Though it’s right in the middle of California’s Santa Ynez wine country, Solvang will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to a European village. Solvang is located just a short 45-minute drive from Santa Barbara, making this charming town of 5,909 a worthwhile day trip.
Once you’ve visited, you’ll probably want to move there full-time. With so many things to see and so many restaurants to try, Solvang is one of our favorite Southern California destinations.
Alabama: Mooresville
It's been called a real-life living museum, with history reigning supreme in this postcard-size town. It doesn't get much smaller than Mooresville, with a population of about 50. This town has white picket fences that frame tree-shaded pavements.
Visiting this town is like traveling back into a time of gracious plenty, where city noise is the rustling of oaks and congestion is the growth of moss on a clapboard cottage. As we would expect, everyone knows each other here.
Alaska: Unalaska
Unalaska is just a speck far away in the middle of strong seas on the map. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere and only accessible by plane or boat, this secluded small town of Unalaska offers many activities for nature lovers and history buffs.
You can choose to explore the many beautiful hiking trails or go whale watching, or you can visit the Museum of the Aleutians. The land has a fierce beauty, luring all levels of hikers and experienced and even hard-core gliders, kayakers, and surfers.
Arizona: Bisbee
Bisbee is a historic mining town with a small population of 6,000 people in south-central Arizona, close to the Mexican border. Suppose you are looking for an interesting, off-beat place; this town might be the place for you as it happily embraces the arts and has a generally free-spirited atmosphere.
Bisbee may be three hours away from Phoenix, but this former copper mining town is now known for its walkability, eclectic art galleries, unique architecture, and a melting pot of residents.
Colorado: Ouray
Life's a little more relaxed in Ouray, perhaps due to the hot springs and the scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains that might inspire a new perspective on life. Ouray is known as the "Switzerland of America" because of the San Juan mountain range's surrounding peaks on three and a half sides of town.
The quaint town was named after Chief Ouray of the Ute Indians, a local tribe. This Victorian-era mining town is as authentic as it gets, so you'll only find locally-owned restaurants and boutiques.