8 Underappreciated Towns to Visit in Washington

Home to multiple volcanoes, a statewide ferry system, and well over one hundred state parks, Washington State is a popular year-round travel destination. Washington’s major cities, including Seattle and the capital of Olympia, boast galleries and museums, theaters, and more.

But beyond the bounds of those major metropolitan areas, Washington State has a wide variety of small towns that all have something unique to offer. From nationally renowned lavender fields to vintage trains and places only accessible by boat or plane, here are eight underappreciated towns to visit the next time you find yourself in Washington.

Sequim

Renowned as the “Lavender Capital of North America,” Sequim, Washington is a small-town gem. All summer long, the Sequim-Dungeness Valley wears the sweet perfume of the lavender fields in full bloom.

If you want to get your fill of lavender ice cream and other fun floral creations, make sure to visit during the annual Sequim Lavender Weekend. Held on the third weekend of every July, this popular free festival features a street fair atmosphere with over one hundred artists, artisans, food vendors, and live music.

If the great outdoors calls to you, Sequim connects to the massive Olympic Discovery Trail.

Spanning dozens of miles, this trail affords hiking, camping, and a whole host of other outdoor activities for both the casual daytripper and the more serious backpacker alike.

Elbe

Elbe is the smallest town on this list of charming, underappreciated places to visit in Washington, and it’s a railroad enthusiast’s dream come true. Elbe has embraced its long history with the railroad industry, focusing many of its quirky offerings around trains.

The Hobo Inn, which has one of the largest collections of cabooses in the country, has turned many of its train cars into actual hotel rooms. What better way to live out your train-riding hobo fantasies than to stay overnight in an actual converted rail car?

Once you’ve snagged your room and set down your bags, head out into Mount Rainier National Park to spend the day in the great wide open. Then, be sure to stop in town to dine in even more railroad-themed establishments

Anacortes

Situated right up against Washington’s incredibly popular Deception Pass State Park, Anacortes is known for its absolutely stunning vistas. On Fidalgo Island in Puget Sound, it offers a whole host of outdoor activities, from fishing in Whistle Lake to sunning yourself on the beach to tackling a hiking trail.

Fidalgo Island is easy to reach via Washington’s statewide ferry system. Known for its mild climate, it’s a great place to visit year-round. Camping sites are plentiful, and there's always something fun and entertaining to do while you’re there.

Sumner

Sumner’s unique geography is just one of its many attractions, as it is on a lahar, a deposit of volcanic debris estimated to be nearly 500 years old. A short drive from the thriving hubbub of Seattle, Sumner offers a slower pace and a classic small-town feel. Touted as “The Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World,” you can grab a slice in one of the many charming Main Street restaurants and cafes any day of the week.

Year-round attractions include historic walking tours, the annual Daffodil Parade every spring, Halloween festivities, winter fireworks, and the Sumner Link Trail to hike in the summer.

Centralia

Aptly named, Centralia sits almost directly between Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, giving it a unique mix of big-city and small-town flavors.

With popular antique malls, active theater life, and a variety of museums, Centralia offers a sophisticated array of restaurants, shopping, culture, and nightlife in its historic downtown district. And if shopping is the name of your game, then you absolutely cannot miss the famed Centralia Factory Outlets.

Centralia is also well known for its nearby state parks and all of their outdoor amenities and activities. Fort Borst State Park, for example, has walking trails, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and a boat ramp onto the Chehalis River. Other parks include Rotary Riverside Park and Fuller’s Twin City Skate Park.

Eastsound

Located on Orcas Island, Eastsound is yet another historic and charming small town. Serving as the downtown area and social hub for the island, Eastsound is a quaint and walkable village filled with small boutique businesses, restaurants, and museums.

Popular with cyclists, Eastsound’s rougher terrain offers a nice challenge to biking enthusiasts. If something a little more sedate is your speed, you can book a whale watching tour or rent a kayak through one of a number of local charter and tour companies.

Lovely and engaging, Eastsound is a must-see.

Walla Walla

If you’re a wine enthusiast, maybe you’ve already heard about Walla Walla, the biggest small town on this list. It’s popularly known as the center of wine country in Washington State. And rightfully so, since it’s almost bursting at the seams with wineries, tasting rooms, and restaurants serving locally sourced and -produced vintages.

While you’re treating yourself to some fine dining, be sure to check out the annual Walla Walla Balloon Stampede. This yearly show features hordes of hot air balloons, evening events, tethered rides for kids, and lots of delicious food trucks.

Once named “The Friendliest Small Town” by USA Today, Walla Walla is a fun and funky mix of culture, sophistication, and down-home charm.

Stehekin

Delightfully secluded, Stehekin is the tiniest of small towns on this list, with a year-round population of less than a hundred people. That number expands quite a lot during the summer, however, when those in the know point themselves toward this little isolated unincorporated township at the northwest point of Lake Chelan.

Inaccessible by roads, visitors come by plane, boat, and even by foot or horseback to enjoy all the hiking, fishing, boating, and many other natural delights Stehekin has to offer. One of the most popular natural attractions is Rainbow Falls, inside Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, which falls for nearly 400 feet.

Remote but far from lonely, Stehekin is ideal for both adventurers and those seeking a bit of relaxing downtime in the great outdoors.

Discover Washington’s Hidden Gems

Washington has long been known for its unique natural and historical landmarks, including dozens of endearing, and sometimes under the radar, small towns. There’s a little bit of something for anyone who sets their sights on traveling to the Pacific Northwest. Cultural tourists can find vineyards, museums, galleries, and theaters. Lovers of the outdoors have their choice of hiking and biking trails, fishing, sailing, and camping opportunities. No matter what you’re into, chances are good, you can find what you’re looking for in a vibrant small town in Washington State.