HdG Among Top 50 Small Towns in America: Travel World

Havre de Grace has landed on another “top towns” list.

Travel World recently released its top 50 small towns in America, and Havre de Grace is 19. The only other Maryland town listed was Berlin, which was rated number one.

Earlier this year, Best Choice Reviews rated Havre de Grace 11th out of 50 best small downtowns to visit; and Smithsonian ranked HdG 12th among the top 20 small towns to visit in America in 2014.

In its new list, Travel World described Havre de Grace as a “scenic and beautiful small town on the largest estuary in the United States.”

At the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace attracts tourists to its lighthouse, museums and shops plus boaters and seafood lovers to its waterfront parks and restaurants.

What is your favorite thing about Havre de Grace? Tell us in the comments!

In addition to scoring points for beauty and waterfront access, Travel World noted the city’s national significance.

“Havre de Grace, situated at the top of Chesapeake Bay between New York and Washington, D.C., encompasses many layers of history,” according to the travel guide’s description of the city, which points out it was one vote away from being named the U.S. Capitol.

When former President Bill Clinton visited the city in 1995 for the 25th anniversary of Earth Day, he wove this piece of trivia into remarks about progress in the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay.

“I can’t help noting that in 1789 the Continental Congress almost made Havre de Grace our nation’s capitol,” Clinton said. “Now that I’m here, I see why it was a contender. And on the bad days in Washington, if it’s all the same to you, I may just come back here and set up shop.”

Citizens said they were happy that the Continental Congress did not choose Havre de Grace, because part of the city’s charm is the lack of traffic, according to WNEW, which also reported they love the city’s festivals.

On the Travel World list, Havre de Grace is number 19, sandwiched between number 18 Gustavus, Alaska, and number 20 Red Lodge, Mont.

See Also:

• Best Choice Reviews Ranks Havre de Grace Among Best Small Downtowns
• Havre de Grace Among ‘America’s 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014’: Smithsonian

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Janney.