Hoquiam, WA

Hoquiam sits where the Hoquiam River meets Grays Harbor, about 12 miles inland from the Pacific. US-101 runs right through town, connecting to Seattle (108 miles via I-5 and US-8) and Portland (140 miles via I-5 and US-8). The town of 8,800 is basically joined to Aberdeen across the river, with local trips focusing on that connection and Olympic National Park access to the north. The standout landmark is the Castle, a seven-story Victorian mansion from 1897 that dominates the skyline with its turrets and porches.