This Is The Most Charming Small Town In NH, New Report Says

NEW HAMPSHIRE — A new report in the travel magazine Afar has named the most charming small towns across the nation — and Sugar Hill is its pick for New Hampshire.

The magazine chose Sugar Hill because it gives visitors "a chance to ski—or relax—in a mountainous part of the northeast."

It's the perfect place to "take it slow," — maybe grab breakfast at Polly’s Pancake Parlor, which has been named an America’s Classic by the James Beard Foundation, before exploring the stretch of the western White Mountains, according to Afar.

The best time to visit the mountains is in June, "when the surrounding hills come alive with lupine and the wildflowers are celebrated with an annual festival," the report said.

If you're planning to stay the night, Afar suggests you check out the Butternut Lodge, "a three-bedroom cottage built in 1940 by Bette Davis, who spent summers here after falling for and marrying Peckett’s assistant manager Arthur Farnsworth."

Looking to pick up a delicious block of cheese? Afar has you covered there, too, suggesting a visit to Harman’s Cheese and Country Store in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, for its “beloved” white cheddar.

Other towns listed in the report include Hudson in New York, North Adams in Massachusetts, New Hope in Pennsylvania, and Los Olivos in California.

For the list, Afar said it defined a small town as a place with around 25,000 people or fewer. The pick for each state was chosen based on a unique attraction or characteristic to draw in visitors – whether it’s “singular streets or spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities,” according to Afar.

For example, the standout Maine small town, Belfast, was chosen for its “palpable hippie-meets-hipster energy,” while Waterbury, Vermont, got a nod for being the home of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory.

Meanwhile, ski towns (and ski-town "vibes") made several appearances on the list — including Whitefish in Montana and Leadville in Colorado, while Wyoming, Georgia, and South Carolina all featured towns with deep histories: Cody, Dahlonega, and Beaufort, respectively.

Read the full report in Afar.