I’ve been fortunate enough to do some traveling around the USA, and along the way I’ve come across a lot of neat little towns. While these places might not offer everything that larger tourist traps and cities have, it’s usually cheaper to visit them than say, New York City. Indeed, it might not cost you much of anything at all if you’re only looking to take a day trip. Below is a list of small towns that draws upon both personal experience and research. They aren’t listed in any ranked order, as each has something to offer that the other doesn’t. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the first town on the list
1. Corinth, New York
This town is often called “the gateway to the Adirondacks” since it literally resides on the southern border of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. What does that mean? Well, first off, it’s important to understand that New York as a whole is entirely different from New York City, which is what most people think of when they imagine this state in their minds. The rest of New York is more like Vermont or Maine, with greenery everywhere and lakes and streams of various sizes dotting the sprawling natural landscape. This is especially true of the Adirondack region, where Corinth resides. If you’re a fan of beautiful sights, an untainted Hudson river, greenery galore, and American history, you’ll be a fan of Corinth and the surrounding area.
What To Do
- Take a swim in the Hudson river.
- Visit the local Ledge Rock Hill Winery.
- Go hiking.
- White water rafting.
- Visit the nearby Grant Cottage.
What To Eat
- I’m not biased or anything, but the pizza in this town is pretty good.
2. Sedona, Arizona
Unfortunately, I was sick with the flu when my family went to Sedona, so much of the time I was locked in the hotel room. Regardless, I still managed to drag my body around town once I started to recover, and it was definitely worth it despite my condition. Sedona is in northern Arizona, so it’s a bit greener and cooler here than the rest of the state. Overall it’s such a unique environment that it’s tough to put it into words, though basically speaking, it’s sort of got a “mystical” vibe to it. The mesas and plateaus are a site to behold, nearly as majestic as what you see when visiting the Grand Canyon (though with far fewer tourists).
What To Do
- Walk along the trails.
- Take in the sights.
- Immerse yourself in Native American culture.
What To Eat
- The equivalent of main street in this town has an endless amount of restaurants. Both the pizza (somewhat surprisingly) and the Mexican food here was good (though check Yelp as some were better than others).
3. Lake Placid, New York
This town is about a two hour drive from Corinth, and while it’s a bit more tourist-y, it’s definitely got a cool eclectic vibe. From what I could tell, it almost felt like a miniature San Francisco nestled in the Adirondacks, which in itself is pretty cool. Lake Placid was once the site of the winter Olympics, and it still has many athletic competitions hosted there today. If you’re not an athlete, there’s still lots to do, from learning about the town’s Olympic history, to touring the shop-lined streets and admiring the views.
What To Do
- Take a gondola up the nearby mountain, giving you an insanely awesome view of Lake Placid.
- Visit the site of the Olympic games.
- Take part in one of the many athletic competitions hosted there.
What To Eat
- I don’t know if there’s any one thing I could put here, so I’ll refer you to this page.
4. Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is a pretty small town, but it’s also a prime tourist destination during the summer time. I advise going in the fall or winter, when the weather is a bit more dreary. The plus side to this is that the town will be nearly completely empty, besides the local residents and college students. Being a rather liberal town, there will likely be a bunch of cool cultural events taking place on a daily basis.
What To Do
- Go to the beach, just make sure you’re wearing a wetsuit.
- Hike the forest trails near the university.
- Check out the Nickelodeon Theater, which shows old movies.
What To Eat
- There’s a Chinese restaurant on Mission Street that’s pretty tasty. Santa Cruz has all kinds of foods though, if you can imagine it they probably have it.
5. Apple Hill, California
I’m not sure if this one can be classified as a “town,” per se, because it’s actually an association of Apple ranches that is smack dab in the middle of a couple of towns like Camino and Placerville. That being said, it’s easier to just think of it as its own little town, especially since the people who live there think of it as a separate entity. You’ve probably never heard of Apple Hill, but, much as the name implies, it’s all about apples. If you or a family member has a particularly strong fondness for that fruit, this could be the place of your dreams. Being nestled in the Northern California mountains as it is, you’re also close to lots of natural landmarks.
What To Do
- Visit the fifty Apple ranches, and do all of the things that entails (like apple picking)!
What To Eat
- Well this one’s easy. Apples! Or anything apple related, of course.
6. Lexington, Massachusetts
I’m a sucker for Colonial American history, which is good, since I’ll likely be spending the next few years of my life studying it. Anyways, what better way to sate your historical appetite than to visit the town where the first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought?
What To Do
- Watch battle reenactments.
- Visit the site of the “shot heard around the world.”
What To Eat
- From what I’ve seen, Lexington is more a place to visit for its history than its eats, but this link should help you out…
7. Ithaca, New York
Ithaca reminds me of Santa Cruz, except instead of an ocean it has a lake, and instead of a UC it has an Ivy League college, Cornell, adorning its hills. It’s very much a college town, though it’s not much of a tourist trap, at least compared to a place like Santa Cruz in the summer.
What To Do
- Take a ferry tour of the lake.
- Visit Cornell.
- Visit Carl Sagan’s house.
What To Eat
- Apparently, Ithaca has more restaurants than New York City. Or at least, that’s what the locals kept telling me. It depends on your taste, but there’s a good restaurant in town for just about every type of food you can think of.
8. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The main reason to go to Gettysburg is to experience the Civil War history, which is reason enough for me. It’s been a while since I went, but for being a huge historical landmark I remember it to be pretty darn empty and devoid of tourists.
What To Do
- Visit the infamous battlefield.
- Take a ghost tour.
What To Eat
- There’s a neat little cupcake place here if you’re into sweets. For everything Gettysburg has to offer, check here.
9. Nevada City, California
I have a friend with quite the eclectic personality who hails from this area. I used to have trouble understanding her, but now that I know more about her town it all makes sense (if you ever read this, I totally mean that in a completely positive way)! Basically, this “city” (in name only seeing as it only as a population of 3,000) is famous for its art, music, and offbeat culture. It also helps that it’s in close proximity to many of California’s more amazing natural features. A pretty neat combination if you ask me.
What To Do
- Go to a music festival.
- Go to any number of these community organized events.
What To Eat
- Being the eclectic town that it is, Nevada City has farmer’s markets that are bound to please the organic food lovers among you. For everything else, there’s this nifty list.
10. Paia, Hawaii
Located in Maui, Paia represents one of the last places you can get a close-to-authentic Hawaiian experience. By that I mean you won’t find any sprawling resorts or hordes of tourists here, at least not like you’d see on Waikiki beach. They are known especially for their multitude of shops, selling anything from clothes to specialized sports equipment. With a population of under 3,000 people, Paia will surely be a breath of fresh air for those of you who are used to staying in Honolulu.
What To Do
- Windsurfing is big here. You can buy everything you need for it at the local stores.
- Shopping!
What To Eat
- Mediterranean food is, surprisingly, the big ticket item here. Here’s a complete list though, just in case.
That’s all for now. As you can see, I tried to choose towns that don’t really get much in the way of advertising on other “best small towns” lists. Hopefully this helps you plan a future mini-vacation or day trip! Have you visited a small town that you had a wonderful time in? Tell me about it in the comments below!
Featured photo credit: Kurt Von via unsplash.com
