If you drive an hour north of Seattle and take a right at exit 208, you’ll find yourself in a small town called Arlington. I grew up there. Most of my relatives owned dairy farms and we drank fresh milk served from metal jugs at dinner. When I was young, I didn’t know how lucky I was to live in a community where I ran into someone I knew whenever I walked down the street. I didn’t have the life experience to fully appreciate the views of the Cascade Range or family picnics along the Stillaguamish River. If you’d asked me, I would’ve told you’d I prefer to live somewhere with chain restaurants like McDonald’s instead of our local hamburger joint, Rotten Ralph’s. Someplace with a multiplex cinema instead of a single-screen theater.
I never dreamed that when I grew up and moved away, I’d choose to spend my vacations in towns like Arlington, but the older I get, the more I find myself drawn to destinations that remind me of my hometown — places full of natural beauty and personality. As much as I love big cities, small towns are the source of my most cherished travel memories. Here’s why you should consider a small town for your next vacation.
You’ll spend less money.
Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The area is so beautiful that people refer to it as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.” It’s a fitting description given the way the lake seems to sparkle into infinity. On a recent visit, I stayed in the quaint community of Baileys Harbor, one of the region’s many postcard-worthy small towns. It was the perfect base for a week of kayaking through limestone caves, touring shipwrecks, and feasting on fresh seafood. I stayed in a large, homey room at the Baileys Harbor Yacht Club Resort. There were amenities like a gas fireplace, refrigerator, and microwave, but most importantly, it was located right on Lake Michigan. Every night, I sat on my private patio and watched the sunset blaze across the sky. In a major city, a waterfront hotel with views like that would run hundreds of dollars a night, but in Baileys Harbor, the nightly rate was about $100.
Lodging isn’t the only place you’ll save money in a small town, either. Restaurants and bars in small towns often charge about half of what you’ll pay for a similar meal in the city, so it’s easier to maintain your vacation budget.
You’ll likely be closer to nature.
City skylines are beautiful, but the stars shine brighter when you get away from the glare of urban life. In small towns, there are no high-rise buildings to obstruct your views, and you’ll feel more connected to the natural world. Growing up, we had a creek in our backyard, where I spent nearly every day throwing sticks for my dog and inhaling the smell of the earth and trees. I wasn’t surprised to learn that studies have shown that spending time in nature is good for your mental and physical health, so I try to schedule something natural and outdoorsy any time I plan a trip.
During the summer of 2021, I spent a fabulous week in Little Rock, Arkansas. The majority of my trip revolved around restaurants and museums, so I set a day aside to visit Petit Jean State Park in the town of Morrilton, located an hour outside the city. There, I reveled in majestic views, waterfalls, natural bridges, and caves, including one filled with 2,000-year-old pictographs. It was one of the most awe-inspiring places I’ve been in my life, and I would’ve missed it if I’d limited myself to the city. My only regret was not booking a cabin at the park to stay longer.
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