If you’re tired of noisy cities, there are small towns scattered across North America with some truly stunning views. They’re not as famous as big tourist hot spots, but honestly, their landscapes are something else.
You’ll stumble on peaceful places where mountains, lakes, or wild coastlines are basically in your backyard. If you’re into hiking, snapping photos, or just want to sit somewhere beautiful without a crowd, these towns have scenery that’s hard to beat.
8. Prescott, Arizona
The charming, tree-lined streets and cool climate of Prescott make it the perfect summer retreat for those wanting to escape the sweltering Arizona heat. This old mining town sits in the Central Arizona mountains and is dotted with attractive, early 20th century, Victorian-style architecture.
Prescott’s popular historic downtown is centered around the stately Neoclassical 1916 Yavapai County Courthouse and is where the colorful Whiskey Row is located. The somewhat lively area is busy, with friendly locals and visitors enjoying the numerous dining and shopping opportunities. The Prescott National Forest also offers travelers a chance to get into the great outdoors to mountain bike, hike, and camp among the beauty of the mountains.
7. Bryson City, North Carolina
Get your hiking boots ready, the small town of Bryson City – county seat of Swain County in western North Carolina – is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Wild streams and hill-walking await intrepid explorers, whilst the Tuckasegee River is a playground for enthusiasts of white-water rafting.
If exploring the great outdoors on foot doesn’t sound like your thing, you can see the incredible scenery from the comfort of an antique train carriage, courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Further to this, if you’re a fishing enthusiast, you will love the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians – complete with displays of 19th Century equipment.
6. Creede, Colorado
The small town of Creede packs a punch when it comes to history. Born out of the silver boom in the late 1880s, Creede’s popularity grew incredibly from 600, in 1889, to well over 10,000 in 1891. This influx of people looking to make their millions from silver left once the boom ended and nowadays Creede’s tiny population is less than 300.
The high elevation in the mountains and the authentic late 19th century buildings make this not only a picturesque place to visit, but also a fantastic spot to for filmmakers.
Numerous films and television programs have been shot in and around Creed, including the 1976 John Wayne film The Shootist as well as the 2013 film, The Lone Ranger.
5. Islamorada, Florida
Appropriately dubbed as the “Village of Island,” this little town in Florida is spread across six of the Florida Keys and has numerous lovely beaches for you to sunbathe, swim or stroll. A perfect destination for water adventure enthusiasts, Islamorada is host to several annual fishing tournaments and has excellent opportunities for sail fishing and bone fishing.
Important attractions in the town include dolphin shows at the Theatre of the Sea, Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, and the shipwrecks of Indian Key Historic State Park.
4. Banff, Alberta, Canada
© Zhukovsky / DreamstimeTiny Banff grew up around the hot springs that were discovered here by railway workers in 1883. The Cave and Basin Hot Springs – now closed – are the first hot springs created here when the town was advertised internationally as a spa resort.
Today Banff is a busy and commercial town where you can pause for a couple of days to stock up on supplies before you explore Banff National Park. But never fear: you can still soak in mineral rich waters at Banff Upper Hot Springs, among others. Perhaps a good idea after a long hike at nearby Lake Minnewanka. The luxury 19th century Banff Springs Hotel is the place to stay, one of Canada’s famous grand railway hotels – more like a chateau than a hotel, it’s truly magnificent.
3. Cannon Beach
A charming small town in Oregon in the truest sense, the town of Cannon Beach with a population of less than 2,000 inhabitants is most famous for being so close to the prominent Haystack Rock – one of Oregon’s most distinguishable landmarks. The second most-famous thing in the town is, of course, it’s long stretch of sand and sea.
For tourists arriving or staying in Portland, Cannon Beach is often a great weekend getaway destination. While you’re here, have a meal at Cannon Beach Hardware and Public House and don’t miss the 1.5-mile hike from Ecola Point to Indian beach.
2. Telluride, Colorado
© Dave Newman / DreamstimeWith its history rooted in the late 19th century mining boom in the area, Telluride is awash with historic buildings. In fact, these make up a significant portion of what constitutes the town, arguably making it the best place to come if you feel like hopping back in time to the mining days themselves.
The 80 acres in the Downtown area of the former silver mining camp are perfect for exploring, now filled with restaurants and boutiques. Telluride is also a great jumping off point for skiing – being just a gondola ride away – and hiking, or driving, to Bridal Veil Falls is a great way to soak up the unreal landscapes around this beautiful town.
1. Bar Harbor, Maine
Located on Mount Desert Island – the largest island off the coast of Hancock County – is the small but famous town of Bar Harbor. This place was previously a popular summer colony for the rich and powerful, but a fire in 1947 destroyed its five grand and historic hotels, plus 76 palatial residences on the so-called ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
However, Bar Harbor remains popular to this day. Vestiges of its illustrious past still exist. For example, there’s the Mira Monte Inn, a stunning Victorian ‘cottage’ turned hotel. A pleasant stroll along Bar Harbor’s Mount Desert Street reveals an illustrious past recalling the splendor of the USA’s Gilded Age, with many historic and beautiful buildings.