50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America

Southern authors like Rick Bragg and Fannie Flagg have made their homes in Fairhope, Alabama; look for their signed books at one of Alabama’s best bookstores, Page & Palette. This Mobile Bay town boasts its own French Quarter, and the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, named the state’s top hotel and top spa, is minutes away in Point Clear. Built in 1847, the historic hotel came under attack in the Civil War. It recently underwent a $32 million renovation and its two golf courses repeatedly make the list of Best Golf Resorts in America.

With a population of around 4,524, the small town of Unalaska, Alaska, is the perfect spot for a quiet getaway. It's starting to attract more visitors, however, as Viking, Windstar and other major cruise lines add it as a destination. Remote and beautiful, Unalaska is accessible only by plane or boat. Its attractions include whale watching, hiking and exploring World War II history at the Aleutian WWII Visitor Center and the Museum of the Aleutians.

This is it: the Winslow, Arizona, you heard about in the Eagles' song Take It Easy. Once a railroad stop on the "Mother Road," Route 66, Winslow is a popular stop with drivers and motorcyclists. La Posada Hotel, designed for the Santa Fe Railroad, still books guests into elegant rooms furnished with Zapotec rugs and Mexican tiles. Outdoor adventurers head north of town, to Homolovi State Park, to hike the trails and look for archaeological sites and Hopi petroglyphs.

Named one of a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a secluded, peaceful town in the heart of the Ozarks. Magnificent Victorian homes built on cliffsides line its winding streets, while its historic downtown area offers more than 100 shops and art galleries to explore.