No matter what part of Washington you call home, sometimes a change of scenery is essential. And when you want to head to a place that's peaceful and quiet without going entirely off the grid, we highly suggest heading to the tiny town of Elbe.
Elbe is located in Pierce County on Highway 7 next to the Nisqually River, just past Alder Lake.
Enjoy a two-hour ride on a steam powered train. Admission to the museum is included in your ticket price. The train rides operate Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and sometimes the railroad company has special events, like the Polar Express in the winter.
And when it's time to really go off the grid, head to Mt. Rainier National Park.
The Nisqually Entrance is a quick 20 minute drive from Elbe. This park is one of the prettiest places on Earth, so allow plenty of time for exploration.
Sometimes a refreshing and relaxing weekend away is just what we need to recharge. And if you're ready to move to a quieter community, try living in one of these Washington towns.
If you do a search for the best small towns in Washington, there are so many suggestions that, while it is a compliment to this state, it makes it hard to know where to start. So, let’s begin with a scenic drive around the northwest part of the state that offers a little bit of everything. You’ll travel through the beautiful Cascade Mountains, along the Columbia River, and into Puget Sound, visiting little towns along the way that are full of charm, history, and cool things to do. I’ve included a great option for an overnight stay in each place so you can decide how long you want to hang out in each town, how to break up the trip, etc.
The entire trip covers 367 miles and just over seven hours of driving time, with the towns spaced out along the route and plenty of scenery in between. Click on the map for directions or to customize your trip.
We are starting our journey in the Old West, or at least it feels that way. The remote little town of Winthrop has a long, rich history that goes back well beyond the arrival of gold-seeking settlers in the 1800s. Though most of what you see now was part of a major Western-themed restoration in the 1970s, the spirit of this historic town has remained intact. Stroll the wooden boardwalk to visit the galleries, shops, and restaurants in town, and consider a stop at Old Schoolhouse Brewery for a cold beer and maybe some live music right on the Chewuch River. If you decide to spend the night in Winthrop, check out the comfy cottages at River’s Edge Resort; they each have a private deck with a hot tub overlooking the river!
Next, we head south along the Columbia River and into the mountains. Once a humble logging town, the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth is now one of the most charming towns in the state. With the stunning architecture and majestic mountains surrounding the town, you may have to remind yourself that you are not, in fact, in the Alps. As you can imagine, Leavenworth is beyond dreamy in the winter, with snow on the mountains and twinkling lights all over town, but this is a stunning place to visit any time of year.
You’ll enjoy incredible food and drink, horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown, and events happening throughout the year. Make sure you go to The Gingerbread Factory, a 30-year-old landmark bakery offering up all sorts of homemade goodies (and lunches, too!) Carry over those Alpine vibes with an overnight stay at the beautiful Abendblume bed and breakfast, voted “Leavenworth’s Finest Lodging.”
Our next stop is the itty-bitty historic town of Roslyn. If you were a fan of the show "Northern Exposure," (am I dating myself when I say I was?), what most of us thought was a little town in Alaska was, in fact, filmed in Roslyn. It won’t take long to explore the town, but it is definitely worth a stop. From a cool movie theater to a historic brewery to a Sunday farmers market, there is plenty to do for the day. Stop at Basecamp Books and Bites, a coffee bar and bookshop with a speakeasy downstairs. Or grab a bite and a cold one at The Brick Saloon, the oldest continuously operating bar in Washington. If you’re a history buff, be sure to visit the Roslyn Museum.
advertisement
Just about halfway between Roslyn and our next town, you could take a short detour (it will add about 4 miles and 15 minutes to your trip) to see the amazing Snoqualmie Falls!
About 30 miles south of Tacoma near the foot of Mount Rainier, you’ll come to Eatonville, a quaint, laid-back town surrounded by natural beauty. The walkable downtown is full of character and home to shops, galleries, restaurants, vintage and antique shops, and more to discover. Just outside of town is a cool opportunity to experience life as it was for Native Americans and early settlers at the Pioneer Farm Museum & Ohop Indian Village. Eatonville is also known as a gateway to Mount Rainier National Park, so there are endless ways to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of this area. You could easily spend more than one day here and a historic townhouse in downtown Eatonville makes a perfect home base.
Poulsbo
Poulsbo’s historic Little Norway is one of the Kitsap Peninsula’s favorite and most popular destination for visitors of all ages and interests.
We’ll end our trip along Liberty Bay in Washington’s “Little Norway,” the town of Poulsbo. Explore the walkable historic downtown area near the water on Front Street. It is incredibly cute and lined with lots of charming cafes and coffee houses, book and vintage shops, art galleries and museums, and boutique shops. Duck into a winery, brewery, or cider house for drinks, grab some treats from a chocolatier, and dine at one of the many restaurants offering nearly any kind of cuisine you’re craving. And be sure to take a stroll along the scenic Liberty Bay waterfront boardwalk. Not ready to head home just yet? Book a Scandinavian-themed stay at the charming boutique inn, Hotel Scandi, right on Front Street.
Are you ready to hit the road? Share this article with a travel buddy, grab the keys and some road trip snacks (a necessity, obviously), and head off on your next scenic small town adventure in Washington!
Some people think Leavenworth, Washington, is the next best thing to Bavaria. Whatever your opinion of the failing-railroad-town-turned-German-village may be, we can all agree on one thing: At Christmastime, this charming town is downright enchanting. In fact, this is the best Main Street at Christmas in Washington, and it might just remind you of something straight out of a holiday film. Ready to explore a Leavenworth, Washington Christmas with us? Then let's go!
advertisement
Leavenworth's Main Street, Commercial Street, is a ridiculously charming place to explore in any season...
Aerial view of Leavenworth, Washington at twilight
The city council works hard to turn this charming Washington town into a snow globe every winter. From Thanksgiving until the last day of February, Leavenworth, Washington is brightly lit with more than 500,000 Christmas lights. It is known as the Village of Lights and it is such an enchanting experience that it often receives national — and even international — attention.
leavenworth,Washington,usa.-02/14/16: beautiful leavenworth with lighting decoration in winter.
When snow covers the ground, it's easy to see why Leavenworth is the most dazzling winter town in Washington State. There's so much to discover in this wonderful magical place.
You will love exploring the Christkindlemarkt in late November. This Bavarian-style Christmas Market can't be missed. There's also an exciting Bavarian Ice Festival in mid-January and the Timbrrr! Music Festival in late January.
However, the Village of Lights is certainly the season's most popular event. And, fortunately, because the Village of Lights typically stays up until February, you can go late in the season if you'd like to avoid the crowds. In fact, the locals recommend coming during the week if you can, so you can walk through the village without sharing the space with thousands of other Leavenworth visitors. There truly is nothing quite like Leavenworth Main Street at Christmas.
Along with the fantastic shopping and seasonal events, kids (and the young at heart) enjoy sledding and tubing on the Leavenworth Ski Hill right in the heart of town. There are also activities for the entire family during the holidays in Leavenworth, Washington such as visits with Santa, entertainment in the gazebo, and a gingerbread house exhibition.
USA, Washington State, Chelan County, Leavenworth
Leavenworth isn't always easy to reach in the winter. But if you can make it, you'll never forget it. If Mother Nature doesn't deliver snow in time, the city may even bring out the snow machine to make sure everyone feels the holiday magic. There's really nothing else quite like this in the country.
Leavenworth is absolutely incredible this time of year ... but then again, there's never a bad time to visit this wonderful destination! For more information, check out the Leavenworth, Washington website, as well as the Visit Leavenworth, WA Facebook page.
Have you spent Christmas in Leavenworth, Washington? If so, what was your experience like? Would you agree that the holidays in Leavenworth are truly magical? Share your thoughts with us!
If you are looking for even more winter fun in Washington, check out our list featuring several of our favorite destinations and things to do. There's no reason to stay bundled indoors during the colder months of the year.
