# What are the little touristy towns in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981 "2011-03-17T00:30:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/21 "2011-03-17T02:41:27Z")
Door County, WI. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/22 "2011-03-17T02:42:03Z")
Definitely not Napa, but go up the valley to St. Helena or Calistoga, and you definitely have your small tourist towns. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/23 "2011-03-17T02:42:09Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Ashland, OR > > Mostly a ski town though. It does have a few shops downtown. Also has a college. Pretty relaxed, and relatively close to Crater Lake NP, which, IMHO is worth a trip of any distance. Hood River, OR is a really great little town, too. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/24 "2011-03-17T02:46:59Z")
[Grand Marais, MN.](http://www.grandmarais.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Tortuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Tortuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tortuga)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/25 "2011-03-17T02:47:46Z")
I wouldn’t call it a treasure, but Tombstone AZ is definitely a touristy town. Pretty much all it is and covered in a few hours. The sunsets in southern AZ are gorgeous though, and if you drive up to Gleeson you can stop at the rattlesnake trailer. When the wind blows through all the junk they’ve collected, out in the middle of nowhere, it’s a lovely eery lonely sound. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/26 "2011-03-17T02:49:20Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > Santa Barbara, perhaps. I wouldn’t call it quaint though. But it is fairly small, and it is very touristy. Santa Barbara is like ten times too big for the OP’s requirements. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/27 "2011-03-17T02:55:45Z")
Oh, right, I didn’t notice the specification of 10K population-- Bozeman is somewhat over that. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/28 "2011-03-17T02:58:49Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > A lot of tourists pass through, but I’m not sure I’d call Barstow a “touristy” place. If you were so inclined, you could hit all of the attractions(?) in half a day, tops. There’s nothing to stick around for once you’ve gotten gas or something to eat. That was sort of my point- most of the town (at least from what I’ve seen) is based around people stopping off for petrol, food, and a chance to stretch their legs. There was (at least IMHO) a pretty cool “bazaar” (for want of a better term) at the bus station there which seemed to do pretty well from transiting visitors, too. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/29 "2011-03-17T03:03:28Z")
I’m going to nominate Carmel-by-the-Sea (to give it its full name), California. It might be a little bigger than the proposed limit, but it is so precious I think it should be allowed in anyway. There is little to do in the town itself except walk around and look at the pretty shops, or eat lunch. There is the beach, too. Nearby is Pebble Beach, the 49-mile drive, Monterey and other interesting things. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/30 "2011-03-17T03:39:11Z")
[Ouray, CO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouray,_Colorado), population 877, and [Silverton, CO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverton,_Colorado), population 531, except when the [D&SNG](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad) trains are in town. 😉 Ouray is known as “The Switzerland of America” and is home to the [Camp Bird Mine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bird_Mine), which provided Evalyn Walsh McLean the cash to buy the Hope Diamond. You can continue on to [Durango, CO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durango,_Colorado), which is definitely “touristy”, but too large for the list. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/31 "2011-03-17T03:50:05Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > Santa Barbara, perhaps. I wouldn’t call it quaint though. But it is fairly small, and it is very touristy. The OP called for populations less than 10k. There are over 75k people in Santa Barbara proper and over 150k in Santa Barbara/Goleta/Montecito. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/32 "2011-03-17T03:57:18Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > Definitely not Napa, but go up the valley to St. Helena or Calistoga, and you definitely have your small tourist towns. Or Healdsburg, which is the cutest little town in the area IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Sakuma\_Drops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sakuma\_Drops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sakuma_Drops)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/33 "2011-03-17T04:14:37Z")
A few nice little towns in my state: ~ [Blowing Rock, NC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowing_Rock,_NC) ~ [Ocracoke, NC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocracoke,_North_Carolina) (kinda hard to get to but well worth it, IMO) ~ [Pinehurst, NC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinehurst,_NC) (only if you’re into golf, although there are some nice restaurants and such) ~ [Bald Head Island, NC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Head_Island) (like Ocracoke, it takes some effort to get there but it’s GORGEOUS) Also, I don’t know if this would fit your population criterion, but one of my favorite small “towns” in North Carolina is [Old Salem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Salem), a sort of small-town-within-a-city that comprises a pre-Revolutionary Moravian settlement that was later absorbed into the larger city now known as Winston-Salem. There are several restored buildings now open to the public for tours; the Old Salem district is reminiscent of Colonial Williamsburg but not as heavily commercialized, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/34 "2011-03-17T04:33:44Z")
Luckenbach, TX - home of country music festivals and concerts, but the “town” itself has a population of about 9. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/35 "2011-03-17T04:34:23Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The OP called for populations less than 10k. There are over 75k people in Santa Barbara proper and over 150k in Santa Barbara/Goleta/Montecito. And, of course, **Radical Pi** lives here so they knew that. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/36 "2011-03-17T04:36:41Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > Hood River, OR is a really great little town, too. Seconded. And for any fans of the TV show “Northern Exposure,” Roslyn, WA is worth a visit. ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/37 "2011-03-17T05:37:04Z")
Santa Barbara is too big, but “weird little towns in the US that have a tourist economy” describes Solvang pretty well. It’s like you suddenly arrived in some weird Disneyland Denmark. Other places outside of Santa Barbara are Buellton and Santa Ynez. I’m sure Buellton has less than 10,000 people, and it split pea soup that apparently lots of people go to. Santa Ynez is also tiny and has tons of wineries nearby, making good Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. There’s also Solvang, the Danish town. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/38 "2011-03-17T06:34:48Z")
Yes! Door County, WI and Solvang, Ca. Ojai, CA Cave-in-Rock, IL Bar Harbor, ME ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/39 "2011-03-17T07:35:28Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Ashland, OR > > Mostly a ski town though. It does have a few shops downtown. Also has a college. Pretty relaxed, and relatively close to Crater Lake NP, which, IMHO is worth a trip of any distance. Well, don’t forget the Shakespeare Festival. And the disgusting lithium water. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/40 "2011-03-17T08:01:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > And, of course, **Radical Pi** lives here so they knew that. I did. What I did not know was the 10,000 population limit. My apologies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981.md?page=3)