It’s Official: These Are The 10 Coolest Small Towns In America

America’s big cities get plenty of love, but what about its small towns? Lonely Planet‘s sister site Budget Travel scours the country each year to put together the official list of the 10 Coolest Small Towns in America, and the 2019 results have dropped just in time for your next US road trip.

This year, the United States‘ coolest towns include overlooked vacation spots and famous destinations that never fail to draw a crowd. A coastal town in California that’s been the setting for so many movies and TV shows that you’ll probably recognise it even if you’ve never been there makes the list, as does a Texas town built around a forest of rare pine trees and a small town where you can go dog sledding.

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But what is it that makes a town “cool”?

“We believe that it’s cool to reflect the principles upon which the United States was founded, including cultural and ethnic diversity, the free exchange of creative ideas, and an entrepreneurial spirit that lifts all citizens in a community,” said Budget Travel.

They go on to say that all the small towns on the 2019 list are places that celebrate a diversity of visitors including LGBTIQ travellers, live in harmony with nature, boast a vibrant social scene with cutting-edge cuisine and a community spirit that makes visitors feel like friends.

Here are the 10 coolest small towns in America according to Budget Travel:

#1 Provincetown, Massachusetts

 

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#2 Pacific Grove, California

 

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#3 Park City, Utah

 

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#4 Saranac Lake, New York

 

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#5 Milledgeville, Georgia

 

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#6 Bastrop, Texas

 

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#7 Lanesboro, Minnesota

 

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#8 Seward, Alaska

 

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#9 Fulton, Missouri

 

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#10 Bath, Maine

 

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Read the full list at Budget Travel here.

Check out Qantas flights to begin your next adventure.

(Lead image: Alexander Demyanenko / Shutterstock)