Edmonds

This charming, somewhat suburban small city just north of Seattle has a waterfront lined by more than a mile of boutiques and restaurants, seaside parks and attractions, and a string of broad, windswept beaches. Just beyond is the small but lively downtown area, where you can wander into hip cafés and wine shops, peruse attractive antiques stores and chic galleries, and browse the colorful Summer Market, which runs Saturday 9 to 3 from July through September. The early-evening Third Thursday Art Walk—one of the state’s largest such events—shows off the work of local artists, and numerous events and festivals take place year-round. On the east side of Puget Sound, Edmonds is also a gateway to the Kitsap Peninsula, as ferries from here connect to Kingston.