America's 20 Most Charming Small Towns

Finding a captivating small town is easier said than done. Fortunately, America is home to a plethora of villages and towns certain to become the unexpected highlight of your summer getaway. Here's where to start.

Head to Leavenworth for a taste of Germany in the Pacific Northwest. This Bavarian-style village in Washington's Cascade Mountains is a little more than a two-hour drive east of Seattle and an ideal getaway for skiers and wine connoisseurs.

Another mountain town known for its ski slopes, Stowe oozes with small-town charm all four seasons. In the warmer months, the Alpine Ski Capital of the East even attracts couples looking to the tie the knot in front of picturesque mountains and forests.

You're guaranteed to find historic charm in Beaufort, South Carolina, beginning with the Federal-style John Mark Verdier House, which dates back to 1795. Visitors will also be pleased with Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. For arts, crafts, music and more entertainment, plan your trip during the Beaufort Water Festival July 13-22, 2018.

Dubbed America's Coolest Small Town, Berlin has a population under 5,000 but there are nearly as many good reasons why it's worth a visit. Located just outside of Ocean City, this charming town is home to one of the best breweries in the country in Burley Oak Brewing Company and delicious homemade ice cream from Island Creamery.

Jackson is a popular destination for skiing and wildlife as its a gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The elk-antler arches throughout Town Square are among its most notable charming qualities and visitors can secure luxe accommodations at either the Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa or Hotel Terra Jackson Hole.

You don't expect to find a booming arts hub in a town of fewer than 2,000 people but that's exactly what you'll find in Marfa, Texas, a thriving desert destination in between El Paso and San Antonio.

Part of Russia up until 1867, Sitka is a small town located near the Alaskan capital of Juneau. Situated on Baranof Island along the Pacific Ocean, the destination is most popular during the summer months but visitors will discover mild weather year-round.

This former mining town is a big hit with skiers because of its world-class slopes but it gets most of its charm from its history, which is preserved at the Breckenridge National Historic District, one of the largest in Colorado.

The Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum in the country and is easily the most iconic landmark in Connecticut. Travelers visiting in the summer will also stumble upon festivals and lively seasonal events.

Ketchum is located about two and a half hours east of Boise and adjacent to Idaho's Sun Valley. The town's motto-"Small town, big life"-says it all as the destination of under 3,000 residents attracts countless visitors who come to fish, hike, shop and more.

Galena sits near the banks of the Mississippi River roughly 90 minutes west of Rockford and three hours west of Chicago. The small town features charming buildings dating back to the 1800s as well as Horseshoe Mound, which boasts views of not one but three different states.

Visitors to Martha's Vineyard will want to make time for Edgartown. This small town of just over 4,000 was settled back in 1642 and has become a summer hotspot that charms tourists with its beaches, eye-popping Captain's Homes and history.

This New York village is synonymous with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. However, Cooperstown isn't just for baseball fans as it's also home to the Farmers' Museum and Fenimore Art Museum.

Nearly a two-hour drive north of Philadelphia, Jim Thorpe is named after the Native American sports legend and has obtained multiple nicknames as a result of its picturesque scenery, including "Switzerland of America" and "Gateway to the Poconos." Summertime visitors should also make the two-hour trip northwest to Eagles Mere, a borough of 120 residents known as "The Last Unspoiled Resort."

Abingdon is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains not far from the Virginia-Tennessee border between Nashville and Richmond. If Main Street doesn't charm tourists, the Creeper Trail and historic Barter Theatre will certainly do the trick.

Located on the edge of the Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia borders, Harpers Ferry is full of rich history and still wowing tourists with its 19th-century buildings and iconic Civil War sites.

Home to Custer State Park in the Black Hills, South Dakota's namesake town is an outdoor enthusiast's dream as visitors will not only spot wildlife but have opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and more.

Bristol ramps up the charm around the Fourth of July. This New England small town boasts the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day festivities in the country. The fun begins on Flag Day (June 14).

Located just over an hour east of Portland, Hood River is named for the nearby river and is yet another excellent starting point for outdoor activities thanks to its proximity to the Columbia River and Mount Hood.

With a population of just one (yes, you read that correctly), the village of Monowi, Nebraska practically belongs to its lone resident, Elsie Eiler. This literal small town is a little over a three-hour drive northwest of Omaha.