The Prettiest Town in Every US State

From Stonington, Maine, to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, these picturesque locales prove that living large isn’t a requirement for living beautifullyIncline Village, Nevada on the banks of Lake Tahoe.christiannafzgerWith the amount of variety in both nature and architecture across this country, it would be difficult to pick the prettiest town in America. There are Northeast enclaves where you’re always canopied by trees, West Coast beaches that are hard to leave once you lie on their sands, and Midwest spots that feel like stepping back in time in the best way imaginable. In short, picking a singular most beautiful location is a near impossible feat. Instead, we’ve focused on identifying one standout town in each state—we were especially drawn to those that are both stunning and abundant in culture. Get ready to explore; your favorite new small town may be just a short drive away.Photo: George Dodd/Getty ImagesFairhope, AlabamaSmall but mighty, Fairhope, along Mobile Bay’s shoreline, flaunts a French Quarter of brightly colored buildings and canopies of live oak trees nearly everywhere you look.Photo: John Elk/Getty ImagesSeward, AlaskaAs the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, it’s fair to say the surrounding natural beauty helped earn Seward’s designation as Alaska’s prettiest town. But this small village also features a picturesque marina, a charming downtown, and unique hospitality offerings, like the Orca Island Cabins.Photo: Getty Images/Adventure PhotoSedona, ArizonaYou’ve heard of the energy vortex, a Sedona phenomenon that claims to heal ailments? Yep, that’s in this Northern Arizona town, but so are stunning orange and red boulders and the Old West–like, walkable Main Street District. Many stop by to check out Cathedral Rock, a butte near town that is one of the aforementioned energy vortex sites, as well as a beautiful hike for those who aren’t in search of any kind of healing, spiritual or otherwise. Sedona is also at an ideal spot geographically for a road trip in the region, given that it’s smack in the middle of Arizona’s two Unesco World Heritage Sites, the Grand Canyon and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West—both are less than 125 miles from Sedona.Photo: Getty Images/Jeremy Mason McGrawEureka Springs, ArkansasThis artsy, music-oriented community tucked into the Ozark Mountains in northern Arkansas boasts Victorian-era buildings, cute shops, and many natural springs.Photo: Getty Images/S. Greg PanosianCarmel-by-the-Sea, CaliforniaWith its sugar-white sand beaches, the painstakingly restored Carmel Mission, and a quaint downtown with fairy-tale-like cottages and cobblestone alleys, this town hugging the Pacific Ocean is stunning. These assets have attracted a high number of celebs for a place so small: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Bradley Cooper, and Gigi Hadid have been spotted in the area in recent years. That said, Clint Eastwood outdid them all long ago when he became mayor of the small city in 1986. Other famous residents past and present include Brad Pitt and the late Betty White.Photo: Getty Images/Adventure PhotoBreckenridge, Colorado“Breck,” as it’s commonly called, is a resort town 90 minutes southwest of Denver. During the 1850s, it was a hot spot to mine for gold; but today, it’s one of the many Colorado mountain towns that skiers and hikers alike flock to for recreation. A stroll through the downtown’s historic district is always pleasant, too.Photo: Getty Images/Barry WinikerMystic, ConnecticutMystic Harbor’s charming collection of sailboats (many of them wooden) frame this coastal Connecticut village, which is also home to a maritime museum and historic downtown district. On a nice day you’ll likely spot a traditional schooner as well as stand-up paddleboarders out on the water.Photo: Getty Images/John Morris/EyeEmRehoboth Beach, DelawareThick crowds in the summer months are par for the course in Rehoboth Beach, although the shoreline’s soft edges come dawn are what has people returning to this arts-oriented community.Photo: krblokhin/Getty ImagesSeaside, FloridaThis town along the Gulf of Mexico was a location for the 1998 movie The Truman Show. Seaside—one of the country’s first New Urbanism communities—is filled with candy-color cottages.Photo: Getty Images/PosnovSt. Marys, GeorgiaSt. Marys serves as the gateway city to Cumberland Island, the largest of the barrier islands along the Georgia coast, and to the picture-perfect Cumberland Island National Seashore.Photo: Getty Images/Visual CommunicationsPaia, HawaiiAttracting yogis, surfers, and those who want a slice of the calm, Paia—born out of a plantation village in the late 1800s—features a gorgeous shoreline on Maui.Photo: Getty Images/Steve SmithKetchum, IdahoAt the base of Bald Mountain, Ketchum—a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and at nearly 6,000-feet elevation—is an outdoor sporting paradise that includes, in the summer, fly-fishing.Photo: Getty Images/Bruce LeightyGalena, IllinoisMost of Illinois is flat, but this favorite weekend getaway for Chicagoans along the Mississippi River is not. Tucked beneath Galena’s rolling hills are well-preserved 19th-century mansions, “you-pick” farms, and activities that celebrate the outdoors, such as horseback riding.Rodrigo A. Rodriguez FuentesColumbus, IndianaFans of modernist architecture need not look further than Columbus, which is frequently described as a living museum to the midcentury style. Here, you’ll find works by nearly every big-name modernist architect, including Eliel and Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Harry Weese.Photo: Getty Images/Buddy MaysAmana Colonies, IowaAs Grant Wood’s paintings depict, small-town Iowa is at its sharpest view in the Amana Colonies, a collection of seven villages settled by German immigrants during the 1850s. Shops continue the craftsmen tradition by selling art, antiques, artisan-made wares, pastries, and—at the Amana Woolen Mill—cozy throw blankets.Photo: Getty Images/Derek SlagleLawrence, KansasIt’s no myth: During a certain window (usually August and September), sunflowers do bloom in Kansas’s fields. This includes Grinter Farms, in Lawrence.Photo: Getty Images/Bridget Mc/FOAPBerea, KentuckySouth of Lexington is this crafts-oriented community where weavers, furniture makers, and more live a good life, largely inspired by the natural setting, all of which lends credibility to Berea’s stature as the folk-art capital of the country.Photo: Getty Images/Robin KeefeBreaux Bridge, LouisianaIn the heart of Cajun country, Breaux Bridge is delightfully trapped in time, home to the world’s best crawfish, a vibrant Acadian culture, and bayous that serve as meditative spots.Photo: Getty Images/Maryann FlickStonington, MaineBeing in Stonington, a fishing village, is like slipping back in time, with wooden boats bobbing in Penobscot Bay and homes (many with cedar-shake shingles) built into the sloping hillside.Photo: Getty Images/Haizhan ZhengAnnapolis, MarylandRooted in nautical history—the US Naval Academy is based here, and locals love to go out on their boats—Annapolis is a more meditative counterpart to the bustling DC area.Photo: Getty Images/Rolf 52Edgartown, MassachusettsThis former New England whaling port of about 5,000 residents—located on Martha’s Vineyard—includes two lighthouses (Cape Pogue Light and Edgartown Harbor Light) and a gorgeous shoreline. Sidenote: Jaws was filmed here during the 1970s.Photo: Getty Images/Phung Huynh Vu QuiHolland, MichiganWhile Holland, Michigan, may be a continent away from its Dutch sibling, tulips still bloom here along Lake Michigan, the downtown is thriving, and its iconic red lighthouse is practically a town symbol.Photo: jferrer/Getty IMagesBrainerd and Gull Lake, MinnesotaTwo hours north of the Twin Cities in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is this leafy paradise that features Gull Lake and the family-friendly resorts surrounding it.Alan VernonNatchez, MississippiSteeped in history, this Mississippi River town is rich in antebellum homes and serves as the southern tip of the scenic 444-mile-long Natchez Trace Parkway (think long, winding roads and green spaces that include a cypress swamp), a historic corridor used by Native Americans and European settlers.Photo: Getty Images/Larry Braun PhotographyCape Girardeau, MissouriYou may know Cape Girardeau from the Gone Girl movie, but it’s also a sweet little town on the banks of the Mississippi River with a uniquely designed suspension bridge, antique clocks in its downtown area, and beautiful hiking spots.Photo: Shunyu Fan/Getty ImagesWhitefish, MontanaNatural beauty is central to life in Whitefish, Montana, which is the gateway to Glacier National Park. Many consider it to be a budget alternative to audaciously ritzy ski towns like Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Even though luxury amenities are slowly creeping in, that’s said to still be true. The downtown is particularly unique because national chain stores are entirely banned—a real small-town experience you can’t get most other places. Just northwest of town is Whitefish Lake State Park, where one can swim, boat, and fish surrounded by mountains.Photo: Getty Images/Diana Robinson PhotographyValentine, NebraskaEndowed with a sweet name, Valentine is close to the South Dakota border as well as home to Nebraska’s highest waterfall (in Smith Falls State Park).Photo: Getty Images/Noboru Garcia/EyeEmIncline Village, NevadaWhere it rims the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Incline Village—named for the Great Incline Tramway built by loggers—features towering pine trees, walls of boulders, and pools of turquoise water.Photo: Getty Images/Denis Tangney Jr.Portsmouth, New HampshireThis historic seaport is home to many attractions, some dating back to the 1600s, and is a sought-after destination come summer.Photo: Richard T. Nowitz/Getty ImagesCape May, New JerseyA true shore town, Cape May boasts a boardwalk, beach, and marina. And the housing stock is just as pretty, including gingerbread-trim Victorian homes.Photo: Getty Images/Alan W. ColeChimayo, New MexicoOne of the country’s oldest cities, Chimayo was settled in the late 1700s by Spaniards. Now it’s a spiritual and artistic haven with attractions like El Santuario de Chimayo, where people flock for the “holy dirt,” which reportedly has healing powers.Photo: Getty Images/BambiGIthaca, New YorkThis upstate town is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, along with tons of open space hosting stunning hikes paired with waterfall views, like at Buttermilk Falls State Park.Photo: Getty Images/Fine Art Images / Rob Travis PhotographyAsheville, North CarolinaWhether you’re cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway and taking in panoramas, or hiking in any of Asheville’s many parks and nearby forests, you'll find the area beautiful no matter the time of year.Photo: Getty Images/PosnovMedora, North DakotaAdjacent to Medora, Painted Canyon is in the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and features stunning vistas like this one.Photo: Getty Images/Mike KlinePut-in-Bay, OhioLocated five miles offshore on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay is a recreational paradise come summer. You can get to the island only by ferry, which ensures that a trip to this small town feels like you’re really leaving your regular day-to-day life behind.Photo: Songtao Qiu/Getty ImagesDavis, OklahomaHome to one of the state’s tallest waterfalls, in Turner Falls Park, this town in south central Oklahoma is flush with wildflowers during the warmer months.Francesco Vaninetti PhotoCannon Beach, Oregon“The grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless Ocean”—that’s how famed explorer William Clark (of duo Lewis and Clark) described a view of Cannon Beach. Visitors still flock to the town of just 1,500 people to take in that view. Its most unique aspect is Haystack Rock, a sea stack that looms over the beach, dwarfing everything in its surroundings. Just north of Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park is a popular destination that’s appeared in films including Twilight and The Goonies.Photo: Jeff Cromarty/Getty ImagesNew Hope, PennsylvaniaThe Delaware Canal is stunning in this town, which borders New Jersey and is also an easy day trip from Philly, and it’s filled with dozens of art galleries.Photo: Getty Images/Driendl GroupBlock Island, Rhode IslandBeyond Block Island’s beautiful beaches are quaint and chic stores selling pottery and clothing, plus attractions like the two lighthouses.Photo: Getty Images/PhotoviewPlusBeaufort, South CarolinaThis town in coastal South Carolina—on Port Royal Island—is the second-oldest in the state, with historical buildings and walking tours documenting its 500 years of history.Photo: Getty Images/Annie OtzenSioux Falls, South DakotaThis artsy town is also rich in nature, including Falls Park, with a waterfall that cuts right through a residential area.Photo: Getty Images/Rachelle Yingling/EyeEmGatlinburg, TennesseeAs the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg has a smoky sky and lush green hills that are eye candy for nature explorers.Photo: Getty Images/Dean FikarFredericksburg, TexasSettled by Germans, this Texas Hill Country town is famed for its wineries. Additional attractions include picturesque lavender fields, and the country’s largest family-owned wildflower-seed farm, Wildseed Farms.Photo: Paola Giannoni/Getty ImagesMoab, UtahWith Arches National Park to the north and Canyonlands National Park to the southwest, Moab, Utah, is at the nexus of some of the state’s most awe-inspiring sights. When in town, a visit to the Moab Museum can teach you a little something about the history of both the people in the area and the land itself. ATV riding and cycling are also common in Moab; you can find rentals or tours for each from shops downtown, too.Photo: Courtesy of Nick MafiSpringdale, UtahThis town of about 500 residents is a short bicycle ride from the entrance to Zion National Park, encircled by red rock canyons, and home to many artists inspired by the beautiful setting.Photo: Getty Images/franckreporterStowe, VermontMost people come to Stowe to ski or to hike through fall foliage, but year-round there is stunning beauty. Situated at the foot of Mount Mansfield, this town has just 5,000 residents.Zachary NicholsonCulpeper, VirginiaJust an hour from Washington, DC, Culpeper is a popular weekend getaway, with shops, cafés, and boutiques tucked into tall historic buildings downtown and—farther out—wineries and cycling routes.Photo: Mike BertrandFriday Harbor, WashingtonBlessed with delightfully damp weather on occasion but a nicer climate most of the time, Friday Harbor is part of the San Juan Islands, and located on San Juan Island itself. It’s accessible from Seattle via a seaplane or ferry.Photo: Getty Images/Steve HeapHarpers Ferry, West VirginiaHome to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the town of Harpers Ferry is nearly as pretty. It’s right where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers converge. From The Point, at the convergence, you can see Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.Photo: Getty ImagesBaileys Harbor, WisconsinLocals call this part of Door County “the quieter side.” Butting up against Lake Michigan, the bay in Baileys Harbor is rimmed by quaint inns, cafés, and shops, including a private nature preserve.Photo: Getty Images/Chaney Swiney/EyeEmJackson, WyomingA chic spin on Old West cowboy culture, the town of Jackson—a popular base camp for Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park—may be where the buffalo roam, but it’s also where many people come to relax, whether it’s at the Four Seasons or at a retrofitted midcentury-modern motel.River Davies is a Brooklyn–based writer and the creator of Personal Space, a weekly newsletter that covers culture, design, and life at home. Their work has been published by AD, Dwell, Curbed, WSJ., Vox, Nylon, Hazlitt, Vulture, Vice, and The Believer, among many other publications. You can subscribe to their ... 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