Best Small Towns to Visit in America

T he United States of America is a huge country, and by default has a lot of cities that do not house a large population. You may not want to live in a small town, but you should definitely pay a visit to these beautiful little pockets of locals. Listed below are the best small towns to visit in America. If they’re close, they can make for a fun road trip!

1. Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a small town located in Maine, and truly captures the essence of what Maine is. It’s on the East Coast and is one of the most relaxing cities you can visit, full of hospitable people and many inns waiting to host you. There are a lot of bed-and-breakfast places and a lot of things to do outdoors to make sure you will not be bored during your stay.

If you like exploration, there are many tours to pick from: whether they are culinary tours, boat tours, or even history tours! Lobsters are quite integral to Bar Harbor’s economy, so make sure you show up with an empty stomach and enjoy fresh seafood.

2. Telluride

Located in Colorado, Telluride is one of the most scenic places you can visit. It has a wonderful Mountain Village that you can spend your entire day in without getting bored. If you’re sporty and prefer athletic activities, you can spend your time skiing in any of the 2000 acres of enjoyable terrain. Telluride boasts thick snow, up to 300 inches, and sometimes even more. There are a lot of festivals and other cultural events happening throughout the year, and during the warmer months, travelers are open to hiking, biking, and even golfing.

3. Lake Tahoe

You may have heard of Lake Tahoe if you are from California or Nevada. Lake Tahoe is on the state line between California and Nevada, and you can truly pick your own adventure when you come here. The Homewood Mountain Resort is cozy and intimate, and a great sport for skiers during the winter.

In the summer, you can enjoy the Kings Beach State Recreation Area and go for as many swims as you like. If you’ve been following the Olympics since the 60s, you will be pleased to know that the location of the Winter Olympics of 1960 was held at Squaw Valley. For anyone who is a casino person, there are a lot of casinos you can check your luck at if you visit Nevada’s side of the lake.

4. Moab

Any list featuring small towns in America would be incomplete without mentioning Moab, a small town in Utah. People from all over the world come to visit Moab, famous for its exemplary rock formations that definitely look otherworldly. This town is a gateway to Arches National Park, where said rock formations are found, and many buttes and canyons can be seen in Canyonlands National Park.

The Moab ArtWalk, Moab Folk Festival, and Moab Trashion Show are three of the most popular events in Moab that any visitor must not miss. At the trashion show, fashion items and clothing are built out of “trash” which is recycled. If you like dinosaurs, you can head to Moab Giants, which is a dinosaur park and museum that hosts prehistoric artifacts.

5. Cannon Beach

For lovers of water bodies and the calming sea, Cannon Beach is a must-visit. Located in Oregon, it has one of the cleanest beach waters and almost a four-mile-long sand stretch on the coastline of Oregon. It also has many rock formations that are extremely high, and at sunset, the rock silhouettes are a sight to see.

Visitors who head to Cannon Beach will enjoy many relaxing moments on the beach and can explore some of the area’s parks as well. There are tide pools to splash around in. One of the things that you should not miss when you visit Cannon Beach is the tufted puffins at Haystack Rock.

6. Sonoma

Located in California, Sonoma is a true retreat for those who appreciate wine. There are many restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms that you can spend your day in, and then head to a winery for a wine tasting and frolicking in the gardens. The Sonoma Coast State Park offers beautiful views of the beach and numerous opportunities to hike. The small town of Sonoma is one of the very refined yet rustic places that you can spend your time in, and it is definitely one of the best small towns to visit in America.