'America's Favorite Small Towns To Visit' List Includes 3 Maryland Communities

MARYLAND — Three Maryland communities have made the list of America's favorite small towns to visit. FamilyDestinationsGuide.com surveyed 3,000 families to pinpoint the top 150 towns across the country where they'd like to vacation this year.

No. 1 happens to be the tiny village of Holualoa in Hawaii while No. 2 is Ely, Nevada.

Here are the three Maryland towns ranked and what their known for:

St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County ranked 61st on the list. Visitors to this quaint town can embark upon a boat tour of the harbor, enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking and hiking, and check out the Maryland Dove, a replica of the first ship to bring settlers to the area. St. Mary's features a colonial site, War of 1812 and Civil War sites, and four lighthouses.

Bel Air in Harford County made the list at 97th. The 98-acre Bel Air Arts and Entertainment District, one of 29 such designated districts in Maryland, offers concerts, art galleries, dance performances, theater for all ages, festivals and holiday cultural events. The public art tour begins with a two-mile, self-guided walk through downtown featuring images and descriptions of 23 sculptures and murals. The MA & PA Heritage Trail, a scenic walking and cycling path, winds through Bel Air. The trail follows along the old alignment of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad with a goal to preserve the memory of the historic rail transportation route from York to Baltimore.

Ellicott City in Howard County was ranked at 138th. The historic streets and architecture of Ellicott City are home to more than 70 boutiques and shops, art galleries, dining and more. Many historic structures still stand in Ellicott City, including the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, the oldest standing railroad station in the country. The Howard County Historical Society offers walking tours highlighting the landmarks of the 250-year-old mill town. Patapsco Valley State Park stretches for 32 miles and encompasses 16,043 acres with eight developed recreational areas, a great place to relax and unwind. Within the town sits what's fondly called Old Ellicott City, an historic district that's home to more than 80 one-of-a-kind small businesses. Clark's Elioak Farm, an historic farm, spans 540 acres in Ellicott City and shows how diverse the landscape this town happens to be.

See the full 150 Best Small Towns in America in 2023 list.