Are you getting ready for the second-wave double whammy of coronavirus and the flu this fall? Maybe you’re starting to feel a little disquieted in your urban center? Or, you’re just ready for a change of scenery and zip code? Maybe it’s time to head to a small town. If there’s one thing Netflix romcoms have taught us, it’s that you’ll meet a heartwarming cast of characters and finally fall in love once you move to a rural town with a triple-digit population.
If you are wholly content with your current life (must be nice), how about taking a socially distanced weekend trip to one of these small towns, if we ever get the other side of this pandemic nonsense?
8 Cutest Small Towns in America
Carmel-by-the-Sea
California
Photo by Daniela Araya on Unsplash
The name is already cute. What more do you need to know? Sure, it’s a little over-the-top California touristy, but independent bookstores and quirky boutiques fill the quaint streets. Wineries surround it, perfect for spending the morning brunching and afternoon wine tasting before heading to the beach to watch dolphins and sea lions play in the surf.
Leavenworth
Washington
Photo by Marco Bicca on Unsplash
You’ll think you got transported to Europe without ever having to take out your passport. That’s not an exaggeration. They modeled the small town after a Bavarian village, from architecture to culture, food, and drink.
Taos
New Mexico
Photo by Don Stouder on Unsplash
It’s not only super-cute but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the town’s architecture surrounded by breathtaking scenery. There are outdoor activities all year round, including one of the nation’s best art museums with works by the artists drawn to the beauty of the high desert.
Stowe
Vermont
Photo by Patrick Bald on Unsplash
Stowe is your quintessential New England small town. It’s near Vermont’s highest peak if you have skiing in mind this winter, but otherwise, it’s just straight out of a Hallmark movie cute.
Marfa
Texas
Photo by Enrique Macias on Unsplash
This artist colony has a year-round population under 2,000. It attracts some big names who create world-renowned installations in the desert. They describe it as “tough to get to, tougher to explain,” but if you appreciate art or quiet solitude, it’s worth the journey.
Beaufort
South Carolina
Photo by Eric Muhr on Unsplash
Founded in 1711, historical landmarks and antebellum architecture fill this small town. It’s right on the coast of South Carolina. The perfect place to while away a few days (or weeks) and recharge.
Mystic
Connecticut
Photo by Rusty Watson on Unsplash
Are you longing for the sea air on your face? How about a lobster roll and spending the afternoon watching the tide? Head to Mystic to dip your feet in the Atlantic. Don’t miss the aquarium–it’s one of the country’s best.
Galena
Illinois
Photo by Tyler Callahan on Unsplash
Drive right into 19th-century Midwest America in Galena. It still has a main street–with trolley cars–lined by two-hundred-year-old buildings. The shops range from local crafts to boutiques and bookshops, a perfect place to spend a weekend disconnecting from the world.