View Full Version : Cute towns
Because I'm a lover of small towns, I'm sharing this link (https://www.oprahmag.com/life/g30458236/small-american-town-destinations/?utm_source=facebook_arb&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=arb_fb_opr_d_exclude_g30458236&fbclid=IwAR17GdnPlSneF8K7ZQShQdmZQvmp68PYJunjt0PO6 oqdtl81C_RM_Hx9fvg) to a bunch of them.. some might ring a bell to some of our members...
Take a look and tell me which YOU would pick to live in.
iris lilies
1-29-20, 5:07pm
I regularly look at real estate in Eureka Spring Arkansas, and sometimes look at it in Galena IL. I have looked up property in Franklin TN and Wolfboro, NH and Keene NH.
If I had a gun to my head I guess I would choose Eureka Springs, but I would want to check out the New England places. But I wouldn’t want to live there during the winter. My geographic area is
1) not north of Highway 80
2) and not west of Kansas City unless it is coastal West Coast.
They chose St, Geneieve in Missouri over Hermann MO which is a mistake. Believe me I compared the two carefully. They are both small historic river towns, currently on wine trail.
I would Want to check out the New England places.
They name two Vermont towns--I don't think you'd be crazy about either one, frankly. I can think of a lot of other cute Vermont towns that are more appealing than Dorset or Shelburne. I think they put those two towns up there because they both attract more affluent people. Give me Chester, or Grafton, Manchester or Brattleboro. As far as "big" towns go, Middlebury or Burlington would be on my list.
But ironically for a NJ expat to say, Frenchtown, NJ is adorable.
I've been to a handful of these, and I have to concur...Frederick, MD is charming.
One of them is the town where I was born, so I'm in!
Well, you've given a great list for an upcoming Great American Road Trip!
I'm surprised how many I've been to.
Astoria OR: darling town but lordy the fog and the rain is far too rampant.
Franklin TN: Great little town. Super expensive. Near Nashville which I totally love! (traffic stinks right now w/rampant construction)
Hood River OR: no thanks. It's famous for windsurfing on the Columbia. Nothing much going on there and Portland is just an hour but traffic is horrific!
Ferndale CA: cute. Guy Fieri's hometown. Nice weather. North of the bay so access to culture/theatre/concerts.
Kernville CA: wasn't a town when I lived in the valley in the 60s. It's gonna be hot and dry.
If I had to choose 1 today and $ were available: Franklin TN
dado potato
1-29-20, 6:22pm
I have visited Fredericksburg TX.
There are spring wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country, a dark sky in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, a historic district downtown (walking tours are promoted), farm stands with peaches and pecans in season, Texas Rangers in case one gets lost, but … there is no state income tax!
I was surprised the notes on Corning NY did not mention the Museum of Glass. In the collection of miniatures alone, I could have spent days!
Teacher Terry
1-29-20, 6:59pm
I have been to some of them. They are fun to visit but I lived in a town of 2k years ago but no thanks now. Everyone knows everyone’s business plus nothing to do. Even when I go to my hometown of 100k not enough to do.
Fredericksburg TX is a favorite but is no longer affordable for the average Joe...though we keep looking there. Quite a few over the top wineries and "ranches" scattered among the area. We are actually considering a small town near there to move to - about 25,000K population. Tired of the big city...
dado potato
1-29-20, 8:38pm
I did not see New Glarus WI on the "cute" list. Some would describe it as a bedroom community for Madison. New Glarus began with a swiss colony (from Glarus) buying 1,200 acres in July 1845.
In 1853 the New Glarus Hotel was built. It is still operating (and still hiring). Polka dances Friday and Saturday night.
Cheese production got underway with limburger in 1868, followed by cheddar in 1873.
An abandoned rail line was repurposed as the Sugar River State Trail.
New Glarus is the site of the Swiss Center of North America... and the New Glarus Brewery. http://www.allaboutbeer.com/new-glarus-25-years-on
I love that museum at New Glarus. It is such a fun town to visit!
iris lilies
1-29-20, 9:09pm
Well, if we are going to talk about cute twns not on the list: pretty much every town in NH.
rosarugosa
1-30-20, 6:50am
Well, if we are going to talk about cute twns not on the list: pretty much every town in NH.
Also lots of towns in the Berkshires of MA and coastal MA & ME.
I've visited a handful of them and I'd agree they are cute, although there are a lot not on the list that could compete. The one's I'm familiar with seemed touristy or bedroom communities. I lived in Creede, Colorado for a while and it's indeed small with a population somewhere around 500. At one time it was a working town with employment from hard rock mining for gold and silver into the 1970's, but is now mostly a summer destination for sportsmen, tourists, and some summer homes.
Since there are some New Englanders here, I've spent some time in Woodstock, Vermont visiting friends. I'm actually a little surprised it didn't show up on the list. A lot of the cute towns on the list looked like nice places to visit, but not places I'd want to live.
One of them is the town where I was born, so I'm in!
Me too--#18 Astoria--it's having a bit of a resurgence lately.
The pictures make most of these towns look idyllic, and definitely worth a visit.
I have been to some of them. They are fun to visit but I lived in a town of 2k years ago but no thanks now. Everyone knows everyone’s business plus nothing to do. Even when I go to my hometown of 100k not enough to do.
That was exactly my experience of living in a town of 300 (Gearhart, OR)--and I was eight at the time...:D
catherine
1-30-20, 12:31pm
For some reason I missed Guilford, CT first time around. Definitely fits on the list. I've often talked of my idyllic summers with my great-aunt in Madison, CT. Guilford is right next door. It is so adorable--big New England town green surrounded by businesses and right on the LI Sound. Dowden's Drug Store used to own a proprietary recipe for its "Checkerberry Soda" which was a combination of sarsaparilla, seltzer, and not sure what else that made it a destination for people going to Guilford at the time.
Love that town. Perfect New England town.
:D Yay Bisbee! I thought Springdale was a place I'd been, but that's Hildale - we unknowingly booked a night in a B&B formerly owned by Warren Jeffs. So much for Trip Advisor. Hildale: just say "I don't".
:D Yay Bisbee!
haha! Yes, you are one of the members that came to mind!
Thanks for sharing this. I was surprised I had visited several and we live in Frederick County, MD so have watched Frederick grow since 1970...I lived right downtown for a couple years worked there for 31 years... It's become very"in" with the DC crew. Lots of beer and wine production. I was surprised they didn't show the "Clustered Spires" of John Greenleaf Whittier's Barbara Fritchie poem. It's close to Harpers Ferry, also mentioned.
rosarugosa
1-30-20, 7:02pm
I've visited a handful of them and I'd agree they are cute, although there are a lot not on the list that could compete. The one's I'm familiar with seemed touristy or bedroom communities. I lived in Creede, Colorado for a while and it's indeed small with a population somewhere around 500. At one time it was a working town with employment from hard rock mining for gold and silver into the 1970's, but is now mostly a summer destination for sportsmen, tourists, and some summer homes.
Since there are some New Englanders here, I've spent some time in Woodstock, Vermont visiting friends. I'm actually a little surprised it didn't show up on the list. A lot of the cute towns on the list looked like nice places to visit, but not places I'd want to live.
We've never been to Woodstock, but considered it for a vacation destination last year. We ended up going to Niagara, but maybe another time.
iris lilies
2-12-20, 1:18pm
In another life I would move to Freedom,NH. Our friends live 5 miles and 13 miles away from this house I have been salivating over for weeks now. The width of the floorboards, and their beauty, make me weak in the knees. It is the oldest house in Freedom, according to the listing agent. We went thru Freedom last year.
How can you not love a town named Freedom?
House I Love
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/86-Moulton-Rd_Freedom_NH_03836_M30823-04483?view=qv
Teacher Terry
2-12-20, 1:23pm
Really beautiful house!
In another life I would move to Freedom,NH. Our friends live 5 miles and 13 miles away from this house I have been salivating over for weeks now. The width of the floorboards, and their beauty, make me weak in the knees. It is the oldest house in Freedom, according to the listing agent. We went thru Freedom last year.
How can you not love a town named Freedom?
House I Love
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/86-Moulton-Rd_Freedom_NH_03836_M30823-04483?view=qv
Gorgeous and super-cheap!!!!
I think you should go out and look at it, IL. You don't have to stay where you are.
It is lovely, especially inside. Look at all that room to grow lilies and irises.
In another life I would move to Freedom,NH. Our friends live 5 miles and 13 miles away from this house I have been salivating over for weeks now. The width of the floorboards, and their beauty, make me weak in the knees. It is the oldest house in Freedom, according to the listing agent. We went thru Freedom last year.
How can you not love a town named Freedom?
House I Love
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/86-Moulton-Rd_Freedom_NH_03836_M30823-04483?view=qv
Agreed. That house is awesome!
iris lilies
2-12-20, 3:05pm
I think you should go out and look at it, IL. You don't have to stay where you are.
It is lovely, especially inside. Look at all that room to grow lilies and irises.
i am not going to move across country for love of a house. But I do like the idea of NH, just that winters are too long.
My little old .hermann house is cute if downtrodden now, and will be cute and bright after major construction.
rosarugosa
2-12-20, 3:17pm
I love it!
i am not going to move across country for love of a house. But I do like the idea of NH, just that winters are too long.
My little old .hermann house is cute if downtrodden now, and will be cute and bright after major construction.
Even though I have a love/hate relationship with HGTV, there is one show that doesn't make me furious--it's the new show called Home Town. Have you seen it? They tend to focus on respectful renovations, and the houses are usually old homes, not cookie cutter McMansions.
iris lilies
2-12-20, 3:59pm
Even though I have a love/hate relationship with HGTV, there is one show that doesn't make me furious--it's the new show called Home Town. Have you seen it? They tend to focus on respectful renovations, and the houses are usually old homes, not cookie cutter McMansions.
Haven’t seen it. I should look for it since we now have cable TV in Hermann. I’ve never had cable except for the past few months. It’s funny that I don’t ever watch it
That house is so deceptive! From the front it looks petite, but then you see that there's actually a whole back half that isn't immediately visible from the front. Totally adorable although I would definitely go with a completely different decorating style. And I wonder about the practicality of a front door with no porch or weather protection whatsoever in NH.
iris lilies
2-13-20, 12:26am
That house is so deceptive! From the front it looks petite, but then you see that there's actually a whole back half that isn't immediately visible from the front. Totally adorable although I would definitely go with a completely different decorating style. And I wonder about the practicality of a front door with no porch or weather protection whatsoever in NH.
These capes don't have porches, that is common.I hadn't thought about it before you mentioned it but, yes, no porches.
happystuff
2-13-20, 7:41am
Love the area, but the house just isn't my style. Too big. Too much maintenance.
IL, I can see the appeal in that house. Those floors and bookcases! Screened in porch! But, the winter and it appears very isolated. If I could wiggle my nose to get there, it would be fun to have. Otherwise...way too far from everything.
Here is an example of the ridiculous prices in Fredericksburg TX:
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/405-W-San-Antonio-St_Fredericksburg_TX_78624_M80528-01582?view=qv
In another life I would move to Freedom,NH. Our friends live 5 miles and 13 miles away from this house I have been salivating over for weeks now. The width of the floorboards, and their beauty, make me weak in the knees. It is the oldest house in Freedom, according to the listing agent. We went thru Freedom last year.
How can you not love a town named Freedom?
House I Love
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/86-Moulton-Rd_Freedom_NH_03836_M30823-04483?view=qv
Beautiful house for someone else to own and maintain. Gorgeous bookcases! It must be pricey to heat in winter and keeping the windows clean will occupy a lot of time. Thank you for posting as the setting is gorgeous.
catherine
2-13-20, 12:26pm
Here is an example of the ridiculous prices in Fredericksburg TX:
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/405-W-San-Antonio-St_Fredericksburg_TX_78624_M80528-01582?view=qv
Are you kidding me?? Why so high? I could see that price for a very moderate fixer-upper in my old stomping grounds of Princeton, NJ, but Fredericksburg, TX? What am I missing here?
Are you kidding me?? Why so high? I could see that price for a very moderate fixer-upper in my old stomping grounds of Princeton, NJ, but Fredericksburg, TX? What am I missing here?
Those are Seattle/Portland level prices. Good grief.
Anything remotely close to Austin in a thriving location brings top dollar - many Californians moving there. It is making our hunt for a house very difficult as prices are going out our reach.
Teacher Terry
2-13-20, 1:46pm
Pinky toe, have you looked at condos? Was this near where you used to live? The East coast house is cute but you couldn’t pay me to live in a small town isolated with bad winters. Been there and done that. We have spent most of our winter with no snow and temperatures between 45-60. In 23 years we have only had what I consider 4 real winters.
My current town is considered cute and a nice place to visit. It's Belvidere, NJ. Old victorian town, with a green town square in the center. They have a Victorian Days weekend in the late summer with house tours and people dressed up and a vintage car show.
https://delawareriver.natgeotourism.com/content/belvidere-new-jersey-historic-district-belvidere-nj/delfe69b2a4c298c7e4d
Sadly many of the homes need so much upkeep that they are deteriorating or sitting empty.
gettingthere
5-18-20, 7:51pm
I'm a lurker dating back to the old forum (maybe around 2003/2004-I think I was dawn22 on there and an infrequent poster even then). I rarely post but I love to read what everyone else has to say. This is my small town on the coast of Maine. I love it so much that I just had to share! https://newengland.com/today/travel/maine/york/york-beach-maine-2/
Oh, thanks so much for that sharing! Lovely!
Teacher Terry
5-18-20, 8:05pm
Really beautiful! We took a New England cruise in the fall which was awesome! We saw a place that looked similar. We would definitely like to go back.
happystuff
5-18-20, 8:13pm
I love it!! Thanks for posting!
dado potato
5-18-20, 8:14pm
In Sauk Centre, MN, the nighthawks intercept the insects on summer nights over the downtown.
And the human population is lovable... Minnesota Nice Then.
I would add Sisters Oregon. Beautiful drive from the Valley to get there. All the buildings have the old west theme. Central Oregon is the gem area of the State of Oregon in my opinion. Tall Ponderosa pine trees, clear blue skies, and clean air. Sisters is near the lava flows of Central Oregon, lots of hiking, camping, or just a great place for people watching and lunch.
I'm a lurker dating back to the old forum (maybe around 2003/2004-I think I was dawn22 on there and an infrequent poster even then). I rarely post but I love to read what everyone else has to say. This is my small town on the coast of Maine. I love it so much that I just had to share! https://newengland.com/today/travel/maine/york/york-beach-maine-2/
What a beautiful town!! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for posting! I remember your username from the old days!
My current town is considered cute and a nice place to visit. It's Belvidere, NJ. Old victorian town, with a green town square in the center.
ponymom, as a 37-year NJ resident, I can attest to the lovely NJ towns on the Delaware. So many pretty ones--I've never been to Belvidere, but have frequently been to Stockton, Lambertville, Frenchtown, Washington Crossing, and of course, the sister towns across the Delaware in PA like New Hope
My favorite NJ town is Ocean Grove. And I do think my new town of Grand Isle is true to its slogan: "The Beauty Spot of Vermont."
I would add Sisters Oregon. Beautiful drive from the Valley to get there. All the buildings have the old west theme. Central Oregon is the gem area of the State of Oregon in my opinion. Tall Ponderosa pine trees, clear blue skies, and clean air. Sisters is near the lava flows of Central Oregon, lots of hiking, camping, or just a great place for people watching and lunch.
Sisters famously hosts a quilt show every year that gets great reviews. I've only briefly been to the Bend area; I'm more the coastal type myself.
catherine, I've been to all the NJ towns you mentioned and enjoyed them all. Stockton was a quick drive through but I remember it being really quaint and always wanted to go back. I feel so lucky to live and such a beautiful part of the state.
gettingthere, I LOVE Skee-Ball!!! I'd spend a fortune just playing all day.
happystuff
5-22-20, 9:06am
catherine, I've been to all the NJ towns you mentioned and enjoyed them all. Stockton was a quick drive through but I remember it being really quaint and always wanted to go back. I feel so lucky to live and such a beautiful part of the state.
gettingthere, I LOVE Skee-Ball!!! I'd spend a fortune just playing all day.
A lot of people think NJ is what they see when flying into Newark Airport, but there is still a good bit of farmland and country.
A lot of people think NJ is what they see when flying into Newark Airport, but there is still a good bit of farmland and country.
Thank you, happystuff. You are so right. There's LOTS of farmland and country. Go south and you have the Pine Barrens, and go north and you have the green hills and the beautiful, cute towns. When DH and I were looking in VT, we'd come home and go on drives and say "Why move to VT? We can just move to Hunterdon County and we'll feel like we're in Vermont!"
New Jersey gets a bad rap. I wasn't born there but spent more than half my life there, and it really is a great state overall.
Thank you, happystuff. You are so right. There's LOTS of farmland and country. Go south and you have the Pine Barrens, and go north and you have the green hills and the beautiful, cute towns. When DH and I were looking in VT, we'd come home and go on drives and say "Why move to VT? We can just move to Hunterdon County and we'll feel like we're in Vermont!"
New Jersey gets a bad rap. I wasn't born there but spent more than half my life there, and it really is a great state overall.
New Jersey is a beautiful state--I went to high school in Middletown, and in summers, I would drive over to the beach and take my dog swimming every day. We would go down to Asbury Park--it was still kind of desolate and haunted and there were Fatty Arbuckle film clips still in the antique film clip viewing machines--can't remember what they were called but they were very old.
catherine
5-22-20, 10:19am
New Jersey is a beautiful state--I went to high school in Middletown, and in summers, I would drive over to Sandy Hook and take my dog swimming every day. We would go down to Asbury Park--it was still kind of desolate and haunted and there were Fatty Arbuckle film clips still in the antique film clip viewing machines--can't remember what they were called but they were very old.
Ocean Grove (our "winter residence") is just a footbridge away from Asbury Park, as I'm sure you know! in the 2000s it started a great renaissance, which was put on hold by the recession in 2008. However, it's still percolating and it's really a great place to live now. I loved the cultural history, boardwalk, church we went to, and its walkability. I'm attaching a couple of pictures.
3222322332243225
Ocean Grove (our "winter residence") is just a footbridge away from Asbury Park, as I'm sure you know! in the 2000s it started a great renaissance, which was put on hold by the recession in 2008. However, it's still percolating and it's really a great place to live now. I loved the cultural history, boardwalk, church we went to, and its walkability. I'm attaching a couple of pictures.
3222322332243225
I love the wonder bar one!
catherine
5-22-20, 11:43am
I love the wonder bar one!
Yeah, that's an old vintage photo I took a picture of which was posted on a billboard on the boardwalk. DH and I ate there several times. We'd walk down to Wonderbar from church on Sunday and have a burger/veggie burger with fries for lunch. They were great!! And it was fun because they also had "Yappy Hour" for dogs--an area where the dogs could play on the weekend, so we would watch them and be vicarious dog owners for a while.
Asbury has a lot of charm, if you like that kind of charm.
happystuff
5-22-20, 1:42pm
Ocean Grove (our "winter residence") is just a footbridge away from Asbury Park, as I'm sure you know! in the 2000s it started a great renaissance, which was put on hold by the recession in 2008. However, it's still percolating and it's really a great place to live now. I loved the cultural history, boardwalk, church we went to, and its walkability.
People-watching on the boardwalk while eating ice cream. Ahhhhh.... summer!
Asbury Park is now an up-and-coming hot spot. It was a bit creepy and desolate for quite a long time but is now thriving, with a luxury hotel and restaurants and clubs. And, of course, The Stone Pony.
If NJ wasn't so expensive, more people would stay here.
Creepy and desolate was definitely its charm--like time had abandoned it.
iris lilies
5-23-20, 9:56am
Isnt NJ “the garden state?”So that implies a lot of nice topography.
Teacher Terry
5-23-20, 12:59pm
Love the East coast but not the weather or COL.
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