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

PENNSYLVANIA — A new report in the travel magazine Afar has named the most charming small towns across the nation — and New Hope is its pick for Pennsylvania.

The magazine chose New Hope for "its history, steeped with a flair for drama."

Visitors to New Hope were encouraged to catch a show at the famous Bucks County Playhouse, which is housed in an 18th-century grist mill that was rescued from demolition and has attracted performers like Grace Kelly, Liza Minelli, and Robert Redford.

"Everything here comes with a backstory, like the Oldestone Steakhouse, in a converted 1872 stone church with a 20-foot-by-40-foot mural of St. George slaying the dragon," the report said. "Elsewhere around this walkable colonial town, you can taste cognac-barrel-aged ciders at Manoff Market Gardens and Cidery and blackberry wine at New Hope Winery, take a stroll through the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, or hop aboard the New Hope Railroad, a historic locomotive that takes riders through the bucolic Bucks County countryside."

History buffs can even take a trip to the site where Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day in 1776.

Other towns listed in the report include Hudson in New York, North Adams in Massachusetts, 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.

Looking to pick up a delicious block of cheese? The list 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.

Read the full report in Afar.