One Of The 31 Most Beautiful Small Towns In US Is In CA

If you’re looking for a getaway in an idyllic small town, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a good option, according to a guide that highlights locations from coast to coast that offer charm, friendly residents, and walkable downtown areas lined with mom-and-pop shops.

Condé Nast Traveler said its Most Beautiful Small Towns list offers travelers a slower pace without teeming crowds and “put any Hallmark rom-com setting to shame.”

“And these towns aren’t just great for the people who live there — they’re also standout travel destinations with plenty of things to do,” the publication said, noting there are plenty of quaint hotels for days-long stays. With a delightfully favorable ratio of restaurants to residents, “you may never want to leave,” Condé Nast said.

At first glance, Carmel-by-the-Sea resembles a city out of a fairy tale due to its cottages, greenery and nearby beaches. For more than 100 years, this town had no street addresses, although that may soon change.

It's become a tourist hotspot in the last decade or so, according to Condé Nast, but it remains "one of the most beautiful small towns in America."

The 31 towns on the list are:

• Woodstock, Vermont
• Magnolia Springs, Alabama
• Camden, Maine
• Jekyll Island, Georgia
• Jackson, Wyoming
• Paia, Hawaii
• Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
• Beaufort, South Carolina
• Cannon Beach, Oregon
• Rockport, Massachusetts
• Gatlinburg, Tennessee
• Whitefish, Montana
• Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Ketchikan, Alaska
• Lake Placid, New York
• Sedona, Arizona
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Taos, New Mexico
• Mackinac, Michigan
• Snowmass Village, Colorado
• Friday Harbor, Washington
• St. Augustine, Florida
• Hudson, New York
• Block Island, Rhode Island
• Eureka Springs, Arkansas
• Lewes, Delaware
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Deadwood, South Dakota
• St. Michaels, Maryland
• Montpelier, Vermont