S/O: What is the most unexpectedly lovely U.S. town you’ve ever visited?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Portsmouth, NH
Spent 4 days there for work and was utterly charmed.

PP - please return and tell me what you loved doing/seeing there! Trip planned later this month, picked for geographic convenience between parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Custer, SD. I had the best veggie burger I ever ate there!

This area (we stayed in Rapid City) was going to be my answer as well. There was one strip of touristy-ness that we didn't love, but the area as a whole surprised us with how much we liked it. Custer State Park was an unexpected highlight.

By contrast, Deadwood SD is just the worst.

[Anonymous]

A town in Maine that I do not recall the name of but it was about halfway up the coast and the highway narrowed to two lanes through it — clearly a source of controversy given the number of Wider is not Always Wiser yard signs — and it had the best lobster rolls in our entire road trip around the Bay of Fundy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skaneateles, NY--I didn't love Syracuse so this was a pleasantly surprising side trip! Also Collingswood/Pennsauken/Cherry Hill area of NJ right outside of Philadelphia...I liked walking around Cooper River Lake and we had some good meals there.

And while they are cities and not towns, my spouse and I both had our expectations exceeded in Omaha, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City.

I have been to Skaneatles and I agree.

[Anonymous]

Bayfield, WI.

An odd one but hear me out: Las Vegas. When you get off the strip it is a hard working, dry-sense-of-humor town and probably the only place I’ve ever taken a public bus where numerous people will leap up to Give their seat to a pregnant woman or elderly person. Not just one person, but the whole bus. There’s a sense of community there unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. (Off the strip, which is a hellscape)

I also loved Providence, RI and their cheesy but so earnest Frank Sinatra knockoffs singing to you at dinner in the Italian neighborhoods. My heart swoons at my memories there.

[Anonymous]

Vero Beach, FL

[Anonymous]

Saratoga, NY
Quechee, VT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saratoga, NY
Quechee, VT

Wow, these are two places that I’ve spent a lot of time in as a visitor and as a nearby neighbor, and I’m happy and validated that you agree. I had the best sandwich of my life in Saratoga and after 2 days wished I had more time there. Quechee is tiny but every bit of it is just right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saratoga, NY
Quechee, VT

Wow, these are two places that I’ve spent a lot of time in as a visitor and as a nearby neighbor, and I’m happy and validated that you agree. I had the best sandwich of my life in Saratoga and after 2 days wished I had more time there. Quechee is tiny but every bit of it is just right.

Glad you approve!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birmingham, Alabama

Portland, Maine

Greendale, Wisconsin

St. Augustine, Florida

omg! That's where I grew up. Never thought I'd see it on DCUM. What brought you there?

We were a military family stationed in Milwaukee. Did a random drive one evening and found Greendale. We stopped at the old time ice cream shop, walked around downtown while the whole area was lit by thousands of fireflies. An absolutely storybook setting and our young kids were in awe.

[Anonymous]

Excellent topic! Congratulations OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A town in Maine that I do not recall the name of but it was about halfway up the coast and the highway narrowed to two lanes through it — clearly a source of controversy given the number of Wider is not Always Wiser yard signs — and it had the best lobster rolls in our entire road trip around the Bay of Fundy.

Wiscasset?

[Anonymous]

Pittsford, NY outside Rochester. I had spent some early years there as a kid with almost no memory of it. Went to Rochester for work and thought what the hey, I’ll go check it out. Omg it’s like this quintessential idyllic small town!! It’s so stinking adorable. The train, the bridge, the gazebo. It’s so cute!

[Anonymous]

Needham, Mass.

[Anonymous]

Solvang, CA