If you live in Washington state year-round, you know how special our summers are. The great weather this time of year opens up a window of opportunity to explore our state, especially mountain towns that are drenched in rain or covered by snow for much of the year. These small communities provide the perfect jump off point for an endless amount of outdoor activities that include hiking, biking, camping, golfing, fishing, boating and kayaking as well as summer concerts and festivals. Here are 5 mountain towns that we highly recommend checking out this summer (in no particular order).
Winthrop
Photo by Travis
The town of Winthrop will take you back to the Wild West with it’s wood boardwalks and western-styled buildings. The town is located on the North Cascades Scenic Byway in Washington’s beautiful Methow Valley and offers a wide range of outdoor activities and summer festivals.
Roslyn
Photo by Brian Holsclaw
Roslyn may be best known as the town of Cicely Alaska in the popular TV show Northern Exposure which aired in the 1990s. However, the real history of Roslyn goes back to the 1800s when coal mining was the economic focus. These days, tourism drives the economy, and with mountain activities, a nearby lake and the massive resort of Suncadia, it’s easy to see why.
Chelan
Photo by Teresa Trimm
The scenic resort community of Chelan is located in North Central Washington and sits at the south end of Lake Chelan, the largest lake in the state. In addition to the obvious lake activities, Chelan is surrounded by mountains, which provide an array of activities as unique as the people who come here to visit.
Leavenworth
Photo by The Wu’s Photo Land
Leavenworth is one of the most popular mountain towns in Washington. Nestled in the heart of the Cascades along Highway 2, this Bavarian themed town offers just about every type of outdoor activity. But if you just want to stay in town, you will have plenty to do as Leavenworth has a seemingly endless calendar of events and festivals throughout the summer.
Darrington
Photo by Curtis Cronn
Darrington is located about 90 miles northeast of Seattle at the base of the North Cascades. About 1,400 people call Darrington home. In addition to world class outdoor recreation, music festivals & events, Darrington is also part of the Mountain Loop Scenic Byway, a 55 mile route leads into the heart of the Cascades along the scenic Sauk and Stillaguamish River corridors in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Have you been to any of these mountain towns? Share your favorite mountain town experiences in the comments section below.