Looking for that next small town getaway?
Smithsonian shared a list of 15 towns that ooze charm, and two New England towns made the cut! For coastal charm, the island town just 7 miles off the mainland, Edgartown, was featured as a must-visit small town this year! Edgartown, located on Martha’s Vineyard, has a population of just 752, but in the summer, with nearly 100,000 island visitors at any given time, the town comes alive.
Take a stroll to the Edgartown Harbor Light, a working beacon that’s one of five lighthouses on the island, or relax at one of several local beaches. The sandy, shallow waters of State Beach are perfect for families, while South Beach is ideal for body surfing. Rent a bike and enjoy the six-mile ride to Oak Bluffs and its famous gingerbread houses, and don’t miss the Edgartown Village Market, Tuesdays throughout summer, for produce, flowers and handmade artisanal goods like nautical bracelets and pottery, notes Smithsonian Magazine.
According to the publication, the destinations listed below are the top 15 small towns to visit nationwide in 2025:
- Chincoteague, Virginia
- Berea, Kentucky
- Pacific Grove, California
- Edgartown, Massachusetts
- Lockhart, Texas
- Ticonderoga, New York
- Milledgeville, Georgia
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Tieton, Washington
- Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
- Washington, Connecticut
- Vicksburg, Mississippi
- Winterset, Iowa
- Red Lodge, Montana
The publication also noted Washington, Connecticut as one of the top towns to visit this year. The same town that inspired the fictional town of Stars Hollow as depicted in the hit show, Gilmore Girls.