Don Quixote
Footballguy
I enjoyed GM's thread, but as it seemed to focus more on big cities to visit, I thought I'd start a companion thread for smaller ones. I'm more personally drawn to smaller towns/cities (maybe living in a city has me interested in vacationing outside one), particularly ones in the mountains or on the coast. The ungodly heat on the east coast has me wishing I was in a mountain town right now, and thought I'd start a thread so I can dream of places to go. My list is mostly east coast because that is mostly what I have explored. These are all under 10,000 in population, but no set rules here.
Deadwood, SD - Deadwood itself has pretty good history going back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. The Black Hills is rich in activities to drive around and see -- Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Devils Tower, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Wind Cave come to mind as all places that are under a 2 hour drive away. Deadwood is pretty good base, but other places to stay in the area (e.g., Custer, SD and Rapid City, SD for a bit of a larger city). I spent a week in that area, and could have stayed longer.
Stowe, VT - A winter ski destination, but lots of hiking and other activities in the summer. Some good breweries in the vicinity (Alchemist is in Stowe), and other places to see. You can drive to the top of Mount Mansfield in Stowe. Ben & Jerry's not far in Waterbury (I grabbed some cider donuts at Cold Hollow when I driving through Waterbury on my way to a wedding in Rutland last month). Chester Arthur's birthplace is a bit outside town, but worth the drive for any fellow history nerds. But I really just loved sitting outside with a book, a beer, and a great view of the mountains.
Camden, ME - Camden probably has the most beautiful harbor that I've ever seen, with Mount Battie providing either a picturesque backdrop or a great place to take pictures from. Good place to set sail on a cruise on a windjammer. I could name any number of towns while driving up and down the Maine coast; lots of great small towns to visit there.
North Conway, NH - Pretty good base to explore the White Mountains, and drive or take the cog railway up to the top of Mount Washington. Conway Scenic Railroad is another good way to see the White Mountains. "Story Land" is a solid amusement park nearby for little kids.
Laurel Highlands, PA - More of a region than a town. I stayed at Nemacolin resort in Farmington, and loved it and the area. Activities around include Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob homes, Ohiopyle State Park (with hiking and white water rafting), and Fort Necessity Battlefield. A bit of a longer drive, but the Flight 93 Memorial is pretty moving to see while in the area as well.
I had a lot of good stops in on my Alaskan cruise a few years ago, but I didn't really spend enough time in any town to form a complete picture. I'll put down Ketchikan as an honorable mention (considering Juneau too big).
Deadwood, SD - Deadwood itself has pretty good history going back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. The Black Hills is rich in activities to drive around and see -- Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Devils Tower, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Wind Cave come to mind as all places that are under a 2 hour drive away. Deadwood is pretty good base, but other places to stay in the area (e.g., Custer, SD and Rapid City, SD for a bit of a larger city). I spent a week in that area, and could have stayed longer.
Stowe, VT - A winter ski destination, but lots of hiking and other activities in the summer. Some good breweries in the vicinity (Alchemist is in Stowe), and other places to see. You can drive to the top of Mount Mansfield in Stowe. Ben & Jerry's not far in Waterbury (I grabbed some cider donuts at Cold Hollow when I driving through Waterbury on my way to a wedding in Rutland last month). Chester Arthur's birthplace is a bit outside town, but worth the drive for any fellow history nerds. But I really just loved sitting outside with a book, a beer, and a great view of the mountains.
Camden, ME - Camden probably has the most beautiful harbor that I've ever seen, with Mount Battie providing either a picturesque backdrop or a great place to take pictures from. Good place to set sail on a cruise on a windjammer. I could name any number of towns while driving up and down the Maine coast; lots of great small towns to visit there.
North Conway, NH - Pretty good base to explore the White Mountains, and drive or take the cog railway up to the top of Mount Washington. Conway Scenic Railroad is another good way to see the White Mountains. "Story Land" is a solid amusement park nearby for little kids.
Laurel Highlands, PA - More of a region than a town. I stayed at Nemacolin resort in Farmington, and loved it and the area. Activities around include Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob homes, Ohiopyle State Park (with hiking and white water rafting), and Fort Necessity Battlefield. A bit of a longer drive, but the Flight 93 Memorial is pretty moving to see while in the area as well.
I had a lot of good stops in on my Alaskan cruise a few years ago, but I didn't really spend enough time in any town to form a complete picture. I'll put down Ketchikan as an honorable mention (considering Juneau too big).
