The coolest small towns in the US

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Saugatuck, Michigan

People who are living in a crowded city can surely appreciate the charm of America’s small towns. There’s just something special in living in a place where everybody knows everybody else, where the shopkeepers know your name and where even the most insignificant house seems to have more personality than any high-rise building in the big city.

When you’re in need of a bit of peace and quiet, you should consider visiting one of these small towns, where life’s little joys can make a whole lot of difference.

Ely, Minnesota

Very few other towns in the States can boast of being closer to nature than Ely. There are two wildlife centers around the town, and about thirty canoe and fishing outfitters. And as far as the influence of corporate America goes, we can safely say that there isn’t a single Walmart in town (although we don’t know about McDonald’s).

Ely, it’s many log log cabins and pubs are not very far from Minneapolis, and very close to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a network of beautiful lakes and forests where you can canoe, fish, camp or just walk on the banks of a lake, enjoying the nice weather. To get there check cheap flights to Minneapolis.

Brevard, North Carolina

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard is a typical Appalachian town that is not ashamed of its history and its traditions. Every Thursday, the townsfolk assemble in the Main Street, where a bluegrass band strikes up a tune and every body starts dancing and having fun, adults, children and elderly.

Have some chocolate malts at Rocky’s Soda Shop, see a movie in the Co-Ed movie theater (which still has its neon sign and ticket booth), and than relax and breathe in the cool mountain air on the porch of the historical Red House Inn. The nearest larger Airport is Charlotte.

Saugatuck, Michigan

This tiny town of less than a thousand inhabitants is a place where time seems to stand still. No one is in a hurry, no one is stressed out and there is practically no noise on the streets. Black and white photos of Saugatuch from decades ago show that there hasn’t been any change in the town, except maybe for a fresh coat of paint on the buildings or new pavement on the streets. If you want to get to the Oval Beach, you need to take a 1838 hand-cranked chain ferry. Can’t get more authentic than that.

Egg Harbor, Wisconsin

Egg Harbor has been for a long time the refuge of the inhabitants of larger cities like Milwaukee or  Chicago. In summer, the countryside surrounding Egg Harbor is beyond scenic, a perfect postcard picture of rural America: orchards, silos and rolling green hills.

The beaches are quiet and perfect for a swim, building sand castles or a boat trip. If you want to socialize with the locals, hit the Birch Creek Music Performance Center, where everyone gathers in the evenings for some live music and a chat.

Medicine Park, Oklahoma

Medicine Park is located in one of those rare corners of the state of Oklahoma where there are mountains (or at least something resembling to them). The crumbling granite domes of Wichita are the backdrop for this scenic little town with less residents than kids in a high-school (about 400).

The town was built to be a resort for the rich and famous of Oklahoma, hence the well-kept lawns, arched bridges everywhere and cobblestone paved paths.

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Comments on The coolest small towns in the US

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stefan wrote on December 26, 2010:

Check out Ravensburg, Germany also.

 

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