11 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In The United States
When arriving in a new place, some people like to get settled into the hotel, while others are chomping at the bit to drive to the peripheral attractions. Personally, I like to beeline for Main Street. Being both the commercial and (often) geographical core, strolling up and down this essential strip is a great way to feel out a small town's personality. Even though most main streets work off a tried-and-true template, the best ones stand above the herd with unique businesses and thoughtful aesthetics. America has more than its share of picture-perfect Main Streets, but these 11 towns, in particular, are sure to make a dent in your phone's data.
Wallace, Idaho
For this enigmatic town of the Idaho Panhandle, I'm going to cheat a little bit. Wallace does not have one definitive main street, but rather, multiple, picture-perfect thoroughfares in its downtown (the entirety of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, I might add). Let's hone in on 6th Street and Cedar Street. The north end of the former begins at Interstate 90, between the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum and the purportedly haunted Sixth Street Theatre, continues past several charming coffee shops and saloons, and ends at the "Center of the Universe" (i.e. a manhole cover that was formally designated as such by the mayor). Cedar Street bisects 6th, introducing visitors to Wallace's mining history (Sierra Silver Mine Tour) and its corresponding salacious culture (Oasis Bordello Museum).
All of these 19th-century buildings (some restored, some still delightfully rustic) speak to a place that was once prosperous but then had to reinvent itself amidst hard times and encroaching modernity. Adding a mystifying ambience to the entire scene are the verdant Bitterroot Mountains, often shrouded by low-lying clouds.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Whereas Wallace highlights the gritty, blue-collared side of the 19th century, Mighigan's Mackinac Island enshrines its opulent charm, especially along Lakeshore Drive. Having just arrived by ferry from either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City, visitors will instantly be meant by colorful Victorian structures, the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages (for there are no cars allowed on the island), the gentle dings of single-speed bikes (there are rental companies everywhere), and the joyous chatter of fellow pedestrians. Lakeshore Drive is also likely to reveal your historic inn for the night, or an appetizing restaurant or fudge shop that needs to be promptly indulged in.
If you continue east, the commercial part of Lakeshore Drive will give way to the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor Center, which looks across to the well-kempt Marquette Park, which in turn is overseen by the domineering Fort Mackinac. From here, you may wish to double back on every nook and cranny of the timeless village, or your introverted side may beckon you to continue around the 8.2-mile perimeter bicycle path (all of which is technically part of Main Street), lapping up the quieter delights of this Lake Huron shoreline.
Ferndale, California
Between the towering redwoods of Northern California and the isolated treasures of the Lost Coast, Ferndale is like the love child of our first two entrants. Similar to Mackinac Island, Ferndale's Main Street (actually named Main Street this time) is a frozen-in-time fantasy (part Victorian, part 1950s Golden Age), and as with Wallace, the entirety of this town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While Fernale's Main Street isn't car-free, the pace of life is easy-going, and the sidewalks are well-suited for window-shopping. So ogle away at the dairy-farmer mansions, inviting inns, and all sorts of boutique businesses built in the style of Queen Anne, Italianate, Neo-Classic, and more. Patrons will hardly be able to make a poor choice, but for starters, I recommend poking your head into the old-fashioned Golden Gait Mercantile, or sipping an espresso inside the antique enclave that is Mind's Eye Manufactory & Coffee Lounge.
Hood River, Oregon
Plunked in the Columbia River Gorge, surrounded by lavender farms, and in the shadow of the pyramidal Mount Hood, Hood River is easily one of Oregon's most appealing small towns. But it isn't just the scenery and plentiful outdoor recreation that elevates this community, for Hood River boasts top-tier coffee and craft beer culture, with numerous outlets for each on and immediately around Oak Street. Rounding out the liquid indulgences are ample adventure shops, a couple of compelling art galleries (one housed within an old bank), and a quintessential indie bookstore. Contributing even more atmosphere to Oak Street are the mountainous banks of the Columbia River, as seen in the gap to the east, and the colorful kites and sails of the plentiful wind surfers (Hood River is, after all, the "Wind Surfing Capital of the World"), seen intermittently from the 2nd Street intersection.
Bozeman, Montana
Flanked by three mountain ranges (i.e., Bridger, Gallatin, and Madison) and surrounded by seemingly infinite national forests, Bozeman is well-regarded as a basecamp for big adventures. But when that mountain has been summited and the trail thoroughly ridden (be it by bike, horseback, or ATV), be sure to come back downtown to enjoy the upscale cowboy culture of Bozeman's lengthy Main Street. By day, Main Street is a place to grab a meaty brunch, sip some connoisseur coffee (at places like Treeline, Wild Joe's, Rockford, and Zocalo), and get kitted up at the various outdoor dealers. By night, neon signs transform Main Street into a Nashville-like affair. The tall block letters of the historic Baxter Hotel act as a focal point, but soon thereafter, the sounds of live music and cheers (or groans) from dedicated sports fans emanating from various venues will soon take control of your compass.
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Known as the "Gateway to the Apostle Islands" and the "Berry Capital of Wisconsin," Bayfield's main street (i.e., Rittenhouse Ave) is not to be outdone by its other accolades. Despite its isolated location on the western wing of Lake Superior (along the dramatic Apostle Islands National Lakeshore) and status as Wisconsin's smallest city, Bayfield has steadily grown into a summer tourist town, and Rittenhouse Ave, being the sole commercial strip, is the obvious rallying point. Start at the water's edge, where you can see Madeline Island (the largest of the 22-unit archipelago), and secure your spot for an upcoming tour with Apostle Island Cruises. If it happens to be a Tuesday or Thursday during peak season, then you will naturally be drawn to adjacent Memorial Park, where free outdoor concerts draw hundreds of spectators.
Trending westward along Rittenhouse, you can take your pick of Bayfield's one-off assets. There is the ever-popular Wonderstate Coffee and the Bayfield's Artist Guild on your right-hand side, or scoot across the street, where the immaculate St. James Social and the cutesy Field Day Market await (to name just a few novelties). In other words, come for the nature, but stay for the community.
Key West, Florida
Along with being the southernmost city in the contiguous United States, Key West, Florida, is celebrated for its visually engaging and entertaining main street (i.e., Duval Street). This 14-block, mile-and-a-quarter-long thoroughfare brings pedestrians from the Atlantic Coast (where they can take a slight detour to the Southernmost Point monument) over to the Gulf of Mexico (America). In between, this reduced-speed, wide-sidewalk district has a litany of cool bars and music venues, open-air cafes, swag and cigar shops, galleries, and historic sites. In fact, the largest collection of wooden structures on the National Register of Historic Places can be found here in the heart of Key West. And if you happen to roll through on the first Friday of the month, Upper Duval Street will be filled with even more art, music, and food thanks to the monthly First Friday Art Stroll.
Telluride, Colorado
For our next Main Street tour, let's visit another reinvented mining town, this time high in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Downtown Telluride's National Historic Landmark District is a tight twelve-by-eight block. At the center of the action is Colorado Avenue, which, at 8,750 feet above sea level and lined with spit-shined Old West infrastructure, is breathtaking in every sense of the word. No corporate chains have penetrated this mountain frontier. Instead, a healthy array of local boutiques maintains the purity of this main street. Unlike some of our entries, Telluride benefits from two peak tourist seasons. In the winter, the crowds flock to Telluride Ski Resort, before returning to Colorado Ave for some creature comforts. In the summer, snowboards get traded out for mountain bikes, and ski poles are repurposed into hiking poles.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Another picture-perfect Main Street that has successfully boxed out big-box stores and cookie-cutter corporate chains is the one cutting through Fredericksburg (aka Fritztown), Texas. Instead, this equal-parts-glamorous, equal-parts-tumbleweed National Historic District harbors over 150 locally-owned stores - effectively seducing weekend shopaholics from all over Central Texas, Hill Country, and well beyond, year after year. Dozens of restaurants serve said visitors, not only with hearty Lone Star State plates, but German-themed entrees that harken back to Fredericksburg's heritage. Speaking of the olden days, the Pioneer Museum (on the west side of Main Street) informs on the 19th-century immigrant influx, while the National Museum of the Pacific War pays homage to World War II heroes, including Fredericksburg native Chester W. Nimitz.
Winchester, Virginia
Bringing a little love to the East Coast is Winchester, Virginia's Loudoun Street, in the heart of the 45-block Old Town Historic District. Established in 1752, this charming, brick-lined, pedestrian-only strip kicks off with a commemorative Old Town Winchester arch before proceeding through the open-air marketplace known as the Loudoun Street Mall. All the way up to Piccadilly Street, this designated Main Street Program is filled with staggered flower pots, red-brick and greystone buildings, intermittent streetside patios, and, of course, crowds of jovial peers. Any number of recurring events may take place in this car-free zone, such as the art-centric First Friday, the Friday Night Live concert series, or even the annual and exhilarating Loudoun Street Mile. But even when it's simply business as usual, Loudoun Street boasts a high density of specialty shops (be it crafts, clothes, or antiques), historic sites (such as the Civil War Museum), and artsy outlets (galleries and stages alike).
Lake Placid, New York
Upstate New York has many mesmerizing main streets to gravitate toward, but for a trifecta of natural scenery, social energy, and tourist infrastructure, Lake Placid is a fine choice. The Main Street of this two-time Winter Olympics Host hugs the western shore of Mirror Lake (smaller, but no less idyllic than the namesake water body), where paddlers coast around in the summer, and ice skaters glide by come winter. En route, this magnetic stretch graces the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, the lakeside toboggan chute, a wealth of revered accommodations (the long-term benefit of being an Olympic Village), and all the gear and souvenir shops a keen out-of-towner could hope for. These Main Street attractions are not only reflected in the aptly-named lake, but coddled by the coniferous Adirondack Mountains.
Picture This
The low-angle morning light strikes the red bricks of an old miner's hotel, or shimmers off the white paint of a stately Victorian mansion while you watch through the front window of a cozy cafe. Making way for the recently arrived group of caffeine-starved joggers, you take to the sidewalk to get yet another photo of the blossoming town. Seemingly satisfied with your emerging album, you are later dismayed, but equally excited, to see that sunset's afterglow frames Main Street in an even more alluring way - especially when the matinee lights, and neon tavern signs kick in over eager crowds of post-work patrons. If this sounds like your kind of scene, then you're going to feel right at home walking the picture-perfect Main Streets of these eleven U.S. towns.
