Retirement is a great time to try new things, and the Northwestern United States has many wonderful small towns. These towns are beautiful and have friendly communities and a calm way of life.
Whether you like the beach, mountains, or interesting culture, these 15 towns are perfect places to enjoy your retirement. Let’s discover what makes each of these places special for retirees who want peace and fun.
Ashland, Oregon: Enjoy Art and Nature Together
Ashland is a beautiful town at the southern end of Oregon’s Rogue Valley.
It’s perfect for people who love art and nature. A house with 3-4 bedrooms costs between $575,000 and $795,000. Ashland is famous for its Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which brings lots of plays and actors to the town all year.
Besides plays, you can relax at Lithia Park. This big, pretty park was designed by the same people who made Golden Gate Park. It has fountains, a Japanese garden, and lots of trails in the nearby Siskiyou Mountains.
Living here makes it easy to enjoy both culture and the outdoors.
Sandpoint, Idaho: Find Peace by the Lake in Retirement
Sandpoint sits by Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s biggest lake, and has beautiful views of water and mountains.
Houses with 3-4 bedrooms here cost about $609,000 to $811,000. It’s a peaceful place for retirement, with a charming downtown full of small shops, art galleries, and local places to eat. The Panida Theater, a beautifully restored theater from 1927, shows movies and hosts events.
Nearby Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers skiing in winter and hiking or biking in summer. Sandpoint is a great spot for retirees who want a calm, active lifestyle.
Port Townsend, Washington: Live by the Sea in History
Port Townsend is located at the northeastern corner of the Olympic Peninsula and has a rich history as a Victorian seaport.
Homes with 3-4 bedrooms cost between $710,000 and $850,000. This town is known for its lively arts scene and historic coastal charm.
Its downtown area is a National Historic District, filled with well-preserved 19th-century buildings that now are home to bookstores, cafes, and small shops.
Retirees can visit Fort Worden State Park, a former military base that’s now a cultural center. It offers workshops, festivals, and trails along the beach.
Bend, Oregon: Enjoy an Active Retirement Outdoors
Bend is right by the Deschutes River and near the Cascade Mountains, perfect for those who love the outdoors. Retirees can go fly-fishing, hiking, or paddling without leaving town. The average price for a 3-bedroom home is $600,000.
Bend is a growing city that mixes outdoor activities with city comforts.
The Old Mill District is a must-see. It used to be a lumber mill area but now has shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Don’t miss the High Desert Museum, which teaches about the area’s nature and history. Bend gets over 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a wonderful place for active retirees who love nature.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: Retire Beside a Beautiful Lake
Coeur d’Alene has a gorgeous lake surrounded by forests and mountains.
The downtown area features art galleries, places to eat, and the lovely City Park and Beach. A hidden gem is Tubbs Hill, a wooded area with trails that have great views of the lake and town, perfect for relaxing walks.
The community is close-knit and offers many activities throughout the year, like the festive Holiday Light Show. Retirees looking to move here can find homes with 3-4 bedrooms priced between $435,000 and $599,000.
Walla Walla, Washington: Enjoy Retirement in Wine Country
Walla Walla is at the center of Washington’s wine region and is home to over 120 wineries. The town’s downtown is charming, with wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and cafes. It combines a small-town feel with cultural richness.
Homes with 3-4 bedrooms cost around $450,000. Retirees can visit the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, which tells about the area’s early history.
With a mild climate and many community events like the annual Balloon Stampede, Walla Walla offers a fun and vibrant place to retire.
Hood River, Oregon: Exciting and Calm Retirement
Hood River is right along the Columbia River Gorge and is famous for its excellent windsurfing and kiteboarding.
This is thanks to the steady winds that blow through the gorge. Retirees looking for adventure can buy a home with 3-4 bedrooms for about $784,000 to $860,000.
They can enjoy windsurfing, kiteboarding, or hiking by beautiful waterfalls. The town has a 35-mile scenic route called the Fruit Loop. It has farm stands, wineries, and lavender fields, perfect for those who love fresh food and local crafts.
Hood River is great for retirees who want both excitement and peace.
Sequim, Washington: A Sunny Spot for Retirement
Sequim has a special climate called the “Rain Shadow” which means it gets much less rain than other places nearby.
This makes it sunny, which is great for growing lavender. Sequim is famous for its lavender farms and the annual Sequim Lavender Festival.
Retirees can visit the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which has one of the longest natural sand spits in the world.
With mild weather and friendly community centers, Sequim is a welcoming place for retirees. A 3-bedroom home costs about $596,000 to $650,000.
McCall, Idaho: Relax in the Mountains
McCall sits by Payette Lake and is a peaceful mountain town. Retirees can buy a 4-bedroom home starting at about $750,000.
Here, they can go fishing, boating, or just enjoy the quiet lake views. A special spot is Ponderosa State Park, a park on a peninsula in the lake.
It has different animals and beautiful walking trails. During winter, McCall has a Winter Carnival with amazing ice sculptures and fun parades.
McCall is a peaceful place with stunning nature all around.
Florence, Oregon: Enjoy the Coast in a Friendly Town
Florence is located where the Siuslaw River meets the Pacific Ocean. It offers retirees beautiful beaches, sand dunes, and a lovely historic Old Town. The town boardwalk has art galleries, small shops, and seafood restaurants with fresh fish.
A must-see is the Sea Lion Caves, America’s largest sea cave, where you can see sea lions in the wild. Florence is a friendly place with beautiful coastlines, making it a perfect spot for retirees.
Homes with 3-4 bedrooms cost around $478,000 to $670,000.
Ketchum, Idaho: Fancy Mountain Living for Retirees
Ketchum is next to the famous Sun Valley Resort and offers a high-end mountain lifestyle. Retirees can buy a 3-bedroom home starting at $2,150,000.
They can ski in the winter and hike and golf in the summer.
The town celebrates its rich artistic history at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, a cultural spot with art shows and performances.
Ketchum has fine dining, boutique shopping, and beautiful views of the Sawtooth Mountains, making it a stylish and relaxing place to retire.
Missoula, Montana: Energetic College Town for Retirees
Missoula mixes the lively feel of a college town with the comforts that retirees look for. It’s home to the University of Montana, which brings lots of cultural events, talks, and sports.
The town is at the meeting point of three rivers, perfect for fly-fishing and rafting. Caras Park, a not-so-well-known place, has a weekly event in the summer with live music and local food stands.
Missoula’s fun atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a great place for an active retirement. A home with 3-4 bedrooms costs about $450,000.
Leavenworth, Washington: A Bavarian Village in the Mountains
Leavenworth is a lovely town in the Cascade Mountains that looks like a village in Bavaria, Germany. The average price for a home with 3-4 bedrooms is about $600,000. Retirees can enjoy buildings with alpine designs, German food, and fun festivals like Oktoberfest and the Christmas Lighting Festival.
A special place to visit is the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, where you can meet reindeer. It’s a fun spot for when grandchildren come to visit. There are also many trails for hiking, making Leavenworth a beautiful and exciting place to retire.
Sisters, Oregon: A Town for Art Lovers Surrounded by Nature
Sisters is a small town near three big mountains, and it has a strong art community. Retirees can buy a home here for around $550,000 with 3-4 bedrooms.
The town is known for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the biggest quilt show in the world. Retirees can join a community of artists and craftspeople, with many galleries and workshops to explore.
The nearby Deschutes National Forest has trails for hiking and horseback riding. The cozy downtown area has local shops and cafes. Sisters is a place where art and nature come together, making it a great spot for retirement.
Whitefish, Montana: Retire Next to Glacier National Park
Whitefish is a beautiful town right by the entrance to Glacier National Park. It gives retirees easy access to some of the most amazing landscapes in the country.
The town has a lively art scene, small boutique shops, and great places to eat. Whitefish Lake State Park is a quiet spot where you can enjoy the beach and go boating without the crowds.
In the winter, you can ski at Whitefish Mountain Resort and enjoy incredible views. Whitefish is a fun place with lots of outdoor activities, making it a great place for retirement. You can buy a home with 3-4 bedrooms here for about $700,000.