Dear reader,
Growing up in a city of about 100,000 isn’t exactly a “small-town upbringing,” but elements of it felt like one: We had a parade through our historic downtown dedicated to my high school’s big rivalry football game, and supermarket run-ins often turned into half-hour updates on families, friends, and neighbors.
I love big cities (I live in NYC, after all), but reading AFAR’s new list of the most charming small towns in every U.S. state reminded me of the many reasons we have a soft spot for these tight-knit communities. Check out the article, compiled by AFAR contributors Nicholas DeRenzo, Naomi Tomky, and Ashlea Halpern, and you’ll find their appeal. It’s the air of creativity found in North Adams, Massachusetts, the bounty of fresh food surrounding Viroqua, Wisconsin, and the wild ponies found in Chincoteague, Virginia.
Often these small towns are reflective of the country’s diverse history—explore the museum in Cody, Wyoming dedicated to Buffalo Bill, or immerse yourself in the German culture apparent in Frankenmuth, Michigan’s restaurants and architecture. And we haven’t even begun to address the myriad festivals that make small-town travel a year-round celebration, such as Sugar Hill, New Hampshire’s Lupine Festival, which celebrates the purple and pink flowers that dot the neighboring White Mountains in the summertime.
So give these 51 spots (we couldn’t forget Puerto Rico!) a chance to charm their way into your travel plans for 2024. Whether you grew up in a small town or not, they’re a great reminder: While there’s a sense of wonder found in the silence of a national park or the bustle of an urban capital, there’s also so much joy found in the places in between.
Safe travels,
Chloe Arrojado
Associate editor, AFAR
