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1. Hanalei, Kauai has a population of less than 500 people who all share the beauty of their land with the hundreds of thousands of tourists who flock there every year. It was featured in the movie “The Descendants” and has the wonderful St. Regis Princeville where celebrities like to stay to get away from it all. There’s no other small town that has a bay as pristine as the nearby Hanalei Bay. It really is the best small town in the country.

2. Favorite small town? Just squeezing in at pop. 4,779 year-round visitors is the amazing Moab, Utah.

   Virtually surrounded by National & State Parks including Canyonlands, Arches, & Dead Horse Point with their incredible red rock canyons, arches & vistas that have been featured in countless movies, including sci-fi flicks that need to look like they are on a different strange planet.
   The Colorado river also courses by here for river trips, including the convergence of rivers in the nearby Cataract canyon for year round whitewater. Mountain biking capitol of the U.S. is on the Slickrock trail & an infinite amount of hikes within a relatively short drive for all ages. And the pristine nighttime sky from the desert viewpoint is breathtaking as are the arches on a full moon.

   The natural attractions have attracted artists & inventive cafes & restaurants have also started to flourish here as well.

3. Auchtermuchty. Because people will ask you “where the fox hat”

4. …. oops, I meant year round residents, not visitors!

5. I always have had a special place in my heart for Newbern, TN. It is a quaint little town (population a littmore more than 3,000 last I was there) about an hour north of Memphis. At one point, my family was a good chunk of the town. Now, most have moved on. But the houses are beautiful and large; the people nice and friendly; the food delicious; the pace of life is slow. It harkens to a time past that we could all use a glimpse of from time to time.

6. Monticello, KY. I wouldn’t actually advise anyone to go there, despite the fact that it’s the “Houseboat Capitol of the World”. But it’s the town that I, and many generations of riverchicas, were born in. And subsequently fled.

7. Oxford, MS – “The Little Easy” – Small town, southern charm & hospitality, SEC football, #1 tailgate spot in America (the Grove), home of Ole Miss, the “most beautiful college” in America, called “a thriving New South arts Mecca” by USA Today, great music scene, home of Fat Possum Records, William Faulkner, home of award winning chef John Currence, some of the South’s best food

   One of Smithsonian’s 20 best small towns: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html?c=y&page=21&navigation=thumb#IMAGES

   http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-coolest-college-towns/2

   http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/travel/faulkner-and-football-in-oxford-miss.html?pagewanted=all

   http://gardenandgun.com/article/destination-oxford-mississippi

   http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/greathomesanddestinations/04havens.html

   http://www.southernliving.com/travel/best-college-towns-00417000074763/page22.html

   http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/most-beautiful.university-of-mississippi.html

   http://www.forbes.com/pictures/egim45eehm/15-oxford-ms/

8. Banos, Ecuador, known as the “Gateway to the Amazon” is easily my favorite “small” town that I have had the privilege of visiting. From the moment that you enter the small village, you feel like you are home. It took everything in the world to force me to leave. Sitting at the base of an active volcano, you will have the opportunity to view the glowing mountain top by night or disappear in the bliss of the natural hot springs surrounding the village. If you have a little adventure in you, you have the choice of quad (4 wheeler) rentals at just $25 for the day to take them up to the mouth of the volcano or you can drive down to a bridge on the edge of town for your hand at bungie jumping. You are surrounded by the native cultures that comprise the village and can go shopping through the streets and markets that fill the city. History engulfs this city from Virgen de Agua Santa to the main cathedral at the center of the city.
   With the sound of jungle and waterfalls, there isn’t a better place to lose yourself than Banos, Ecuador.

   Whether I win or not, you really should go check out the small town. I made some amazing memories and had a wonderful opportunity to relax there after backpacking from village to village in the amazon jungle.

9. Pruitt, Arkansas next to the wonderful Buffalo River.

10. My pick would be Julian, CA. 2010 population was around 1500. It is a beautiful little town in the mountains east of San Diego. Locally it is known for its apple pie and apple festival. It also gets snow during the winter which is an attraction as well.

11. My favorite small town/city is Staunton, Virginia. Staunton, my newly adopted hometown, has a quaint small city feel to it. With a vibrant downtown, many local restaurants (not a chain restaurant in sight), the only re-creation of Shakespeare’s Theatre “The BlackFriar” with nightly shows and a college a few blocks from downtown, make this my favorite city. It is in the Shenandoah Valley nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. This area is a favorite of many fly fisherman. Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Wharf parking lot is when there is a Farmers Market, many of the products are grown within 15 miles or less. On Saturdays you’ll usually hear singers greeting the farmers and the customers at the market. We have a large park in the city with a train that children can board and ride around. There is also a pond with swans and ducks that we can feed. For adults, there is an 18 hole gold course, a disc golf course and tennis courts. The grand hotel in Staunton is the Stonewall Jackson and it is grand. Virginia is for Lovers and so is Staunton.

12. My favorite small town is my old city, Strongsville, Ohio. This scenic suburb of Cleveland Ohio has about 40K people in it. The best place to visit within Strongsville is the Pomeroy House, which was a former stop on the Underground Railroad.

    Strongsville Mustangs pride!

13. Ely,NV
    It’s the only town in Nevada that I actually won some $$$ 🙂

14. Red River, NM is an awesome small town to visit in summer or winter. The mountains shoot right up from the narrow river valley that is the town. You have skiing, jeeping, fly fishing, hiking all in a neat western setting. And an occasional black bear encounter.

15. Amazingly, Brigus New Foundland, google it up
    It sells itself,
    My wife and I and another couple were told not to miss , Brigus by a girl at our B & B while in St. Johns
    It is the most picturesque, place we have ever been.
    Totally quiet, beautiful skies , wonderful locals , good food and very affordable gifts and curios. I`d go back this moment. It has a feel like a Twilight Zone episode
    Hard to believe it could really exist

16. New Braunfels, TX. You can float a river, hear great country music, go to a huge waterpark, and eat German food.

17. North Truro, MA is my favorite town because it is the narrowest part of Cape Cod — less than five minutes between the bay side beaches and the National Seashore (ocean) beaches, with scenic Pilgrim Lake and the Provincelands (beautiful dunes) in the middle, and only 5 minutes south of Provincetown and 5 minutes north of Wellfleet for great restaurants and art galleries. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

18. Leakey, Texas

    Frio River Canyon in the Texas Hill Country. Nothing like a lazy day floating in the river or checking out the canyon views.

    Great place to get away from it all… See the fall colors during a visit Lost Maples

19. My favorite small town is Big Sur, CA. You have the MOST GORGEOUS views of the Pacific Ocean. You are surrounded by Redwood trees. They have weekly events such as singing around a campfire, storytelling, art exhibits. You can lounge by a cafe and meet residents who have lived here happily for many years, enjoying the serene and peaceful life. The majority of lodgings are cabins – some very bare and some with full amenities. Very rustic, antique, beautiful, and well-recommended. I dream of the day I can go back there. Pure bliss!

20. Missoula, Montana because deer graze in the green manicured lawns along the river that runs through town.

21. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
    Beautiful coastal town with great restaurants and seafood, young hipster energy, and easy access to the bigger cities of Boston and Portland, ME.
    A true unsung gem!

22. Not sure if it exactly qualifies as a “small town” but Lake Geneva gets my vote.

    Gorgeous lake, friendly people, surprisingly tasty food and tons of terrific B&B’s that make for a perfect weekend getaway.

    (And if all that doesn’t sway you, then I have two words for you: greyhound racing.)

23. Southport NC. Located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, across from Bald Head Island and on the Intracoastal Waterway with instant access to the Atlantic Ocean this town of 4800 is an visitors wonderland. Great weather and a B movie makers destination. “I know what you did last summer” among others is a visitors paradise. Great restaurants, activities and locals.

24. St. Michaels, MD – Laid back, great seafood, lot’s of history. A pretty place to get away.

25. Leavenworth, WA – German flair up in the Pacific Northwest! Go during Oktoberfest or during the christmas lights, both the drive from SEA airport and the town are delightful. Plus there are river-activities around town, with the backdrop of high mountains <3

26. Tres Valles in the state of Veracruz Mexico. Tre Valles is an amazing pueblo in the west part of the state of Veracruz. There is one paved road, and staying in your hotel room, you will be woken up every morning at 7:00 by the famous spanish song “Las Mananitas” while there,I got the feeling that I was one of the few foreigners most of the people had seen. A resident took us to his farm where we road horses, ate the best tamales I’ve ever had, and watched as he slaughtered a big. The most authentic vacation I have ever had.

27. Ouray, CO – an amazing spot nestled high in the Rockies. I once sat on my balcony and watched a bear floss his teeth with a tree branch. It’s that cool.

28. Jefferson Texas is one my favorite small towns to visit. Located in the North eastern part of Texas it is the perfect getaway. Rich with history it has historical homes to tour, charming stores to shop for antiques, fishing on the lake and bayou, delicious home style cooking. Jefferson is also considered one of the most haunted small towns in Texas and has been featured on the travel channel. If ghosts don’t excite your the casinos at Sheveport LA are only 2 hours away and big city Dallas TX is only 2 to 3 hours away, and pottery capital of USA Marshall, TX is only a half hour away too.

29. Portage Lake in Michigan takes me back to a life of lazy afternoons and lemonade playing board games and doing puzzles or fishing from the dock on beautiful Portage Lake or building sandcastles on the beach fronting Lake Michigan. A place where time has stopped and living is easy – at least for a few days or weeks!

30. Brewster,MA is Cape Cod at its finest. Sea captains’ houses dating back to the 1700s and 1800s line its Main Street. Stately trees and blue hydrangea bushes peek out from behind privet hedges. And Cape Cod Bay! You can walk out a mile onto the sand flats when the tide is out. The entire hook of Cape Cod Bay is visible as well as the Pilgrim moument in Provincetown 20 miles away.

    In the summer you can watch the Brewster Whitecaps play baseball and sign autographs. Who knows which player will become the next star? One out of every six major league baseball players has played in the summer Cape Cod League.

31. Tingri, Tibet (population 523) Wonderful small town in the middle of the Himalayas that most people use as a jumping off point on their voyage to see the north face of Mt. Everest. Along with spectacular panoramic views, I enjoyed my visit here for the kind people, and the way time just seems to stand still. It is a truly unique place to visit.

32. Port Jefferson, NY on Long Island is my favorite town, partially because I was born and raised there, but more because what it has to offer. A former whaling town on the Long Island sound, it has great water views, a lovely harbor, tons of historic old houses with “widow’s walk” tops and a few museums celebrating it’s history. It has become fairly tourist friendly with tons of antique stores and cute one of a kind shopping stores and great Italian and seafood restaurants. A ferry to and from CT allows easy transport from New England so you can bypass NYC. Definitely worth a day trip.

33. Gruene, Texas small Texas town near New Braunfels. Has a neat old music hall.. Jerry Jeff Walker plays there a couple of time a year. Several little old fashioned stores to poke around in. A couple of wonderful bed and breakfasts to stay in. Fabulous BBQ and several places. Close to an outlet mall in you want a bigger shopping adventure.

34. Medfield, MA……great scenery and small town

35. Chagrin falls, Ohio – small quaint town with a small cascading waterfall going through the middle of town.

36. Springdale Utah (pop. 621 as of 2009) – The locals are super friendly and serve excellent, affordable food. Cute and modestly priced accomodoations. It borders the entrance to Zion National Park and it has a free shuttle to the entrance. The views can’t be beat and you’ll want to retire here.

37. Delhi, IOWA! (DEL-HI)

    A small Iowa farm town population 400. Tubing on the Delhi river, attend the Delhi Day’s Parade every July. Ride the John Deere, and eat fresh sweet corns!

38. I’ve got to go with Fife Lake, MI, home of the very family friendly “The Best 4th in the North” parade every Independence Day. My cousins put on a HUGE firework display…come by and visit! Population is around 500.

    I also really like Luckenbach, TX but with a population of only 1 and a post office I think it’s out of the running. Great cowboy poetry though.

39. Happy TX.. Official Slogan: “The Town Without a Frown.”

40. waimea, kauai offers the best shave ice on the island (i won’t choose between the two jo-jo’s though!), while serving as a gateway to beautiful waimea canyon.

41. Zahara, Spain – A sleepy little white hill town in Southern Spain that captured our hearts with the beautiful castle and church overlooking it’s homes and lake. A place that makes you want to slow down life and enjoy watching the sheep hearders lead their flocks on the edge of town. Amazing!

42. Grand Marais, MN : Gateway to spectacular trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and also many great restaurants!

43. Mystic,CT

44. Eugene, OR

    Home of the Oregon ducks and a great organic community. Check it out!

45. Kainaliu, Big Island Hawaii – population 1,576 – still maintains the old world Hawaii plantation town feel. Life is much slower and laid back. Coffee farmers in vehicles from THE war, mostly held together with duct tape (lol) going at break neck speeds of 20 mph (no joke) and local kids walking on the side of the road barefoot munching on shaved ice or li hing mui. The smell of roasting coffee and Plumerias wafting in the air. Awesome people watching!

46. Hermann, MO Pop. 2689

    Hermann is a small town located on the Missouri River. It’s a great German town, and downtown looks just like the old country, plus they have great vineyards and boutique hotels. Absolute best part is Oktoberfest, where all of my old undergrad friends from Univ. of Missouri make a road trip to the town and toast to our success. Then toast again. Then pretzels. Then toast from porta-john to porta-john. You get the idea. Most fun you can have in a small town in fly-over country!

47. Red Granite, WI nice for diving and fishing.

48. Olympic Dam in South Australia just gold and miners what a place to visit but not live

49. Port Townsend, WA. Beaches five minutes in every direction, historic victorian architecture, and wooden boats everywhere!

50. Hiawasee, GA – In the north Georgia mountains with a beautiful lake. Stay in a cabin overlooking the lake – absolutely gorgeous. Great little shops and restaurants. Many outdoor activities, several wineries, and festivals and musical events throughout the year. Small town feel without being touristy. Great place for romance, families, sportsmen or those who just want a peaceful getaway.