13 Prettiest Small Towns In The United States
A Victorian mining town in Colorado, tucked into a box canyon under 14,000-foot peaks. A Main Street in Illinois with more than 100 nineteenth-century storefronts that has barely changed in 150 years. A village in South Carolina full of antebellum homes shaded by Spanish moss. What every town on this list has in common is simple. The town is pretty, and so is everything around it. Thirteen pretty places spread across the country, from Alaska’s Inside Passage to South Carolina’s antebellum coast.
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, surrounded by gently rolling forested hills. It preserves multiple historic districts in its downtown area and beyond, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings that comprise Staunton’s downtown landscape contain buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Hotel 24 South stands out as the tallest building in town. The hotel is still fully operational and has preserved many of its most notable features, like its marble floors and chandeliers, and a unique Wurlitzer organ. Downtown Staunton is home to over 100 shops, restaurants, and galleries that are housed inside historic buildings. Mill Street Grill is housed inside a turn-of-the-century flour mill. It opened as a restaurant in 1992 and, since then, has served a diverse menu of steaks, seafood, and pastas.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is rooted in the floor of the Verde Valley, surrounded by towering red rock formations and steep canyon walls covered in dense pine forests. The town has a welcoming atmosphere that revolves around worship and wellness. Landmarks like the Chapel of the Holy Cross are built into the rocks high above Sedona. Visitors are welcome to enter the chapel to light a candle, meditate, or admire the sculpture of Jesus. In town, the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park welcomes people of all faiths to pray, meditate, or simply experience peace in a sacred place. Sedona’s beauty is epitomized at Oak Creek Canyon, regarded as one of the most scenic stretches of road you can drive in Arizona. Either side of the road is flanked by canyon walls that summit 800 to 2,000 feet high while blending the desert rocks of Sedona and the alpine forests of Flagstaff.
Bar Harbor, Maine
In Bar Harbor, the mountains of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island open up on the horizon across from the blue waters of Frenchman Bay. The town is a combination of rocky Atlantic coastline and forested mountains. Hikers can travel the Acadia Mountain Trailhead through forests before ascending to the rocky summit of Acadia Mountain at 681 feet. At the top, you can take in views of Somes Sound, Norumbega Mountain, and Sargent Drive. In town, visitors can enjoy Maine’s coastline at Agramont Park. The summer is an especially nice time to visit this park, as the flowers are in full bloom and it is common to see yachts and lobster boats cruise the waters of the bay.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is hidden between tidal marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. Beaufort’s historic district is home to one of the largest collections of antebellum homes in the country. The streets of the historic district are lined with century-old oaks dripping in Spanish moss, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial days. While you can walk the streets of the historic district and view the antebellum homes from the outside, the John Mark Verdier House, also referred to as the Lafayette Building, is open to the public. It operates as a historic house museum, granting visitors insight into the architectural style of the era. Beaufort is also home to the Parish Church of St. Helena, one of the oldest churches in North America. It was established in 1712 and still serves the community of Beaufort as a place of worship.
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is crowned by the forested High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, which transition from green to shades of red, orange, and yellow during fall. Whiteface Mountain, one of the Adirondack’s high peaks and the fifth-highest peak in New York, is a sight to behold in the fall. The last two weeks of September are the best time to visit the Adirondacks to view fall foliage. The hike to the summit of Whiteface Mountain is strenuous, although it has an exposed summit with panoramic views of surrounding mountains covered in fall color. Mirror Lake stretches through the center of town. A 2.7-mile-long route laps Mirror Lake, which is suitable for walking, running, or cycling. The lake itself is accessible year-round, with swimming, paddling, and fishing in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
Hood River, Oregon
Hood River is placed at the intersection between the Columbia River Gorge and the peaks of the Cascade Mountains. Most prominently, the snow-covered top of Mount Hood rises up in the distance behind town. In the summer months, the water is dotted with windsurfers and kiteboarders who take to Hood River’s sandbar to take advantage of the daily strong winds blowing through the Columbia River Gorge. But Hood River’s eye-catching scenery is not limited to the water. The 35-mile-long Hood River Fruit Loop winds past the many orchards on the loop, which comprise 14,500 acres of apples, pears, and cherries. As you drive between farms, fruit stands, and wineries, breaks in the forest reveal views of Mount Adams and Mount Hood.
Sitka, Alaska
Sitka is on the western shore of Baranof Island, one of the few towns on Alaska’s Inside Passage with direct access to the Pacific Ocean. The Sitka Sea Walk meanders along the harbor and coastline in town, providing views of Sitka Sound and Mount Edgecumbe in the distance. A diverse range of wildlife is also viewable along the sea walk, from sea otters and humpback whales in the water, bald eagles soaring high in the sky, to brown bears foraging on the rocky shores. Hikers can attempt the Mount Edgecumbe Trail, which winds through Tongass National Forest for seven miles to the summit crater of Mount Edgecumbe. On a clear day, views of the Pacific Ocean expand upon the horizon to the west, and bird’s-eye views of Sitka to the east.
Galena, Illinois
Galena is often referred to as the town that time forgot due to its historic district, which occupies over 85% of the town. Visitors will find some of the best-preserved collections of 19th-century architecture in the United States. Main Street alone has over 100 19th-century storefronts and other historic buildings like the DeSoto House Hotel, the oldest operating hotel in Illinois, which dates back to 1855. It has retained its original brick walls and beamed ceilings. Other historic structures in Galena include the Dowling House, Galena’s oldest house, which was constructed in 1826 of limestone and originally served as a trading post. Today, visitors can view original fireplaces, period furniture, and artifacts from Galena’s origins in lead mining.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride is rooted in the floor of a box canyon in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The small town of only eight blocks wide by twelve blocks long is surrounded by forested mountain peaks as high as 14,000 feet. Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado at 365 feet, is viewable from all over downtown Telluride. Alternatively, it is possible to hike directly to the base of the falls, which also features two additional smaller waterfalls. Aside from its natural scenery, Telluride features many Victorian-era buildings, with the town designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964. Key historic buildings in town include the Telluride Historical Museum, which is housed inside a restored 1896 miners’ hospital. The museum comprises ten thematic rooms showcasing Telluride’s history, as well as rotating gallery exhibits.
Millinocket, Maine
Millinocket is surrounded by Mount Katahdin, marking the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Mount Katahdin is within the limits of Baxter State Park. There are several routes up Mount Katahdin of varying difficulty. One of the most moderate routes is the Abol Trail. Although it traces through mostly forested terrain, 2.5 miles of the trail is exposed, granting expansive views of the surrounding region. Millinocket Lake is another major draw for visitors who want to experience Millinocket’s scenic beauty. Millinocket Lake’s shoreline has remained largely untouched and undeveloped, creating a unique wilderness experience for those who want to peacefully glide across the surface of the water on a kayak or canoe while still taking in views of Mount Katahdin in the distance.
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is dubbed “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” as it lies between the base of the Olympic Mountains and the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As such, visitors have easy access to Olympic National Park. The most easily accessible area within the park is Hurricane Ridge, located 19 miles south of Port Angeles, and provides views of snow-capped mountains and flourishing wildflower meadows. Back in town, Ediz Hook is a three-mile-long, crescent-shaped sand spit that lets people bike, hike, or walk out onto the water. The Ediz Hook is responsible for the calm harbor waters as it blocks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, creating optimal conditions for kayaking and canoeing. Several waterfront parks are dotted along Ediz Hook, like Harborview Park, which is particularly good for spotting marine wildlife such as sea birds, seals, and occasional pods of orcas.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood’s preserved architecture creates the feeling of stepping back in time through the days of the Old West, a feeling which is further emphasized by the locals who keep the Old West alive through daily reenactments in the summer from Deadwood Alive. Reenactments take place three times a day, six days a week, during the summer, where visitors can watch the final moments of Wild Bill Hickok unfold. The Wild West is kept alive in local establishments like Saloon No. 10, an authentic bar complete with South Dakota’s largest whiskey collection, artifacts lining the walls, and sawdust covering the floors. Locals and visitors come together annually to celebrate Wild Bill Days through live musical performances, a classic car show, and Old West demonstrations like beadwork and leather crafting.
Hanalei, Hawaii
Hanalei is a quintessential Hawaiian town located in the center of Hanalei Bay. Hanalei Beach is the focal point of town, covering two miles of golden sandy beach and lined with palm trees. The summer months experience calm waters, adding to the sense of serenity in town. Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park is centrally located in the middle of the bay, giving access to grassy areas that are ideal for taking in views of the whole bay. Behind the beach, lush, rolling rainforest-covered mountains frame the backdrop. The Hanalei Valley Lookout provides hikers with panoramic views of the Hanalei Valley below, taro fields, and the surrounding mountains.
Pretty small towns abound across the United States, each one offering something different to visitors. Places like Staunton and Galena have an abundance of historic structures to admire, Telluride and Sitka are framed against mountainous backdrops, and places like Hanalei and Bar Harbor feature rugged coastlines. Regardless of why you visit, you are sure to be enchanted from the moment you arrive.
