13 Most Breathtaking Towns In The United States
The United States has a long list of breathtaking towns that put up a strong competition with the most beautiful destinations in Europe or anywhere else in the world. From bustling resort hubs perched at the foothills of mountains to coastal paradises, these towns reflect the country’s varied landscape, making them worth visiting year-round. Below, you’ll find a carefully curated list of the most gorgeous of these towns in America, each with a distinct scenery, from desert to coastal, river, and red rock. One town even resembles a charming destination in the Netherlands, while another feels like a page ripped out of a fairy-tale storybook. Another town captivated Thomas Jefferson as far back as 1785, leading to one of the most passionate natural descriptions ever written about the area, which eventually became the state of West Virginia. Read on to discover America’s most breathtaking towns that should be on your radar.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of America’s most beautiful coastal towns, worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Positioned on the Pacific Ocean, this town is characterized by a sugar-white sandy shoreline, Monterey Cypress trees, and a unique downtown area that resembles a storybook with its beautiful cottages. Visitors to this town can best soak in the scenery by strolling or riding on the Scenic Road Walkway for unobstructed views and easy access to the gorgeous beach. This road stretches through Ocean Avenue, the heart of the town, which means visitors can easily take detours to see stunning cottages such as the Hansel and Gretel Cottages, as well as the Historic Carmel Mission Basilica, which dates to 1770. Besides, the Dametra Cafe is in this part of town to offer authentic Mediterranean food. For more incredible sights, visitors are invited to drive a few miles to Garrapata State Park, where trails await to provide access to canyons, coastal headlands, and redwood groves.
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a charming town in Iowa that goes the extra mile to provide breathtaking scenery. This town is one of the few places in the United States where one can witness Dutch architecture alongside colorful flowers and lakes. Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands, Pella invites scenery-loving travelers to stroll through Central Park and marvel at the tulip beds, flowering trees, fountain, and windmill. Similar lovely sights of flower beds and a windmill can be seen at the Brinkhoff Park. Meanwhile, the town is home to Pella Historical Village & Vermeer Windmill, a uniquely beautiful place featuring log cabins, a blacksmith shop, a refurbished 1850s bakery, and Dutch costumed actors, all reflecting the daily lives of early Dutch settlers in the area. Notably, the 1850s-style Vermeer Windmill in the area is one of the tallest working windmills in North America and is open for tours. Away from Pella’s downtown scenery, the Volksweg Trail offers a 17-mile scenic adventure along the Des Moines River and through woodlands all the way to Red Rock Lake, Iowa’s largest lake, and a paradise for watersports.
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is a small town at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's tallest mountain, where every season comes with its beauty and charms. In fall, particularly, only a few places in the world can rival the scenery that this town displays as its sugar maple, red maple, and pine trees transform into fiery shades of orange, yellow, and red. In winter, the town becomes a snowy wonderland, and come Spring, everything blooms as the waters flow. In summer, the brightness of the sun exposes every detail in the town, from the highest peak of Mount Mansfield known as ‘the Chin,’ to the surrounding rolling green hills. At any time of the year, visitors can enjoy the picturesque views by hiking, biking, or skiing on the Stowe Recreation Path, which stretches 5.3 miles through wooded areas and along the Little River. On the greenway, opportunities also abound for picnicking, swimming, and dining. More breathtaking sights of Stowe’s mountainous landscape can be enjoyed at the Stowe Pinnacle Overlook, which is reached via the 3.7-mile Stowe Pinnacle Trail. Furthermore, the Stowe Mountain Resort is always open to offer adventures year-round. This resort is the town’s signature attraction, featuring more than a dozen lifts, over a hundred trails, and the Gondola SkyRide that stretches to Vermont’s highest peak and presents breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys around Stowe.
Naples, Florida
Naples is the kind of town where every day feels like a mini vacation. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, this town is gorgeous, with its white sand beaches and streets lined with palm trees and structures exhibiting diverse architectural styles from Mediterranean to Spanish and Colonial. Visitors to this town can stroll through Fifth Avenue South, the heart of the town, to soak in the architectural splendor, while shopping or dining at establishments like Sails Restaurant, which serves delicious seafood. Alternatively, travelers can stroll through Third Street South to witness a more charming scenery, characterized by fountains, trees, flowers, restaurants, shops, and the original cottages of Old Naples, like the 1895 Palm Cottage, the town’s oldest house. From both of the aforementioned streets, one can easily visit Lowdermilk Beach to soak in the town’s coastal scenery or head to the Naples Botanical Garden to marvel at plants from all over the world.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a special town where historic charms combine with natural beauty to forge unforgettable experiences. This town will leave travelers stunned with its 19th-century buildings and cobblestone streets, surrounded by forested hills and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Even Thomas Jefferson attested to the beauty of this town in the Notes on the State of Virginia, adding that “it is worth the voyage across the Atlantic.” The best way to take in the scenery of this town that stunned the third President of the United States is by hiking the 4.5-mile Maryland Heights Trail to the Maryland Heights Overlook. From this overlook, the entire 0.62 square mile town can be seen as it is covered in lush vegetation and encircled by the rivers. Meanwhile, the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites visitors to walk through the town’s historic center for a journey to the 19th century, when the area was an industrial center and the site of the John Brown Raid, one of the pivotal events leading to the Civil War. The park includes several historic attractions, including John Brown’s Fort, the site where the last stand-off of the doomed raid of 1859 took place. Plus, visitors can enjoy close-up views of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers from The Point in the park.
Moab, Utah
Moab is an exciting town where the desert allure of the United States can be witnessed unobstructed. Located in Utah’s part of the Colorado Plateau, this town is known for its dramatic scenery, defined by towering red rock formations, canyons, arches, the Colorado River, and open skies. Just north of town, the Potash Road (also known as Lower Colorado Scenic Byway) invites travelers to a 17-mile journey for views of the river and the area’s signature rock features, such as sandstone cliffs and arches. On the ride, opportunities also abound for rock climbing, petroglyph hunting, and hiking, plus there’s a boat ramp at the end of the road, offering access to the river for floating adventures. Additionally, Canyonlands National Park is at the end of the road, and it has more breathtaking desert and rock scenery to offer. The largest park in Utah, Canyonlands, is perhaps the closest place one can get to the otherworldly landscape of Mars, with its towering mesas, cliffs, spires, and vast canyons sliced through by the Colorado River. Over a hundred miles of trails are available for access to the park’s incredible features, alongside campgrounds and riverways with up to Class V rapids. For more scenery and adventures, the La Sal Mountain Loop Road beckons for indulgence. This road stretches for 60 miles along the Colorado River and the La Sal Mountains, presenting breathtaking views of the Castle Valley, pine and aspen trees, and red rock canyons.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is an adorable town with one of the most inspiring ocean scenes in the United States. Here, travelers will be greeted with a sandy beach featuring unique rock formations, including the iconic Haystack Rock, a 235-foot basalt sea stack, which is also a hot spot for seabirds. Just walking or sitting on the beach and gazing at the massive rock and endless waves is a deeply satisfying experience. Nearby, Ecola State Park offers more breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, sea stacks, mountains, and Sitka spruce forest. The park features the secluded Indian Beach and views of the inaccessible, but strangely captivating Tillamook Rock Lighthouse perched on a lone rock in the ocean. Several trails are also within the park, including eight miles of the Oregon Coast Trail and the 2.8-mile Clatsop Loop, which winds through the forest and presents unobstructed sights of the coastline and lighthouse. Similar coastal scenery can be enjoyed near the Hug Point State Recreation Site, which has a more secluded beach alongside sea caves, waterfalls, and tide pools.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor sits pretty on Mount Desert Island, where it charms with coastal and mountain scenery and exciting attractions, one of which is the Agamont Park. This park is the perfect place to picnic or stroll, with gorgeous views of green fields, lush trees, the town pier, and Frenchman Bay, as well as its numerous boats. Meanwhile, Bar Harbor is famous for its proximity to Acadia National Park, one of the country’s top natural treasures, featuring rugged coastlines, forests, lakes, and several mountains, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest on the US Atlantic Coast. Visitors are invited to take the 27-mile Park Loop Road for a quick ride through the gorgeous coastal, mountain, and forest scenery of the park. On the ride, stops can be made to soak in some scenery at Frenchman Bay Overlook or to hike to Sand Beach, the park’s most popular beach, characterized by towering cliffs and sand dunes. This beach is also the starting point of the Ocean Path Trail, a 2.2-mile trail providing breathtaking sights of the rocky coastline. Furthermore, the Bar Island Trail is in Acadia National Park, offering a 1.9-mile hiking adventure at low tide with the best views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is an unconventional town in America’s Southwest, famous for its red rock scenery that changes dramatically, depending on the time of day. During sunrise and sunset, the scenery becomes particularly captivating, as the red rocks glow in shades of crimson and orange. While the visual charms can be seen at any part of town, trails such as the one-mile Cathedral Rock Trail and the two-mile Devil’s Bridge Trail provide the best views of the area’s signature red rocks. Cathedral Rock Trail is particularly exciting as it is short, challenging, and provides access to stunning rock formations, including Cathedral Rock, which is regarded as one of Sedona’s four vortexes, where the earth emits some kind of energy. Alternatively, travelers in Sedona can hit the Red Rock Scenic Byway for a relaxing seven-mile drive through the red rock beauty of Sedona and the surrounding area. This byway provides access to Cathedral Rock and other exciting attractions such as the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a Roman Catholic chapel built into Sedona’s red rock buttes. Furthermore, a visit to the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout is recommended as it presents stunning views of the western portion of Sedona and the surrounding red rock formations.
Hilo, Hawaii
Hilo is one of the charming towns that make a trip to Hawaii worth taking. A true tropical paradise, this town is characterized by rugged coastlines, turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, gardens, palm trees, and lush forest areas. A great way to soak in some of that scenery is by riding on the four-mile Onomea Scenic Drive that winds through lush tropical vegetation, with impressive views of the ocean. On the way, travelers can make a short detour to hike the one-mile Onomea Bay Trail along a botanical garden with views of a rocky coastline. Visitors can also head just two miles from downtown to see the 80-foot Rainbow Falls, or drive around 11 miles to Akaka Falls State Park to hike through a lush rainforest, and marvel at more spectacular waterfalls, such as the 442-foot Akaka Falls. In the meantime, travelers can always save time and still enjoy incredible sights by booking helicopter tours such as Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours. These tours depart from Hilo and entertain visitors with birds-eye views of the island’s impressive features, including its waterfalls, volcanoes, and black sand beaches.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is gorgeous and exciting. This town is located in the foothills of the lush Smokies and along the Little Pigeon River, presenting ever-changing scenery and endless recreation. Patriot Park is one of the best places to visit in this town for the views, as it contains lush trees, green fields, a walking path along the river, and picnic areas. Near this park is the famous Old Mill Restaurant, where charming views of a 200-year-old gristmill on the Little Pigeon River complement delicious Southern comfort food. In addition, Patriot Park is on one end of the Riverwalk Greenway, which presents a four-mile hiking or biking adventure along the river and through shaded areas, the Island in Pigeon Forge, and the Pigeon Forge Community Center. At the Island in Pigeon Forge, scenery-loving travelers can get on the 200-foot Ferris wheel for panoramic views of the town and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. Besides the views, The Island has more exciting attractions to offer, including life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and the Island Show Fountain, a mesmerizing presentation featuring water shoots, colorful lights, and music.
Meredith, New Hampshire
New Hampshire is regarded as one of America’s most beautiful states because of towns like Meredith. This town is a true New England paradise, located on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and decorated with lush trees and structures exhibiting architectural styles such as Victorian and Classical Revival. Visitors to Meredith will be stunned by its breathtaking scenery, especially when riding on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. This train tour presents a two-hour journey along the western shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and through the ever-changing scenery of the Lakes Region. Back in town, Hesky Park is a cool place to picnic or stroll with gorgeous sights of the lake and lush greenery. Elsewhere, the Moulton Farm invites travelers to shop for fresh produce in a gorgeous setting, while the Sculpture Walk is a cool and quick spot worth visiting for waterfront scenery and to see interesting artworks.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg is one of Tennessee’s famous towns, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and attractions dedicated to the views. For starters, this town is home to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, where SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, offers an exciting walk with incredible scenery. There’s also a 1.5-mile SkyTrail, the SkyDeck amphitheater, and the Yellow Chairlift in this park, all dedicated to providing the best views of the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg. More panoramic sights of the tree-covered area can be enjoyed by riding the 2.1-mile Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway from downtown to the Ober Mountain Adventure Park, where scenic chairlifts and ziplines await to provide more amazing views and thrills. Furthermore, Anakeesta is in Gatlinburg, inviting scenery-loving travelers to enjoy even more spectacular views of the town and the Smoky Mountains. Features of the park include an observation tower, a chairlift ride, a tree-based skywalk with suspended bridges, and the Clifftop Restaurant, where delicious meals complement inspiring mountain scenery. The AnaVista observation tower, Gatlinburg’s highest point, is also in Anakeesta, providing 360-degree views of the Smokies. Not to forget, Gatlinburg is a great place from which to explore America’s most famous park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home to over 800 miles of trails, ziplines, riverways, wildlife, campgrounds, and more.
You’ll be enjoying some of the best views that the US has to offer when you visit these towns. This is in addition to exciting outdoor adventures, rich histories, and cultures that reflect the diversity of the country. From Pigeon Forge to Pella, head to these towns today with a good camera and diary to capture the breathtaking views and pen down the details, just like Thomas Jefferson did. While visiting, slow down and connect with the scenery, and observe the architecture, especially in places like Naples and Pella. Also, be sure to savor the cuisine, particularly when in towns such as Gatlinburg and Sedona, where the scenery makes each taste more pleasurable.
