Sisters

If Sisters looks as if you've stumbled into the Old West, that's entirely by design. The town fathers—or perhaps we should say "sisters"—strictly enforce 1800s-style architecture. Rustic cabins border a llama ranch on the edge of town. Western storefronts give way to galleries, a bakery occupies the former general store, and the town blacksmith's home now has a flower shop. Although its population remains under 2,000, Sisters increasingly attracts visitors as well as urban runaways who appreciate its tranquillity and charm. If you're driving over from the Willamette Valley, note how the weather seems to change to sunshine when you cross the Cascades at the Santiam Pass and begin descending toward the town.