America's Best Small Towns

Travel + Leisure names standout getaways for beaches, lakes, mountains

By John Johnson withNewser.AI

Posted Aug 22, 2026 2:06 PM CDT

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America's Best Small Towns — Mystic, Connecticut, is the best small town for food, according to a new ranking. (Getty/Jonalthan W. Cohen)

If your 2026 travel plans skew more Main Street than megacity, Travel + Leisure has a list of small towns it says are worth building a trip around. The magazine's latest "America's Best Small Towns" honorees span beaches, mountains, and even a newly added sports category. Highlights:

Best Small Beach Town: Pismo Beach, California
Best Small Food Town: Mystic, Connecticut
Best Small Mountain Town: Hood River, Oregon
Best Small Lake Town: Laconia, New Hampshire
Best Small Arts and Culture Town: Frenchtown, New Jersey
Best Small Spa and Wellness Town: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Best Small Sports Town: Kohler, Wisconsin

See the full list, along with why the winners were chosen.

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