# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/61 "2011-03-17T20:19:02Z")
If you’re thinking anywhere in MO, I’d recommend Hermann, MO. It’s a little German town with a great winery and brewery and some interesting sights. Due to it being in a fairly secluded area with land best suited for growing grapes, it has held fairly true to it’s German roots. They have a great Oktoberfest celebration, but Maifest is better, IMO. Plus, it usually coincides with the tours of the gardens that are normally private. They’re only open to the public during the end of May or beginning of June. Branson is just too overrated, and while it can be fun, the traffic makes it a mostly miserable experience. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/62 "2011-03-17T20:23:25Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Door County, WI. Not a town. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/63 "2011-03-17T20:25:58Z")
[Avalon, CA on Catalina Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon,_Ca). It’s a ferry ride from a couple of ports in the LA area. Shopping, eating, hiking and camping are prevalant. Very few people actually live there. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/64 "2011-03-17T20:28:45Z")
I’d like to vote for [Jerome, Arizona.](http://www.azjerome.com/) Lovely place to visit and great scenery. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/65 "2011-03-17T22:15:40Z")
In Newark, Ohio, you could see this [building](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newark-ohio-longaberger-headquarters-front.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/66 "2011-03-17T22:26:33Z")
I second Lake George, NY. There are a myriad things to do in and around this great little town. Check out what it has to offer at [The Free George](http://thefreegeorge.com/)! ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/67 "2011-03-17T22:28:40Z")
Since someone took Fredericksburg, I’ll point out another tourist towns near Austin - [Salado](http://www.salado.com/) I was going to choose New Braunfels as well, but it’s well over the population limit, and is close enough to both Austin and San Antonio that it probably is more of a bedroom community. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/68 "2011-03-17T22:35:33Z")
[Sun Valley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Valley,_Idaho)/Ketchum Idaho - Kind of spendy, but very scenic, good microbrew, and of course the skiing is unbeatable. And a second for Durango/Silverton Colorado, and the D&SNG. That little cliff-hanging train and vintage locomotives and equipment is a world-class ride. SS ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/69 "2011-03-17T22:57:36Z")
More from VA: Tangier Island. You can’t even get there by car - it’s an island and there are no bridges, and none of the ferries carry cars. ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/70 "2011-03-17T22:59:17Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > [Wisconsin Dells, WI](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Dells,_Wisconsin) is like a wet Las Vegas for families with tons of water parks. > > [Mackinac Island, MI](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Island) is an island city set back in time with its carless streets. > > What other little treasures am I missing? If you’re going to be going from Mackinac Island to the Wisconsin Dells (or from the WD to Mackinac) you should stop by [Felch, MI](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=felch,+mi&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Felch,+MI&gl=us&ei=RZGCTYTlO4mEtgfvppnEBA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ8gEwAA) just to say you were there. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/71 "2011-03-17T23:02:48Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Savannah, GA > Sedona, AZ > Jackson, WY > Napa, CA Savannah has a population of 136000 and is the 4th largest city in Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/72 "2011-03-17T23:30:59Z")
There are innumerable little towns in California that cater to the tourist trade. Some of my favorites to visit have already been mentioned, like Healdsburg and Carmel. [Calistoga, CA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calistoga,_California) has a population of around ~5500 and is the main town at the far northern end of the Napa Valley. It has numerous hot springs and some of my favorite wineries, including [Chateau Montelena.](http://www.montelena.com/) [Mendocino, CA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendocino,_California) may have been mentioned already, as the exterior visuals setting for the T.V. show “Murder She Wrote.” It is on the coast, about ~3 hours from San Francisco. The Anderson Valley near it has some of California’s finest white wines and Pinot Noirs. [Navarro](http://www.navarrowine.com/main.php) is a must visit, if you like white wine. Anderson Valley Brewing Company is pretty tasty too. I don’t know if anyone still speaks [Boontling](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boontling) in Boonville. Marin and Sonoma Counties are lousy with little towns like Inverness, Tomales Bay, and Bolinas that are both indescribably pretty and have many things to do, such as kayak, dine on local oysters and cheeses, or bike ride in the bucolic hills. Bolinas is supposed to be rather unfriendly to tourists, but I didn’t have any issues when I drove through some 10 years ago. Finally, the Eastern Sierra along highway 395, can look like a beer commercial. You know, the ones with impossibly high mountain peaks covered in snow, with rushing icy streams as cold as the beer they’re shilling? I like [Bishop, CA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop,_Ca) as a less expensive way to explore many of the trout streams (though [Bridgeport, CA](http://www.bridgeportcalifornia.com/) is supposed to be better for that), trails, and sights like the [Bristlecone Pine Forest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Bristlecone_Pine_Forest),[Devils Postpile](http://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm), [Mammoth Mountain](http://www.mammothmountain.com/), and [Mono Lake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_Lake). Plus, if you get bored with all that, drive over Tioga Pass into Yosemite. Should you go to Bishop, [Mahogany Smoked Meats](http://www.smokedmeats.com/) is well worth a stop, if you are[a jerky fan](http://www.yelp.com/biz/mahogany-smoked-meats-bishop-2). [Schaat’s Bakery](http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/) is also a delicious place to stop, if you’re in the area. If you’re an airplane buff,[Mojave, CA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave,_California) has 3800 people, and a very large collection of aerospace companies/military bases. Edwards Air Force Base gives tours from time to time, [information here.](http://www.edwards.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=812) Really though, you could write books on the touristy small towns in just one section of California. It just depends on what you’re interested in doing. ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/73 "2011-03-17T23:42:50Z")
[Long Beach, WA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach,_Washington) Miles of beach, though not as obnoxiously full of people like Seaside or Cannon Beach. Lots of weird and wonderful little shops. On Memorial Day weekend, the entire peninsula, all 20 miles of it, has a garage sale. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/74 "2011-03-17T23:46:28Z")
Another one in Michigan - [Frankenmuth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenmuth,_Michigan) population ~5K, home of [Bronner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronner%27s_CHRISTmas_Wonderland)’s and [Zehnder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zehnder%27s)’s (for chicken)! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/75 "2011-03-17T23:55:07Z")
Hot Springs Arkansas is known for the hot springs bath houses. Downtown is a national park with historic buildings. There’s a tour of the area in special buses that also go into the water. The tour is very popular with tourists. [http://www.hotsprings.org/group\_tours/sample\_itineraries/default.aspx](http://www.hotsprings.org/group_tours/sample_itineraries/default.aspx) If you’re planning a car trip, you can include Eureka Springs AR too. two stops for you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/76 "2011-03-18T01:04:39Z")
[Ocean City, MD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_City,_Maryland) [Waveland, MS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveland,_Mississippi) [Ogden Dunes, IN](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogden_Dunes,_Indiana) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/77 "2011-03-18T01:12:28Z")
> [@SylverOne](#): > > [Long Beach, WA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach,_Washington)…Lots of weird and wonderful little shops. No trip to Long Beach would be complete without a visit to [Marsh’s Free Museum](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2973) to see Jake The Alligator Man! ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/78 "2011-03-18T01:33:39Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > No trip to Long Beach would be complete without a visit to [Marsh’s Free Museum](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2973) to see Jake The Alligator Man! Very true! I visit everytime I go out there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/79 "2011-03-18T04:03:36Z")
> [@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. > [@Reply](#): > > Well, don’t forget the Shakespeare Festival. And the disgusting lithium water. Posting from Ashland at the moment: Ski town? I mean, Mt. Ashland is right here, and it does have skiing, but this is not a ski resort town by any stretch of the imagination. It’s little, touristy, and cute (though it’s also about 25,000 people) and the Shakespeare Festival and the college kind of dominate the town. And getting unsuspecting tourists to drink the water is a regular pastime. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981/80 "2011-03-18T16:14:45Z")
I haven’t been there in more than 15 years, and don’t know the population, but Iowa’s [Amana Colonies](http://amanacolonies.com/) are certainly chock-full o’ cute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-touristy-towns-in-the-us/574981.md?page=5)