I brake for small towns.
Few things in life are more thrilling than approaching and finally entering a small town thats new to me.
I get butterflies in my stomach, and my hands clam up a bit at the wheel.
Its like Christmas morning, with the wrapped presents concealing a joyous mystery.
As I spot the main drag, my eyes dart, and my mind asks so many questions.
Is the downtown thriving, or do the storefronts offer mute testament to a more prosperous past?
Are there classic restaurants or diners?
Are there any good neon signs or quaint vintage storefronts?
What (and who) are they most proud of here?
What are the finest and most modest homes like?
Is there a quirky attraction here the worlds first or biggest something or other?
Is access to nature the industry?
What would the light and the trees be like on a crisp October afternoon?
In short, what gives this town its sense of place?
The questions are endless, and even the smallest town can intrigue me for hours.
Pulling into a small town is the easiest thing I do on aroad trip.
Thats nonsense, of course.
That small town off the exit is the most important thing on the trip.
I invariably regret it and turn around, at least for a quick look.
I leave excited and hopeful for what other wonders may exist a few exits down the highway.
Its easy to fall for small towns for all those reasons and more.
I suspect youll feel that way about the onesTravel + Leisureis sharing with you, too.
Endless stretches of sand in every imaginable color.
The old town of Lahaina, Mauis tourism beacon, was reduced to ash by wildfires in 2023.
Lakeview bluffs, windblown sand dunes, and jaunty ski hills are easy elevations with sporting payoffs.
Bisbee is home to fewer than 5,000 people, including artists and creatives.
This string of houses and hotels straddling the Pacific Coast Highway is often overlooked by travelers en route toMendocino.
And the area around Ouray is riddled with pockets of steamy, mineral-rich waters.
Youre totally immersed in nature.
People arrive stressed and you see the change immediately.
The landscape lulls you into a more tranquil state.
It’s a rare, true, hidden gem.
Here, everyone says hello to their neighbors.
Ho’okipa Beach in Paia, Hawaii.Getty Images
I graduated from Clemson University in 2018, fully indoctrinated into Tigers fandom.
Clemson is an exceptional college town because it seamlessly blends academic excellence with an inclusive, welcoming community.
Ho’okipa Beach in Paia, Hawaii.Getty Images
Yellowstone Peaks Hotel in Island Park, Idaho.Courtesy of Yellowstone Peaks Hotel
On the water in Harbor Springs, Michigan.Courtesy of Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau
Bisbee is located in southeastern Arizona and founded in 1880.Courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism
A family sitting on the lawn of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania.Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Harbor House Inn restaurant in Elk, California.Adrian Rudd/Travel + Leisure
Ouray Hot Springs, in Ouray, Colorado.Nicholas J. Klein/Adobe Stock
A classic car driving down the Martin Grade Scenic Highway 1 in Stuart, Florida.Karl Shakur/Courtesy of Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing
Tillman Hall, on the Clemson University campus in Clemson, South Carolina.Chad Robertson/Getty Images
Store display inside Junk Gypsy in Round Top, Texas.Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
