SIX best small towns to visit in Washington state: A mini guide for destination explorers
Nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound waterfront, Washington’s many small towns are worth your attention. Whether you’re looking for trendy boutiques, historical museums, or access to Evergreen state’s best adventures, Washington’s best small towns have their unique style and motifs to visit, yet all share the same characteristics of stunning scenery, community friendly and many things to do all year round.
It is why we bring you today the best weekend getaways in Washington State that deserve your attention.
Leavenworth
Leavenworth came into existence in the early 1900s as a small timber community, and when the railroad made its way to nearby Wenatchee in the 1920s, the community broke away completely. To promote tourism, community leaders at that time refurbished the town. A new lifestyle has also arrived with the new look, embracing the Bavarian spirit in outdoor recreation, food and celebration, making Leavenworth one of the most popular small towns in the entire state of Washington. The mountains that give Leavenworth its impressive backdrop also offers adventure activities such as mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rock climbing and skiing all year round.
Elba
About 13 miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park, Elbe is an extremely small town. A popular place to stay in Elba is the Hobo Inn. It has the largest collection of railway carriages in North America, offering tourists a glimpse into the past. Each overnight guest has their personal caboose, fully furnished for sleeping.
To complement your visit to Elba, the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is a must see and do. It departs Elbe and takes passengers along its 14-mile loop, crossing the glacier-fed Upper Nisqually River and making an hour-long pit stop at the Mt. Railroad and Rainiest Loggia Museum.
Sequim
Just a short drive between Port Townsend and Port Angeles, Sequim is one of many scenic locations on the Olympic Peninsula. This marine-inspired community hosts an annual Lavender Festival. Sequim only receives an average of 16 inches of rain a year. Sequim boasts several local coffee shops, such as Hurricane Coffee Co, as well as many other unique shopping opportunities, all surrounded by ocean waters and the Olympic Mountains. A short drive to the north, you can find the picturesque New Dungeness Lighthouse.
Chelan
While the town of Chelan has plenty of restaurants to visit, including the local favorite Apple Cup Cafe, it’s really the easy access to outdoor adventures that puts it on the map. With miles of hiking and biking trails starting from the city, Chelan’s real draw comes from adjacent Lake Chelan, which stretches 55 miles into the Cascade Mountains, making it the largest natural lake in the nation. Lake Chelan offers ample opportunities for water activities, including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and boat rentals.
The Conner
A major tourist destination, the waterfront village of La Conner in the heart of Washington’s Skagit Valley is the perfect storm of Pacific Northwest beauty, community, and ample access to outdoor recreation. The La Conner Daffodil Festival and Skagit Valley Tulip Festival draws crowds from all over the world each spring, and painters and artists can be found trying to emulate the different tones of La Conner that bloom throughout the year.
Gig Harbor
Just 12 miles northwest of Tacoma, connected by the Tacoma Narrows Bridge across the Puget Sound, Gig Harbor sits in a bay of the same name and is perhaps the most picturesque city in the United States. Much of this stunning scenery is thanks to its historic downtown waterfront, with an abundance of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants, as well as Gig Harbor’s proximity to scenic areas like State Park and City Park. Many tourists visit the Port Historical Museum with the magnificent view of Mount Rainier.
