La Conner: Surrounded by tulip fields and filled with art galleries and interesting shops, this former fishing and farming town gets jammed on weekends, but stop by on a weekday or in the off season, and you'll be easily seduced by its vintage charm.
Langley: Near the south end of Whidbey Island, this former fishing village is now something of an upscale arts community. Art galleries, antiques and fashion shops, and several good restaurants are all right on the shore of Saratoga Passage, and some buildings even rise straight out of the water.
Port Townsend: Late in the 19th century, this town on the Olympic Peninsula was poised to become the region's most important city, but when the railroad passed it by, it slipped into obscurity. Today, Port Townsend is obscure no more. With block after block of Victorian homes and a waterfront setting, it is now a favorite weekend destination for Seattleites.
Leavenworth: Lederhosen? Dirndls? Polka parties? Sounds like someplace to avoid, but actually, the Bavarian theme town of Leavenworth works. Maybe there are too many cuckoo clocks and nutcrackers for sale, but those mountains on the edge of town are the real thing.
Winthrop: If you saw an 1890s photo of Winthrop and then visited this remote community in north central Washington, you would think the town was caught in a time warp. It just doesn't look much different than it did back then.
