US Small Towns With Massive Summer Appeal

While multitudes of Americans are hitting the road this summer in pursuit of their long-awaited, post-pandemic escapes, finding the right destination can be challenging. After being homebound for 15 months, people are compelled to experience the great outdoors, resulting in record visitor volumes and long wait times at popular national parks.

If crowding is already a problem in the nation's signature wide-open spaces, where can travelers in search of a relaxing, low-key summer getaway set their sights? Any of the following unique U.S. small towns might fit the bill, each offering its own special charms, as well as incredible access to its unique set of natural surroundings.

A city unto itself, Sanibel Island is just situated off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico, only a short drive from Fort Myers and conveniently connected to the mainland via causeway. It's best known for its incredible shell beaches, which residents and visitors comb routinely in search of the finest specimens, adopting a half-bent posture that's come to be called the "Sanibel Stoop". Luckily, nearly all of the island's coastline consists of beaches, which even extend onto the causeway, where you'll find folks fishing and windsurfing.

This spot is an ideal choice for pretty much any type of vacation, whether it's a family trip, romantic getaway, an eco-adventure, or merely an escape from the hustle and bustle. More than half of the island is made up of wildlife refuges, the largest being the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to local shops, restaurants and galleries, the island is home to the famous Sanibel Lighthouse, which sits adjacent to a fishing pier and nature trails; the Sanibel Historical Village and Heritage Trail; museums; theatres; and wildlife conservation and rehabilitation facilities.

Population: 7,401 (2019)

Estes Park in northern Colorado is a quintessential mountain town that's surrounded by the Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest, and serves as a base for visitors to both. It sits 70 miles (a roughly 90-minute drive) from Denver and is known for its unique wilderness activities among the forests, tundra and craggy hillsides of the surrounding terrain. Plenty of guided tours and excursions are available, including Jeep tours, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and more. Popular summertime activities include camping, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, ATVing, dirtbiking, fishing and various water sports. Nestled amid protected lands, Estes Park sees a wide variety of native wildlife, such as elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats and rare Canadian lynxes, as well as a range of smaller critters and over 280 species of bird.

Estes Park's downtown area has welcomed visitors, who were lured by the breathtaking scenery and crisp mountain air, since the early 1900s. Big Thompson River and Fall River wind the heart of the village, and its Riverwalk provides an opportunity to browse the shops, galleries, artists' studios, restaurants, small businesses and unique attractions within the town's central hub.

Situated along Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County, the seaside village of Cambria sits midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The relatively remote coastal town is surrounded by the rocky cliffs and beaches characteristic of California's Central Coast region, and is set amid a grove of Monterey pines that exist in only three such native forests.

Located just six miles south of the famed Hearst Castle, this small town prides itself on offering exclusively boutique lodging with no chain hotels. Its Pacific coastal setting provides a haven for marine life, including whales, dolphins, seals and sea otters. There's even a Northern Elephant Seal rookery nearby. On the beach, natural tide pools offer opportunities to see smaller marine species like starfish, sea anemones, sea urchins, crabs and snails. Wildlife and nature enthusiasts can walk a trail through Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, which protects 437 acres of native forest, riparian habitat, and grasslands that provide refuge for native birds and endangered species.

Friday Harbor is considered the gateway to the San Juan Islands, a small cluster of islands just off the northwestern coast of Washington state. Friday Harbor is located on San Juan Island and remains the only incorporated town in the archipelago. Just one square mile in size, this historic town is the island's walkable commercial and social hub, filled with small businesses, retail shops and restaurants. The charming destination is visitor-, family- and dog-friendly, and virtually everything is within walking distance of the seaport. There are shuttles and trollies when pedestrians want to get off their feet, as well as bike, three-wheeled Scootcoupe and moped rentals available. From here, you can also hop aboard an inter-island ferry to visit neighboring Lopez, Orcas and Shaw Islands.

Population: 2,426 (2019)

Catalina Island's only incorporated city and home to one of two ferry landings delivering folks from mainland California, Avalon wraps around the lovely Avalon Bay on the island's southeastern end. A plethora of land and sea excursions are offered here, as well as in the neighboring town of Two Harbors. Favorites include backcountry tours in biofuel Hummers, expeditions to see Catalina's world-famous bison herds, zipline tours and aerial-walk ropes courses among the treetops, and glass-bottomed boat tours.

If you prefer going your own way, you can always hike or backpack along the Trans-Catalina trail, or rent watersports equipment and enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or scuba diving. Besides the Island's shopping and dining venues, other destination highlights include the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi, the Catalina Island Museum, Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens and the Catalina Casino.

Population: 3,731 (2019)

Located on Mount Desert Island along Maine's Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor serves as the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor has long been a haven for summer vacationers for over 200 years. In the 1800's, the wealthiest Americans, industrialists and robber barons began building their grand "summer cottages" here and architecture dating back to the Golden Age can be seen throughout the downtown area.

Acadia National Park can be accessed right from Bar Harbor's historic downtown, including one of the park's most celebrated features, Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard. Bar Harbor is also the shopping, dining and nightlife hub of the island, and the Eastern Seaboard's second-largest behind Long Island. In the quieter parts, you'll find cafés, galleries, artisan shops, and working waterfronts where families continue the tradition of fishing and lobstering.

Population: 5,611 (2019)

Called the jewel in New Jersey's crown, Cape May is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations and has been welcoming visitors since the mid-18th century. The entire city has been designated the 'Cape May Historic District', and owes its National Historic Landmark status to its vast number and concentration of Victorian-era buildings. Situated at the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May boasts pristine beaches, picturesque architecture and a bustling promenade filled with all sorts of boutique businesses. In this small city, walking or biking are the preferred forms of transportation, and there are activities for everyone, from sunbathing, swimming, watersports, hiking and wildlife viewing to visiting nearby vineyards, the fine arts museum or county zoo.

Population: 3,463 (2019)

Another National Landmark and ideal vacation spot that's been welcoming tourists for centuries is Mackinac Island, The Jewel of the Great Lakes, located on Lake Huron. The leisurely pace of life can be partly attributed to the fact that the Island has always been automobile-free, preferring to stick with the steadfast horse and carriage. The nostalgic ambience is also preserved through the deliberate absence of chain hotels, with boutique, family-owned and award-winning properties providing unique guest accommodations. The Island's famous Grand Hotel dates from 1887 and still offers the hospitality and charm of a bygone era, including Tea Parlor service, a Tea Garden with croquet and bocce, and nightly dining and dancing to the sounds of the Grand Hotel Orchestra. It boasts in own golf course, swimming pool and stables, as well as the world's longest porch, which provides spectacular views over the Straits of Mackinac.

Population: 1,072 (2019)

Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina Lowcountry's coastal Sea Islands. Beaufort stands out for both its scenic beauty and its well-preserved antebellum mansions. Chartered in 1711, it is the state's second-oldest city behind Charleston and remnants of the original English colonial settlement can be seen in the downtown historic district, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark in its entirety.

Beautiful beaches, balmy temperatures, salty sea breezes, shady oak trees, fresh seafood and incredible local cuisine are just a few of what draws visitors to this harbor town; as well as some of the South's most unique and lovely bed-and-breakfasts, inns, hotels and restaurants.

Considered one of America's most charming art towns, Beaufort is full of artists and artisans, with the downtown area boasting a number of galleries and museums. Those looking for outdoor activities won't find the area wanting, with plenty of opportunities for running or biking the trails; boating, fishing and watersports; golfing; or maybe taking a photo safari, or biplane, river or dolphin tour.

Population: 13,404 (2019)

Another small town dating back to the colonial era that has kept much of its historic integrity and charm is Essex, Connecticut, which actually consists of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook and Ivoryton. With plenty of seasonal events and a parade for every holiday (even Groundhog Day), this little harbor town has a lot to share. It also takes great pride in its history as one of the few American towns to have sustained an attack by a foreign power (that being the British during the War of 1812) and there's an annual parade to commemorate that occasion, too.

Visitors to Essex can spend a day sailing the Connecticut River aboard a historic wooden schooner or on an eagle boat tour, or rent a kayak or canoe to explore the local coves. Choose from virtually any type of water activity, from paddleboarding to river tubing or seeking out a swimming hole. Popular attractions include the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, which can take you aboard a vintage steam train or riverboat cruise aboard an authentic paddlewheeler called the Becky Thatcher. Museums include the Connecticut River Museum, Florence Griswold Museum, Railroad Museum of New England, and many more. You'll also find art museums and a performing arts theatre that's housed in building that's also a National Historic Site.