If 2025 was all about the buzziest destinations and most novel experiences, 2026 could shape up to be a cozier and quieter year of travel in the Pacific Northwest.
The annual Northwest Travel Guide once again offers 25 of the best places to go and things to see around the region, but this year there’s an emphasis on small towns and remote getaways.
Yes, there are great reasons to visit Seattle and Portland in 2026, but there are also so many quiet destinations — places where you can relax under the stars, go fishing in a mountain river, or look for hidden glass floats on the beach.
Sometimes the wider world can feel like a lot. This year, take the opportunity to get very, very far away from it all. Go outside. Turn off your phone. Find yourself in a beautiful place. Soak it all up. By the time you get back home, you’ll probably feel a whole lot better.
Here’s where you can find your happy place this year.
Places
Neskowin
Neskowin almost seems designed to be overlooked (and if not for the emergence of the ghost forest, it might still be). The tiny hamlet on the north Oregon coast has only one sit-down restaurant and one place to shop. But if you can manage to book one of the many darling cottages or condos in town, you’ll quickly see the appeal: With nothing to do but relax by the beach, Neskowin is one of the coast’s best places to unwind.
Sisters
Sisters is buzzing with activity right now. The small town in central Oregon (often considered Bend’s little sister) is becoming a hub for astrotourism and has seen a number of local businesses begin to expand beyond city limits, including Sisters Coffee Company and Sisters Meat & Smokehouse. With a ridiculous number of outdoor recreation opportunities close to town, it’s a great base camp for summer adventures.
Nehalem
For years, Nehalem was something of a drive-through town on the north Oregon coast, lost in the shuffle between Manzanita and Rockaway Beach. But recently the tiny town has seen a resurgence, with a main street full of interesting local businesses. Between the pinball arcade, the vintage stores, the chowder and ice cream shop, the darling boutiques and one of the best fish and chips carts in Oregon, you could easily spend a full day in town.
Cottage Grove
Found just south of Eugene, Cottage Grove is one of Oregon’s best little towns, particularly in the fall. That’s in large part due to the sheer number of charming covered bridges in and around the town, which look so romantic when framed with fall foliage. The town is also a gateway to some lesser-visited Cascade Mountain destinations along Row River and Brice Creek.
Seattle
Portlander’s might not like to hear it, but Seattle remains one of the region’s best urban destinations. The biggest city in the Pacific Northwest already had a lot going for it, but now it has the new Waterfront Park, 20 acres of walking and biking paths full of public art installations along Elliot Bay. Take the train into the city, see the park, and then take the ferries to neighboring islands for an idyllic Northwest getaway.
Outdoors
Whale watching in Depoe Bay
You don’t need to go to Baja or Alaska for good whale watching. While most of the gray whales that swim past Oregon each year are going between those two places, several stop to spend the summer just offshore of Depoe Bay, where they feed on tons of tiny mysid shrimp. Whale watching companies have popped up alongside the whales, giving tourists a chance to get a closer look at the peaceful cetaceans.
Cascade Lakes Relay
While Hood to Coast gets all the attention, Oregon’s other mammoth relay race is worth your time. The Cascade Lakes Relay is 216-mile race across central Oregon that is done in teams who, like Hood to Coast, seem to be in it mostly for the experience of running through some of the state’s most scenic mountain views (unless you pull the night shift). Runners in search of another challenge should get a team together in time for this year’s event June 26-27.
McKenzie River Trail
One of the most scenic long-distance hiking trails in Oregon, the 26.4-mile McKenzie River Trail passes by some of the most stunning Cascade Mountain scenery, including well-known landmarks Clear Lake and Blue Pool, as well two different hot springs and several major waterfalls. Summer wildfires have come close to burning the trail twice in the last three years, so consider going in late spring or early summer.
Whitewater rafting on the White Salmon River
After the Condit Dam was removed in 2011, the White Salmon River once again ran freely from Mount Adams to the Columbia River. Whitewater rafters and kayakers showed up immediately. The river in southwest Washington has since gained a reputation as one of the best in the region (alongside the neighboring Little White Salmon River), full of class II, III and IV rapids that flow through narrow basalt canyons carved through the Cascade Mountains. Find one of several local outfitters who can take you on a guided trip you’ll never forget.
Ride the Rim at Crater Lake
The 33-mile bike ride around Crater Lake is one of Oregon’s greatest adventures. There are, of course, the incredible views from every angle along Rim Drive, which circumnavigates the lake, but there is also the sheer challenge of biking the mountain road, which includes 3,800 feet of elevation gain throughout. The best way to do it is at the annual Ride the Rim event, when cars are not allowed on Rim Drive, though it can be done any time the road is open. This year’s event has not been announced, but it typically takes place in early September.
Lodging
Steamboat Inn
Once a remote fishing lodge, the Steamboat Inn has become the go-to place to stay on the North Umpqua River, where you can find great fly fishing and beautiful scenery. Whether you’re hiking, biking or driving through the area, the riverside lodge and restaurant is a good base camp for days spent chasing waterfalls or relaxing by the water. While some accommodations are open year-round, the best time to visit is between March and November, when cabins and the on-site restaurant are all open.
Steamboat Inn is open March-November, with some accommodations open year-round; 42705 N. Umpqua Hwy., Idleyld Park; to book a room visit thesteamboatinn.com or call 541-498-2230.
Lightwell Hotel
The newest lodging in the Columbia River Gorge, the Lightwell Hotel is poised to become a main hub of tourism in Hood River. Located in a historic building in the middle of town, the 69-room boutique hotel offers relatively affordable rooms as well as dining, a bar and a convenience store. There’s an underground spa with a soaking pool and sauna, as well as a rooftop deck with great Columbia River views.
Lightwell Hotel is open year-round; 201 Cascade Ave., Hood River; to book a room visit lightwellhotel.com or call 541-436-4860.
Timberline Lodge
The historic lodge on the slopes of Mount Hood is easily one of Oregon’s best-known, and for that reason it’s easy to overlook. A stay at Timberline — whether you’re there during ski season or in the height of summer — is a bucket list experience in the Pacific Northwest. The rooms might feel a little dated (you could also call that “charming”), but the views are unmatched and the recently reopened outdoor heated pool is a great amenity.
Timberline Lodge is open year-round; 27500 E. Timberline Road, Government Camp; to book a room visit timberlinelodge.com or call 503-272-3311.
The Society Hotel in Bingen
“Oh, you haven’t stayed at The Society?” your cool friends ask. “You have to go.” There’s been a lot of buzz around the little hotel and spa in the small town of Bingen on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, which offers simple, affordable rooms — and a spa! — in one of the most scenic places in the region. Listen to your cool friends and check it out this year.
The Society Hotel is open year-round; 210 Cedar St., Cook; to book a room visit thesocietyhotel.com or call 509-774-4437.
The Allison Inn & Spa
The Allison Inn has become one of Oregon’s premier luxury hotels, recently earning a spot on a list of the best places to stay in the world. According to U.S. News & World Report, the Willamette Valley wine country hotel “offers the perfect retreat from urban life,” with “acres of lush gardens and vineyards ready to be explored.” The report also praised The Allison’s restaurant, spa and rooms, which have recently been refreshed. The Jory, the hotel restaurant, has earned accolades itself.
The Allison Inn & Spa is open year-round; 2525 Allison Lane, Newberg; to book a room visit theallison.com or call 503-554-2525.
Attractions
Finders Keepers
Have you ever wanted to find hidden treasure on the Oregon coast? Finders Keepers is your best bet. The hidden glass float hunt takes place daily on the beaches of Lincoln City, though organizers host several “special drops” throughout the year, when dozens of floats are hidden at a time. It’s a great excuse to explore the beaches of the central Oregon coast — not that you needed another excuse. To find a float, look between the high tide line and the dunes.
Hawk Creek Gallery
Oregon coast artist Michael Schlicting was born and raised in Neskowin, and for the last 47 years he’s been operating the only attraction in town: the Hawk Creek Gallery. Built in a historic schoolhouse, the gallery features work from the prolific artist, who specializes in acrylic paintings of coastal landscapes — though his recent output has expanded to colorful still life paintings and more abstract pieces, including from his time spent in Italy.
Hawk Creek Gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily in summer, on weekends in spring and fall, closed in the winter; 4800 Schoolhouse Road, Neskowin; 503-392-3879.
Portland Art Museum
This is the Portland Art Museum’s year. With the grand opening of the $116 million Rothko Pavilion, the museum is betting big on downtown Portland tourism. It might work. The 24,000 square-foot addition connects two disparate halves of the museum, essentially adding up to one massive expansion. Even if you’ve been to the Portland Art Museum before, you owe yourself another visit this year.
The Portland Art Museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; $27.50 for adults, $24.50 for seniors, free for kids; 1219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland; 503-226-2811.
Seattle’s new Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park has been decades in the making. After diverting the downtown highway underground and demolishing the old Alaskan Way Viaduct, the city of Seattle spent $800 million on the 20-acre urban park, which finally opened in September. The park along Elliot Bay features public art installations, native plant gardens, and walking and biking paths, with access to some of the city’s best attractions — as well as ferries that run to nearby islands. The park is poised to become the main hub of tourism for the city.
Shaniko Days
If you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself into Old West Oregon, Shaniko Days is the time to do it. The three-day festival, which takes place in the tiny town of Shaniko, features mock gun fights in addition to live music, food vendors and special events. Last year’s Shaniko Days also featured the opening of an old timey saloon. Organizers haven’t announced the dates for 2026, but it typically takes place at the beginning of August.
Road Trips
Small town bakeries
What better way to explore a region than through its small town bakeries? While taste-testing the local croissants, biscuits and rolls, you can sit back with a cup of coffee and get a flavor of the local town. In Oregon, you can take a local bakery tour to the coast, via places like Sea Level and Bread & Roses, to eastern Oregon’s Sweet Wife Baking or out to Bend, home to half a dozen good bakeries.
Oregon Outback
The Oregon Outback is getting a lot of attention these days, thanks largely to the booming world of astrotourism. As it turns out, the southeast corner of the state is one of the best places in the country for stargazing, with wide open landscapes that fall under especially dark skies. A proper road trip through the Oregon Outback should include stops at Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert, but don’t forget about Summer Lake or Diamond, home of the Pete French Round Barn.
Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon might have been named one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon if it was a little easier to get to. A visit to the deepest river gorge in North America (yes, it’s deeper than the Grand Canyon) means a big road trip for most Oregonians. First, you need to drive out to the town of Joseph in the northeast corner of the state — almost a six-hour haul from Portland. From there, the famous Hat Point Overlook is another two hours down rough gravel roads. But once you see the views, you won’t regret the journey. Get yourself into a car with good suspension and take the time to make the trip out there.
Grand Coulee
Grand Coulee, the ancient riverbed that stretches some 60 miles through central Washington, is a classic American road trip destination, with several interesting and quirky pit stops along the way. While the Grand Coulee Dam is the big attraction, there’s also the fascinating Dry Falls viewpoint, the Gehrke Windmill Garden, and massive Lake Roosevelt on the upper Columbia River just above the dam.
Least-visited Oregon state parks
While many road trips lead to some of the best and busiest state parks in Oregon, a trip to the state’s least-visited parks is another fun way to explore. Found in remote regions of Oregon, and often offering little more than a picnic area or a quiet riverside, these little parks can nonetheless lead to some fun surprises. At the very least, it’s a great excuse to travel off the beaten path, to places you would never go otherwise.
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