Top 10 best small towns to visit in America this coming fall
Charming small towns have a character all of their own and offer the chance to get under the skin of American life without the crowds.
America has plenty to offer but if you are hankering for a more authentic experience that gets to the heart of what the US is truly about, small town life is where it's at. Here are the Top 10 favourite small towns with character voted by you and revealed by U.S. News.
1. Bar Harbor
Small town Maine at its finest. The east coast retreat is filled with B&B accommodation options and offers loads of outdoor actitivies. From Boat tours and history tours to culinary tours, there’s loads to get you acquainted with in this charming town.
It’s the gateway to Acadia National park for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, biking and kayaking. Don’t miss trying the Bar Harbor’s staple dish, Lobster.
2. Telluride
This Colorado town has exceptional scenery and a stylish Mountain Village, a European-style resort town filled with restaurants, shops and accommodations. Out of the ski season, there’s 2,000 acres of terrain to explore with hiking trails, zip lining and golf.
A drive along the San Juan Skyway is a must too, passing through historic towns surrounded by spectacular mountains.
3. Monterey
Known for its incredible coastal setting, and as the location for the award-winning series, Big Little Lies, the best way to enjoy the region's geography are to ride along the 17-Mile Drive and hike through the beautiful Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Golfers will love Pebble Beach, widely considered one of the most beautiful in the country and the kids will love Old Fisherman's Wharf's candy shops.
4. Nantucket
Beach lovers will adore this exclusive locale. Surfside and Jetties Beach are two hugely popular coastlines. This tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts is beloved by travelers for its quaint small-town atmosphere and three photogenic lighthouses.
Explore the islands whaling history at the Whaling museum, stroll along Bluff Walk and spot rare birds at the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge.
5. Jackson Hole
One of America’s top ski resorts the Wyoming Valley is just as beautiful any time of year. The picturesque scenery, cozy lodgings and proximity to Grand Teton National Park.
Obviously, there are outdoor activities galore, including mountain biking, paragliding and whitewater rafting.
6. Lake Tahoe
Straddling the California-Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is a brilliant choice any time of year. In Winter join the jetsetters who ski at Palisades Palisades Tahoe, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, while at other times of year, visitors can soak up some sun at Kings Beach State Recreation Area. On the water you can kayak, scuba dive or try stand-up paddleboarding.
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7. Steamboat Springs
Overlooked by gentle sloping, grass covered hills, this northern Colorado town offers excellent cross-country and downhill skiing conditions, a community of friendly locals and geothermal hot springs.
Steamboat in the fall has brilliant foliage in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, or visit in the spring to get an eyeful of the cascades at Fish Creek Falls. Active families will love rafting down the Yampa River and hiking the Yampa River Core Trail.
8. Sedona
This Arizona town has over 200 different hiking trails are great for nature lovers, while the vortexes draw the holistically-inclined and the luxe spas cater to visitors wanting a bit of pampering. For a bit of retail therapy, head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and drive along Red Rock Scenic Byway for stunning views of Sedona's breathtaking natural features.
9. Breckenridge
This beautiful former gold rush town in Colorado is busy in the Winter with skiers but in the autumn and summer, visitors come for the hiking and biking the Vail Pass Path and Boreas Pass Road.
Afterwards, stroll down historic Main Street lined in boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Breckenridge is also home to many breweries and a distillery.
10. Moab
The eastern Utah town serves as a gateway to the otherworldly rock formations of Arches National Park and the numerous canyons and buttes in Canyonlands National Park.
It’s nirvana for nature lovers who can do anything; from zip lining to whitewater rafting and rock climbing.
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