55 Beautiful Small Towns in America | Architectural Digest

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When you think of a quaint Southern town with magnolia trees and antebellum homes, Madison—60 miles east of Atlanta—is just that. Lots of antiques shopping, along with hikes through Brown County State Park, provide visual stimulation.

Four gorgeous alfresco hot springs are nearby and open for soaking. Mature magnolia trees create a canopy in this small town along the Magnolia River where mail is still delivered by boat. Near both Juneau and the Tongass National Forest, and in a mecca for world-class king salmon and halibut fishing, Sitka boasts 22 buildings and sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

Skiers and mountain bikers love this tiny town but so do spa and dining enthusiasts, who can be kept busy for days thanks to resorts like the Westin Snowmass Resort and Viceroy Snowmass. Anderson Ranch Arts Center is an enclave for artists through its artist-in-residence program and hosted workshops, programs, and events. Skiing—both Nordic and downhill—is a huge draw. Historic buildings dating as far back as the late s line the streets of the tiny, artsy downtown of Eureka Springs, tucked into the Ozark Mountains.

The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Sugar-white sands along the Pacific Ocean—with a shoreline of stunning cliffs and wispy cypress trees—and a Spanish Mission—style downtown anchor this community, which is tucked into a wine region Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are the main thrust. Actor Clint Eastwood is a former mayor.

Brightly colored cottages are a short walk to the downtown, with Airstream food trucks, an indie bookstore, art galleries, and seafood eateries. Its outdoor activities year-round ranging from fly fishing to cross-country skiing, this resort town home to quite a few wellness properties on the southern shore of Payette Lake also hosts an annual Winter Carnival and, in , launched its first sled-dog race.

Long a playground for presidential families such as the Bushes and the Kennedys, this coastal community thrives come summer when its resort status ratchets into motion. Sailboats cruise along the shore and a trolley runs through local streets.

This coastal town in the Final Frontier state is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and also a mecca for sailing, sport fishing, and kayaking with its stunning glaciers around Mail is still delivered by boat during the summer months. The delightfully moody setting cue fog and rain of Friday Harbor, part of the San Juan Islands, is iconic to the Pacific Northwest but without the noise of an urban locale.

Whale watching is a huge draw here, and the arts thrive at places like the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Part of the Sea Islands, this island off the coast of Georgia was established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a vacation-home destination for the wealthy.

Along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in far western Oregon are miles of sparsely populated beaches, the town of Manzanita included. With Neahkahnie Mountain off in the distance, you get beach dunes and mountains in one view.

But the natural surroundings—sandstone cliffs and splendid hiking trails—nearly trump all of that. Victorians housing a mix of residences and retailers such as indie bookstores and art galleries line Main Street across from Mendocino Headlands State Park, perched above the Pacific Ocean.

This includes the North House Folk School, offering classes in crafts like lace- and soap-making. A cultural mecca for innovative food, the arts spot a Warhol at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and, of course, downhill skiing in this town a half hour south of Grand Teton National Park keeps throngs of visitors coming. Locals enamored with the great outdoors love it here, too.

Red-rock formations such as Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock rim this mystic Northern Arizona town where locals believe the natural vortexes have healing qualities. This town hits all three indicators of beauty: architecture, nature, and culture, including the Norman Rockwell Museum. And, most importantly, for a small town the population is just under 2, , there are cultural events year-round ranging from America’s longest-running international dance festival Jacob’s Pillow, from mid June to late August and Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas a full weekend in early December that includes vintage cars and house tours.

It’s quintessential small-town America at its peak. Traveling to St. Augustine in Florida, in many ways, is like stepping back in time.

Regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the continental US, the Florida enclave is full of Spanish-style architecture. Though many of the original structures are no longer standing, the city was rebuilt in the same style with the original urban plan—giving both the look and layout of the town a distinctly European feel.

The city is known for its environmentalism, and many trails and forests remain protected to purify the local water. With just over 50, residents, Columbus, Indiana, is one of the biggest small towns included here, but no list of this type would be complete without it.

Population: 84, Imagine you wanted to visit Yosemite , but along the way, you get a chance to live out your retro road trip dreams. Enter Merced , a town just an hour from the national park, with a selection of vintage eras to choose from, spanning old western saloon vibes, s art deco architecture, s neon signs, vinyl or cassette tape shops, and a theater suitable for Back to the Future screenings.

Everything here is in with the old and in with the new, since modern remodeling awaits on the insides. Or head to the Castle Air Museum in nearby Atwater for retro aircraft. Or venture out to Heritage Square, where various forms of Southeast Alaskan indigeneous art are on display at Sealaska Heritage Institute and beyond.

Population: 83, Forget Miami. Smell ya later, Tampa. Sports fans descend upon the city for the annual event, infusing Fort Myers with an infectiously enthusiastic spirit while catching the Bigs in action for a fraction of the cost of regular season admission. To drink, beer fans make a beeline to Fort Myers Brewing Company which, incidentally, also pours an excellent original hard seltzer , Crazy Dingo Brewing Co.

Population: 38, As to be expected with a city named Hot Springs , it first developed thanks to the boiling geothermal water flowing beneath its surface. Years later, a historic bathhouse row remains the main attraction, and a few are still in operation.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery whips up tasty brews utilizing the hot springs. Two bathhouses, Buckstaff and Quapaw , still operate; only Buckstaff still utilizes the geothermal water. On the other side sits the storied Arlington Hotel. Then, take advantage of the Natural State.

Beyond the national park, nearby Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita State Parks offer hiking, waterfalls, houseboating, and all the usual water sport suspects. The acre Garvan Woodland Gardens throws an annual tulip festival extravaganza. Try your luck at Crater of Diamonds State Park ; as of the beginning of May, diamonds had already been found this year. Pair it with a burger and top off with a root beer float, also made with the hot springs. Population: 33, So much more than the Myrtle Beach of your debaucherous high school senior trip memories, this South Carolina vacation hub has been keeping visitors of all ages on their toes since , when the final stretch of the 2, mile-long Intracoastal Waterway linked to Horry County.

Today the coastal playground attracts thousands of visitors, thanks to its blend of flashy attractions, diverse bars and restaurants, pro golf courses, jaw-dropping natural areas, and, of course, 60 full miles of shoreline bliss.

Aquatically inclined? Retro boardwalk fixture Peaches Corner grills up the best foot-long hot dogs in town with vibes to match. For barbecue— this is South Carolina, after all —pop over to Little Pigs Bar-B-Q for some hickory-smoked pork butts laced with a tangy mustard sauce. The population hovers around 30, at any given time, representing a healthy mix of mainland expats and local lifers raking in a household income that falls within the top 10 for small American cities.

Don’t leave without: Cruising Hana Highway , a Population: 30, Home to three universities, Ithaca may seem like just another college town—but there’s a lot more to it than Andy Bernard would have you believe. You can enjoy bars and farm-to-table restaurants, catch a theatrical performance or a live outdoor concert, and shop to your heart’s content without feeling like you’ve put 30 miles on your legs.

Admire the antique houses in historic neighborhoods like East Hill and Cornell Heights, then stroll down colorful, tree-lined streets downtown. Lazy afternoons can be spent following lush trails and crossing historic bridges leading to gorges and lakeside views not far from the city center.

Take in the sunset over Cayuga Lake from Stewart Park , where you will inevitably wonder why you didn’t come to Ithaca sooner. Meanwhile, you’re smack in the middle of Finger Lakes Wine Country , which boasts over wineries, distilleries, and breweries.

Don’t leave without: A hike through Taughannock Falls State Park leads to a foot waterfall roaring off cliffs that tower nearly feet above the gorge. Yes, you heard that right: Snow. In the desert. Population: 97, Separated from hipper-than-thou Portland by three hours and a snowy mountain range, Bend is a city of contradictions. Grab a pint of Mirror Pond Pale or jet-black rarity the Abyss, if you’re lucky at its downtown taproom. Stave off any after-effects with Peruvian steak stir-fry and catfish tacos at Spork , or go old-school at downtown’s The Drake.

The fancy diner vibes belie gut-busters like a Hot-honey Fried Chicken and a locally sourced Ribeye doused in succulent bone-marrow butter. There are few more refreshing ways to shock the toxins out of your body after a long day of getting to know the city. Just under two hours down the road from Asheville, NC, the city of Greenville quietly boasts an active arts community, burgeoning culinary scene, and easy access to some downright spectacular natural beauty. Let your first impression be Falls Park on the Reedy , a acre park smack in the middle of downtown that includes a foot waterfall and the foot Liberty Bridge.

This is also the best jumping-off point to the Swamp Rabbit Trail more on that momentarily. Depending on when you visit, you might find yourself mingling with creative types at Artisphere , Euphoria , or Fall for Greenville. Population: 48, Bozeman has long flown under the radar—but not for much longer. It’s an immediate charmer thanks to its gorgeous mountain setting and walkable downtown district. Did we mention the outdoors?

There’s skiing, with Bridger Bowl 30 minutes away and the larger Big Sky resort just an hour from town. That place with all the cheese? The homegrown music scene is the big draw, mostly thanks to Eaux Claires , a long-running two-day music festival that has drawn acts like Chance the Rapper, Erykah Badu, Sufjan Stevens, and more out to America’s Dairyland.

And while that particular fest’s days seem to have come to an end, the Rock Fest and Country Jam are there to fill the void, as are the dozens of genre-spanning outdoor concerts and arts gatherings that sweep the city year-round. The Chippewa River weaves throughout the city, and there are plenty of beaches where you can swim, ride a rope swing, lounge in a tube, or set sail in a canoe.

Like, really, really cool. The walkable downtown boasts dog-friendly breweries, boutique wineries, fancy donuts, industrial-chic restaurants, and food trucks that serve as outposts of those industrial-chic restaurants.

Best small towns to live near big cities – best small towns to live near big cities

 
How Millennials Killed the Guest Room. Stroll down Central Avenue, home to many of the town’s shops and restaurants. Admire the antique houses in historic neighborhoods like East Hill vig Cornell Heights, then stroll down colorful, smakl streets downtown. Catch a show at the Columbian Theaterlearn about state history at the Wamego Historical Museum, or enjoy urban nature at the City Park. We double-dare you to ride the mechanical bull at Dale Earnhardt Посетить страницу. Its numerous full-service /18889.txt are its main draw, but it also has art galleries, rustic accommodations, high-end dining and shopping.