Oregon is one of those states that captures your attention, steals the heart, and bewitches the mind. With beautiful cities and small towns all over the place, it’s home to many a quaint home and several historical sites.
If you want to travel and find all of the small towns, you can easily take any major highway and travel along the side roads to find the most enchanting small towns the state has to offer.
Astoria
Most aerial views of this tiny town will show the homes of the 10,000 citizens neatly tucked away into the forest and hills right on the coastline of Oregon. The small port town has Americana home stylings with very square modern buildings that take over downtown.
The major attractions for the area other than how beautiful it is are the many outdoor adventures as well as museums. From the Heritage Museum to the Oregon Film Museum, there’s something for everyone. Even with the guides available, there are outdoor adventures in the forest, on the water, and through hiking trails.
Hood River
The catch phrase of this small town is that it is easy to get to, but hard to leave. That couldn’t be more true! The area is surrounded by some top notch winter sports areas, forests, and of course the river itself.
The heart of the town is adventurous and open to those who want to travel to the city. The people are welcoming and there are a multitude of places to discover. From small shops such as The Ruddy Duck to beautiful meals along the Fruit Loop, you won’t find any other city that has the same availabilities as Hood River.
Silverton
If you are looking for somewhere where the hubbub dies down, the sounds of nature are nearby and the world is at peace then look no further than Silverton. The town is very small with some citizens living amongst the hills and mountains. There are few hotels with probably the most quantity being the Prairie House Inn and Cowboy Coffee.
One of the main attractions is the Garden City Resort where you can take time and space away from the craziness of life.
Cottage Grove
Much like Silverton, Cottage Grove is one of the small towns smack dab in the middle of the forest, surrounded by nature and ready for you to come adventure or rest. There are several hiking trails around the area and there are also many places to stop and eat.
While there aren’t major commercial attractions, the city events are perfect for the local music aficionado. With performances as often as possible, it’s a great place to stop in and rest a while.
Cannon Beach
All you need to do is answer one question: do you love the water? If that’s the case then you want to head to this beachside town as fast as you can. Not only are they right on the water, but the city has multiple museums, a blossoming food trail and a delicious beer trail. If that’s not your style, there are guided walks, fishing trips and more to tantalize every taste bud.
McMinnville
Here’s an oxymoron for you: With 34,000 people, McMinnville is still considered a small town even if it is the largest city in its county. Aerial views show the city nestled in the heart of the mountains and vineyards.
Local commerce focuses on tourism, vineyards and travel. There are also several aeronautical museums in the city that house massive planes and demonstrate the varied history of the town.
Conclusion
From enjoying the psychedelic to adventuring in one of the most beautiful areas, Oregon’s small towns are truly enchanting. This list only provides a few of the many small towns that surround the state and draw in people from all over to visit.
When you visit Oregon next, stop by one of these gorgeous cities. In each, you are going to find a kind attitude, open arms, and more history than you can shake a stick at. Als, be sure to try out the many kinds of foods in each town: you won’t be sorry!