9 Charming Towns In The United States For The Perfect Getaway
US towns are some of the most charming destinations one can visit. While larger cities like Houston and Los Angeles often get the most visitors (for other reasons), small towns like Eureka Springs and Sedona are where to find true charms. In these towns, the natural scenery shines brighter without the overwhelming crowds and high-rise buildings, and that alone makes them perfect for getaways. In Sedona, for instance, there is enchanting red rock scenery to be seen at every turn, and nothing could be more satisfying than soaking it all up from a trail, which the town has in abundance. In Eureka Springs, the gorgeous natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains, combined with impressive Victorian architecture and impeccable Southern hospitality, makes it the ideal destination for a memorable getaway. With that said, here are nine charming towns across the United States with all the necessary features for the perfect getaway. The sixth town is particularly exciting.
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park offers one of the most authentic mountain getaways one can experience anywhere in the US. This town is the launch pad for exploring the famous Rocky Mountain National Park, where mountains rising to 11,000 feet, alpine lakes, forests, and abundant wildlife offer endless adventures. Visit this town and ride the Trail Ridge Road, which stretches 48 miles through the national park and reaches an elevation of more than 12,000 feet. It offers unobstructed views of wildlife, alpine wildflowers, lakes, and mountain peaks. Next, enjoy breathtaking views of the town and the Rocky Mountains on a ride aboard the Estes Park Aerial Tramway or experience a thrilling ride on the Mustang Mountain Coaster. For more adventures, you can stroll through the Riverwalk in downtown Estes Park to soak in the views of the Big Thompson River and Fall River and shop, eat, and drink at George Hix Riverside Plaza.
While visiting, stay at the Murphy’s Resort at Estes Park for a more pleasant experience and to enjoy facilities like an outdoor pool, indoor hot tub, playground, and three fire pits.
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island is one of the best beach getaways in the US. This island boasts about 12 miles of sandy beaches, including the famous Coligny Beach, where one can spend the day relaxing with views of the Atlantic Ocean, swimming, playing volleyball, and watching people. The island also hosts the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a 600-acre area featuring freshwater lakes for fishing, a maritime forest, a wildflower meadow, lots of birds, and more than five miles of trails to explore. This preserve is a must-visit for nature lovers and a peaceful escape from the beaches, which can get crowded in the summer. The Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge is also just 10 miles from downtown Hilton Head Island. Covering a more than 4,000-acre area, this refuge is a peaceful place where visitors can explore 14 miles of hiking and biking trails through ponds and maritime forests while observing birds, alligators, and deer, among other wildlife.
In the interim, a visit to Hilton Head is never complete without cruising or sailing on the island’s waterways, and numerous tours are available for this experience. Visitors can also just rent kayaks and explore Jarvis Creek, Calibogue Sound, or Broad Creek. Enjoy an even more memorable experience on this island by staying at its top hotels, like the award-winning Sea Pines Resort, which offers a wide variety of accommodations and golf courses, access to pristine beaches, and proximity to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.
Ely, Minnesota
Ely is a gorgeous small town and an ideal destination for a vacation full of water adventures. This town is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where over 1,200 miles of waterways set the stage for endless kayaking and canoeing activities. Visit this town and stay at the Grand Ely Lodge for easy access to multiple entry points into the wilderness area. This hotel also features a restaurant, an indoor heated pool & sauna, a marina, and kayak and canoe rentals while being located on the Shagawa Lake.
Besides the water-based activities, Ely also has unique attractions like the Ely Folk School, where one can learn about the heritage of Northern Minnesota and acquire some new skills such as basket weaving and Potica Baking. For wildlife lovers, the town hosts the North American Bear Center and the International Wolf Center, each of which offers exhibits and education about two of America’s famous animals. Furthermore, visitors to Ely can head to the Bear Head Lake State Park to see more black bears, wolves, and eagles while kayaking, fishing, and hiking.
Port Aransas, Texas
Located on Mustang Island, Port Aransas is an excellent town with coastal scenery and endless adventures. It is impossible to get bored in this town, not when it is home to the family-friendly Port Aransas Beach, where one can lose track of time just relaxing, sunbathing in the turquoise water, and collecting shells. For those who love birds, the town’s Leonaballe Turnbull Birding Center is a must-visit to see ducks, pelicans, songbirds, wading birds, and many more. As a renowned fishing town on the Gulf Coast, Port Aransas is a great place to revel in a catch, and many fishing excursions are offered at the Fisherman’s Wharf.
Meanwhile, just 20 minutes from town, the Mustang Island State Park is a recommended destination to visit to kayak, bike, and watch birds. The park also has dozens of campsites and a five-mile sandy beach where you can find peace. For more adventures, you can head to the 50-acre Roberts Points Park to fish, picnic, swim, watch dolphins, and enjoy the sights of children playing on the playground. When visiting, stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Port Aransas, as it is affordable and offers an outdoor pool, EV chargers, and proximity to the beach.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Experience true Southern hospitality and relaxation on a getaway to Eureka Springs. This town in the Ozark Mountains invites visitors to check into the historic 1892 New Orleans Hotel & Spa, which offers exceptional luxury and is within walking distance to the area’s best attractions, like Rogue’s Manor, one of the country’s finest restaurants. Located in an 1887 Victorian building, this restaurant offers fine dining with a food menu comprising steak, seafood, oysters, pasta, and a well-stocked bar. Also, just walking through downtown Eureka Springs is a must-do as you’ll get to see well-preserved historic structures like the Flatiron Flats, which has become the town’s most photographed building. While in the downtown area, be sure to stop at the Eureka Springs Museum to learn about the area’s indigenous peoples who first discovered the springs and the town’s transformation into a Victorian health resort.
Six miles from downtown Eureka Springs, the Onyx Cave Park is a unique attraction where visitors can enjoy self-guided tours to see stunning underground formations. Notably, this cave is the oldest of its kind in Arkansas and even offers axe-throwing opportunities. For outdoor buffs, the nearby Lake Leatherwood City Park is an excellent spot to boat and fish.
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is one of the few places in the world where you can experience the thrills of sliding on a natural slide into a pool. This experience awaits at the nearby Pisgah National Forest on a 60-foot slopping boulder and is enough reason to escape to this charming little town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The forest also has several trails begging to be indulged, like the three-mile Looking Glass Rock Trail that winds through lush trees and leads to the top of a rock with stunning views. For backpackers, the Art Loeb Trail is also in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, and it stretches for about 30 miles and offers stunning forest scenery.
Besides hiking, a gateway to Brevard also entails exploring historical attractions like the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas and Transylvania Heritage Museum. At the former, visitors will learn about the veterans of the Carolinas, including their stories and sacrifices, while the Heritage Museum is stocked with exhibits like photographs and heirlooms reflecting the area’s heritage. Additionally, Brevard is home to the Crystal Mountain Gem Mine, a fun attraction where you can mine for gemstones and keep what you find after paying, of course.
Even more exciting, Brevard is near Pilot Cove, one of the most unique and secluded lodging experiences in America. Located right next to Pisgah National Forest, this resort is surrounded by lush trees and offers cozy cabins with fully-furnished kitchens, and a spacious decks for relaxation. A stay in this lodge will make the visit to Brevard even more memorable and can well be the highlight of the experience.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-be-the-Sea is a picturesque town on the Pacific Ocean with one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Known as Carmel Beach, this shoreline will leave visitors mesmerized with its white sands, Monterey Cypress trees, and the endless waves of the Pacific. This beach alone makes the town perfect for a getaway, especially as one can spend an entire day surfing the waves, relaxing, and enjoying the views, especially at sunset. Also, downtown Carmel is like a real-life storybook characterized by fairytale cottages, like Tuck Box, which dates back to the 1920s and now serves afternoon tea and specialty foods. Dozens of art galleries are also in this part of town, notably the Karges Fine Art and Carmel Fine Art Gallery. The former exhibits paintings by California artists dating to the period between 1870 and 1950.
Downtown Carmel also hosts the Carmel Mission, a catholic church first built in 1770 and restored in the 1940s. Visitors can explore these attractions and then proceed to drive or bike the 17-mile drive that winds through the Del Monte Forest and Pebble Beach while offering unobstructed views of the Pacific coastline. The Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge is a recommended accommodation to stay in while visiting Carmel, as it is in the town center and offers spacious cottages with fireplaces, fully-equipped kitchens, and hot tubs.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is, without a doubt, one of the most charming destinations in the world, characterized by enchanting red sandstone formations. While visitors to this town can relax at one of its best hotels, like Sky Ranch Lodge, and enjoy the scenery, there are other exciting ways to make great memories here, and hiking is at the top of the list. Not hiking in Sedona is more disappointing than going to Las Vegas without visiting the Strip. This is because Sedona has some of the country’s best hiking trails, like the 3.9-mile out-and-back Devil’s Bridge Trail, which leads to the town’s largest natural stone arch and offers breathtaking views of the Red Rock country. The Cathedral Rock is another great trail in Sedona where hikers will be rewarded with more stunning red rock scenery after scrambling through the 1.2-mile stretch to the top.
Just outside town, Red Rock State Park offers gorgeous scenery and has around five miles of trails for visitors to explore. For something refreshing, travelers in Sedona can always head to Slide Rock State Park to enjoy a natural slide and swim in the cool waters of Oak Creek.
Townsend, Tennessee
Townsend is an incredibly charming town, ideal for a getaway full of adventures. Aptly named the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, this town is a laid-back spot from which to explore some of the park’s best attractions, like Cades Cove, a picturesque valley brimming with wildlife. Visitors can explore this valley by biking on the 11-mile loop trail to see animals such as coyotes, deer, elk, and black bears. From Townsend, one can also easily explore the Tuckaleechee Caverns on a mile-long tour to see the tallest underground in the Eastern United States, a massive cavern, and 24-foot tall stalagmites.
In the meantime, Townsend challenges brave adventures to experience the Dark Island Swinging Bridge and look down into the Little River, where people can be seen tubing. As for history buffs, the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center is where to delve into the heritage and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains, with tours of 19th-century buildings and galleries featuring artifacts dating from thousands of years ago. Also, staying at the Dancing Bear Lodge when visiting Townsend can make the experience more unforgettable as it offers cozy and affordable accommodations with spacious beds, hot tubs, and stone fireplaces. This lodge also hosts the award-winning Appalachian Bistro, which offers an authentic farm-to-table experience.
Step away from the big cities and experience true getaways in these US towns. From Brevard, where a 60-foot rock offers thrills in a forest, to Port Aransas and its huge beach, these towns have so much to keep you coming back. Thankfully, most of these towns have populations below 10,000, so expect uncrowded attractions and lighter traffic, which makes them easier to explore. You’ll also find many free things to do in these towns, plus affordable and cozy accommodations, some of which have been recommended for easy decision-making.
