6 Bucket-List Small Towns In The United States
Some of the most memorable places often turn out to be the least expected. The geography of the United States contains deserts, coasts, forests, and mountains that allow space for towns shaped by their geology and scenery. From the first settlements made by the colonists to the most recent state borders, history has left its imprint on these towns and cities. Each small town mentioned in this article has a population of less than fifty thousand, yet they are centers of landmarks, geography, and experiences that belong on any real traveler’s must-visit list. Some are known for their national parks, others for their preservation of historic architecture, and some for their once-in-a-lifetime events. Some places stay overlooked, even when they deserve a closer look.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea was founded in 1902 as an artists’ colony on the Monterey Peninsula and remains one of the most tranquil destinations on California's bucket list. The day can begin at the Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1771 as an important site in California’s Spanish mission system. Just south of town, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is where coastal trails lead through kelp forests and tide pools.
Back in town, Gallery by the Sea Carmel offers exhibits featuring local artists and ocean-inspired works. Evenings tend to wind down with dinner at Aubergine, the restaurant at L’Auberge Carmel, where the Michelin-starred tasting menu reflects the California coast.
Hood River, Oregon
Hood River is recognized as the windsurfing capital of the world, with the constant breeze blowing through the Columbia River Gorge. The day can start with drive up to Panorama Point for sweeping valley views. In autumn, the Hood River Fruit Loop comes to life with 35 miles of orchards, cider stands, and farm stops built on an agricultural history that began in 1855.
The afternoon often unfolds at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, where vintage machines remain in working order. Many visitors finish the day at pFriem Family Brewers, a riverside taproom where they can relax and watch kiteboarders glide past on the water.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo has been continuously inhabited for more than one 1000 years, making it one of the oldest living communities in the United States. Taos Pueblo stands as an ideal starting point, where residents still live in multi-storied adobe homes and sell handmade crafts. The next stop might be the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, a Russian-style adobe filled with New Mexican art.
Twelve miles from town, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge stretches across a canyon more than six hundred feet deep, its steel arches drawing both sightseers and photographers. Evenings can end at Doc Martin’s, a restaurant honoring Taos’s first doctor inside the adobe home where he once lived.
Galena, Illinois
It may come as a surprise to many, but Galena has over 87% of its buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic Walk through town on the self-guided historic tour brings visitors by 19th-century landmarks and historic sites, including the Corwith Building, originally a busy dry goods store, and the DeSoto House Hotel, in operation since 1855, where Abraham Lincoln once stayed. Also, among the highlights of the tour is the Ulysses S. Grant Home, given to the general by the citizens of Galena in 1865. Tourists enjoy a walk through rooms preserved with original furnishings and personal belongings.
For adventure, Chestnut Mountain Resort offers alpine slides and chairlifts above the Mississippi River. Those drawn to a livelier downtown scene, Amelia’s Under the Lamplight Dinner Theater provides fine dining and live performance.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Fun fact: Beaufort’s streets, laid out in 1711 by early Spanish and British settlers, still guide visitors through one of the South’s most timeless bucket-list towns. Mornings can begin with a downtown historic walk which includes a visit to the John Mark Verdier House, where rooms display original French wallpaper and family heirlooms. Also popular along the walk and among visitors is the Beaufort History Museum, which explores Spanish colonization, Native Yamasee settlements, and the town’s role in Reconstruction.
Afternoons often lead to Hunting Island State Park to climb the lighthouse and walk along the marsh boardwalks among the palms. Those back in town by evening can join a scenic cruise with Beaufort Dolphin Adventures, gliding through tidal creeks where dolphins surface close by. Festivities begin on November 30, when Beaufort’s long Christmas season kicks in with its highlight event, Night on the Town, featuring the Christmas tree lighting.
Bar Harbor, Maine
On Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park and home to Cadillac Mountain, where the sun first rises on the continental United States. Early hours are best spent at the Ocean Path, an easy trail from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs, with dramatic views of Thunder Hole along the way.
The next stop is the Abbe Museum, whose core exhibit, People of the First Light, presents more than 12,000 years of Wabanaki history through personal stories and Indigenous perspectives. For a meal, one option is Side Street Café, known for its lobster rolls and laid-back charm. Many spend the afternoon on a tour with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company to spot whales and puffins across Frenchman Bay.
Six Towns Worth the Journey
These towns are more than way stations. Each holds a fragment of American life that remains personal and lasting. In Hood River, riverside trails and autumn orchards create scenes of quiet movement. Galena preserves its 19th-century streets and hilltop views that cross into neighboring states. Beaufort ties Spanish and British history together through waterfront walks and dolphin tours. Taos unites ancient Pueblo homes with a creative desert landscape. Carmel-by-the-Sea keeps its artist colony spirit alive beside cliffs and refined dining. Bar Harbor opens the way to Acadia National Park and the first sunrise on the continent. Each town earns its place on any map of places worth visiting.
