There is something special about the Pacific Northwest. Even if you’ve lived here your whole life, you’ll sometimes get the feeling you’ve fallen into a landscape painting. For visitors, that feeling hits hard, and it lingers well after you’ve left. Fortunately, you don’t need a big budget to experience it.
A memorable trip doesn’t need to be about spending money, especially if you know what to look for. Be it volcanic peaks, old-growth forest, wild coastline, or river valleys, the region packs more scenery per square mile than almost anywhere in the country. These are ten places you won’t want to miss.
Leavenworth, Washington
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You don’t need to have been to the Alps to see the resemblance. Leavenworth looks like it was airlifted from the Bavarian highlands and gently dropped between two mountain ranges in the eastern Cascades. Hiking trails fan out in every direction, not to mention the ice-cold and gorgeous Wenatchee River running through town and affordable lodging outside peak festival weekends.
Winthrop, Washington
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Built in the image of an Old West frontier town, Winthrop sits in the Methow Valley with some of the most dramatic sky you will find in the state. The place is popular among cross-country skiers in winter and cyclists and hikers in summer. The town is somewhat off the beaten path, compared to other popular tourist attractions, so you can expect reasonable prices here.
Port Townsend, Washington
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A Victorian seaport located at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend has more ornate 19th-century architecture than most towns ten times its size. The views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca are free, and the ferry ride to get there is as cheap as it is fun. The arts community keeps things lively and within budget.
La Conner, Washington
Sitting on the Swinomish Channel with the majestic Cascade Range in the backdrop, La Conner is Washington’s prettiest waterfront small town most people have never visited. The waterfront is lined with galleries and restaurants that won’t make you break the bank, and the whole thing is walkable in an afternoon. Spring brings Skagit Valley tulip fields that stretch to the horizon in every direction.
Anacortes, Washington
When people go to the San Juan Islands, they usually pass through Anacortes. Their mistake is not stopping. If you’re looking to get the most out of every dollar, you can save a pretty penny by spending the night in Anacortes and ferrying to the islands. It will cost you a fraction of what you would pay to spend the night on any of the islands. Moreover, there’s a lively marina district and forested parks with amazing saltwater views.
Astoria, Oregon
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Perched where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, Astoria offers plenty of views, from Victorian hillside houses to a soaring bridge, as well as ocean-adjacent scenery, for less than the resort towns further down the coast. The Astoria Column provides a 360-degree panorama of river, mountains, and sea for virtually nothing.
Hood River, Oregon
Flanked by Mount Hood and Mount Adams, Hood River sits in the Columbia River Gorge that separates Oregon and Washington. Windsurfers and kiteboarders fill the river waters during summer afternoons while the orchards take up the hillsides. The place is still affordable enough to make a long weekend relaxing.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
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Haystack Rock alone earns a trip, but Cannon Beach offers much more in terms of attractions – tide pools, miles of wide sandy beach, forested headlands, and a charming town with galleries and bakeries just two blocks from the water. Shoulder season rates are a fraction of what summer commands.
Joseph, Oregon
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Nicknamed “Oregon Alps”, Joseph sits at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, and the views justify every mile of the long drive. Once you’re there, bronze sculpture galleries line the main street, and Wallowa Lake, right outside town, is perfect for boating and hiking, not to mention the jaw-dropping reflections of the peaks you can see in its waters.
Index, Washington
Index is barely a town. It’s home to a few hundred people and a lone general store. Here, the North Fork Skykomish River runs green and cold near the road, while the granite wall of Mt. Index looms directly over the valley, giving climbers and hikers one of the most striking natural backdrops in the entire state at essentially zero cost to visit.
