The Most Charming Small Town in Every U.S. State

This article was originally published in 2024 and most rececently updated on August 25, 2026.

This story is part of Afar’s America 250 coverage, which includes articles, podcasts, and social media storytelling.

While there’s so much to see in the United States—including its national parks and big cities—there’s plenty to be said for the country’s small towns. Come upon one (perhaps on a road trip) and you can catch a glimpse of American life that’s hidden from the well-trodden path, but just as appealing.

It’s hard to pick the best ones in each state, with so many memorable small towns in the USA. But we’re giving it a shot. Here are 51 of the country’s most charming small towns (which we’ve defined as places of about 25,000 people or fewer), all with their own unique reason to visit—whether it’s their singular streets or spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities. And as you’re sure to work up an appetite making your way across the U.S., here’s what to eat in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, too.

The Northeast

Maine: Belfast

Belfast was once known for shipbuilding, poultry plants, and sardine packing. Today its energy is best exemplified by the progressive Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage, the bustling United Farmers Market of Maine, and businesses likeChase’s Daily, a family-run flower farm, bakery, and vegetarian restaurant. Save time for a screening at the Colonial Theatre, which had its first screening the day the Titanic set sail; it reopened in fall 2023 after a 14-month closure—with its green, pink, and purple facade and rooftop fiberglass elephant intact.

The town has a Laotian restaurant (Laan Xang Cafe) to add spice to the traditional lobster shacks, and the Only Doughnut, which serves the state’s traditional potato doughnuts. For the best view of the waterfront, book a wooden rowboat tour with Nicolle Littrell of DoryWoman Rowing.

Where to stay in Belfast, Maine
The retro Seascape Motel and Cottages brings a touch of Moonrise Kingdom–era Wes Anderson whimsy with its float-filled pool and impressive library of vinyls.

Massachusetts: Brewster

Photo by Ben Nugent

Set along Cape Cod Bay, Brewster is the kind of place where tides shape the day: At low water, the Brewster Flats stretch for what feels like forever, turning the bay into a vast, walkable moonscape. Inland, Nickerson State Park adds forested bike paths and freshwater ponds, while the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History leads visitors through marsh, dune, and barrier-beach habitats.

Along Route 6A, places like Lemon Tree Village and Struna Galleries give the inland side of Brewster its own appeal, with local shops, antiques, Cape Cod art, and former sea-captain homes clustered along the old King’s Highway. For a final stop, swing by Stony Brook Gristmill and Museum, where herring run upstream each spring and a 19th-century mill anchors one of the town’s most photogenic historic corners.

Where to stay in Brewster
The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club occupies a 1912 estate modeled after an English country manor. The larger resort spreads across 429 acres, with beach access, golf, kayaking and paddleboarding on Blueberry Pond, plus easy access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Rhode Island: Little Compton

Photo by Michael Sean OLeary/Shutterstock

Little Compton feels like a world unto itself, complete with dairy farms, roadside produce stands, shingled cottages, and ocean roads that end at rocky coves. South Shore Beach is the summer draw. On cooler days, ALTÆR Sauna brings a wood-fired sweat session to the shore, with cold plunges in the ocean for the brave. Elsewhere around town, Sakonnet Garden hides a reservation-only maze of outdoor “rooms” in coastal fields, while Gnome Surf runs adaptive surf-therapy programs for athletes of all abilities.

Wilbur’s General Store has been supplying locals with groceries, baked goods, and sandwiches for generations. Sip estate-grown wines at Sakonnet Vineyard, Rhode Island’s oldest vineyard, or head toward Sakonnet Point for a view of the 1884 lighthouse and the sounds of the Atlantic at full volume.

Where to stay in Little Compton
The 16-room Stone House occupies an 1854 seaside estate near the tip of Sakonnet Point. Rooms nod to the building’s old New England bones with details like wood floors and soaking tubs, and guests are close to Goosewing Beach Preserve.

Connecticut: Washington

The town of Washington consists of five rural villages scattered around forested Litchfield Hills, a favorite region for fall foliage drives. In the village of New Preston, the best seat is at Community Table, where chef Christian Hunter has earned James Beard attention. While you’re here, stop into the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center, which traces 10,000 years of Indigenous history and features a replicated Algonquian village, and the Hollister House Garden, inspired by classic English gardens.

Outside of town, hikers shouldn’t miss the Hidden Valley Preserve, nearly 1,000 acres of dense forests and meadows with almost 20 miles of trails and points of interest that include a former 19th-century quartz mine and a timber suspension bridge dedicated to Henry David Thoreau.

Where to stay in Washington, Connecticut
The Mayflower Inn & Spa, which was a boys’ boarding school in the late 19th century, is a member of the Auberge Collection and is now home to the Garden Room restaurant, where dishes include fried quail and fluke with smoked onion broth.

Vermont: Winooski

Courtesy of Vermont Tourism

Just across the Winooski River from Burlington, this town of around 8,000 gives Vermont a welcome jolt of brick-mill energy and immigrant-owned food culture. Start in the downtown rotary, where neighborhood market and deli Misery Loves Co. helped put the city on the culinary map and sibling spot Onion City Chicken & Oyster now serves fried chicken and raw-bar plates from the historic Block Building.

Four Quarters Brewing pours sour beers fermented with local honey, while the Winooski River Walk traces the old mill district along the falls. For a quick outdoors fix, follow the trails through Casavant Nature Area, where fly-fishing spots and biking paths are only minutes from downtown.

Where to stay in Winooski, VT
Slated to open in early fall 2026, Sugar House Hotel will be Winooski’s first hotel and Marriott’s first all-electric, net-zero property pursuing LEED Platinum certification. The 115-room Tribute Portfolio property nods to Vermont’s maple-sugaring history while putting guests within walking distance of the city’s downtown rotary, restaurants, and riverfront paths.

Related: 4 Days in Vermont: Sleigh Rides, Waterfall Snowshoeing, Après Ski Hangs, and Maple Doughnuts

New Hampshire: Sugar Hill

Photo by Jerry Gantar/Shutterstock

Sugar Hill was only incorporated in 1962. Before then, when it was part of neighboring Lisbon, the town was home to the country’s first resort-based ski school, Peckett’s on Sugar Hill, where Austrian-born Sig Buchmayr began teaching the East Coast elite about Europe’s cool newfangled way to get down a mountain.

These days, Sugar Hill is a place to take it slow, whether you’re picking up a block of the beloved white cheddar from Harman’s Cheese & Country Store or enjoying breakfast at the nearly 90-year-old Polly’s Pancake Parlor, which has been named an America’s Classic by the James Beard Foundation. The best time to explore this stretch of the western White Mountains is in June, when the surrounding hills come alive with lupine and the wildflowers are celebrated with an annual festival.

Where to stay in Sugar Hill, NH
Butternut Lodge, a three-bedroom cottage built in 1940 for Bette Davis, who spent summers here after falling for and marrying Peckett’s assistant manager, Arthur Farnsworth.

The Mid-Atlantic

New York: Clayton

Set along the St. Lawrence River in New York’s Thousand Islands region, which straddles the U.S. and Canada, Clayton (population: 1,661) gives small-town travelers a front-row seat to one of the Northeast’s most cinematic waterways. At the Antique Boat Museum, home to the largest collection of antique and classic boats in North America, the mahogany runabouts and vintage speedboats tell the story of a region that became a Gilded Age playground; some visits can include a ride on the water.

The nearby Thousand Islands Arts Center opened a $7.7 million, 13,000-square-foot expansion in June 2026, giving its heritage-arts mission more room for exhibitions, workshops, and studios. For a wider view of the region, book a sightseeing flight over the islands and castles with 1000 Islands Air Tours or head out to Zenda Farms Preserve, a former dairy farm turned conservation area where trails cut through grassland-bird habitat and forest.

Where to stay in Clayton, NY
The 105-room 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel brings AAA Four Diamond comforts to downtown Clayton, with a restaurant, indoor pool, and broad lawns ideal for watching boats move through the channel.

New Jersey: Asbury Park

Photos by Michelle Heimerman

This Victorian seaside resort declined in the late 20th century due to urban flight and race riots, but it’s been slowly and steadily recapturing its old magic. The boardwalk is thrumming once again, complete with a pinball machine museum and a retro beach bar with a popular dog-friendly Yappy Hour. The Stone Pony, a divey music venue that launched the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, and the outdoor summer stage now hosts the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen and the Pixies.

Nearby you’ll find destination restaurants like Talula’s, where the sourdough pizzas come with innovative toppings like okra and squash blossoms, and Glide Surf Co., which sells custom surfboards and wet suits.

Where to stay in Asbury Park, NJ
While Asbury Park is only about a 70-minute drive from New York City, accommodations like the Asbury—with its pool, bowling alley, and in-house concert space, and the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel (spacious rooftop pool, free yoga classes) practically beg you to stay overnight. Adults-only the St. Laurent Social Club, established in 1886, reopened in 2022 with a saltwater pool that offers day passes.

Pennsylvania: New Hope

Courtesy of Visit Bucks County

Every summer since 1939, theater lovers have flocked to this corner of Pennsylvania—a few miles upriver from where Washington crossed the Delaware—to catch a show at the Bucks County Playhouse. Housed in an 18th-century grist mill that was rescued from demolition, the theater has attracted performers like Grace Kelly, Liza Minnelli, and Robert Redford.

Everything here comes with a backstory, like the OldeStone Steakhouse, in a converted 1872 stone church with a 20-foot-by-40-foot mural of St. George slaying the dragon. Elsewhere around this walkable colonial town, you can taste cognac-barrel-aged ciders at Manoff Market & Cidery and blackberry wine at New Hope Winery, take a stroll through the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, or hop aboard the New Hope Railroad, a historic locomotive that takes riders through the bucolic Bucks County countryside.

Where to stay in New Hope, PA
The 12-room, riverfront Ghost Light Inn sits next to the Playhouse and is named for the single bulb that tradition dictates must be left on inside an empty theater.

Delaware: Lewes

Photo by Khairil Azhar Junos/Shutterstock

Nicknamed “The First Town in the First State,” Lewes was founded by the Dutch in 1631. That heritage is celebrated at the Zwaanendael Museum, which occupies an elaborately gabled building inspired by the former city hall of Hoorn in the Netherlands. Built circa 1765, Cannonball House, which houses the Maritime Museum, still bears the scars of a skirmish with the British in 1813 (there’s a cannonball in a wall), while the Ryves Holt House Museum counted the Revolutionary War hero Jacob Jones among its early occupants.

For dinner, don’t miss the James Beard–nominated Heirloom, which occupies a red-shuttered Victorian house; it serves seasonal dishes such as steak tartare with kumquat relish and juniper-brined venison loin.

Where to stay in Lewes, DE
The Dogfish Inn is a sustainable design hotel owned by Dogfish Head Brewery, and it has a gear shed stocked with beach chairs, Woolrich blankets, and binoculars.

Maryland: Easton

Photo by grandbrothers/Shutterstock

Easton looks like many of the historic hamlets on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. But a surprising level of sophistication pervades this Quaker-founded town that was once populated by sea merchants and farmers. The Academy Art Museum, for instance, occupies an 1820 schoolhouse, but its curation is future facing, with exhibits dedicated to artists such as Oglala Lakota tribe member Marty Two Bulls Jr.

Easton also enjoys an outsize food and bar scene, thanks to energy executive Paul Prager, who fell in love with the place while at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. His Bluepoint Hospitality has completely reshaped the town, opening venues such as Bas Rouge, a refined Viennese-inspired restaurant with tableside gueridon (trolley) service, and the Stewart, a tartan-bedecked lounge with rare single-malt scotches.

Beyond the historic district, bird lovers flock to these parts for the Pickering Creek Audubon Center; you can engage with the area’s feathered residents—more than 250 species have been recorded here—on the park’s hiking trails or in a kayak or canoe during the summer months.

Where to stay in Easton
Hummingbird Inn is a dog-friendly B&B that occupies an 1887 Queen Anne–style house with a wraparound porch and a yard filled with giant magnolias.

Virginia: Chincoteague

Courtesy of Todd Wright/Todd Wright, Virginia Tourism Co.

Chincoteague is the gateway to Assateague Island National Seashore, famed for its red-and-white-striped lighthouse and wild ponies that have roamed this land for centuries. Tourists flock to the town every July for the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim, where equines are herded across the channel.

Another big draw is the untouched Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for migratory birds and waterfowl, including osprey, great egrets, and piping plovers. Swimming and beachcombing are popular pastimes, or you can explore the marshes and coastal waterways in a kayak or canoe. (If you’re extra lucky, you’ll spot dolphins.)

Clam strips and crab-stuffed onion rings are on the menu at the seasonally operated Capt. Zack’s Seafood, or you can delve into locally harvested oysters at Ray’s Shanty, an Eastern Shore staple since 1986. Come nightfall, head back to the beach for a little Milky Way magic: With inky black skies, Chincoteague is a top-ranking destination for East Coast stargazing.

Where to stay in Chincoteague
The family-owned Refuge Inn has 70 rooms and suites, a pool, hibachi grills, and a lending library filled with beach reads. Not to mention it’s 15 minutes’ drive to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

The West

Colorado: Leadville

Photo by Casey Day / Colorado Ski Photography

Situated between Colorado’s Mount Elbert and the appropriately named Mount Massive, Leadville defines mountain-town culture. Miles of hiking, biking, and groomed cross-country trails keep people moving despite the 10,000-foot altitude—which makes it one of the highest incorporated cities in North America. Ski Cooper offers relatively affordable day passes, with adult tickets starting at $49 on non-holiday weekdays.

With the most museums per capita in the state, including the House with the Eye museum and the National Mining Hall of Fame, the town takes pride in its history, long drawing wealth seekers, adventure hounds, and, once, gunslingers—such as Doc Holliday, Unsinkable Molly Brown, and “Baby Doe” Tabor. The names of future millionaires and scandalmongers also show up on the buildings of historic downtown and in the monikers of rooms at 19th-century hotel Freight.

Where to stay in Leadville, CO
Freight has transformed a historic train depot and lumber yard into an inclusive, queer-friendly wedding venue with a collection of cabins inspired by the town’s mining history—and its notorious former red-light district.

Idaho: Sandpoint

Photo by Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock

From the top of Schweitzer Mountain, skiers coming to the Sandpoint resort can look out at Idaho’s largest lake before letting go down the wide slopes of the mountain’s 2,900 skiable acres. But this town of roughly 10,000 people, at the tip of Idaho’s panhandle, 60 miles from the Canadian border, is not only an ideal spot for year-round seasonality but also a place to explore both land- and water-based activities.

Pack your itinerary with gentle boat excursions on the nearly 150-square-mile Lake Pend Oreille, horseback rides up the 6,400-foot Schweitzer Mountain, and high-adrenaline mountain biking and snowmobiling.

Where to stay in Sandpoint
Talus Rock Retreat sits a mile outside of downtown Sandpoint and includes such amenities as a movie theater, an outdoor pool, and a bass-stocked pond where you can take out a paddle boat or go fly-fishing.

Montana: Whitefish

Photo by Beeldtype/Shutterstock

Trees climb higher than the buildings, eagles occasionally swoop overhead, and sparkling snow-capped peaks protrude from the horizon over Whitefish, making this small town feel almost too picturesque. Thankfully, the laid-back ski town vibes and bustling Central Avenue—studded with fun independent shops sporting “Made in Montana” goods—showcase the state’s authentic version of this reality.

Most visitors come for the proximity to Glacier National Park; the Blackfeet-owned Sun Tours gives guided tours from both sides of the Continental Divide. But nearby Flathead Lake—the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi—and the trails through the Whitefish Range expand the outdoor opportunities.

Where to stay in Whitefish
Good Medicine Lodge features made-in-Montana furniture in the guest rooms and a fortifying prehike breakfast that might include house-made granola and locally made jam.

Related: How to Avoid the Crowds in America’s Most Visited National Parks

Wyoming: Cody

Courtesy of Cody Yellowstone

Buffalo Bill Cody opened his stage show here at the end of the 19th century to take advantage of the impressive scenery, excellent hunting, and steady stream of people heading into nearby Yellowstone National Park. More than a century later, these still bring folks to his eponymous town, as do the world-class fishing and the attractions opened by Cody himself.

Five museums make up the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, including the wildlife-focused Whitney Western Art Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum (which features exhibits dedicated to his relationship with Native Americans and his Wild West show). The original spirit of the town is carried on by nightly summer rodeos and tours of the historic local buildings. For a more somber side of the region’s history, the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center focuses on the Japanese incarceration center that operated there 1942 to 1945.

Where to stay in Cody
K3 Guest Ranch Bed & Breakfast sprawls across a 33-acre private valley between two trout streams and is also home to a bevy of barnyard animals, including Zip the trick pony and Pepper the mini-mule.

Related: 4 Best Wyoming Mountain Towns to Visit for National Park and Wild West Adventures

Alaska: North Pole

Photo by Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock

North Pole is located about 1,700 miles south of the geographic North Pole, but Santa Claus House, opened here in 1952, helped turn the town into a roadside Christmas landmark. The store’s 42-foot, 900-pound Santa statue is billed as the world’s largest, and roads around town have candy-cane streetlights and names such as Kris Kringle Drive and St. Nicholas Drive.

Three miles away, Chena Lake Recreation Area adds the non-novelty reasons to visit: swimming, fishing, boating, biking, camping, and, in winter, trails used for skiing, skijoring, dog mushing, and snow machines.

Refuel at Little Richard’s Family Diner, where kids can order pancakes or burgers while adults try the Wild Alaska skillet with bison and reindeer sausage. For a grown-up detour, Arctic Harvest Farm Distillery makes vodka and gin on a 350-acre, family-run farm just outside town; farther into the Interior, mineral soaks and aurora viewing at Chena Hot Springs Resorts round out the trip.

Where to stay in North Pole
The Santa Suite at Hotel North Pole is decked out with enough holiday trimmings to make it the obvious move for visitors going all in on the Hallmark kitsch.

Related: Traverse 2 National Parks, Hike Across Glaciers, and Sip Craft Beer on This 7-Day Alaska Road Trip

California: Los Olivos

Courtesy of the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection

The wine town of Los Olivos, located about a 45-minute drive northwest of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, gained fame when it was featured in a number of scenes in Sideways. Additions like luxury hotel the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern and seafood restaurant Bar Le Côte, from the team behind the Michelin-starred Bell’s in nearby Los Alamos, have added to the town’s draw—and demonstrated its appeal to seekers of life’s finer things.

More than two dozen wineries, like Holus Bolus and Samsara Wine Co., pour their pinot noirs (and more) around town, which allows visitors to forgo finding a designated driver and relax into the cooling breezes of the Santa Ynez Valley and chill of the local chardonnays.

Where to stay in Los Olivos
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Collection originated in 1886 as a stagecoach stop before becoming a Prohibition-era hangout and, much later, an elegant member of the Auberge Resorts Collection.

Oregon: Jacksonville

Courtesy of Travel Southern Oregon

Jacksonville’s downtown is a National Historic Landmark District, but it doesn’t feel stuck in the 19th century. Start with coffee and pastries at Cerberus Coffees, then browse Calathea Home & Gift for thoughtful housewares and breezy dresses, Happy Alpaca Toys & Supply for creative playthings from harder-to-find European brands, and Honey Lily Boutique for permanent jewelry and nature-inspired artisan goods.

In summer, the Britt Music & Arts Festival brings 40-plus concerts to its open-air amphitheater, with past and current lineups ranging from symphonic performances to Modest Mouse and Ani DiFranco. For a bigger thrill, book a tandem flight with AirXpansion from Woodrat Mountain, a world-class paragliding site where pilots launch over vineyards, oak savanna, and the Rogue Valley.

Wine lovers can use Jacksonville as a gateway to the Applegate Valley Wine Trail, stopping at Dancin Vineyards for wood-fired eats and Pinot Noir, Red Lily Vineyards for Spanish-style wines by the river, or Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden and Troon Vineyard for biodynamic and regenerative bottles.

Where to stay in Jacksonville
Built in 1860, McCully House Inn puts travelers within walking distance of Jacksonville’s darling brick storefronts and shops, but also offers complimentary bikes and backpack picnic baskets for low-key outings.

Washington: Langley

Courtesy of ComputerPIX Jack Penland

Thanks to Langley’s perch on the bluffs overlooking Saratoga Passage, diners lingering over local seafood could luck out and spot an orca or two offshore. Green space lines one side of the main street as it follows the curve of the waterfront of Whidbey Island, and galleries and boutiques line the other.

On any given night, a musician might play guitar in Seawall Park for the families in line while waiting for locally made ice cream and a pup cone at Sprinklz Ice Cream Parlor while brave swimmers take the stairs leading down to the shore. Impressive animals abound in Langley, in the air, like the local population of bald eagles, and on the plate, as in the famed Penn Cove mussels from the northern tip of Whidbey that grace nearly every menu on the island.

Where to stay in Langley
The reimagined Inn at Langley, reopened in 2026 with water-view rooms and cottages, plus Passage, a new tasting-menu restaurant from chef Johnny Spero.

The Southwest

Arizona: Jerome

Photo by Randy Andy/Shutterstock

Sedona grabs the headlines with its red-rock scenery and exciting art scene, but Jerome shares the same colorful sunsets, and ups the ante with a fascinating ghost-town history 40 minutes away. Built on the side of Cleopatra Hill—for easy access to what was once the state’s largest copper mine—the old buildings overlooking the Verde Valley now house hotels, restaurants, and galleries. The hilltop Jerome Grand Hotel repurposes the old hospital, while the century-old high school operates as a contemporary arts center.

Over the past decade, the town has also grown a wine scene, which includes Caduceus Cellars, owned by Maynard James Keenan, frontman of the 1990s rock band Tool. Caduceus isn’t just star powered; the label has won awards from many international wine contests, including the Los Angeles International Wine Competition and Las Vegas Global Wine Awards.

Where to stay in Jerome
Jerome Grand Hotel recaptures the magic of this historic mining town with its Spanish mission–style architecture, original 1926 Otis elevator, and abundant antiques.

Related: Arizona Makes the Perfect Family Road Trip—If You Choose the Right Hotels

New Mexico: Taos

Courtesy of New Mexico True

Defined by the raw beauty of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and Rio Grande Gorge, Taos exudes healing with its high desert air, sitting at 7,000 feet above sea level. But while Taos shares a lot with other best small towns in the country—plenty of sun, a great ski resort, chill artistic vibes where silver and turquoise jewelry fills the local galleries—there is no mistaking the smell of sopapillas or the adobe buildings for belonging to any other state.

Visitors can learn more about the history behind the building method at the Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the Taos Pueblo people carry on their traditions and allow guests to visit their 1,000-year-old adobe homes.

Where to stay in Taos
Located 20 miles from the Taos Ski Valley, El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa offers a place to relax with its hydrotherapy tubs, saltwater pool, and complimentary yoga classes.

Related: Sled Down Sand Dunes, Soak in Hot Springs, and Taste Fiery Chiles on This 3-Day, 459-Mile New Mexico Road Trip

Nevada: Virginia City

Photo by Krumpelman Photography/Shutterstock

The discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 was the first silver ore found in the United States, and the money it made built Nevada and much of California. Virginia City flourished, and this town in northwestern Nevada continues to mine the lode, although today for its history and stories. The Chollar Mine’s slogan was the “richest place on earth” (thanks to gold and silver there), and guided tours explain the historic buildings in town.

While the 15 museums, a comedy show, and even the bars all emphasize the history, the hillside cemetery offers another way to explore the legacy in this fascinating corner of the state. The elaborate graves, some made of marble and many with their own fences, show off the divisions of the town, with sections for people of different races, classes, fraternal organizations, and religions. Visitors can also ride on the century-old Virginia & Truckee Railroad steam engines and diesel locomotives that run from the town’s original 19th-century depot.

Where to stay in Virginia City
A 1950s train car–turned–guest suite, Ruby the Red Caboose is available to rent on Airbnb, and it offers a private covered deck and a cupola from which you can take in 100-mile views.

Texas: Fredericksburg

Courtesy of Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival

While Greater Lubbock grows 90 percent of Texas’s grapes, the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area (AVA) is an easier weekend getaway for visitors to San Antonio and Austin. Base yourself in Fredericksburg to experience Messina Hof, the most awarded winery in Texas and the surf-and-turf menu at Cabernet Grill, named one of the top U.S. wine restaurants by Wine Enthusiast for its Texas-exclusive wine list. Taste Fredericksburg’s wine and food offerings from more than 120 purveyors at the annual Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival, held in late October.

If time permits, learn about Fredericksburg’s early German settlers at the sprawling Pioneer Museum or go boot scootin’ at the Luckenbach Texas General Store, Bar & Dance Hall.

Where to stay in Fredericksburg
Book a a rustic 19th-century cabin or crisper cottage at Cotton Gin Village, a B&B-style property kitted out with koi ponds, waterfalls, and firepits.

Utah: Kanab

Photo by Stas Volik/Shutterstock

Perched just north of the Arizona border, in the stunning red-rock sandstone cliffs and sagebrush of the Southwest desert, Kanab’s landscapes have earned it a supporting role in 20th-century westerns like Gunsmoke. The town is perfect for those wanting to explore the vistas beyond the screen, sitting an hour’s drive from Zion National Park and 90 minutes from Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon national parks.

Closer to town, hikers can hit the Belly of the Dragon cave tunnel, the jaw-dropping rounded red-orange striations of the Wave (permit required), and the aptly named Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Just south of town, the free Red Pueblo Museum and Heritage Park offers an impressive array of donated artifacts from Indigenous communities and early settlers in the area.

Where to stay in Kanab
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is the ultimate pet-friendly resort; it not only allows dogs and cats but also actively welcomes and pampers them with such amenities as a pet-washing facility, a fenced-in park with a splash area, built-in cubbies for snuggling, and dog-walking for when you’re out exploring.

Oklahoma: Medicine Park

Photo by YuniqueB/Shutterstock

With just under 500 full-time residents, Medicine Park’s distinctive streets are lined with nationally registered cobblestone buildings, constructed using granite from the Wichita Mountains.

For a closer look at said peaks—plus a chance to see Rocky Mountain elk, American bison, and prairie dogs—drive the three-mile Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway. The thoroughfare winds through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, a spot beloved by hikers, rock climbers, fishermen, and stargazers.

Back in town, visitors can order hot-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls at Mrs. Chadwick’s Bakery and then head over to Bath Lake, a century-old granite swimming hole sustained by the waters of Medicine Creek.

Where to stay in Medicine Park
Learn to appreciate the little things in life by booking a guest room housed within a repurposed shipping container at InnHabit, Oklahoma’s first tiny house resort.

The Southeast

Georgia: Dahlonega

Photo by Ralph Daniel

If the picturesque streets of this north Georgia town look familiar, you may be a long-time Hallmark fan; the 2016 rom-com hit Christmas in Homestead was filmed here. While the town of roughly 7,500 goes all out at the holidays with its Old Fashioned Christmas celebration, it’s a year-round destination thanks to its fascinating gold rush heritage and its proximity to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, about 20 miles away.

Make the rounds to the tasting rooms of local wineries (Cavender Creek, Accent Cellars, Wolf Mountain, and Doghobble Wine Farm), pan for your retirement at the Consolidated Gold Mine or Dahlonega Gold Museum, or spend an afternoon scouting area waterfalls. The 729-foot cascade in Amicalola Falls State Park is particularly memorable—not to mention the tallest falls in the state.

Where to stay in Dahlonega
The seven rooms at Mountain Laurel Creek Inn & Spa feature gas fireplaces, jetted tubs, and private balconies. An on-site wine bar and spa lend an air of sophistication.

Florida: Sanibel

Courtesy of Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods

Set off Florida’s southwest coast, Sanibel, a city of around 6,300, is famous for the “Sanibel stoop”: the shell-hunting posture visitors assume while scanning the sand for cockles and lightning whelk shells. Bowman’s Beach is a favorite place to search, while the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium houses around half a million shells under one roof. At J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, kayak outings with Tarpon Bay Explorers glide through mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and other protected habitats.

For a break between beach walks, Periwinkle Way has the island’s main run of shops and restaurants, including Over Easy Cafe, where the breakfast menu includes Sanibel shrimp Benedict, and Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, known for its Yucatán shrimp sandwich.

Where to stay in Sanibel
Rebuilt after Hurricane Ian, Shalimar Beach Resort reopened in September 2025 with 33 beachfront accommodations, including studios and one- and two-bedroom villas. Guests have access to a pool, rooftop deck, picnic and barbecue area, plus on-site rentals for bikes, paddleboards, and beach gear.

North Carolina: Black Mountain

Photo by Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

Set in the painterly Blue Ridge Mountains, this folksy town of around 8,500 is only a 20-minute drive east of Asheville but feels a world apart. After damage from Hurricane Helene, Black Mountain and the surrounding region are still rebuilding, but many shops, restaurants, galleries, and lodgings have reopened and continue to welcome visitors.

After ambling around Lake Tomahawk or hiking the 9.5-mile, out-and-back Graybeard Trail in nearby Montreat, browse regional crafts at Seven Sisters Craft Gallery, go into carb-load overdrive at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Company, or learn about the town’s avant-garde namesake college at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville. However you fill your day, there’s no finer way to end it than with a wild session IPA from Blk Mtn Brewing and an old-timey Appalachian jam session at the not-for-profit concert venue White Horse Black Mountain.

Where to stay in Black Mountain
Peri Social House, a six-room boutique hotel in a 1936 Georgian Revival house, doubles as a coffee shop, cocktail bar, and community gathering place

Tennessee: Paris

Photo by J. Leonard/Shutterstock

Paris, Tennessee’s biggest claim to fame isn’t its 70-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower. It’s the fact that the town of 10,000, two hours west of Nashville, is home to the world’s largest fish fry—an all-you-can-eat affair usually scheduled for the last week in April. Late March through May, meanwhile, is crappie and bass season at Paris Landing State Park, where visitors can also swim, golf, hike, or ogle the coots and cormorants flanking its paved picnic loop.

Also noteworthy: Paris City Cemetery, final resting place of John Wesley Crockett (1807–1852), the onetime state attorney general and son of Davy Crockett.

Where to stay in Paris, Tennessee
Antique furnishings and fireplaces make Home Sweet Home Bed & Breakfast one of the cozier places to bed down.

Louisiana: Breaux Bridge

Photo by Lucius A. Fontenot

Thousands of seafood-crazed visitors descend upon the town of Breaux Bridge, aka the “Crawfish Capital of the World” and birthplace of crawfish étouffée, for its annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival each May, but the culinary darling of St. Martin Parish offers good eating all year.

Hit up Poche’s for pork backbone stew and smothered rabbit or Cajun Claws for down-home seafood boils, then work it off two-stepping across the thundering hardwood floor at La Poussiere, a more than 70-year-old dance hall showcasing by live Cajun and Zydeco bands.

For fresh air, go birding and gator spotting at the swampland preserve of Lake Martin or paddle through the cypress-rich canoe country of Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge.

Where to stay in Breaux Bridge
Suites and cottages at the veteran-owned Country Charm Bed & Breakfast overlook a privately stocked fish pond; anglers can release their catch or cook it in the outdoor kitchen.

Arkansas: Eureka Springs

Photo by Will Newton/ADPHT

This town of roughly 2,000 already draws Christians with its 67-foot-tall Christ of the Ozarks statue, modeled after Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, and annual outdoor staging of The Great Passion Play. But there’s more to this corner of the Ozarks than a Bible Museum.

Downtown Eureka Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Admire the preserved Victorian architecture and make special note of Hatchet Hall, the former clapboard home of hatchet-wielding temperance movement leader Carrie A. Nation, and the Palace Hotel and Bath House, which harkens back to Eureka’s glory days as a Victorian-era hot springs boom town.

The outskirts deserve a gander too. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge provides a forever home to abandoned, abused, and neglected big cats, while the tranquil Thorncrown Chapel, a soaring wood-and-glass sanctuary designed by architect E. Fay Jones, inspires quiet meditation—no matter your religious affiliation.

Where to stay in Eureka Springs
Boutique wellness retreat Forest Springs Resort & Spa opened in May 2026 on 10 wooded acres; it has a Nordic sauna, cold plunge, heated pool, forest trails, and offers easy access to downtown Eureka Springs.

South Carolina: Fountain Inn

Courtesy of VisitGreenville

Long before it became part of Greenville County’s southern growth corridor, Fountain Inn took its name from a spring-fed fountain and guesthouse where weary travelers paused to rest their horses. The modern version still rewards a stop: Bobby’s BBQ serves brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and house-made sausage from chef-owner Tay Nelson; the Mill at Fountain Inn has turned an old flour mill into a food hall with more than half a dozen vendors and Fountain Inn Brewing.

Greenville-based indie favorite M. Judson Booksellers opened a Fountain Inn outpost in June 2026, and the city has broken ground on a new Swamp Rabbit Trail section that will eventually connect Fountain Inn and nearby Simpsonville.

Where to stay in Fountain Inn
Until this town of 14,722 gets its first hotel—a 109-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott, under construction and expected to open sometime in 2027—short-term rentals are the best bet. Main Street Guest Cottage is a centrally located option with a full kitchen, shaded hammock, and easy access to the farmers’ market and downtown shops and restaurants.

Related: This New Top Chef Host City Is Emerging as One of the South’s Next Great Food Capitals

Mississippi: Oxford

Photo by James Kirkisis/Shutterstock

Oxford ranks among the largest towns on our list at roughly 27,000 people, but its vibrant literature and art worlds are as intimate as they come. Tour the museum at Rowan Oak, the former home of Nobel Prize–winning author William Faulkner; attend a live recording of Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, a radio show featuring weekly author readings and musical performances; and load up on local titles at Square Books, a nearly 50-year-old bookstore set on historic Oxford Square.

See what’s on tap at the Powerhouse, a community arts center whose diverse programming spans cocktail competitions and second-line concerts, or time your visit to one of the city’s renowned festivals, such as the two-day Double Decker, which encompasses food, music, and art. Whatever you get up to, you’ll never go hungry: From the James Beard–caliber dishes at Saint Leo to down-and-dirty country-fried steak plates at Ajax Diner, Oxford delivers.

Where to stay in Oxford
The four-star Graduate by Hilton Oxford hotel puts a hip spin on university-inspired digs—and is conveniently located within walking distance of Ole Miss.

Alabama: Tuscumbia

Photo by Luisa P Oswalt/Shutterstock

The birthplace of Helen Keller attracts history and literature fans from around the world, who come to tour the Keller family home. Visitors to this northern Alabama town spend their time strolling the verdant walking trails of Spring Park (where a 51-jet fountain shoots water 150 feet high) and scouting falls at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve.

Also worth the visit: Alabama Music Hall of Fame in nearby Muscle Shoals, where inductees include The Temptations and Emmylou Harris. The lawn in front of the town’s handsome Colbert County Courthouse, rebuilt in Greek revival style in 1908 following a fire, has been the site of protests in recent years, including a rally against ICE raids and another protesting racial discrimination and police violence.

Where to stay in Tuscumbia, AL
Seven Springs Lodge rents cabins, silos, and campsites and even has stalls for horses if you bring your own. Don’t miss the watering hole Rattlesnake Saloon, squirreled beneath a dramatic rock overhang.

West Virginia: Fayetteville

Photo by arthurgphotography/shutterstock

Fewer than 3,000 people call Fayetteville home, but the town has seen an uptick in visitors since nearby New River Gorge was redesignated as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2020, becoming the country’s 63rd national park.

Whitewater rafters, rock climbers, and mountain bikers have succumbed to its magnetism for decades, but the rest of the world is waking up to this uniquely biodiverse area—its forest alone nurtures more than 1,500 species of plants. For sweeping canyon views, aspiring photographers usually make a beeline for the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the longest single-span arch bridges on Earth, while hikers book it to the Endless Wall Trail, a moderate 2.4-mile trek that zags along vertical sandstone cliffs.

Fayetteville proper has places to woo less outdoorsy types, too, including breweries (Bridge Brew Works, Freefolk Brewery) and artisan-first shops such as Studio B and Lost Appalachia Trading Co.

Where to stay in Fayetville
The 14-room, Queen Anne–style Historic Morris Harvey House Inn has seven fireplaces and two antique bathrooms with original clawfoot tubs. More importantly, it’s only 2.5 miles from New River Gorge National Park.

Kentucky: Bardstown

Photo by Ivelin Denev/Shutterstock

The so-called Bourbon Capital of the World has more going for it than booze, though obviously that’s a big lure: Good luck getting out of town without paying a visit to Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Willett, Barton 1792, or one of the other distilleries dotting its rolling blue-green hills.

The Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History does a fantastic job chronicling the production of whiskey in the USA, while the 90-minute Bardstown Ghost Trek dips a toe into the darker side of tavern life. And for anyone after a little retro flavor, there’s nothing better than bellying up to the century-old soda fountain at Hurst Discount Drug for an old-fashioned malt or banana split.

Where to stay in Bardstown
Turkish towels, terry bathrobes, and other luxe touches abound at Bourbon Manor, the world’s first bourbon-themed bed-and-breakfast.

The Midwest

Indiana: Angola

Photo by Roberto Galan/Shutterstock

Northeastern Indiana is blessed with more than 200 serene lakes. The laid-back town of Angola, in particular, is within a 15-minute drive of Crooked Lake, Lake James, and Pokagon State Park’s waters, a destination for kayaking and fishing.

After all that outdoor adventure, head into town and peruse the antique shops lining historic Maumee Street or enjoy burgers, wings, and a drink at Buck Lake Bar & Grill. For events lining up to your visit, check the calendar at Trine University, the largest employer of the town and a major driver of the social scene here. Upcoming events can be anything from a hockey game to an intimate concert with “American Pie” singer-songwriter Don McLean.

Where to stay in Angola
In a sea of chain hotels, this two-bedroom lakefront guest suite stands out with its outdoor hammock, firepit, and souped-up chef’s kitchen. (It even has a margarita maker!)

Illinois: Galena

Photo by Dawid S. Swierczek/Shutterstock

Galena (named after the mineral) sits in the state’s northwestern corner and was built on the mining industry during the 19th century. Today, its downtown has developed into a center with more than 100 places for shopping, eating, and wandering.

Look for tarot cards and divination candles at A Darkness Lovely, sister store of the Haunted Galena Tour Company, and wooden utensils and farmhouse paddles at Galena Spoon Co. before sipping a root beer float at Root Beer Revelry, home of the world’s only public Museum of Root Beer.

There’s a historic side to Galena, too: Cross the scenic Galena River to tour the former residence of Civil War general and former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. Anyone seeking a century-old forge in action can swing by the Old Blacksmith Shop.

Where to stay in Galena
Some rooms at Irish Cottage Inn & Suites have jetted tubs and wet bars, but it’s the afternoon tea served in the Irish library and the scotch eggs with Guinness at the cozy-dark pub that keep guests coming back.

Michigan: Frankenmuth

Photo by arthurgphotography/Shutterstock

The first thing visitors probably notice about Frankenmuth is its Bavarian-inspired, timber-framed architecture. If a chicken dinner at the 136-year-old Bavarian Inn Restaurant or the lebkuchen from the bakery at Zehnder’s don’t clue you in, Frankenmuth’s German touches are beyond aesthetic.

This town of some 5,000 residents was settled by Germans in the 19th century, which visitors can learn more about aboard the Bavarian Belle, a two-story paddlewheel riverboat that cruises along the Cass River, or during the German-themed parades, keg tapping, and wiener dog races of its Oktoberfest.

Don’t forget to stop by Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, which was founded in 1945 and, at 27 acres, is billed as the world’s largest Christmas store. (It’s also open 361 days a year.)

Where to stay in Frankenmuth
The 360-room Bavarian Inn Lodge channels Frankenmuth’s Deutschland spirit with chalet-inspired rooms, riverfront grounds, and Bavarian Blast, its 2025-expanded indoor waterpark and entertainment complex.

Ohio: Yellow Springs

Photo by Scott Cornell/Shutterstock

If you get a distinctly bohemian vibe bouncing around the artisan-focused pottery shops, excellent bookstores, and internationally minded restaurants, like Taiwanese-Palestinian-Israeli Mazu) of this southwestern Ohio town, you have Antioch College to thank. The school has long been a hub for environmental activism and social justice—a sentiment that has spread throughout this town of 3,702.

Look to the Yellow Springs Arts Council for fascinating gallery shows and cultural events, Little Art Theatre for indie movie screenings, and Yellow Springs Brewery for pints with a side of progressive politics. To soak up the four seasons, tackle a cliff-side hiking trail at the 752-acre John Bryan State Park, keeping your eyes peeled for chimney swifts and red-tailed hawks, or pick up a leg of the multi-use Little Miami Scenic Trail, which runs for 78 miles and intersects with the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve.

Where to stay in Yellow Springs
The apartment-style Tower at Jailhouse Suites is in what served as the town jail from 1878 until 1929. All that remains of the original cells are some bars on windows.

Wisconsin: Viroqua

Photo by Francey/Shutterstock

Fly-fishing streams and Amish farms are scattered throughout Wisconsin’s Driftless Area (a term referring to the southwest part of the state that went unglaciated 10,000 years ago). But Viroqua proper is a hotbed of culinary creativity, in part thanks to the more than 200 organic farms in the area.

Tuck into a savory biscuit sandwich from Wonderstate Coffee, a solar-powered roastery and fair-trade café housed in a 1940s gas station, or settle in for a meal at the Driftless Café, where co-owner and PBS host Luke Zahm draws his bounty from the many organic farms dotting Vernon County. For dessert, ice cream and crepes await at Magpie Gelato, or you can put together your own Dairyland cheese plate from the vaunted Viroqua Food Co+op.

On a rainy day, browse the stacks at Driftless Books & Music, one of the state’s largest used bookstores; if the sun is shining, take a DIY tour of Viroqua’s myriad murals or stop by the Driftless Angler fly shop to book a guided trout-fishing lesson.

Where to stay in Viroqua
The Scandi-modern Tanager cabin at Driftless Creek, enveloped by thick woods a few miles outside of town, has a Norwegian wood-burning stove and musical instruments on its walls.

Minnesota: Ely

Photo by Travis J. Camp/Shutterstock

Cozied up to the Canadian border, Ely is best known as the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a million-plus-acre sweep of interconnected lakes, rivers, and boreal forest; after July 2026 wildfires temporarily closed park access, entry points have begun reopening, but paddlers should check current Forest Service alerts and fire restrictions before heading out.

The town also boasts the world’s highest concentration of dog sled outfitters per capita. Test your mushing skills by signing up for a half-day fun run or challenging backcountry trek with Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips; the family-run operator counts dozens of retired racing dogs among its crew. While you’re in the canine spirit, pop by the International Wolf Center to meet its ambassador wolves and learn why wolf conservation is so important. Should time permit, Ely Folk School offers a range of immersive, skills-based classes: needle felting, willow carving, and animal tracking in snow among them.

Where to stay in Ely, MN
Moose Track Adventures can arrange guided canoeing and fishing outings or leave you be in one of its six comfy cabins, complete with charcoal grill, stone firepit, and private dock access.

Missouri: Kimmswick

Photo by Aaron Fuhrman

The wee town of Kimmswick, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, is a half-hour drive from St. Louis. Spend time at the National Museum of Transportation to learn more about the trains that chugged through this town, which today is home to the Anheuser Estate, a 19th-century mansion formerly occupied by, yes, that Anheuser.

Knock out some shopping at the Spicery of Kimmswick (try Miss Em’s Peruvian spice blend) and Mississippi Mud Gallery & Gifts before blowing your mind at Mastodon State Historic Site, the paleontological bone bed where scientists discovered the first concrete evidence of humans coexisting with North American mastodons.

Where to stay in Kimmswick
Serenity Log Inn, a 1930s two-bedroom cabin a mile outside town, has a fireplace, screened-in porch, and modern kitchen and bath.

North Dakota: Medora

Photo by Threefold

Medora is one of the smallest towns on our list, but it’s the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the staggeringly beautiful Badlands, an area that America’s 26th president says dramatically shaped his views on conservation. As of July 4, 2026, the town is also home to the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a major cultural addition built into the Badlands landscape.

Watching the Old West-themed Medora Musical, an outdoor production at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre, is a must-do summer experience, as is witnessing the live-fire grilling of 12-ounce New York strip steaks at the town’s annual Pitchfork Steak Fondue. You can learn about the state’s ranching heritage at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame year round.

Where to stay in Medora
Rough Riders Hotel seamlessly blends the old (pressed tin ceilings, balconies where former presidents were rumored to have given speeches) and new (walk-in showers, a restaurant serving bison osso buco).

South Dakota: Spearfish

Photo by Byron Banasiak

There’s no better base for exploring the Northern Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, than Spearfish. After checking off the aforementioned postcard sites and exploring Bridal Veil Falls in Spearfish Canyon, pay a visit to the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery to get schooled on rainbow trout or the High Plains Western Heritage Center to get a fuller grasp of the rugged individualism that defined the American cowboy.

Artsier travelers can find enriching experiences as well—pick up tickets to a cabaret show or bluegrass jam session at the Matthews Opera House & Arts Center or explore the op-art spherical paintings at Termesphere Gallery, the by-appointment-only showroom of artist Dick Termes.

Where to stay in Spearfish
Guests must be 21 and up to stay in one of the three secluded cabins at Rim Rock Lodge. An additional trio of suites is available in the main lodge—each with views of Spearfish Canyon.

Nebraska: Aurora

Photo by Pixel Doc/Shutterstock

For a place with fewer than 5,000 residents, Aurora has a lively town center. The two-block radius around Central Park Square (known as the Square) includes a cinema, butcher shop, bookstore, flower shops, spas and salons, and a clutch of independently owned boutiques. Rath’s Cafe serves barbecued meatballs, ham salad sandwiches, and other comfort foods.

Educational draws for families include Edgerton Explorit Center, one of the Midwest’s foremost experiential science centers (founded by the doc who invented the strobe light), and the Plainsman Museum, a 50,000-artifact-strong nonprofit focused on the life and times of pioneers. (The special exhibitions include a one-room schoolhouse dating to 1874.)

In the dog days of summer, children can enjoy the waterslides and lazy river at the Aurora Aquatic Facility and cool off with an Italian ice from JoJo’s Gelato & Grill—or join their parents for a fun-packed day at Pioneer Trails, a recreation area with trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding.

Where to stay in Aurora
Built in the 1930s, the six-bedroom, two-bath Cyr House accommodates up to 10 guests and is in walking distance to the Square.

Kansas: Lindsborg

Photo by KSwinicki/Shutterstock

Swedish immigrants founded this town of just under 3,500 in the late 1800s, earning it the nickname “Little Sweden, USA.” From the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, honoring the eponymous Swedish American artist who lived and worked in Lindsborg, to the multilingual street signs and handcrafted Dala horses scattered around, the town is very much steeped in its history.

Order pickled herring with knäckebrot at Öl Stuga, catch a performance by the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, or time your visit to Svensk Hyllningsfest, a biannual celebration of Lindsborg’s proud Scandinavian heritage, with music, food, and folk dancing. The Red Barn Studio Museum is another worthwhile stop, celebrating the folksy work of (non-Swedish) multimedia artist and toymaker extraordinaire Lester Raymer.

Where to stay in Lindsborg

Set in a pink Queen Anne Victorian, the adults-only Rosberg House Bed & Breakfast has a swimming pool, gazebo with gardens, and five guest rooms available for full buyout.

Iowa: Decorah

Photo by Jeffrey S Taylor/Shutterstock

A part of the Upper Midwest’s bucolic Driftless Area, the 7,600-person town of Decorah inspires boundless outdoor exploration. Canoeing, kayaking, and tubing the Upper Iowa River and Cardinal Marsh are popular ways to get on the water, or you can chase waterfalls at Malanaphy Springs and Dunning’s Spring Park.

Rent wheels from Decorah Bicycles and hit the 11-mile Trout Run Trail or sign up for a Nordfjord-style bowl-turning class at the Vesterheim Museum’s folk art school, capping your day with a beer (or three) at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company or Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.

Green thumbs, take note: Decorah is home to the Seed Savers Exchange, a long-running nonprofit seed bank and heritage farm dedicated to preserving and sharing heirloom seeds.

Where to stay in Decorah, IA
The former opera house at the historic Hotel Winneshiek has its original tin walls and ceiling, a grand stage, and a private dining room for special events. (The king suites with double whirlpool tubs are pretty swank, too.)

Hawaiʻi and Puerto Rico

Hawai‘i: Waimea

Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Dana Edmunds

Twenty minutes straight up from the heat of the white-sand beaches along Hawai‘i’s Kohala Coast, Waimea’s refreshing breezes complement its cool, laid-back culture. Three thousand feet above sea level and at the base of imposing volcano Mauna Kea, Waimea nourishes Hawai‘i’s paniolo (cowboy) culture with historic and working ranches. Visitors can get a feel for the culture by taking a spin on horseback with Paniolo Adventures or Kahua Ranch, or during the summer rodeo or fall Paniolo Parade.

The culinary scene in Waimea also makes good use of that cattle—at the weekly farmers’ markets and at Waimea Butcher Shop, which has brisket sandwiches on ‘ulu bread and pipikaula, local seasoned dried beef.

Where to stay in Waimea
The Kamuela Inn nods to the upcountry’s cowboy heritage with design elements like horseshoes and barn doors.

Puerto Rico: Guavate

Photos by JESSE ECHEVARRIA

Drive about an hour south of Puerto Rico’s capital and you’ll land in Guavate, a mountain community in the municipality of Cayey. Arrive hungry, because it’s where you’ll find la ruta de lechón, a snippet of Highway 184 dedicated to serving up lechón asado. The history of these restaurants depends on who you ask, but nonetheless this has become the place to eat pork. Try the dish at eateries like Lechonera Los Amigos and El Rancho Original before declaring a favorite, and enjoy the winding roads and mountain vistas that come with the territory.

Where to stay in Guavat
El Pretexto is a mini farm and bed-and-breakfast where you can wake up to sky-high mountain views and the crowing of a resident rooster named Santiago.