11 Most Adorable Small Towns In America

Small towns can remind us of a simpler way of life. Everyone knows your name, family-owned businesses still exist, and people live their lives at a much slower pace than what “city folk” are used to!

Which is probably why our country’s small towns draw new residents and tourists every year. If you’ve always thought the location in those Hallmark movies seem like great places to live and are drawn to charming main streets, quirky festivals, friendly locals, and lovely country landscapes, then we have found some great options.

For our outdoor lovers and art-and-food-focused individuals, we have some ideas for a great getaway. You might even find your new home on our list!

Galena, Illinois

Galena became a boomtown around the 1850s when lead sulfide, from which the name comes, was discovered in the region. Since then, the home of Ulysses S. Grant has become a tourist destination known for its history, architecture, and resorts.

You can go on an adventure along the Mississippi River, take a trolley around the town, and spend all day exploring all over their many historical sites.

Foodies will be glad to know that this town has many rich local flavors, and adventurers can explore the skies in a hot air balloon. If you’re a golfer, you can go over to the championship greens. Basically, Galena has something for everybody.

Deadwood, South Dakota

You may associate Deadwood with Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok. But its actual claim to fame comes from the gold deposits discovered here in 1876, followed by the Black Hills Gold Rush.

Nowadays, you won’t find many gold seekers, outlaws,  and gunslingers, but you can find some of these colorful characters strolling through the streets of present-day Deadwood as a part of Deadwood Alive. They are a theater troupe who reenact some major historical events, including the assassination of Wild Bill.

Surviving three significant fires and economic hardships, you would expect Deadwood to be a ghost town, but because in 1989 gambling was legalized, it was suddenly reborn. Besides modern-day casinos and resorts, there are festivals, parades, rodeos, and rallies, among the many activities this place has to offer.

Beaufort, SC

If Beaufort may seem like a location straight from a movie, that’s because it is! You may remember a little movie called Forrest Gump. Among other scenes, when Gump is saving his comrades in Vietnam, they were actually by the lagoon at Hunting Island.

The culture and history in Beaufort are vibrant, with many historical landmarks in and around the city and constant festivities celebrating the many diverse cultures. One day every month, a local street is closed off where all the downtown restaurants and shops are so that people can roam freely and explore.

Beaufort seems to be the epitome of a small town, where everybody is connected and knows your name. The great thing is that whether you’re downtown or out on the beaches at Hunting Island, you always feel like you are on vacation.

Bayfield, Wisconsin

What used to be a lumbering and fishing community is now a tourist destination perched on the shore of Lake Superior due to its small-town charm. We’re not surprised, considering they have an annual apple fest in October and a dog sled race in February, with all their other orchards including lavender and strawberry fields.

Year-round, it’s home to about 500 people, but tourists typically visit in droves during the summer to enjoy the galleries, scenic waters, and nearby Islands, along with their other activities. Lighthouses, sea caves, Chautauqua tent shows,  and a maritime museum highlight this harbor town.

You can even cross over to Madeline Island by ferry for hiking, dining, and strolling through galleries.

Camden, Maine

Camden is a town whose population triples during the summer season. That may be because, besides the sunset cruises, this is a quintessential seaside town with a charming Harbour, an old lighthouse, and jagged rock bays. It doesn’t surprise us that its nickname is “Jewel of the Maine Coast.” Visitors enjoy hiking up nearby Mount Battie, after which feasting at one of the town’s coastal restaurants.

Interestingly, Camden made headlines after announcing that the town would be giving land away, 2.8 acres and a run-down leather tannery, free of charge, on one condition. Any interested business owner has to pay $175,000 to the city of Camden and provide 24 full-time jobs. As of 2018, there are still no takers.

Mendocino, California

This artist colony is so adorable that many movies were filmed here. You may remember “Overboard,” “Forever Young,” and even “Karate Kid 3”. In fact, the series Murder She Wrote used many exterior shots from throughout Mendocino long after they stopped shooting here.

Being here gives you a hippy vibe mixed with quaint New England style because of its architecture. You can listen to seals barking and splashing around if you go on the bluffs.

Nearly all of this former logging community’s town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Which is no surprise considering the victorian style houses and Main Street lined with art galleries and bookstores are perched above the Pacific Ocean.

Jackson, Wyoming

Entering this place, you somehow feel like you might enter the Wild West, yet you come across the first traffic light and remember what time period you’re in.

Originally populated by Native American tribes, Jackson became a town in 1894, and some of the original buildings still stand and can be found around the area of the Town Square.

Notable are the town’s shed elk antler arches which many tourists are fascinated with. People enjoy a horse carriage ride around the park during the summer months and then watch the nightly Town Square “Shootout” performed by the Jackson Hole Playhouse at 6 p.m.

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

This Berkshire town probably looks familiar because you’ve seen it depicted in Norman Rockwell paintings. The Housatonic River canal runs through downtown, where galleries and shops along Main Street feature everything from contemporary glass to Victorian-era antique jewelry.

This town hits three charm standards: architecture, nature, and culture, and includes the Norman Rockwell Museum. But most importantly, for a small town whose population is just under 2,000, there are cultural events year-round. From America’s longest-running international dance festival to Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas.

An entire weekend in early December includes house tours and vintage cars. It’s typical small-town America at its finest.

Natchez, Mississippi

Located on the Mississippi River, the graceful town of Natchez has everything you might expect from a classic Southern town. History lives here through the 18th-century homes, traditional down-home cuisine, and breathtaking scenery.

The phrase southern hospitality plays a huge role in the ambiance of this small Mississippi River town through its heritage, the buildings lining the city streets, and the welcoming people.

Natchez is packed with breathtaking views of the Mighty Mississippi, exceptionally kept historic homes and churches, historic walking trails, beautiful parks, hand-crafted southern home cooking, informative tours of the city, and much more for you to explore. Here you can linger along the riverbank, hitch a ride on a horse-drawn carriage, even visit the town’s museums and art galleries.

Cody, Wyoming

Though this is the birthplace of Jackson Pollock, the town’s name comes from William Frederick Cody, but you probably know him as Buffalo Bill. He still makes his presence known here. You’ll find scenic roads and museums dedicated to the famed showman, including the Cody Nite Rodeo, which features a bunch of lasso-wielding cowboys.

For a complete Wild West experience, you can head over to the nearby Old Trail Town, where you will find a living museum with traditional cabins, a saloon, and old wagons. You may find it interesting to check out the town’s several small furniture makers who produce custom pieces.

Abilene, Kansas

Historic Abilene is well known for being the hometown of President Eisenhower. First-time visitors usually make a beeline for his house and then the Greyhound Hall of Fame.

However, many may not know that Abilene was known as the wildest town in the west back in the day, being the first “cow town”! The Georgian-style Seelye Mansion is also a popular attraction. The home features the original Thomas Edison light fixtures and Tiffany-style mantel.

Abilene offers a great sense of family and friendship in its community, from museums to wild west re-enactments, destination dining and lodging, and antique retail shopping.