Bucoda, WA

Set along the banks of the Skookumchuck River in southern Thurston County, Bucoda offers a quiet country setting with a deep history. Originally founded in the 19th century as a logging hub and the site of Washington’s first territorial prison, the town has settled into a peaceful, residential pocket. It is a small, tight-knit community where traffic is minimal, neighbors look out for one another, and daily life moves at a relaxed pace.

ATTRSteven Baltakatei Sandoval / CC BY-SA 4.0

Come October, the town leans into its quirky side and rebrands as "Boo-coda," hosting a month-long Halloween festival with haunted attractions, hearse parades, and trick-or-treating. The rest of the year is refreshingly low-key. Locals spend sunny days at Volunteer Park along the river, catch weekend stock car races at the nearby South Sound Speedway, and make the quick trip into Tenino or Centralia for errands and dining.