The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025

From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this year

Laura Kiniry - Travel Correspondent

June 9, 2025

Pacific Grove California — Perched on the southern edge of the picturesque Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove, California, is home to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, one of the largest overwintering sites of monarch butterflies in the region. halbergman/Getty Images

It’s that time of year again, when we take a moment to look at America’s small towns and celebrate the things that make them unique. There’s a California coastal community that serves as seasonal nesting grounds for monarch butterflies, an Iowa county seat known for its famed covered bridges, and a Massachusetts seaside village that helped bring Jaws to the big screen, becoming what’s widely considered to be the first-ever summer blockbuster, 50 years ago. These are the sorts of places where you can hop aboard a trolley for a history tour, sip on classic milkshakes and dine on steam pots of shellfish seasoned with Old Bay, and visit museums specializing in Indigenous lifeways and Revolutionary War artifacts.

All 15 of the towns we have chosen to highlight have a population of less than 21,000 residents, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, along with engaging cultural attractions, wonderful access to nature, and distinct culinary offerings. They’ve also got a reason or two that makes 2025 an especially good year to visit. In the case of Asbury Park, New Jersey, it’s the October release of the Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere, which was largely filmed in this Jersey Shore town. While Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, is marking 75 years since the community adopted its creative moniker.

From a Connecticut perch that inspired the beloved television series “Gilmore Girls” to an agricultural hub in Washington State that’s been transformed into an artist enclave, here are 15 small towns that motivate us to get out and experience the many wonders that America holds.

Many-Horse Town: Chincoteague, Virginia (pop. 3,271)

Chincoteague Pony Roundup, Swim and Auction Virginia Tourism Corporation

Chincoteague Pony Swim Virginia Tourism Corporation

Downtown Chincoteague Virginia Tourism Corporation

Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company carnival Virginia Tourism Corporation

Assateague Lighthouse Virginia Tourism Corporation

Wild ponies have been roaming free in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge for centuries, and 2025 marks 100 years of the annual Chincoteague Pony Roundup, Swim and Auction. This beloved event (July 30-31) draws tens of thousands of spectators who come to watch the area’s “Saltwater Cowboys,” longtime islanders affiliated with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, swim a herd of around 150 ponies from nearby Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island, where the first foal on land is given away in a raffle drawing. A carnival, complete with food, rides and games, is held on both days, as well as during July weekends leading up to the signature festivities. Several of Chincoteague’s kayak, boat, and jet ski companies also rent out their vessels, providing front-row seats to this world-famous fête. It’s a unique way to take part in the island’s one-of-a-kind offerings.

Located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Chincoteague Island (the town and the island are interchangeable) is the state’s only resort island and gateway to the southern portion of Assateague Island National Seashore, known for its sandy beaches, salt marshes and 142-foot-tall, red-and-white-striped lighthouse. This still-active beacon is located within the same wildlife refuge as the wild ponies, along with 15 miles of hiking trails and over 275 resident and migrating avian species—including bald eagles, white ibis and roseate spoonbills.

Chincoteague is known for its pristine nature and outdoor offerings. A bevy of boat companies offer eco-tours and scenic cruises with up-close views of wildlife, such as dolphins and seabirds, and fishing charters are aplenty. Catch a sunset over Chincoteague Bay, enjoy a nearby beach, or dig your own clams and inspect your own oysters on an interactive shellfish tour.

The island’s historic downtown is home to locally owned Sundial Books, where you can pick up a read by a regional author, and Bad Ponies Studio and Gallery, displaying works by Chesapeake Bay Area artists. For dining, family-run Pico’s Taqueria is an outdoor eatery specializing in artisanal tacos filled with roasted cauliflower and cornmeal fried oysters, while Ropewalk is known for its classic orange crushes—a mix of vodka, triple sec, fresh-squeezed orange juice and lemon-lime soda that became Maryland’s “official state cocktail” earlier this year. The restaurant also specializes in jumbo crab cakes, Old Bay-seasoned steam pots of shellfish, and live music throughout summer. For scoops of small-batch salty caramel and black raspberry ice cream, don’t miss the now-50-year-old Island Creamery.

Crafty Small Town: Berea, Kentucky (pop. 15,998)

Draper Hall at Berea College Berea Tourism

A Berea College student braids a broom. Berea College

Fire and Fern Glass Studio Berea Tourism

Now in its 35th year, the Berea Craft Festival (July 11-13) brings together over 100 artists and craftspeople who display and sell their works at the Indian Fort Theater, a historic outdoor amphitheater in the Berea College Forest. The annual event is just one of the reasons Berea is known as the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky.”

Tucked away in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Berea is a hub of creativity. To catch woodworkers, ceramicists and jewelry makers engaged in their crafts, simply look for signs or flags stating “Studio Artists at Berea: Artists at Work” scattered around town. Berea’s historic Artisan Village is home to a bevy of shops, galleries and studios, including the Fire and Fern Glass Studio, which offers workshops in making your own glass vase or paperweight, and the Cabin of Old Town, featuring the handcrafted wind chimes, charcuterie boards and cheese slicers of woodworker Tim Wade displayed in a circa 1813 log cabin.

Berea is headquarters of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, promoting both the legacy and the future of the state’s arts and crafts. At the Kentucky Artisan Center, visitors can purchase everything from handmade bath products to coiled fabric coasters directly from the artists, and everything is, as one would expect, Kentucky-made.

This year, the town’s Berea College is celebrating its 170th anniversary. In addition to being the first racially integrated co-ed college in the South, the school is known for its enduring legacy as a tuition-free work institution—meaning its students participate in federal work-study and work college programs, such as conducting chemistry research, web design and waiting tables, to cover tuition fees not already funded by scholarships and grants. Experience the campus on one of its free student-led walking tours, including one highlighting the area’s history, and another showcasing the school’s renowned student craft program, where undergraduates have designed everything from handcrafted brooms to symphony scarves, which incorporate the melody of a song into their weaving patterns.

While on campus, enjoy from-scratch-made soups and hot-prepared meals like perogies, barbecue and stuffed flatbread at the Berea College Farm Store. Berea is also home to the historic Boone Tavern, a charming hotel and restaurant owned by Berea College that dates back to the early 20th century and is named for Appalachian pioneer and frontiersman Daniel Boone. Its newly reimagined eatery, Crafted, features modern American dishes in a setting replete with unique student-created art pieces. The school’s undergraduates are also an integral part of the lodging and eatery’s staff, where they work the gift shop, serve meals, and even design and build some of the property’s custom furnishings.

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to the wooded Berea Pinnacles—brimming with stunning rock shelters and cliff faces, spectacular viewpoints, and several distinct hiking trails.

Butterfly Town: Pacific Grove, California (pop. 14,757)

Monarch Grove Sanctuary Amy Osborne/AFP via Getty Images

Monarch Grove Sanctuary Don Smith/Getty Images

Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail SeeMonterey.com

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce

Asilomar State Beach Ian Philip Miller/Getty Images

Each fall, thousands of monarch butterflies make their way hundreds of miles from cooler U.S. climates to overwinter along the California coast in places like Pacific Grove, a.k.a. “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.” With their iconic orange and black markings, these mighty migrators are one of the most recognizable insect species in North America. But habitat loss caused by logging and development has led to declining numbers, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a proposal this past December to list them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This will include efforts to restore their habitat as well.

Perched on the southern edge of the picturesque Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove is home to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, one of the largest overwintering sites of monarch butterflies in the region. Here, large masses of monarch butterflies cluster together on stands of pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees to protect themselves from the elements, forming an incredible display of natural art. Staffed with knowledgeable docents, this nature preserve is open year-round and free to enter, but the best time to visit is between October and February, when its winged occupants are here in droves.

Pacific Grove is also known for its incredible geographic attributes, including a curving coastline, Pacific views, and attractions like Asilomar State Beach, a narrow, one-mile-long sandy strip brimming with rocky coves and sea creature-filled tide pools. Kayak among kelp forests and lounging sea otters, bicycle along the 18-mile-long Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, or go for a swim in the waters of Lovers Point Park.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History offers families an in-depth look at the changing landscapes of Monterey County, while the Point Pinos Lighthouse has been flashing its beacon as a Coast Guard navigational aid since 1855, making it the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. It’s open to visitors Thursday through Monday afternoons.

Slated to open in late 2025, the four-story Kimpton Pacific Grove Hotel will welcome visitors with sweeping bay views, complimentary bicycles and in-room yoga mats, and a laid-back neighborhood vibe. In town, don’t miss Julia’s for vegetarian fare and live music, Passionfish for seafood, and Spotted Duck for local, seasonal cuisine served bistro-style.

Blockbuster Small Town: Edgartown, Massachusetts (pop. 752)

Martha's Vineyard Museum Ray Ewing/Martha's Vineyard Museum

"Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive" exhibition at Martha's Vineyard Museum Ray Ewing/Martha's Vineyard Museum

Edgartown Harbor Light John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Edgartown Harbor Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

When director Steven Spielberg’s film about a menacing great white shark hit movie screens in the summer of 1975, it forever changed the way people look at the water. Fifty years later, Jaws remains one of the top-ranking motion pictures of all time, and Edgartown, the small town where much of the movie was shot, is about to play a starring role once again as part of the film’s golden anniversary celebration.

Tucked away on the eastern side of Martha’s Vineyard—an island seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts’ mainland and accessible only via ferry or plane—Edgartown is easily recognizable to fans of the blockbuster movie as Amity Island, the fictional New England seaside village where the film’s shark attacks took place. This summer, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is hosting Amity Homecoming Weekend (June 19-23), five days of talks, special guests and behind-the-scenes insights highlighting Jaws’ 50th.

While many of the events are soldout, there are still plenty of ways to get in on the action. The museum’s latest exhibition, “Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive,” features rare movie memorabilia, production artifacts and displays on shark conservation and their necessary role in marine ecosystems, through September 7. Attend a talk on “Jaws Revisited: What Have We Learned About the Great White Shark?” (June 22) with leading shark expert Greg Skomal, held at the town’s Old Whaling Church. Or check out one of Edgartown Books’s 50th anniversary author events, including a reading by Christopher Shaw Myers (June 22), nephew of actor Robert Shaw, who played “Quint,” Jaws’ shark-crazed sea captain.

The “Jaws Bridge,” which appears in one of the film’s famous shark attacks, connects Edgartown with nearby Oak Bluffs, while the Chappy Ferry, ridden by Amity’s Chief Brody and Mayor Vaughn, connects Edgartown Harbor to Chappaquiddick Island via a five-minute ride. Plenty of stores across Martha’s Vineyard have stocked up on Jaws-related collectibles to coincide with the festivities.

But there’s more to this once-prosperous whaling town than its illustrious film history. Edgartown’s sheltered harbor is now home to yachts, sailboats and private small-boat cruises, including sunset excursions. Take a stroll to the Edgartown Harbor Light, a working beacon that’s one of five lighthouses on the island, or relax at one of several local beaches. The sandy, shallow waters of State Beach are perfect for families, while South Beach is ideal for body surfing. Rent a bike and enjoy the six-mile ride to Oak Bluffs and its famous gingerbread houses, and don’t miss the Edgartown Village Market, Tuesdays throughout summer, for produce, flowers and handmade artisanal goods like nautical bracelets and pottery.

Local dining establishments include the casual Wharf Pub, with its wood-paneled bar and regional fare, such as New England clam chowder and lobster rolls. The Covington sources its products from island purveyors, whipping up gourmet eats that include mushroom ragu, tuna tartare and strawberry-basil sorbet.

Barbecue Capital: Lockhart, Texas (pop. 15,318)

If you’ve watched the second season of Paramount+’s American Western drama “1923,” which aired this past spring, odds are you’ve seen Lockhart, Texas, a small town located midway between Austin and San Antonio. In this “Yellowstone” prequel, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, Lockhart’s historic downtown doubled as a 1920s-era Fort Worth, complete with vintage cars and reimagined storefronts. It’s just the latest of many TV shows and movies filmed around town over the years, including Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Bernie (2011), based on a real-life Texas story.

Known as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” Lockhart’s legendary slow-cooking meat scene has recently received even greater accolades with the addition of its Barbs B Q eatery in the inaugural Michelin Guide Texas. Join the lines awaiting brisket, Molotov pork ribs, and sides such as green spaghetti made with a smoked poblano sauce at this stand-out gem, run by pitmaster Chuck Charnichart. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays only and closes when they run out of food. Other favorite stops along Lockhart’s barbecue trail include the market-style Terry Black’s Barbecue and Smitty’s Market, a no-frills place with communal seating that’s been serving up delectable eats since 1948. Texas Monthly hosts its annual BBQ Fest in Lockhart every November. The event’s “Top 50 Picnic” showcases establishments featured in the magazine’s aptly named list of barbecue joints statewide. There’s also live-fire cooking demos, market vendors and live music.

Lockhart’s downtown square offers a glimpse into the state’s history while featuring plenty of modern spots. The neighborhood is best known for its Caldwell County Courthouse, a striking limestone and sandstone structure with a central clock tower that’s a popular photo stop. There’s also the horror-themed Haunt Happy Books; the speakeasy-style Little Trouble, serving up sirloin, ribeyes and steak sliders in the remodeled basement of one of the town’s most historic buildings; and the Culinary Room, featuring gourmet grab-and-go meals and its very own fresh pudding bar (don’t miss the scratch-made banana pudding).

Catch live music on select nights at The Pearl, a laid-back, Old Texas-style bar housed in a 19th-century structure, or performances of “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” (July 11-August 3) and “The Rocky Horror Show” (October 10-26) at the Gaslight-Baker Theater. Peruse food and drink titles while sipping on rosés and sauvignon blancs at the Best Little Wine & Books.

For hiking trails that wind among the shade of Texas persimmon trees and bluestem prairie grass, and wildlife such as armadillos, rabbits and buff-bellied hummingbirds, Lockhart State Park is your place.

Revolutionary Small Town: Ticonderoga, New York (pop. 3,375)

Aerial view of Fort Ticonderoga Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

Reenactment at Fort Ticonderoga Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

Fort Ticonderoga Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

Downtown Ticonderoga Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

La Chute River Walk Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

View from Mount Defiance Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

Star Trek Original Series Set Tour Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

When military officer Ethan Allen, his Green Mountain Boys militia, and Benedict Arnold overtook a small British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, it became the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War. This year marks the 250th anniversary of that capture—as well as the 175th anniversary of Fort Ticonderoga as a historic site—with events like Real Time Revolution®. These immersive living history programs recreate historical moments, such as the fort as it operated under Benedict Arnold’s command (June 21-22) and its role as a vital supply and naval base (August 30-31), coinciding with the dates when they took place.

While at the fort, explore the onsite museum devoted to 18th-century military material culture, such as art, weapons and equipment, like a uniform coat from the independent Boston Corps of Cadets. Don’t miss “A Revolutionary Anthology,” an anniversary exhibition featuring hundreds of never-before-seen artifacts that shaped the American Revolution, from a French officer’s coat to a first edition of Baron Steuben’s Regulations, the very first American Army drill manual. From May through October, Fort Ticonderoga also hosts narrative boat cruises along neighboring Lake Champlain, sharing the story of the fort as one of North America’s most strategic strongholds, and demonstrations in everything from muscat firing to tailoring and shoemaking.

The small town of Ticonderoga sits between the waters of both Lake George and Lake Champlain and is located within Adirondack Park, a six-million-acre wilderness. La Chute River runs through town, connecting both bodies of water. Learn about the town’s rich industrial history along the La Chute River Walk, an easy three-mile loop with interpretive panels highlighting the river’s past and a series of waterfalls. Other outdoor experiences include the hiking trails of Cook Mountain Preserve, with habitats ranging from rocky grasslands to mixed hardwood forests, and Mount Defiance, an 840-foot-high hilltop perch providing expansive views of both the fort and Lake Champlain. For swimming, head to Ticonderoga’s scenic Black Point Public Beach on Lake George.

Montcalm Street is the heart of Ticonderoga’s downtown. Along with shops such as the Adirondack Trading Post, a makers’ co-op, it’s home to Star Trek Original Series Set Tour. Created by a Star Trek superfan, these recreated sets of the 1966 to 1969 television series are designed from original blueprints and can be viewed on one-hour tours with lots of time for photo-ops. The pedestrian-friendly stretch is also where you’ll find Burleigh’s Luncheonette, a 1950s-themed eatery complete with all-day breakfasts, classic milkshakes and desserts, and a vintage jukebox.

Literary Small Town: Milledgeville, Georgia (pop. 16,486)

Andalusia Interpretive Center Visit Milledgeville

Peacock at Andalusia Farm Visit Milledgeville

Georgia's Old Capitol Building Explore Georgia

Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion Explore Georgia

Rose Hill at Lockerly Arboretum Visit Milledgeville

Master of Southern Gothic literature Flannery O’Connor spent much of her life in Milledgeville. This year, Georgia’s former state capital is celebrating the 100th anniversary of O’Connor’s birth with an array of displays, literary discussions and immersive experiences. Many of these—including “Flannery at 100: Hidden Treasures,” an exhibition of nearly 70 rarely seen woodcut caricatures, regional oil paintings and other artworks created by the author herself—will take place at Andalusia Farm, the family home where the author spent the last 13 years of her life (from 1951 until 1964, when she died of lupus at age 39). Opened in 2023, the farm’s Andalusia Interpretive Center is home to an array of O’Connor’s personal and professional belongings (like a belted dress covered in chicken prints) on view to visitors, as well as a gift shop. It also hosts guided tours of the farm itself, which influenced many of the author’s writings.

Milledgeville’s Memory Hill Cemetery is the final resting place of O’Connor along with many of those associated with Georgia history, including several of the state’s early governors and enslaved people. Delve even deeper into the town’s past with a narrated tour aboard its bright-red trolley, a.k.a. “Milly.” Along with taking in the town’s many Victorian, Greek Revival and Federal-style structures, this one-hour excursion includes stops at Georgia’s Old Capitol Building; the centerpiece of Milledgeville’s Lockerly Arboretum, Rose Hill; and the Sallie Ellis Davis House, former home to Sallie Davis, who educated hundreds of African American children during a time of racial segregation. Or take a guided tour of the opulent Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, which served as the residence for eight of Georgia's chief executives and their families. Like many of Milledgeville’s historic structures, it’s now part of Georgia College and State University—O’Connor’s alma mater.

For a bit of the outdoors, Lake Sinclair is a 15,300-acre haven for hiking, biking, fishing and watersports. Rent everything from jet skis to stand-up paddleboards at the onsite Sinclair Wild Watersports, then fill up on modern Southern delicacies at the lakeside Aubri Lane’s. For ribeye, oysters and shrimp tacos, try Taylor’s Cove, another waterfront spot with live music on the weekends.

Sustainable Small Town: Breckenridge, Colorado (pop. 4,940)

Downtown Breckenridge Breckenridge Tourism Office

Breck Create Art District Breckenridge Tourism Office

Concert in Breckenridge Breckenridge Tourism Office

Edwin Carter Museum Breckenridge Tourism Office

Interior of the Edwin Carter Museum Elaine Collins

Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve Breckenridge Tourism Office

Home to towering Thirteeners, over 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, and open spaces like Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve, where elk and moose roam, Breckenridge has even more reasons to visit in 2025. Come August, this authentic mountain town will be the first U.S. location to showcase SPARK by Studio Roosegaarde. An experimental art installation created from thousands of biodegradable lights floating through the air like organic fireworks, SPARK will be exhibited for three days (August 15-17) as part of the larger Breckenridge International Festival of Arts (August 15-24).

The town’s bustling Breck Create arts district features a year-round lineup of rotating exhibits, open studios and public workshops, including a campus of renovated historic structures hosting classes in everything from wheel throwing to watercolors for kids. The neighborhood is also making its mark as a culinary hub, with restaurants like Rootstalk and its James Beard-awarded chef Matt Vawter serving up elevated American cuisine in a historic home on North Main Street.

“Breck’s” love of the outdoors includes a commitment to sustainability, from reducing single-use plastics to walking more, while history oozes from its streets. The city is home to one of Colorado’s largest historic districts, packed with 249 structures from this former mining town’s gold fever era. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Edwin Carter Museum, which still operates in the cabin that this prospector-turned-naturalist called home. Learn about his longstanding legacy, view his collection of more than 3,300 taxidermy specimens, and attend a museum “birthday party” on August 24 complete with outdoor exhibits.

Opened in February, the Hilton-brand Hotel Alpenrock Breckenridge mixes modern finishes and alpine charm. It’s ideally situated at the base of Peak 9, one of Breck’s Five Peaks—together home to more than 180 trails for skiing and snowboarding. The hotel’s dining and bar experiences include Edwin, serving up open-fire pizzas with a twist, and Breckenridge’s only speakeasy, Canary, a tiny craft cocktail space tucked behind a set of hidden doors.

This October 7-8, Breckenridge and Mountain Towns 2030 will host the two-day 2025 Climate Summit, a premier annual gathering of leaders from mountain, resort and rural communities working together to achieve carbon neutrality.

Revitalized Small Town: Tieton, Washington (pop. 1,638)

Día de los Muertos celebration Yakima Valley Tourism

Día de los Muertos celebration Paul Christian Gordon/Alamy

Vintage Trailer Rally Vintage Trailer Rally

Tieton River Nature Trail Shannon Mahre/Mahre Media

Elk in Oak Creek Wildlife Area Yakima Valley Tourism

Over the past two decades, the small town of Tieton has seen some big changes. These include the introduction of its annual Día de los Muertos celebration, which is now in its 15th year. Taking place October 26, this Day of the Dead festival celebrates both life and death—and honors those who have passed—with a massive community altar that everyone is invited to decorate with photos of deceased loved ones, marigold flowers, breads, sugar skulls, and other mementos. With plenty of music, dancing and food, it’s just one of the many events put on by Tieton Arts & Humanities, a nonprofit that builds community through art.

Located in Washington’s Yakima Valley, an area known for its vineyards, fruit trees and hops, Tieton is a revitalized orchard town that’s now an artistic enclave thanks to Ed Marquand. In 2005, the then Seattle-based artist and book publisher saw a chance to blend rural life with contemporary art. He founded Mighty Tieton, a collective of artists, designers and makers who use adaptive reuse methods, to restore Tieton’s old warehouses and turn them into studios, galleries, cafés and event spaces that now host exhibitions, art workshops and community events year-round.

Along with Día de los Muertos, there’s the Tieton Tag Sale (July 19), with a wealth of antiques, collectibles and vintage finds in a giant warehouse space. The event coincides with the Vintage Trailer Rally (July 19), a gathering of women-owned classic vintage trailers that open up their doors to visitors. Mighty Tieton offers studio tours most Saturdays, beginning from its Boxx Gallery, a community space filled with ever-changing art exhibits, and including Paper Hammer Studios, with its selection of handmade books and journals, and the Trimpin Sound Space, featuring the experimental works of German-born kinetic sculptor, sound artist and musician Gerhard Trimpin.

Tieton is also home to a diverse culinary scene, from the plantains and stuffed pupusas of Don Mateo to the seasonally changing offerings of Nomad Kitchen & Mercantile, with a menu focused on foraged items, fruits and veggies, and local meats and cheeses. Sip pints of bourbon barrel peach and huckleberry cider al fresco at Tieton Cider Works, open to visitors on weekends, or check out the craft beer scene at Shorthead Brewing, where food trucks and live music is the norm.

Just northwest of town, Tieton River Nature Trail offers a leisurely hike along the Tieton River. This seven-mile trek winds through an impressive canyon filled with cottonwood, aspen and dogwood trees, and is the perfect spot to catch autumn’s changing colors. It’s located within the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, where hundreds of elk and bighorn sheep gather for feedings each winter.

Musical Small Town: Asbury Park, New Jersey (pop. 15,391)

Bruce Springsteen performing at the Stone Pony aylor Hill/Getty Images

When Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., in 1973, he made this seaside community a household name. Now, the same Jersey Shore town is a feature player in the upcoming Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, scheduled for release in U.S. movie theaters October 24. Asbury Park and its sites are synonymous with “The Boss,” and many of them appear in the film. These include the Stone Pony, a legendary live music venue that first opened in 1974 (and where Bruce makes occasional impromptu appearances), and the 3,600-seat Convention Hall exhibition center and its adjacent Paramount Theater, a majestic 1,600-seat concert hall.

While the latter two are both closed for repairs, the structures remain iconic parts of the town’s history and serve as anchors to its revitalized boardwalk. Stretching about a mile along Asbury Park’s Atlantic beachfront, this timber and composite walkway is the perfect place to load up on Italian ice and tomato pies, play Skee-Ball and vintage pinball at the Silverball Retro Arcade, and shop for shore-inspired souvenirs at the Asbury Galleria, which also features a collection of books and photographs devoted to the town’s Black history.

Along with the Stone Pony, Asbury’s live music scene includes the Wonder Bar, with its rotating roster of both regional and national artists. The bar, recognizable by the replica painting of Tillie the Clown that adorns its facade, is known for its “Yappy Hour,” a dog-friendly outdoor happy hour that takes place on select afternoons. Pork roll sandwiches and cheesesteaks are also on the menu here.

Located in what was once a Howard Johnson’s restaurant, Tim McLoone’s Supper Club serves up American fare like crab cakes and risotto with shows ranging from jazz to Jersey Shore tributes. Enjoy arugula-topped pizzas and Neapolitan pies at Porta Asbury Park. It’s the former home of the Student Prince, a music venue where Springsteen first met saxophonist Clarence Clemons in 1971.

Asbury Park is home to a number of annual events, including the Asbury Park Fourth of July fireworks and the Asbury Park Zombie Walk, an early October all-ages lumbering trudge through town that kicks off the Halloween season. The Wooden Walls Mural Project is a collaborative initiative that decorates the town with public art and celebrates local artists. It occasionally hosts exhibits in the Carousel Building, a historic 1929 Beaux-Arts structure that also appears in the soon-to-be-released Springsteen film.

Soothing Small Town: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (pop. 6,000)

Downtown Truth or Consequences New Mexico True

Truth or Consequences Post Office Christina Horsten/picture alliance via Getty Images

Spaceport America Visitor Center New Mexico True

In 1950, the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico, changed its name to Truth or Consequences as part of a publicity stunt for a radio quiz show. The moniker stuck, and this year “T or C” (as the locals call it) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Its Truth or Consequences Fiesta, which takes place annually in May, commemorates the name change with three days of activities ranging from a rodeo to a kids’ fishing derby. Both T or C’s downtown park and civic auditorium are named for Ralph Edwards, the show’s founding host.

Along with its unusual place name, T or C is known for its soothing geothermal mineral waters. Its walkable and historic downtown is home to ten commercial bathhouses, ranging from Riverbend Hot Springs, the town’s only hot springs on the banks of the Rio Grande, to Hot Springs Glamp Camp, complete with yurts, restored vintage trailers, and tent and RV campsites for overnight stays and access to unlimited soaking. The bulk of these bathhouses have been restored, with some offering walk-in services and others providing bath access only for their guests. T or C’s Sierra Grande is a Ted Turner Retreat with both private indoor and outdoor hot springs, 17 guest rooms, and spa services from hot stone massages to "healthy aging” facials.

Peruse prehistoric pottery at the Geronimo Springs Museum, also home to an authentic miner’s cabin and an exhibit on the Camino Real. It’s located across the street from T or C’s historic downtown post office. Built in 1938, the latter building is one of more than a dozen Sierra County structures constructed through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). Don’t miss Indian Bear Dance, a mural by awarding-winning WPA artist Boris Deutsch, adorning an interior wall.

Twenty miles southeast of town, Spaceport America is the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport and the base of space tourism company Virgin Galactic. Although closed to the public, guided tours of the facility can be booked in advance through Final Frontier Tours.

Downtown T or C features a vibrant art scene, with galleries like Truth of Consequences Contemporary, featuring paintings, handloom works, clothing and a community printmaking space, and the Center Gallery Fine Art, displaying the works of local New Mexico artists. Each month, the Second Saturday Art Hop sees businesses open their doors for an evening of art, food and performances along the streets of downtown.

Enjoy craft brews and live bands at Truth or Consequences Brewing Co. This laid-back brewery serves up food delivered from area restaurants, including the Giddy Up Café, with its regularly changing farm-to-table menu that has plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Picture-Perfect Small Town: Washington, Connecticut (pop. 3,685)

Spring Hill Vineyards Connecticut Office of Tourism

Mayflower Inn & Spa Connecticut Office of Tourism

Lake Waramaug State Park Connecticut Office of Tourism

Henry David Thoreau footbridge Connecticut Office of Tourism

Hollister House Garden Connecticut Office of Tourism

When the “Gilmore Girls” TV show premiered in the fall of 2000, no one could have predicted the impact that this comedy-drama would have on popular culture. In fact, it was while staying at Washington’s Mayflower Inn & Spa, a 30-room country retreat surrounded by a 3,000-acre nature preserve, that the show’s creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, decided to use this classic small town—replete with historic architecture and panoramic scenery—as a starting point for the fictional Stars Hollow. To celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, visitors can embark on a curated itinerary that channels the footsteps of its mother-and-daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory. This includes taking in events like the Washington Green Fair (July 12) and Friday nights’ Music on the Green in Washington’s town square, and browsing the vast selection at Hickory Stick Bookshop, an independent bookstore that’s the model for the show’s Stars Hollow Books.

With its Berkshire Mountain backdrop and natural surroundings that include the 95-acre Lake Waramaug State Park, an ideal spot for swimming, cycling, kayaking and camping, Washington is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s home to the Hidden Valley Preserve, 940 acres of mixed forest and meadows crisscrossed by 18 miles of hiking trails. Don’t miss the preserve’s Henry David Thoreau footbridge, a timber suspension bridge that stretches 134 feet across the Shepaug River and features quotes by the famed 19th-century philosopher. Or take in the changing blooms of Hollister House Garden, the town’s American interpretation of a classic English garden complete with a fireworks show of blossoms that pop throughout the spring and summer, a historic Georgian-style home, and workshops in creating cyanotypes and watercolors.

Washington is also known for its art galleries and museums, including the Institute for American Indian Studies, which focuses on the preservation and resurgence of Indigenous lifeways. Exhibits include a replicated Algonkian village and a themed Wigwam Escape room that challenges players to collect and prepare food in the way that Native people did thousands of years ago. Washington’s penchant for art extends to the family-owned Spring Hill Vineyards, a winery located on a historic 18th-century farm that hosts outdoor tastings on the weekends throughout the summer and fall.

For dining, savor a taste of local history at G.W. Tavern, serving up American comfort food in a circa 1850 Colonial home, or channel your inner Gilmore Girl at The Po Café, a breakfast and brunch eatery known for its Stars Hollow-like coziness, soups and sandwiches, and salads (think quinoa, noodles and poke).

Small Town Steeped in Civil War History: Vicksburg, Mississippi (pop. 20,192)

Vicksburg National Military Park Visions of America/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Vicksburg National Military Park Mississippi Tourism

Vicksburg National Cemetery Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Vicksburg is celebrating its bicentennial in 2025 with a yearlong roster of activities. Expect a Fourth of July extravaganza—big news for a town that’s already known for having the longest Fourth of July fireworks show in the state—as well as festivities such as the Vicksburg Hipstoric Art Festival (September 26-28), a new signature art event with works in everything from photography and printmaking to glass and clay, and a Fall Family Fair (October 4).

Both culturally rich and historic, the town’s Civil War history is preserved at the Vicksburg National Military Park. Learn about Vicksburg’s strategic location along the Mississippi River and how a Union victory isolated Confederate states west of the waterway from those to the east, cutting the South in two. The park allows for self-guided driving tours along its 16-mile Tour Road, hosts occasional living history programs, and offers guided tours that provide insight into civilian life and military operations during the 1863 Vicksburg campaign. It’s also home to the USS Cairo Gunboat Outdoor Exhibit Area and Museum. One of seven shallow-draft City Class river ironclads, the USS Cairo sank in 1862 while clearing mines and took with it most of the crew’s personal belongings. Thousands of these artifacts are now on display, including cooking utensils, army muskets and signal lanterns.

Vicksburg National Cemetery honors fallen soldiers from the Civil War’s Union Army. The more than 17,000 service people buried here also include a significant number of United States Colored Troops, Civil War Union Army regiments primarily consisting of Black Americans, along with veterans from other wars like the Mexican-American and the Korean Wars.

Along with its intriguing past—also evident in a bevy of architectural styles including Gothic Revival, Craftsman Bungalow and Shotgun—Vicksburg is home to a diverse culinary scene, from soul food to seafood. One roadside eatery to try is the Tomato Place, serving up classic Southern cuisine in a Caribbean-inspired food shack setting. Its signature BLTs (go for the fried green tomato BLT with avocado) are a must!

Vicksburg’s perch along the Mississippi River makes it a popular stop for water enthusiasts. Experience the bluffs, forests and sandbars of the lower Mississippi on an outing with Quapaw Canoe Company. The river’s also a prime spot for birding, with migrating bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks and turkey vultures often soaring overhead.

Romantic Small Town: Winterset, Iowa (pop. 5,374)

John Wayne Birthplace & Museum Travel Iowa

The historic Bevington barn at the Madison County Historical Complex Teddi Yaeger

The old Martin Bros. gas station at the Madison County Historical Complex Teddi Yaeger

Winterset mural Madison County Chamber of Commerce

It’s been 30 years since The Bridges of Madison County, based on Robert James Waller’s popular 1992 romance novel and starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, made its way onto movie screens and sent travelers flocking to Winterset. Today, visitors can still see the famed covered bridges, which date back to the late 19th century and are scattered in and around town. There are six in total, including the Cedar Bridge, a 19th-century replica built in 2004 (the one in the film was destroyed by arson) and the county’s only remaining covered bridge still open to vehicles, and the 104-foot-long Roseman Bridge, a flat-roofed, red-colored expanse that marks the beginning of the two main characters’ love story in the 1995 film. The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival takes place October 11-12, with over 140 food and arts and crafts vendors, old-time demonstrations, and a soon-to-come list of activities celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary.

Winterset is also the birthplace of American film icon John Wayne. The town’s award-winning John Wayne Birthplace & Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to the legendary actor, who appeared in more than 175 movies, from Stagecoach to True Grit. Peruse a collection of artifacts that include some of Wayne’s original scripts, movie posters, and even one of his last custom-built cars.

Explore the town’s regional past at the 23-acre Madison County Historical Complex, home to the restored 1856 Bevington-Kaser House—complete with Victorian-era furnishings—as well as 13 other historic buildings. The complex has everything from early farm machinery to Civil War memorabilia on display. Rotating exhibits of historic and contemporary quilts are the focus of the Iowa Quilt Museum, located on Winterset’s town square. It’s also where you’ll find the multi-use Iowa Theater and the old-fashioned Bakery Unlimited, renowned for its apple fritters.

Located just outside of town, PepperHarrow Farm hosts its inaugural Lavender Festival June 20-21. While the farm is not regularly open to the public, occasional al fresco dinners and workshops in soapmaking and floral design offer visitors an opportunity to experience the 60-acre property. Pair local craft beers with wraps and flatbreads, as well as events such as game nights, at The Drift. Or sip mead cocktails at the Haynes Homestead and the Honey Lounge, which also serves up cheese platters, housemade sourdough bread and weekly lunch specials.

Outdoorsy Small Town: Red Lodge, Montana (pop. 2,610)

The Beaten Path Montana Department of Commerce

Red Lodge Montana Department of Commerce

Downtown Red Lodge Montana Department of Commerce

Beartooth Mountains Montana Department of Commerce

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Montana Department of Commerce

Home of Champions Rodeo Montana Department of Commerce

Red Lodge Mountain Montana Department of Commerce

Red Lodge Nordic Center Montana Department of Commerce

This summer, Montana’s Red Lodge is springing to life with an array of festivals welcoming local residents and visitors alike. From June 19-21, the ninth annual Red Lodge Songwriter Festival sees a range of talented songwriters from music hubs like Nashville and Austin showcasing their works at the town’s bars, cafés and theaters. The Home of Champions Rodeo celebrates 96 years of riding and roping with some of professional rodeo’s top cowboys and cowgirls, as well as three days of noon parades through downtown (July 1-4). Watch vintage vehicles cruise down Broadway at the Red Lodge Car Show (July 25-26), and dance to the tunes of all-women supergroup Big Richard at the Red Lodge Summer Fest (August 1-2).

Tucked within Montana’s Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by Custer Gallatin National Forest, Red Lodge is known for its outdoor offerings. One of the most scenic routes to Yellowstone National Park is along the Beartooth Highway, a 68-mile roadway that winds its way from Red Lodge to the park’s northeast entrance, climbing through forests of lodgepole pine trees, among alpine lakes and towering peaks, and even crossing the 45th parallel—the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator.

Red Lodge borders the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, one of the last remaining quiet spaces in the U.S., and boasts some incredible hiking trails. These include the riverside 7.4-mile Lake Fork Trail, where the possibility of moose sightings abound. Fly-fishers head to East Rosebud Creek, accessible via the East Rosebud Trail (a.k.a. “The Beaten Path”), a spectacular 26-mile backcountry trek that passes close to 12,807-foot Granite Peak, Montana’s highest mountain.

The town’s Red Lodge Mountain, which first opened 65 years ago, offers affordable, big mountain skiing without the crowds in the winter months and includes 1,635 acres of skiable terrain. During summer, enjoy scenic lift rides aboard its Stache Express and a new 18-hole disc golf course opening in late June. The Red Lodge Nordic Center features more than nine miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiers.

Red Lodge Ales specializes in brews made with Montana ingredients and has an adjacent tap room and kitchen that serves up burgers, sandwiches and tacos. While Prerogative Kitchen closed its full-service dining area in March, the eatery’s James Beard-nominated chefs will still be hosting special events, including a concession booth at the Renaissance Festival and a “High Tea and Stitching” gathering (June 22) in collaboration with Billings-based Yarn Bar. For a taste of the region, don’t miss Black Canyon Bistro. Bison burgers, elk stroganoff and wild game chili topped with cotija cheese are all on the menu here.

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