17 of the most charming small towns in the U.S.
From a car-free island in Michigan to the perfect birding destination in Illinois to the Caribbean of the Rockies in Colorado, these American gems will inspire your next getaway.
Intrepid travelers and explorers are always looking for new places to visit and explore beyond the big cities in the United States. The new National Geographic book, Small Towns U.S.A., offers insight into storied American icons and lesser known gems, such as Berlin, Maryland, home to 47 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and Solvang, California, a picturesque Danish enclave with European charm.
From coast to coast, here are 17 small towns in the U.S. that travelers should consider visiting right now.
Camden, Maine
Why go: An alternative to the well-known Bar Harbor
The laid-back coastal town of Camden sits on Penobscot Bay in Maine’s mid-coast region. Home to the only ocean-view ski area on the East Coast (the Camden Snow Bowl), it offers a wealth of outdoor opportunities paired with a historic opera house that hosts international performers and an annual film festival. Camden embodies the state's tranquil vacationland reputation, and its population nearly triples during the peak summer season.
Berlin, Maryland
Why go: Bathtub races on Main Street
The beginning of June can only mean one thing in Berlin: the highly anticipated annual Bathtub Races. The streets shut down, and carts made from modified bathtubs whiz down the road in a competition for bragging rights and the coveted glass rubber-ducky trophy. The town’s chamber of commerce hosts the event, local news stations broadcast it, and onlookers cheer on their favorite competitors from the sidewalks. It’s a signature of a town that is known to be one of the coolest in the country.
Amelia Island, Florida
Why go: A quaint beach town
Beaches, history, and a ton of charm make up the small town of Amelia Island. Located near the Florida-Georgia border, this is a place vacationers return to year after year. Upon your arrival, a walk down Centre Street will take you into the historic downtown district called Fernandina Beach, a 50-block area on the National Register of Historic Places. Cobblestone sidewalks and brightly colored Victorian-era homes are this neighborhood’s trademarks. Shrimping boats bob among catamarans in the marina along Front Street, palm trees sway in the ocean breeze, and café lights twinkle at night.
Bardstown, Kentucky
Why go: The Bourbon Capital of the World
Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Louisville oozes southern charm. Surrounding the town are bourbon-industry heavy hitters like Jim Beam, Four Roses, Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. You can tour any of these, but for a craft experience, try the female-owned Preservation Distillery. The tasting room and facilities at Preservation are housed in refurbished tobacco barns, and longhorn cattle roam the grounds, fertilizing the corn and barley fields.
Highlands, North Carolina
Why go: Quick weekend getaway from Atlanta or Charlotte
The beautiful scenery of Nantahala National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains serves as the backdrop to Highlands, North Carolina, one of the highest-elevation towns east of the Mississippi River. Less than a three-hour drive north from Atlanta and about three and a half hours from Charlotte, Highlands is a weekend getaway for both Georgia and North Carolina residents. The Highlands area is considered a rainforest, one of only a few in the United States.
Middleburg, Virginia
Why go: Fun equestrian activities
This quaint town, about an hour outside Washington, D.C., is known as America’s horse-and-hunt capital. Middleburg has welcomed equestrians and fox hunters since the early 1900s, and visitors can tour the National Sporting Library and Museum to celebrate and understand that history. (In Middleburg, “sporting” refers to hobbies like hunting and steeplechasing.) Attend the annual springtime Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point for a steeplechase set in the beautiful Virginia countryside. Look for members of the Middleburg Hunt in their scarlet jackets with apple green collars and brass buttons. They celebrate the sport of fox hunting with a jovial pack of hounds and events throughout the year that date back to 1728. While foxes are chased, hounds are typically called off before harm is done, allowing the fox to escape, often going underground. Attend riding clinics and trail rides in the summer or the annual puppy auction in the fall.
Bisbee, Arizona
Why go: Mining town turned artist enclave
From mining town to artistic community, Bisbee, in southwest Arizona, is a colorful shock in the desert thanks to the surrounding orange peaks of the Mule Mountains and the turquoise, red, and yellow Victorian-style storefronts lining the streets. Unlike the typically dry, hot climate Arizona is known for, Bisbee has a temperate climate year-round, even catching a dusting of snow in the winter. Visit anytime of year to explore this funky, culturally rich destination. While the mining history shaped the town, art and music have made Bisbee what it is today.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Why go: Evolving food culture with German roots
The best place to sip a crisp German beer in the Southwest is in a small town between San Antonio and Austin called Fredericksburg. Founded by German immigrants in 1846, Fredericksburg embodies a surprising duality between Texan and German cultures. Food and beer, in particular, are the best ways to celebrate the region's heritage, especially with the farm-to-table duck schnitzel at Otto’s and the smooth Kölsch at Altstadt Brewery. On the thoroughfare, you’ll find the Pioneer Museum, which tells the story of the German farmers who originally settled the town. Many of these settlers’ descendants still live in Fredericksburg.
Galena, Illinois
Why go: Birdwatching and Civil War history
Outdoor enthusiasts and avid birders will find a special treat in Galena: the Galena River Trail, which boasts a vast array of wildlife. But the river trail is just a primer for all that this town has to offer during a weekend getaway. The Galena River Trail is perfect for biking and traversing wooded areas, farmlands, and bluffs. Veer slightly off the trail up Bouthillier Street to visit the Ulysses S. Grant Home, a 19th-century Italianate house with the original furnishings from the 18th president of the United States. Today, visitors can stay amid history within its original brick walls and beamed ceilings. Eat at the Green Street Tavern, at its current location since 1883, which boasts great views of Main Street.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Why go: A car-free island
Formerly called Fort Mackinac, for the British stronghold built in 1780, Mackinac Island (pronounced mack-in-awe) is an idyllic enclave on Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. An 18-minute ferry ride brings visitors to the shores of a car-free town spanning just four square miles within Mackinac Island State Park. In 1875, the island became the nation’s second national park (after Yellowstone), but its administration was transferred to the state of Michigan in 1895. Beautifully preserved green spaces and historic buildings make this a midwestern summer destination worth returning to year after year.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Why go: Uncover the history of America's Wild West
The entire town of Deadwood is a designated National Historic Landmark. Wild West and gold-mining history pervades the town’s restaurants and saloons, especially during the daily shootout reenactments held in the late afternoon and early evening. Mount Moriah Cemetery, the final resting place for many Western icons, including Wild Bill himself, sits on a steep ravine. Visitors leave decks of cards, cash, and packs of cigarettes on the famous grave. Museums throughout town, such as the Adams Museum, the Brothel, and the Days of ’76 Museum, provide integral narratives of Deadwood and the region’s unique pioneer past.
Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
Why go: Visit a family-friendly vacation destination with a unique history
Come summer, families from all over Wisconsin head north to Door County on the peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Many head to Egg Harbor, one of the county’s most charming towns, with a lovely balance of outdoor offerings and a thriving arts and music scene. It’s also possibly one of the only towns in the country allegedly named after a food fight. As the story goes, on June 23, 1825, a legendary egg battle took place. As early fur traders raced one another to shore, they began pelting each other with eggs. The fun continued the next day until the sandy beach was littered with eggshells—and so Egg Harbor was christened. Though others say that the name came from a nest of eggs found near the shore, most prefer the jovial egg-fight version.
Talkeetna, Alaska
Why go: Explore the equally impressive Denali State Park
About two hours north of Anchorage sits a community that serves as a perfect base for exploring Denali State Park, which offers the same jaw-dropping scenery as Denali National Park, two hours away, without the crowds. Talkeetna is unapologetically and authentically Alaska. The entire downtown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places to protect the early 1900s railroad- and mining-era buildings. Walk Main Street to find Nagley’s Store, established around 1917 and still a local institution, and Wild Harvest, a shop that sells birch syrup, birchwater, and wild chaga mushroom tea. Stop by Denali Brewpub for Alaska cod fish-and-chips and a pint, served with views of the vast mountains beyond.
Solvang, California
Why go: Explore a Danish-style town in the U.S.
The founders of Solvang envisioned a colony where they could live out the American dream while preserving the traditions of Denmark. The name Solvang, which means “sunny field” in Danish, is apt. Tucked away in the Santa Ynez Valley, about 40 minutes north of Santa Barbara, the charming town has been featured in numerous Hallmark Christmas movies and various television series. It’s easy to see why. Windmills are nestled among shops and restaurants, and nearly every building is designed in the Danish provincial architecture style, with signature elements like bindingsverk (half-timber) walls and faux thatched roofs. Stop in a traditional Danish bakery, like the Solvang Bakery or Mortensen’s, to enjoy an almond kringle (a flaky, fruit-filled pastry), strudel, or kransekakestenger (baked almond marzipan cookies), or pop into the Book Loft to explore antiquarian reads and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum upstairs.
Salida, Colorado
Why go: A true Rocky Mountain town
Salida is called the Heart of the Rockies for a reason. The picturesque town is nestled along the Arkansas River in the Rocky Mountains, about a three-hour drive from Denver. Salida came to be thanks to the gold rush. To meet the demand of the burgeoning populations out West, railroads began to connect the vast American countryside; when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroads reached Salida, this small town was officially born. The Salida Downtown Historic District is Colorado’s largest national historic district, with 111 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Garden City, Utah
Why go: The Caribbean of the Rockies
Summertime in Garden City means days on Bear Lake, enjoying the brilliant turquoise water and munching on handfuls of world-famous Bear Lake raspberries. Sometimes referred to as the Caribbean of the Rockies, Bear Lake offers a serene atmosphere, lively outdoor energy, and sublime water. The late summer raspberry harvest yields opportunities to grab a raspberry shake or visit a roadside stand for fresh-picked fruit. The three-day Bear Lake Raspberry Days Festival, held in August at the end of harvest season, is a great way to enjoy all that Garden City has to offer. On Bear Lake itself, visitors can enjoy beaches, boating, swimming, and even scuba diving.
La Conner, Washington
Why go: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
La Conner is a self-proclaimed “tiny town with big charm.” Surrounded by tulip fields and farmland to the west and the evergreen-lined Swinomish Channel to the east, La Conner is just an hour north of Seattle and within a stone’s throw of the Canadian border. Come here for a packed day trip or a relaxed weekend retreat. The air feels salty and smells of the sea and evergreens. In April, La Conner’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the destination event for the Pacific Northwest. More than 50 tulip varieties stretch throughout the valley, bringing La Conner a huge splash of color and an atmosphere of joyful romance.
