town plays a vital role as the lower Columbia basin’s trading hub and a seasonal sport fishing tourism mecca. Visitors should ascend the 125-foot-high Astoria Column built atop Coxcomb Hill to witness unparalleled views of the adjoining area. When visiting the town, tourists must not miss the Oregon Film Museum, Astoria Fire House No. 2, Old Astoria City Hall, Liberty Theater, Astoria-Megler Bridge, Captain George Flavel House Museum, Fort George Brewery, and Columbia River Maritime Museum. Rest for the night at any of Astoria’s famed hotels: Lloyd Hotel Astoria Bayfront (Ascend Hotels Collection), Holiday Inn Express & Suites, or Hampton Inn & Suites.
Hood River
The administrative center of Northern Oregon’s Hood River County, Hood River occupies the heart of the Columbia River Gorge at the meeting of Hood and Columbia Rivers, approximately thirty miles north of the state’s tallest peak, Mount Hood. Nicknamed the “Windsurfing Capital of the World,” this picture-perfect town is an outdoor lover’s haven offering year-round recreational activities and serving as gateways to a major portion of the Columbia River Highway and Mount Hood Scenic Byway. As a first-class arts destination, the town has various art galleries. It hosts a public art walking tour in the downtown area, besides offering art enthusiasts an opportunity to visit the Columbia Center for the Arts and other museums like the Hood River County Historical Museum and the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. The Hood River Hotel and Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa provide visitors with excellent facilities. At the same time, the town’s uncountable wineries, microbreweries, eateries, and cideries serve agricultural foodstuffs from the adjacent farms, vineyards, and orchards. Annually, the town hosts the Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest, Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, Hood River Valley Blossom Time, Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim, and Hood River Hops Fest.
Sisters
Christened after the neighboring Three Sisters mountains, this adorable alpine town in Deschutes County is located roughly 154 miles southeast of Portland. Sisters’ thriving downtown district and its principal thoroughfare – Cascade Avenue, is jam-packed with specialty stores, contemporary art galleries, cozy cafes, varied shops, eccentric diners, and superb bed & breakfasts. Being the principal center of the Deschutes National Forest’s Sisters District, numerous hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking trails, such as the Suttle Lake trails and Peterson Ridge Trail, begin from the town and lead adventurers to the Three Sisters Wilderness area. Fun-filled events like the Sisters Rodeo, Sisters Glory Daze Car Show, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Artists Studio Tour, and Sisters Folk Festival draw thousands of revelers to the town annually.
Yachats
Affectionately called “The Gem of the Oregon Coast,” Yachats is a teeny Lincoln County town bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Central Oregon Coast Range to the east. Home to only 994 residents as per the latest US Census, the town’s name, Yachats, originates from the native Siletz language and means “dark water at the foot of the mountain.” However, instead of sandy beaches, as seen in most coastal towns, a large part of the Yachats’s shoreline is dominated by black basalt rock that has resulted in the formation of different sea landmarks such as Devil’s Churn, Spouting Horn, and Thor’s Well. Travelers must explore the 804 Trail, which continues as the Oregon Coast Trail past the beach’s 7-mile stretch and links with Amanda’s Trail, leading to the Oregon Coast’s highest point – Cape Perpetua. Downtown Yachats has an array of premier gift shops, art galleries, breweries, restaurants, and hotels like Overleaf Lodge & Spa, Fireside Motel, Adobe Resort, etc. Additionally, do check out some of the town’s noteworthy places of interest such as the Little Log Church & Museum, Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, Yachats Public Library, North Fork of the Yachats Bridge, Yachats Commons, and several natural areas like the Siuslaw National Forest, Yachats State Recreation Area, Yachats Community Park, Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site, Gerdemann Botanical Preserve, and Smelt Sands State Recreation Site.
Florence
Centrally placed on the Oregon Coast at the Siuslaw River’s mouth, this coastal town in Lane County is situated approximately halfway between Coos Bay and Newport. Initially settled by the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans, Florence is an ideal weekend retreat along U.S. Route 101 Highway and to the immediate north of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Holidayers must walk down the streets of the historic district and survey the landmark structures, independent shops, stylish boutiques, gift shops, museums like the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum and Oregon Coast Military Museum, diners, and luxury stay-ins such as the Three Rivers Casino & Resort, and Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center. The Siuslaw River Bridge, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Hobbit Trail, Darlingtonia State Natural Site, Sea Lion Caves, Sweet Creek Falls Trailhead, and the neighboring Jessie M. Honeymoon Memorial State Park are some of Florence’s must-visit attractions.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, called the “Covered Bridge Capital of the West,” is a small town of just 10,574 inhabitants located south of the junction between the Coast Fork Willamette River and Row River. Wedged between the Ocean and a national forest, the town flawlessly combines the peacefulness of a small town with all the modern amenities of large urban cities. The six covered bridges primarily lure sightseers: Centennial Covered Bridge, Mosby Creek Bridge, Dorena Bridge, Currin Bridge, Stewart Bridge, and Chambers Covered Bridge, all located within a short distance from Cottage Grove’s downtown. Take a walk through the downtown and peruse the art galleries, museums, award-winning restaurants, Cottage Theatre & the Opal Center for Arts and Education, and accommodations like the Best Western Cottage Grove Inn. During the warmer months, outdoor fanatics can trek the 8-mile-long Brice Creek Trail or head to gaze in wonder at the amazing waterfall and swimming hole-filled Umpqua National Forest. Cottage Grove hosts annual cultural events like the Bohemia Mining Days, Cottage Grove Half Marathon, Western Oregon Exposition Heritage Fair, Christmas Extravaganza, etc.
Baker City
Baker County’s administrative center, this postcard-pretty town named in honor of Edward Dickinson Baker, a U.S. Senator from Oregon, occupies the scenic Baker Valley between the Wallowa and Blue Mountains and along the Powder River. A tiny town on the historic Oregon Trail, Baker City has an excellently preserved downtown district that covers an area of about 42 acres and comprises more than 130 landmark buildings, including the Baker City Hall, Baker City Tower, Baker Heritage Museum, and Geiser Grand Hotel. The town’s other interesting attractions include the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Crossroads Art Center, and the town’s sole movie theater – Eltrym. Apart from being the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s headquarters, the town is a favorite spot for those proceeding along Interstate 84 highway and is a gateway to the adjacent Hells Canyon Recreation Area, Anthony Lakes Ski Area, Elkhorn Mountains, and Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. Yearly, the town hosts the Miners’ Jubilee, Salt Lick Art Auction, We Like ‘Em Short Film Festival, and Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally.
Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach is a serene waterfront community in Northern Oregon’s Tillamook County roughly 25 miles south of Cannon Beach. Originally founded as a seaside resort by the Rockaway Beach Company, tourists, at present, come to Rockaway Beach to benefit from the expansive open spaces and seven miles of spotless beaches offering abundant recreations like beachcombing, picnicking, flying, etc. Check out Rockaway Beach’s other noteworthy sites of interest, such as the Kelly’s Brighton Marina on Nehalem Bay, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Jetty Fishery Marina & RV Park, the Big Tree at the Cedar Wetlands Preserve, International Police Museum, Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site, and Rockaway Beach Surf Club. Rest for the night at any of the town’s top-class hotels like the Surfside Resort, Silver Sands Oceanfront Motel, Twin Rocks Motel, and Tradewinds Motel.
Jacksonville
Established as a mining camp during the Oregon Gold Rush in 1851-52, Jacksonville is situated in Jackson Creek Valley at the foot of Miller Mountain in west-central Jackson County, around 5 miles west of Medford. A notable former main financial center of Southern Oregon, a significant portion of the town is a part of the Jacksonville Historic District, featuring a collection of carefully maintained 19th-century landmark properties that make travelers nostalgic. The town’s shopping scene perfectly blends ancient and modern amenities, with the downtown having uncountable vintage stores, clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, bookstores, excellent restaurants, and luxury hotels like Wine Country Inn and McCully House Inn. Adventurists can discover over 16 miles of interlinked trails of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association Trails, while indoor-loving tourists must tour the Beekman House Museum, Peter Britt Gardens, Jacksonville Cemetery, Beekman Native Plant Arboretum, and Art Presence Center. Different musical performances held from June to September in a natural amphitheater as part of the Britt Music & Arts Festival attract hundreds of cultural enthusiasts from all over the globe.
Cannon Beach
Recognized as one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic, this Clatsop County town with 1,489 residents is a well-liked coastal Oregon resort destination. Christened after a naval cannon that swept up after a shipwreck, Cannon Beach is famed for the 235-foot-tall Haystack Rock, located just off the coast and protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Situated close to the intertidal sea stack are the Needles, which rise straight out of the water. The town’s other prominent site of interest – the Ecola State Park extends along the shoreline and offers sweeping coastal views, together with a huge network of hiking trails, walking pathways, picnic areas, and an opportunity to witness the varied wildlife in the surrounding tidepools and forests. Do take a stroll on the soft golden-sand beaches that lead to the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse at the Ecola Creek’s mouth, observe glass blowers at work in their studios, tour the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, attend live theater performances, browse the artworks of eminent Pacific Northwest artists in the local art galleries, reconnect with nature at the Haystack Hill State Park, Les Shirley Park, and Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site, and unwind after a hectic day at Surfsand Resort or the Inn at Haystack Rock. Yearly, the Stormy Weather Arts Festival, Fourth of July parade, sand castle building competition, and Spring Unveiling attract thousands to this artsy coastal village.
Joseph
Dubbed “Oregon’s Little Switzerland,” Joseph is a teeny mountain community in Northeast Oregon’s Wallowa County, encircled by the Hells Canyon in the north and east and the Wallowa Mountains in the south and west. Initially called Silver Lake and Lake City, the town was officially named in 1880 after Chief Joseph – the leader of the Wallowa band of the native Nez Perce tribe. Home to 1,154 residents, Joseph perfectly blends warm hospitality and Eastern Oregon’s extraordinary natural splendor with the creativeness of an artistic community. Due to the presence of the celebrated Valley Bronze foundry in Joseph, a large number of colossal bronze sculptures line the streets of the downtown, as well as the locally-owned stores and art galleries. Wallowa Lake’s sparkling blue-green waters provide for a tranquil escape.
In contrast, multiple outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking, camping, wildlife-watching, boating, paddleboarding, etc., are offered at the Wallowa Lake State Park. During summers, the Wallowa Lake Tramway takes holidayers to the top of Mount Howard, where one can get incredible views of the Wallowa Mountains and Wallowa Lake. Additionally, do survey the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowology – Natural History Discovery Center, Josephy Center for Arts & Culture, Nez Perce National Historic Park, Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, and Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site. Enjoy your stay at the Jennings Hotel & Sauna and the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast, and participate in the town’s fun-filled annual celebrations like Chief Joseph Days Rodeo and Oregon’s Alpenfest.
From the peaceful coastal town of Cannon Beach to Joseph - ‘Oregon’s Little Switzerland,’ the nation’s 9th largest and 27th most-populous state has countless small towns enchanting tourists with their distinctive auras. Each town with its spectacular sceneries, world-class recreations, vibrant festivals, fascinating attractions, and warm hospitality, provides unforgettable memories for locals and visitors alike. Embark on a fulfilling weekend trip with your dear ones and come and experience the magic of these Oregon towns.
