These 3 Oregon small towns are among the best to visit in the US, according to a new poll

Astoria-Megler Bridge
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Astoria is one of the 25 best small American towns to visit, according to a new ranking.

FamilyDestinationsGuide.com ranked the best 150 small towns in America for families to visit, and several Pacific Northwest towns made the top 50. The ranking was compiled based on polling. FamilyDestinationsGuide.com polled 3,000 people on which small towns they’d most like to visit in 2023.

It’s easy to see why Astoria made the list:

The overall top spot went to Holualoa on the Big Island of Hawaii, for what are undoubtedly obvious reasons.

At No. 25, Astoria was praised for its location and “historic Victorian homes and bustling fishing ports.” The ranking called it “a picture-perfect Pacific Northwestern town.”

A quick look at The Oregonian/OregonLive’s travel coverage over the years backs that up. There are plenty of good reasons to visit, from movie magic at the Oregon Film Museum to historic shipwrecks to excellent breweries.

There are plenty of outdoor adventures to be had as well, like the stunning views from Astoria Column or the hike to a breathtaking 300-year-old Sitka spruce, called Cathedral Tree.

The sun shines brightly over Mount Hood, seen from the fields of flowers at Draper Girls Country Farm outside Hood River.

Hood River, located in the Columbia River Gorge, made the top 100, coming in at No. 79. Hood River is renowned for its Columbia River views, prime windsurfing and the Hood River Fruit Loop.

The Fruit Loop makes a great -- and delicious -- day trip from the Portland metro area:

A few Washington towns were included in the ranking as well. The highest-ranked small Washington town was Leavenworth, the Bavarian-style village in the central Cascades well know for its Oktoberfest and holiday light festival. Leavenworth also made the Top 50, snagging the No. 44 spot on the list.

Trails lead through quiet forests and up to beautiful views in the Jacksonville Woodlands, a 320-acre natural area on the edge of Jacksonville, a small town in southern Oregon.

Jacksonville was also included, though it just missed being in the top 100, coming in at No. 103. The southern Oregon town near Medford, is home to the Jacksonville Woodlands, an area that features more than 16 miles of trails and views of Mount McLoughlin.

The up-and-coming Applegate Valley wine region is fairly close by and worth a side trip.

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