8 Adorable Small Towns In The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest stretches along the eastern coastline, from the wild Oregon beaches to Washington's state parks and mountains, and the enclosed Idaho with its own lakeside gems for the summer and a skiing through winter wonderland scene. With adorable towns aplenty, these eight small towns in every state with big hearts offer easy access to captivate first-time visitors through every sound, touch, and sight. Choose one for a refreshing summertime escape with all your favorite activities in the alpine atmosphere, pine-scented surroundings, or sea breeze of the PNW. From vibrant festivals to the local outdoor culture of cafes and farmers markets stretching to fresh air concerts and further into the playground in the nature around, it will quickly become your go-to town for any-season escape.
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Cottage Grove, an "All-America City" in 1968 and 2004 from one side, is also an adorable little town from the other, which could not be more fun to discover. With easy access just twenty minutes south of Eugene and Springfield, you can immerse yourself in the unique cultural blend unlike any other in the state, with live music along the streets and outdoor concerts, art and performing venues, and the local vibe at small-town eateries.
At the gateway for outdoor adventuring to both Oregon Wine Country and the Cascade foothills, you can whitewater raft in the morning, then clamber up a waterfall for a photoshoot, and soon be unwinding over a glass with prime views. Chase waterfalls in the south Willamette Valley, with seven wonderful cascades dispelling into forested streams between the Cascade Mountains and the Oregon Coast, with the most magnificent views during the springtime snowmelt.
Joseph, Oregon
This town in northeast Oregon screams of outdoor adventures through some of the most spectacular geography you'll ever witness, nestled in the breathtaking Wallowa Mountains. Visit the "Little Switzerland of America" for alpine views and fresh air through your daily perusal of the town's history, art, recreation, and agriculture. With a surrounding landscape second to none, Joseph is an unmissable biking destination, a photographer's dreamy escape, and a horse lover's paradise.
Find your niche among the feel-good pursuits aplenty, including the great outdoors, signature events, art walks, tastings, live music, dining like a king, and more. Culture fans seek out the specialty shops and galleries, including world-class fine art, local clothing, and baked goods. Relax on a getaway from it all, with low tourism, friendly locals, and the best accommodations, and let an old-timey atmosphere surround you to make the visit all the more special, with modern interiors, comforts, and services veiled in a vintage aura.
Ketchum, Idaho
This tiny town in the Wood River Valley is adorable through every season, offering to exchange the hustling city for an easy-going vibe and relaxation-inducing atmosphere. Visit Ketchum in October during the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, with fun memories to make for everyone in your clan. Choose from cooking classes, sheepdog competitions, wool workshops, and more, and gather together for the cute parade of 1,500 sheep marching down the main street.
Ketchum, a skiing destination at the nearby Bald Mountain, has something for everyone in between the snow shredding, with a noteworthy thoroughfare of restaurants serving specialty fares. Get a protein dish like bison or elk to refuel post-slopes and enjoy other only here experiences like local boutiques and fashion shops for unique outfit items, homeware memorabilia, and truly one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Make more memories through art galleries, bonding hikes and bike rides, and some solitude fishing time.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a scenically tucked-away, charming Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains with just over 2,000 residents and a whole lot of personality. Discover the rich cultural and natural offerings along its beautiful Wenatchee River banks on a summerscape with sparkling waters and downtown wanderings under the sun. With a definitive European feel and countless themed attractions, the adorable town has undergone a fascinating transformation and shown resilience over the years. It is fun to discover through every season, with highlights like festivals, skiing, and mountain biking.
The wonderful Waterfront Park is an outdoor playground for all ages, from riverside strolls to green spaces complete with sports fields and sledding hills in the winter. Stop by the fresh-air stage of the Leavenworth Summer Theater, with pine-infused air and alpine views adding the atmosphere to plays like "The Sound of Music." The Nutcracker Museum, with its thousands of century-old nutcrackers, complements a holiday visit. Join in the highly anticipated Maifest every spring, a Germanic celebration of music, dance, and food along the Bavarian-styled streets.
Manzanita, Oregon
The coastal town of Manzanita, only a 100-mile drive from the capital Salem or 85 from Portland, is an unmissable Oregon gem. Escape into the small town atmosphere with beaches for strolls and relaxation and all other outdoor pursuits with fantastic views of the Neahkahnie Mountain to the north. Let the town inspire you like it did Oswald West, the famous Oregon governor who declared the state's beaches to be forever open to the public for free enjoyment.f
The small heart of town packs big guns for the culinary experience of your life, including delightful bakery visits, fine dining, a wine and beer scene, and even gourmet grocery shopping. Enjoy easy access along the coast into an easy-going atmosphere with a remote feel where Mendocino will hold you captive until all the big city worries dissolve. Let the stress flow away with the waters along the endless Oregon Coast views, or calm your woes down over a refreshing forest hike before hitting the town with a clear head, ready to have fun.
McCall, Idaho
The mountain and lakeside town on Architectural Digest’s list attracts year-round tourists with picturesque views, some 100 miles north of Boise. The largest city in rural Valley County, with just over 4,000 residents living at 5,021 feet in elevation amid the towering, pine-covered mountains reaching 9,000 feet, is both adorable and breathtaking. McCall turns most lively during the summer, with tourists descending for numerous hiking and mountain biking trails around the southern shore of the beautiful Payette Lake.
The charming former logging town feels like one big summertime festival with Mardi Gras Parades, live music, comedy shows, art auctions, and activities by the lake. Enjoy boating, sailing, jet skiing, and swimming in Payette Lake and the world-class whitewater of the Payette River for kayaking and canoeing. McCall receives the highest average snowfall in the state, with the best snowmobiling and all kinds of skiing in an alpine atmosphere. Pack your gear for its 2,600 skiable acres with vertical drops up to 2,800 feet, or visit for the iconic Winter Carnival with 60,000 other attendees for captivating snow sculptures.
Mendocino, California
There's no town quite like Mendocino, with just over 700 locals living in the embrace of the Pacific Ocean. Complete with an adorable central area and headed by beautiful beaches, this NorCal town is a tourist magnet and a popular outdoor setting for many movies. Make Mendocino a PNW bucket list item that will satisfy any scenic craving for a small town appeal and your curiosity to see what it is all about. Immerse yourself in the local scenery downtown, in between restaurants, shops, and galleries.
With two nearby State parks and an artist's colony within, it makes for one fascinating little town in a picturesque setting to relax and create. The enchanting seaside locale is the fictitious Cabot Cove from Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury, where crime writer Jessica Fletcher famously lived. Choose one of the charming guest houses at the B&B in her TV series home, with a secluded beach for morning walks before breakfast and mid-day relaxation.
Sequim, Washington
This cute coastal town with parks on all sides along the Olympic Peninsula is beautiful in every way, particularly during the annual Lavender Festival. Sequim is not all nature but a pleasant downtown full of year-round attractions like a shopping scene, dining galore, and art places to peruse. Immerse yourself in the local culture through vibrant festivals that stretch under sunny skies all the way to the beautiful waterfront that beckons for drives with windows down to let in the sea breeze.
The Lavender Festival and scene delight new faces and keep loyal followers happy with the seasonal display of purple fields, which never gets old. Sequim sits relaxing in the Olympic Rain Shadow with fewer overcast days than anywhere else in the state to enjoy the bountiful outdoors to the fullest. Visit "Sunny Sequim" for the renowned festival, an outdoor cafe culture downtown, and established local businesses among new craft stores and boutiques. Grab a morning coffee or wake up late for a delicious lunch menu and make a day trip out of nearby Port Angeles or Port Townsend.
Even through the hot months of July and August, the PNW maintains pleasant temperatures through forests, wild beaches, and mountain foothills. As the summer wanes, the fall party mode begins with flashy colors that dance from the mountain forests to the river valleys. These towns in three PNW states celebrate every change in season with riotous scenery. Visit Leavenworth, Washington, for the most magical Christmas season in Bavaria. Oh, and don't forget to visit Sequim for the next season's Lavender play.
