With a population of 2,494, this former silver-mining town sits near a dead-end valley, with mountains sporting gorgeous waterfalls: Telluride’s Bridal Veil. With peaks great for mountain biking, skiing, or hiking. Telluride may be the most walker-friendly ski town in North America.
This town has blossomed into one of the nation’s best festival sites, with renowned events like the Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Film Festival.
Massachusetts: Chatham
Cape Cod comprises dozens of small towns with wood-shingled houses that turn gray with the salt air, but none are as popular as Chatham. With a population of 6,125, this charming little town has two beautiful resorts with water views, and fine dining caters to the area.
The high-end stores lining its "downtown" are mere steps from the ocean, where on any given day, you will see the herd of seals that call this area home.
Missouri, Sainte Genevieve
As this town's name suggests, Sainte Genevieve was originally a French Canadian town, and history is one of its major draws. Laying claim as the oldest town in Missouri, it lauds an impressive historical museum and buildings dating back 200 years.
Some of the Sainte Genevieve homes are superbly preserved, while others lay abandoned and ramshackle, providing an eerie atmosphere that's equally compelling.
Wisconsin: Chippewa Falls
More enchanting and less busy than its neighbor, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls feels like a village with a few extra city amenities. Lovers of the outdoors will appreciate 40 public boat landings in the county, the Hickory Ridge mountain biking trail, and about a hundred nearby lakes for fishing.
On the south end of Lake Wissota lies County Highway X, lined with taverns, restaurants, and supper clubs with stunning lake views.
Kansas: Lucas
Lucas has been called the “Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas,” the tiny town smack dab in the middle of the state is home to art both compelling and different. From the downtown’s storied public restroom in Bowl Plaza; sculpture and rock gardens; the five-room, a traveling roadshow dedicated to putting mega roadside attractions in miniature.
There are, of course, more traditional small towns all over Kansas. But for a certain set of people, this is paradise. And for the rest of us, it’s an essential stopping point on a cross-country trip.