Sometimes you just need to get out of town, especially if you are tired of working from home or need a change of scenery. Small towns can be fun for a couple or a family, mainly because they can offer you some of the most spectacular scenery and interesting cultural experiences that you will find in the continental United States.
Small Town Weekend Getaways
Take a look at this list of your new favorite best small town locations across the country.
Durango, CO
Durango is a Victorian mining town near Mesa Verde National Park, where you can find many family-friendly sports and activities to enjoy both inside and out. You can mountain bike, kayak, raft, hike, or ski and snowboard at the nearby Purgatory Resort.
Your family may also enjoy the steam-powered Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Silverton, which will take you on a 50-mile trek of breathtaking mountain scenery as well as envelop you in 140 years of history and operation. The train runs all four seasons so it’s a great getaway any time of year.
Vernal, UT
Another great place to take a family, Vernal is the gateway to Dinosaur National Monument, which proudly claims its title of Dinosaurland. It is also near the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, so you will have plenty of opportunities to explore over 1,500 dinosaur bones as well as the geological history of the area.
You can also enjoy the outdoors while hiking, camping, or rafting in Dinosaurland, but be sure to keep an eye out for fossils and petroglyphs while you do. If water fun is more your speed, the Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area allows you and your family to swim, fish, or boat as well as go horseback riding or hiking.
Taos, NM
Taos is another great place that you can visit any time of year and have something to see or do. Located high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos is home to Taos Pueblo, which is a UNESCO site that is among the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States.
Besides its southwestern beauty and abundance of art, museums, and architecture, Taos is also a great place to experience the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (the second-highest bridge on America’s highway system) or indulge in winter sports like skiing when the mountains are covered with powdery snow.
If you prefer to travel during the warmer months, be assured that you will find a plethora of Native American art, history, shopping, and New Mexico’s famous chile-based cuisine at almost every restaurant in town.
Seaside, FL
Seaside is the small town that people return to again and again because of the charm and relaxing atmosphere. The 80-acre planned town was the first New Urbanist community, which means that it’s a completely walkable town great for both families and couples.
Over three hundred residential cottages are available for the Seaside vacation rentals, for any number of visitors, and you can walk to the beach from your front door. Seaside has decent weather all year round and is the perfect little town to enjoy shops, restaurants, art galleries, and more by foot or bicycle.
Seaside is perfect for a weekend getaway or a peaceful sojourn when you are stressed out. Take a break from reality while you sit on the white sandy beaches, watching the stunning blue ocean and enjoying the unforgettable Cabana Man Experience.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
A small but bustling town that serves as the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is filled with kid-friendly attractions. Luxury vacation cabins throughout the enclosing foothills offer the perfect private world, with massive adventure outside the door.
Hot tubs, fully equipped kitchens, arcade games and spectacular mountain views offer fun from the romantic couple’s getaway to the family reunion vacation.
Glen Rose, TX
Situated about 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Glen Rose is a charming Texas town with lots to do. It’s best known for Dinosaur Valley State Park, the 72-acre park where scientists discovered dinosaur footprints that were preserved in the limestone in the Paluxy River bed.
The kids will love to splash around Big Rocks Park and walk in the dinosaur footprints that are most prominent when the water is low.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a wildlife safari park and conservation center with 1,700 acres of land for all kinds of wildlife, including wildebeests, southern black and white rhinos, Przewalski’s horses, cheetahs, three different species of wolves, and many other animals that you can spot as you drive through the beautiful countryside.
If golf is more of your thing, the Squaw Valley Golf Course is one of the best municipal courses in Texas.
Hudson, NY
If you are looking for a quick getaway from the big city, Hudson is only two hours from NYC by train. It is the quintessential small town that will win you over with its walkable city center, great shopping experiences, and dazzling architecture.
What was once a 1700s whaling port is now a city featuring dozens of historic architectural styles and antique dealers, as well as many art galleries and music venues.
Hudson is also famous for being a leader in the farm-to-table movement, which means that produce and products from local farms are available at the local farmer’s market as well as at many of the local restaurants.
Many five-star chefs have opened restaurants in Hudson so that they can serve the freshest foods to their clientele.
Lodi, CA
To round out our list of fun getaways, explore the small town of Lodi, California. Located 40 miles to the south of Sacramento, Lodi is an instrumental part of California’s wine industry and major wine grape growing region since the 1850s.
This destination is great for a couple or a group of wine lovers who want to learn more about wine production and experience the “Zinfandel Capital of the World.”
There are more than 85 wineries that call Lodi home, including Michael David, Old Vine Zinfandel, Berghold, and Lucas. If wine is not your thing, Lodi is also the birthplace of A&W Root Beer! The first batch of root beer was made in 1919 and sold from a hot dog cart during a parade.
