After a long week of work, there is no better way to recharge than to hit the road and head to a place where the busyness of life can be put aside, at least for a couple of days. Luckily, there are incredible small towns scattered across the country that offer up a heaping serving of charm, shopping, views, and family-friendly dining.
Let’s take a tour across the country to some of the best small towns to spend a weekend away. From quaint Pacific Northwest towns to ski towns sitting high above the deserts of the southwest to historic towns in the southeast, you are never far away from one of these incredible getaways.
Port Townsend, Washington
This Pacific Northwest maritime-focused town is the perfect distance from nearby Seattle for a weekend away, and getting there is half the fun! Visitors can either drive the long way around the Puget Sound or take the short ferry ride across the sound from Whidbey Island.
Once you arrive at this charming town, you’ll immediately be struck by the Victorian architecture that dominates the main street and the working boatyards that line the south end of downtown. Here, you will see historic wooden sailboats being meticulously restored and working fishing boats getting ready for the fishing season in Alaska and beyond.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is a popular destination for Portlanders looking to trade out city life for coastal charm or to just beat the heat that often settles in during the summer months.
This touristy spot is full of charming eateries, coffee shops, and all the usual tourist shops you’d expect in a busy seaside town. The real gem of the town, though, is the views along this stunning stretch of beach. Haystack Rock dominates the views as it rises up out of the ocean.
To the north of town, you can find Ecola State Park, which is home to numerous other beaches and hiking trails for when it’s time to get out and burn off all that clam chowder that is so irresistible on the Oregon coast.
Saugatuck, Michigan
Located less than 3 hours from both Detroit and Chicago, this destination on the shores of Lake Michigan has something for everyone looking to get away for a weekend.
With long sandy beaches, paddleboard and kayak-friendly waterways, and grassy dunes perfect for exploring, there is no shortage of things to keep you busy. And that isn’t even counting the cozy downtown that offers up antiquing, art galleries, and plenty of stops to stop in for a quick coffee or bite to eat.
Stowe, Vermont
There is perhaps no city in America that lives up to its reputation of how a town should look based on the state it is located in more than Stowe, Vermont. From the second you drive into the town, it screams idyllic Vermont town, from the church steeple to the foliage to the incredibly kind people who call this slice of heaven on earth home.
There is almost no bad time of year to visit Stowe (we say almost as there is a mud season.) During the winter, the town comes alive with skiers and snowboarders hitting the slopes. Summer in Vermont is the time to hit the trails and local rivers to cool down on those muggy summer afternoons. And, of course, fall is leaf-peeping season!
Don’t forget to make a stop at The Alchemist Brewery to grab a can or two of the world-famous Heady Topper.
Galena, Illinois
This historic midwestern town is the perfect place to wander through a quaint downtown to do some window shopping or head out and get your shoes a little dirty by taking an antique tractor driving or spoon carving class.
Galena has long been a day trip and weekend getaway destination for folks from all over the Midwest, and for good reason. You can spend the day brushing up on your history at the home of former president Ulysses S. Grant or head out to Thunder Bay Falls, where you can see one of the area’s few waterfalls.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Located at the doorstep of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is everything you would expect a coastal Maine town to be. A weekend away in this seaside town could include hiking the 100+ miles of trails in nearby Acadia National Park, paddling in Frenchman Bay, taking a boat tour around the neverending chains of islands off the coast, or just relaxing in town and enjoying one of the freshest lobster rolls you’ll ever eat!
Bisbee, Arizona
There is no shortage of touristy towns that love to tout their arts and culture, even though it doesn’t run any deeper than a few overpriced trinket shops scattered around downtown.
Bisbee, Arizona, on the other hand, is a place where art runs through its core. Perhaps it has to do with its remote location in the southern Arizona mountains, which tends to attract a certain type of person who chooses to call this place home.
From the hotels to the restaurants to the shops, the local art culture runs deep. You will meet the people every day who live here and create the paintings, sculptures, and jewelry that make this town special.
Sisters, Oregon
While nearby Bend, Oregon, frequently overshadows this small central Oregon town, there are still plenty of reasons to skip the crowds in Bend and spend a weekend in Sisters instead!
The city’s small downtown is filled with tasty eateries, art galleries, and shops, all housed in buildings with Old West-style facades. The real fun lies outside of town, though, as the town sits at the doorstep of the Three Sisters Wilderness, which has hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
There are also dozens of miles of mountain biking trails that leave right from town, as well as world-class fly fishing opportunities on the nearby Metolius River.
Cambria, California
This hamlet on the California coast is just far enough away from the hustle of the Bay Area and Los Angeles that it feels like you can finally take a deep breath and relax to the sounds of the ocean.
Located just south of Big Sur, this gorgeous stretch of coast is the perfect place to walk the beach and look for sea otters or whales that call this stretch of water home.
The town itself is known as a biking paradise, so ditch the car, hop on two wheels, and take a tour of the town. Be sure to stop for a slice of pie at Linn’s Easy as Pie Cafe. You’ve certainly earned it after all that biking!
Homer, Alaska
A weekend in Homer, Alaska can mean a lot of things. You can fish for halibut that will outweigh you. You can walk the Homer Spit, look for folksy Alaskan art, and eat some of the freshest fish tacos you’ll ever try. You can also take a water taxi to the remote community of Seldovia.
Or maybe even a little bit of everything. This small Alaskan town comes alive during the summer, but luckily, the days are long, and the nights are short, so there is plenty of time to fill your bucket with an endless supply of activities.
Who says that every weekend getaway needs to be relaxing?
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort lies at the halfway point between the popular southern cities of Charleston and Savannah and is the perfect place to sit back and relax on the beach or explore the protected waterways that surround this historic city.
With downtown hotels, cozy B&Bs, and waterfront homes for rent, you can turn a weekend in Beaufort into exactly the type of getaway you’re looking for.
Whatever you choose, be sure to walk through the historic downtown of this low country town that has been around since 1711 and is the second oldest in South Carolina.
Leavenworth, Washington
Who would have guessed that one of the most well-known Bavarian-style towns in the United States would be located high in the mountains of Washington state? It’s true, though, and it’s hard to appreciate just how beautiful this town is until you’ve had the chance to see it in person, especially around Christmas when the entire town is covered in lights.
There is no bad time to visit, though, as the town serves as a gateway to the nearby Enchantments region, which offers some of the best hiking in all of the Pacific Northwest.
Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham is one of the many towns located along Cape Cod but it is its location on the cape that adds a little something extra and makes it a perfect weekend getaway. Located on the southeastern corner the town is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, which means there is an unlimited supply of beaches, coves, and islands to explore.
Don’t miss the Chatham Lighthouse, Ship Skeleton, and Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge to get a sense of the history and wildlife that call this special place home.
Cedar Key, Florida
Seeing Key in the name of Cedar Key leads most folks to think this small Florida island lies among the chain of islands off the southern tip of the state. In reality, this quiet island sits just 50 miles southwest of Gainesville near the Florida panhandle.
The town is home to only 800 residents who were drawn to this artsy and adventurous community that sits 3 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico.
A trip to Cedar Key means staying in a home rental or condo, as there are no high rises on this island. It also means spending the days exploring the island by bike or golf cart rather than car and putting your feet in the sand at least once (but most likely many times!)
