It’s not my cup of tea because I don’t really like “quaint” and am not too interested in antiques or “arts and crafts,” but you may like Hardy, Arkansas. Many of my Arkanss-Missouri acquaintances make special trips to this small community in northern Arkansas on a regular basis.
Here’s an encyclopedia entry:
Here’s a descriptin from www.mainstreethardy.com:
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Our area’s beautiful spring fed rivers, natural surroundings, and shops offer many unique items and crafts from local artisans. Time seems to move slower up in the hills as you glide a canoe through the cool spring river water, cast your fishing rod towards a trophy trout, or just sit back and relax while sitting on one of the many benches along the covered sidewalks on Main Street. The shop owners always are happy to have visitor’s stop in and shop. We appreciate you and welcome you to Hardy, Ar.
We hope you and your family will make plans to pause here in our wonderful town and enjoy a stay with us. Whether you’re parking your camper on the banks of the Spring river, cooking at a riverside cabin, or relaxing in a area Inn, you’ll feel your worries slip away as you press your own pause button and enjoy the peaceful tranquility of our home town Hardy Arkansas.*
I will attest that there are many shops, some nice scenery, and that the people generally seemed friendly. And the population is definitely under 10,000.
Tons of outdoor activities, a small shopping district downtown, lots of wildlife, quaint B&Bs, population 2,300. There isn’t a traffic light in the whole county, and the town is surrounded by National Forest, wilderness areas, and BLM land. The drive from Red Lodge to the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park is the Beartooth Scenic Highway (amazing drive).
I second Ojai, CA. I grew up there, and it’s a neat little town (and very beautiful) especially if you like artsy-craftsy stuff, quaint little shops, rich hippie stuff, and oak trees. It also has the world’s largest open-air bookstore, a world-famous tennis tournament and jazz festival, it’s the former home of the artist who was the inspiration for Rose in “Titanic,” and tons of celebrities either do or did live there (my mom used to tell me all the time about how she saw Larry Hagman or Michael Caine or somebody at the local market).
They also filmed “Easy A” there, mostly at my old high school.
Oh, and the Pink Moment, which really has to be experienced to get the full effect.
Tons of outdoor activities, a small shopping district downtown, lots of wildlife, quaint B&Bs, population 2,300. There isn’t a traffic light in the whole county, and the town is surrounded by National Forest, wilderness areas, and BLM land. The drive from Red Lodge to the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park is the Beartooth Scenic Highway (amazing drive).
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Not to mention the world’s best onion rings at the Red Box Car Drive-In!
Ferndale, California. Nearly the entire town consists of Victorian style buildings. It consists of a main street about 6 blocks long. That six blocks has some unique stores, and a couple of great resturants. It lies on the south side of the Eel River valley, and is about 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by dairy lands and redwood forests.
I’m not a big onion ring fan, but I do love their burgers and shakes. Especially in that outdoor patio area by the creek. Must be careful there, though. A bear wandered across the road while my daughter was eating on the patio.
