America’s Best Small Towns And Cities

Gloucester should be visited for fresh-off-the-boat seafood, the Rocky Neck art community, and a walk along Western Harbor to Stage Fort Park.

1. Gloucester, Massachusetts

Whale watching and schooner trips offer several ocean activities.

Gloucester, Massachusetts

Saranac Lake houses in the Adirondack Mountains, New York, amid fall colors.

2. Saranac Lake, New York

Saranac Lake in New York is lovely in fall.

Saranac Lake, New York

In 1710, Swiss immigrants settled New Bern, despite its name. But now, this chic Carolina coastal city with cool bars and fine cuisine is anything but alpine.

3. New Bern, North Carolina

Tryon Palace's living history tours tell stories of North Carolina's colonial capital, and Pepsi-Cola was born at Pollack and Middle streets' soda fountain in 1898.

New Bern, North Carolina

Before the Civil War, stately mansions surrounded Bay Street's economic hub.

4. Beaufort, South Carolina

A lovely park along the Beaufort River is immediately past the restaurant and retail street.

Beaufort, South Carolina

This 1839 Metropolis capitalized on Superman's global reputation despite being founded almost exactly a century before the first Superman comic book was published.

5. Metropolis, Illinois

A massive Superman statue watches over the town square, alongside a Super Museum honoring Clark Kent and his nearly indestructible alter ego and a Lois Lane statue.

Metropolis, Illinois

Most Charming Small Cities In The Usa