St. Anne's Church on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

8 of the Most Quaint Small Towns in the Northern United States

The beauty of the northern United States spread from Washington to Maine, is within its multiplicity. There are lakes, forests, beaches, events, and more at any traveler's disposal, yet the large crowds and unpleasant noise have not yet reached these corners of the country. The small towns of the Northern United States are humble, quaint, and ripe for travelers bent on enjoying the sanctuary of the wilderness and the charm of the quintessential small American town. Whether appreciating the beauty of the Long Island Sound from Old Saybrook or diving into the oasis resort town of Mackinac Island, the most quaint towns in the northern United States will not disappoint.

Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Old Saybrook is at the meeting point of the Connecticut River and the Atlantic Ocean that feeds into Long Island Sound. Visitors enter by sea dock at the picturesque North Cove Yacht Club, and often walk through centertown towards the local history on exhibit at the General William Hart House or the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center for live music and other events. The natural beauty of the surrounding area is best experienced either from the Founders Memorial Park, where park benches are in high demand for sunsets overlooking the Connecticut River's beaches, or at the Ferry Landing State Park, where there are long boardwalks, tall trees, and plentiful opportunities for fishing.

Nauvoo, Illinois

Aerial view of Nauvoo Temple above the Mississippi River at sunrise. — Nauvoo Temple above the Mississippi River at sunrise.

Along the Mississippi River in western Illinois is the community of Nauvoo, where the Nauvoo Illinois Temple, the pinnacle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, towers majestically over the Nauvoo Historic District and Horton Lake. Nauvoo State Park features lush fields of green that follow along the calm of the lake, with multiple historical monuments in the surrounding area, including the Joseph & Emma Mansion House, the John and Elizabeth Browning Home and Gun Shop, and the Brigham and Ann Young Home. The majority of the town's busy area centers around the Pageant Stage event center and Nauvoo Cultural Hall; new travelers can check out the Nauvoo Visitors Center for information on recent events in town.

Unforgettable Small Towns To Visit In Illinois "The Prairie State," with the exception of the Chicago metropolitan area, is mostly filled with vast tracts of picturesque farmland punctuated by a network of beautiful and unique small towns.

Meredith, New Hampshire

Meredith is a small town squeezed between Lake Waukewan and Meredith Bay in central New Hampshire. The center of town is bordered by the flat green landscape of Hesky Park and Clough Park, where it is popular to pass along the Meredith Sculpture Walk or to enjoy the frozen lake at the Pond Hockey Classic in the winter months. Most visitors check out the various activities surrounding the town, including the busy video arcade named the Funspot, the dry-style wine at the Hermit Woods Winery and Eatery, or the lazy waves of Waukewan Beach. Those looking for nightly entertainment after a sunset walk on the short stroll of the Laverack Nature Trail should stop at BarnZ's Meredith Cinema for a show.

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Western Massachusetts's Stockbridge is a beautiful small community along the winding Housatonic River. The town's beautiful architecture is on full display in a walk down Main Street, where the Mission House serves as a majestic and nostalgic Native American Museum built in 18th-century style, and the striking summer home known as the Naumkeag offers spectacularly landscaped gardens, perfect for relaxing picnics and stunning tours. Towards East Main Street, rest the full natural greenery of classic Massachusetts forests, accented by the wooden bridges of the Goodrich Memorial Park, the wide-open paths of the Ice Glen Trail, and the beautiful views from the Laura Lookout Tower.

Egg Harbor, Wisconsin

Egg Harbor village sign in Door County Wisconsin — Egg Harbor Village sign in Door County, Wisconsin.

There are only 201 people to fill the natural inlet of Egg Harbor on Lake Michigan, making it the ideal quiet and charming stayover for a relaxing family getaway. Egg Harbor Beach is always a relaxing swim on calm lake water with the majestic boats and dories of Egg Harbor Marina just in the foreground, making a particularly lasting impression at sunset. Other notable attractions include the Cappaert Contemporary Gallery/Studio that houses unique local art, evening events at the outdoor venue of the Peg Egan Performing Arts Center, and dinner or drinks at the One Barrel Brewing Company Door County. More easygoing travelers, however, can be content spending an entire day in the peace and quiet of Harbor View Park.

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais, a small harbor city on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota.

Grand Marais is an often-cited small-town star of Minnesota for good reason. Looking from the deepest bite of the Grand Marais Harbor in the Angry Trout Cafe and out towards the waters of Lake Superior is a calming scene: the natural harbor, protected and its corners by the Grand Marais Marina Vista Point and the Grand Marais Lighthouse, provides a feeling of comfort and serenity to many visitors. Venturing anywhere down the coastline, either along Lake Park or even into the hills of the Pincushion Mountain Trail System, offers a similar sentiment of small-town appreciation in an open and green wilderness. The most popular attraction is the one furthest into the lake: Artist Point is a famous destination for strollers, hikers, and explorers alike.

Decorah, Iowa

Decorah has extensive trails, parks, breweries, and history. The most notable museum is Vesterheim: The National Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School, where visitors are brought along unique Norwegian history in America. Surrounding the museum's downtown location are the extensive wild fields, rolling hills, and natural landscapes that enclose the Upper Iowa River. The largest and most beautiful of these is the Decorah Community Prairie, where there are fields of colorful wildflowers and grasslands, and next door is Phelps Park and its natural trails, cobblestone steps, and small wooden bridges. The most visited of all the town's attractions, however, are the rolling rivers and beautiful wooded hills of Dunning's Spring Park.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Vacationers on Market Street in Mackinac Island. Image credit Alexey Stiop via Shutterstock.com

Mackinac Island is a resort island; it is a beautiful sanctuary of full greenery and blue Lake Huron water up in northern Michigan. It is accessible by boat or plane and is host to travelers of all kinds. There is enough space for ambitious outdoor enthusiasts to hike toward Sunset Rock, Devil's Kitchen, or the Pontiac Trail Head. Slow strollers picnic and relax in the open fields of Soldier's Garden and Mackinac Island State Park; and busy families and couples enjoy the amenities and activities surrounding the downtown core, like the Pink Pony restaurant, Haan's 1830 Inn, and Fort Mackinac. It is easy to get away on this expansive and traveler-friendly island.

Best Small Towns To Visit In The Great Lakes RegionGiven their beauty and generous supply of one of the most valuable resources on the planet, many towns have settled on their shores.

From Old Saybrook to Mackinac Island, these eight destinations are all accessible, enjoyable, and magical in their own way. Travelers can enjoy them all at once or parcel them into separate occasions, road trips, and vacations. No matter how they are enjoyed, they will remain staples of northern culture and antiquity, ideal for visitors with open minds to the peace of small-town life.

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