140 Most Romantic Small Towns in America

Alex Parker Studies • October 2023

During the fall and winter months, it’s wonderful to immerse yourself in a romantic setting. America has a lot of small towns that are perfect for a romantic getaway. These small towns have cozy coffee shops, hotels with beautiful views, incredible spas, cute ice skating rinks, wineries, and much more. From having dinner at a romantic waterfront restaurant to enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride, there are many romantic things to do in America’s small towns.

Whether you’re looking for a cozy winter town or a romantic small town to escape the cold weather, there are a lot of romantic small towns in the country that make for a perfect getaway this fall and winter.

The team of travel experts at New York Travel Guides conducted a study to find the 140 most romantic small towns in America.

We analyzed 600 small towns in America and compared them across the following categories: (1) romantic places to stay, (2) romantic activities, (3) historic architecture and scenery, and (4) cozy coffee shops and restaurants.

See our methodology to learn more about how we ranked the small towns.

Results

Below, you can find a table with the data for each of the 140 most romantic small towns in America, including the scores for each category.

Rank	Small town	State	Romantic places to stay score	Romantic activities score	Historic architecture and scenery score	Cozy coffee shops and restaurants score
1	Carmel-by-the-Sea	California	20	30	46.0	17
2	Sedona	Arizona	25	25	51.0	18
3	St. Augustine	Florida	30	18	65.5	22
4	Aspen	Colorado	10	23	63.3	25
5	Laguna Beach	California	10	23	49.3	17
6	Provincetown	Massachusetts	13	21	53.9	14
7	Jackson	Wyoming	16	18	57.5	18
8	Estes Park	Colorado	14	15	68.4	14
9	Ashland	Oregon	17	14	69.1	14
10	Gatlinburg	Tennessee	22	15	57.6	12
11	Vail	Colorado	19	13	49.2	30
12	Hilton Head Island	South Carolina	22	8	52.5	22
13	Whitefish	Montana	16	12	52.5	11
14	Palm Beach	Florida	18	9	54.5	22
15	Ketchum	Idaho	6	16	53.9	11
16	Natchez	Mississippi	14	5	74.6	7
17	Eureka Springs	Arkansas	19	8	58.4	13
18	Breckenridge	Colorado	8	12	50.2	19
19	Sandusky	Ohio	9	4	75.0	12
20	Stowe	Vermont	11	12	52.5	10
21	Sonoma	California	18	9	49.2	14
22	Salida	Colorado	6	13	59.2	7
23	Lake Placid	New York	15	10	51.8	9
24	Cambria	California	12	11	47.2	9
25	Portsmouth	New Hampshire	8	8	65.0	20
26	Telluride	Colorado	7	13	52.5	12
27	Steamboat Springs	Colorado	4	13	57.1	14
28	Crested Butte	Colorado	13	11	51.8	9
29	Nantucket	Massachusetts	10	11	48.2	19
30	Galena	Illinois	10	11	54.5	10
31	Sandpoint	Idaho	5	12	56.6	13
32	Frisco	Colorado	11	10	51.1	9
33	Leadville	Colorado	13	10	55.6	7
34	Big Sky	Montana	10	10	50.2	13
35	Leavenworth	Washington	9	11	54.5	12
36	Pawleys Island	South Carolina	24	5	48.3	8
37	Glenwood Springs	Colorado	8	10	56.6	9
38	Rockport	Texas	21	5	45.9	12
39	Cape May	New Jersey	12	7	48.3	16
40	Helen	Georgia	8	10	49.3	10
41	Gloucester	Massachusetts	7	8	63.3	9
42	South Padre Island	Texas	23	5	42.9	9
43	Lake Geneva	Wisconsin	20	5	51.8	10
44	Eureka	California	5	8	58.8	20
45	Port Townsend	Washington	8	7	65.9	13
46	Paducah	Kentucky	8	8	61.9	13
47	Beaufort	South Carolina	11	8	55.1	10
48	Blowing Rock	North Carolina	6	11	55.6	7
49	Saratoga Springs	New York	12	6	55.6	17
50	Port Angeles	Washington	8	4	66.1	20
51	McCall	Idaho	5	10	56.1	7
52	Snowmass Village	Colorado	10	10	49.2	6
53	Sausalito	California	7	10	50.2	12
54	Calistoga	California	16	5	51.1	11
55	Astoria	Oregon	6	6	65.9	14
56	St. Helena	California	13	5	56.1	15
57	Camden	Maine	17	4	58.8	8
58	Fernandina Beach	Florida	10	8	53.9	7
59	Ouray	Colorado	6	10	51.8	7
60	Rehoboth Beach	Delaware	11	6	51.8	20
61	Incline Village	Nevada	5	10	50.2	11
62	Half Moon Bay	California	13	6	49.3	12
63	Moab	Utah	16	4	58.4	11
64	Fredericksburg	Texas	10	7	54.5	14
65	Pinedale	Wyoming	6	10	53.2	6
66	North Bend	Washington	3	10	53.9	13
67	Salmon	Idaho	6	10	56.6	6
68	Midway	Utah	3	10	58.4	7
69	Chatham	Massachusetts	7	7	55.6	11
70	Colonial Williamsburg	Virginia	13	5	25.0	24
71	Hudson	New York	5	8	53.9	10
72	Kennebunkport	Maine	11	7	52.5	7
73	Cody	Wyoming	7	7	56.1	11
74	Nisswa	Minnesota	22	3	40.8	6
75	Jackson	New Hampshire	4	10	51.0	5
76	Lake Chelan	Washington	4	10	49.3	7
77	Tahoe City	California	3	10	52.5	7
78	Ocean City	Maryland	14	5	47.2	13
79	Wallace	Idaho	4	10	54.5	6
80	Libby	Montana	3	10	51.7	9
81	Kanab	Utah	18	3	49.3	8
82	Livingston	Montana	5	7	60.3	11
83	Westport	Connecticut	3	8	57.1	15
84	Danville	Kentucky	3	4	68.9	9
85	Rockport	Massachusetts	4	9	53.2	6
86	Lambertville	New Jersey	5	9	44.6	8
87	Ojai	California	9	6	51.8	13
88	Ellicottville	New York	3	10	53.2	5
89	Cloudcroft	New Mexico	3	10	53.2	5
90	Cannon Beach	Oregon	6	7	48.3	11
91	Morro Bay	California	8	7	44.6	11
92	Lenox	Massachusetts	12	5	49.3	8
93	Solvang	California	14	5	31.9	8
94	Greenport	New York	11	4	51.1	12
95	Hood River	Oregon	7	4	58.8	13
96	Aiken	South Carolina	9	4	58.4	11
97	Gettysburg	Pennsylvania	7	6	51.1	10
98	Manitou Springs	Colorado	7	5	57.1	11
99	Gig Harbor	Washington	7	4	46.0	17
100	Red Bank	New Jersey	5	7	48.2	13
101	Blue Ridge	Georgia	9	6	51.8	7
102	Pagosa Springs	Colorado	13	4	44.6	9
103	Spearfish	South Dakota	7	4	62.8	11
104	Beacon	New York	4	6	53.9	13
105	Fairhope	Alabama	3	6	56.6	13
106	Newburyport	Massachusetts	7	6	55.6	8
107	La Conner	Washington	5	7	45.9	11
108	Bisbee	Arizona	5	6	56.1	7
109	Petoskey	Michigan	5	4	63.6	10
110	Deadwood	South Dakota	11	4	52.6	10
111	Paso Robles	California	10	4	42.9	18
112	Marathon	Florida	13	3	47.2	9
113	Bar Harbor	Maine	5	5	59.2	10
114	Idyllwild	California	11	4	52.5	6
115	Lewiston	Idaho	5	4	59.2	14
116	Lexington	Virginia	7	4	58.0	9
117	Friday Harbor	Washington	8	5	49.3	10
118	Stillwater	Minnesota	5	4	57.1	16
119	Custer	South Dakota	8	4	60.3	7
120	Hamilton	Montana	6	4	63.6	10
121	Butte	Montana	5	5	53.8	17
122	San Juan Capistrano	California	7	6	51.8	9
123	Covington	Louisiana	3	5	47.2	17
124	Avalon	California	11	4	48.3	7
125	Holland	Michigan	3	5	52.5	17
126	Shelbyville	Kentucky	5	4	65.5	7
127	Great Barrington	Massachusetts	4	6	57.6	7
128	Nashville	Indiana	10	5	44.6	6
129	Oxford	Mississippi	6	4	52.5	13
130	Port Aransas	Texas	10	4	45.9	8
131	Orange Beach	Alabama	8	5	43.0	12
132	McMinnville	Oregon	8	5	44.5	13
133	Luray	Virginia	7	4	59.6	6
134	Wimberley	Texas	9	5	38.7	7
135	Rockland	Maine	4	5	60.0	6
136	Sisters	Oregon	8	4	51.8	8
137	Pacific Grove	California	6	4	51.0	13
138	Crystal River	Florida	9	4	48.3	8
139	Sturgeon Bay	Wisconsin	6	5	53.2	9
140	Ocean Springs	Mississippi	3	5	59.9	10

Map

The 140 most romantic small towns in America are shown on the map below.

Top 50 Most Romantic Small Towns in America

Below, you can find information about each town that made the top 50.

1. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

With its quaint downtown area with fairytale cottages, numerous courtyards, secret passageways, and cobblestone pathways, Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Carmel-by-the-Sea has a lot of eclectic restaurants, unique boutique shops, and about 100 art galleries. In addition to that, the town’s many romantic places to stay, including hotels with stunning ocean views, add to Carmel-by-the-Sea’s romance.

2. Sedona, Arizona

Known for its beautiful desert scenery with red-rock buttes and its art community, Sedona is an incredible town to visit in Arizona. There are plenty of romantic things to do in the desert town, including exploring the town’s more than 80 art galleries, doing a wine tasting, and enjoying a guided tour during which you can discover the town’s landscapes. Furthermore, Sedona has world-class spa resorts that offer a view of its desert landscape, as well as cozy accommodations, that also make the town a very romantic destination.

3. St. Augustine, Florida

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is a perfect town for a romantic trip because of its historic charm. Go for a stroll along buildings from the 1700s, explore hidden courtyards, and admire the town’s waterfront views, all while hearing the sound of horses walking on St. Augustine’s brick-paved streets. In addition to that, the town boasts numerous attractions and tours. Whether you want to do a horse-drawn carriage ride, enjoy a cruise, or visit a distillery, you can experience a lot of romance in St. Augustine. In addition to that, the town has many romantic accommodations, including ones that overlook Matanzas Bay.

4. Aspen, Colorado

Aspen, CO, is a romantic mountain town in the Rocky Mountains that is known for its many ski resorts. From skiing to attending cultural events to enjoying delicious food with a mountain view, there are a lot of romantic things to do in the town. Whether you want to stay at a luxurious 5-star resort with a view, a cozy lodge, or a romantic bed and breakfast, there are many romantic places to stay in Aspen.

5. Laguna Beach, California

Located along the Pacific Ocean, Laguna Beach is a wonderful small town in California that dates back to the year 1887. With its gorgeous hotels with ocean views, many incredible art galleries, mild climate, and scenic beauty, it’s one of the most romantic small towns in America. Many movies and TV shows were filmed in the town and what makes Laguna Beach unique too is that it’s the town with the most beachfront lodgings in California.

6. Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown, Massachusetts, is a romantic coastal town that’s located at the tip of Cape Cod. Known for its art scene, beautiful harbor, and gorgeous beaches, it’s one of the most romantic small towns in the country. The small town dates back to 1700 and it is often called “P-town”. From having food at one of the incredible restaurants to admiring art at one of the many art galleries to shopping at the town’s specialty shops to attending one of Provincetown’s diverse events, there are plenty of things to do in this lovely coastal town.

7. Jackson, Wyoming

Known for its ski resorts, Jackson is a romantic small town in the state of Wyoming. Its scenic beauty makes the town very romantic, and besides checking out a ski resort, there are plenty of other things to do in Jackson. From exploring the National Museum of Wildlife Art and having food with an incredible view at Palate Restaurant afterward to tasting wine at Jackson Hole Winery to doing a scenic tour, the town has a lot of romantic things to do.

8. Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado, is a romantic small town that dates back to the year 1859. The mountain town is known for its scenic beauty and there are many romantic things to do. From seeing a movie at the oldest operating cinema in the Western United States, Park Theatre, to exploring Open Air Adventure Park to having a drink with a view at one of the town’s cozy coffee shops, Estes Park has a lot to offer. The historic Stanley Hotel, which is located in the mountain town, is a hotel that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel has a spa and a restaurant, and it offers panoramic views of Lake Estes.

9. Ashland, Oregon

With a history that dates back to 1852, beautiful wineries, incredible art galleries, and many local restaurants, Ashland, OR, which is surrounded by scenic mountains, is one of America’s most romantic small towns. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which is a famous festival during which both classic and contemporary plays can be enjoyed, takes place in Ashland which adds to the town’s romantic allure. The town is also home to Lithia Park, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the winter, an ice skating rink can be found in this park, which makes it a perfect spot for a romantic winter activity in Ashland.

10. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg is a beautiful mountain town in Sevier County, Tennessee. From enjoying magnificent views while riding the Aerial Tramway that departs in downtown Gatlinburg, which is one of the largest aerial tramways in the country, to playing miniature golf at Hillbilly Golf to seeing famous cars at the Hollywood Star Cars Museum, the romantic things to do in Gatlinburg will surprise you. In addition to that, there are many romantic places to stay in Gatlinburg, including places with beautiful views, and the town has incredible restaurants that are perfect for a romantic evening with great food.

11. Vail, Colorado

Located in Eagle County, Colorado, Vail is a romantic small town that’s known for the Vail Ski Resort. There are a lot of romantic things to do in the mountain town, including visiting one of the wonderful spas and wellness centers in Vail, ice skating at the gorgeous Vail Square Ice Rink in winter, and having dinner at one of the local restaurants. In addition to that, every year, filmmakers and attendees from all around the world travel to the town for the Vail Film Festival, which is an independent film festival.

12. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

From visiting one of the town’s art galleries to enjoying beautiful sunset views at a waterfront restaurant to seeing a live performance, the romantic small town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has a lot to offer. The town has gorgeous resorts and spas making it the perfect destination for a romantic and relaxing getaway. In addition to that, Hilton Head Island boasts numerous stunning golf courses and is home to the Kingdom Cup golfing event.

13. Whitefish, Montana

Whitefish is a romantic small town located in Flathead County, Montana. From having food with a magnificent view at the Summit House at Whitefish Mountain Resort to going to one of the locally-owned shops and galleries to admiring the scenery of Whitefish during a guided tour, there are many romantic things to do in the town.

14. Palm Beach, Florida

Located in Florida, Palm Beach is a beautiful small town and a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Those looking for a romantic place to stay can find plenty of incredible hotels in the town, such as The Breakers, which is a luxury 5-star hotel with elegant rooms and suites with magnificent ocean views. From visiting the Flagler Museum to playing golf to doing a historic walking tour, there’s a lot to do in the town. Every year, the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival takes place in the town, which is a festival during which one can enjoy incredible food.

15. Ketchum, Idaho

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Ketchum is a romantic small town that dates back to 1880. The town has an incredible arts scene and a large variety of restaurants. Besides that, the spectacular scenic beauty of the town adds to its romance.

16. Natchez, Mississippi

Founded in 1716, Natchez, Mississippi, is one of the oldest towns in America. From visiting art galleries to doing a horse-drawn carriage ride, there are many things to do in the town that are perfect for a romantic getaway. Whether you’re looking for a cozy bed and breakfast or a romantic hotel, there are incredible places to stay in Natchez.

17. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, Eureka Springs is a romantic small town with a beautiful historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town has several nicknames including “The Magic City” and “Little Switzerland”. Eureka Springs has a thriving art scene and is home to wonderful art galleries. Besides that, about 300 of the town’s 2,000 residents are working artists.

18. Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge, Colorado, is a romantic small town that’s home to the Breckenridge Ski Resort. From visiting locally owned shops on the beautiful Main Street Breckenridge to tasting delicious homemade food at one of the town’s local restaurants, it’s very romantic to experience Breckenridge’s small town charm. In addition to that, one can see the town’s Victorian architecture and do a guided tour to learn about the history of the town.

19. Sandusky, Ohio

Sandusky, Ohio, is a beautiful town along the southern shore of Lake Erie that was founded in 1818. There are many romantic things to do in the town, including visiting one of its art galleries, having fun at Cedar Point, an incredible amusement park that is known as the roller coaster capital of the world, and having delicious food at a romantic waterfront restaurant.

20. Stowe, Vermont

Stowe, Vermont, also known as “The Ski Capital of the East”, is a beautiful small town that makes for a very romantic getaway. From taking a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride to having coffee at one of the town’s cozy bakeries and cafes to ice skating on the outdoor rink at Spruce Peak Village Center, there are many romantic things to do in the town.

21. Sonoma, California

With its incredible wineries and scenic beauty, Sonoma, California, is one of the most romantic small towns in America. From visiting the historic Sonoma Plaza to relaxing at one of the incredible spas to having dinner at one of the town’s excellent restaurants, there’s a lot to do in the town. In addition to that, there are many romantic places to stay in Sonoma, including hotels with a view of vineyards and luxury resorts.

22. Salida, Colorado

Salida is a romantic mountain town in Colorado that was founded in 1880. It’s located in the heart of the Rockies in central Colorado. With its numerous art galleries, amazing restaurants, and great events, the town is perfect for a romantic getaway.

23. Lake Placid, New York

Known for hosting the Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, New York, is a wonderful destination for a romantic getaway. From having dinner with incredible lake views at Smoke Signals to staying at one of the many incredible hotels with a view of Mirror Lake, you can experience a lot of romance in Lake Placid.

24. Cambria, California

Cambria is a gorgeous seaside town in San Luis Obispo County, California. From tasting local delicacies to going to one of the town’s art galleries to visiting boutique shops on Main Street to having coffee at a cozy coffee shop, such as Lily’s Coffeehouse, there are many things to do in Cambria that make the town perfect for a romantic getaway. In addition to that, Cambria has incredible wineries and wonderful beachfront restaurants.

25. Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a romantic small town with a history that dates back to 1630. From cozy B&Bs to gorgeous seaside hotels, there are plenty of romantic places to stay in Portsmouth. Some of the most romantic things to do in the town include visiting one of the town’s spas, shopping at boutique shops in downtown Portsmouth, and fine dining at one of the town’s local restaurants with a waterfront view.

26. Telluride, Colorado

Telluride is a gorgeous small town in Colorado with romance around every corner. A very romantic thing to do is to ride the free gondola, which connects Telluride to Mountain Village, during which you can enjoy mesmerizing mountain views. Besides that, the town is home to gourmet restaurants, boutique shops, and an incredible art scene. From doing an art class to enjoying a dinner sleigh ride, you’ll be surprised by the romantic things to do in Telluride.

27. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Steamboat Springs is a romantic mountain town that’s home to the Steamboat Ski Resort. From joining the First Friday Artwalk to bowling at Snow Bowl to relaxing at Old Town Hot Springs, the romantic things to do in the town are incredible. In addition to that, Steamboat Springs is home to incredible restaurants where one can enjoy fine dining, and wonderful places to stay, including quaint bed & breakfasts.

28. Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte, Colorado, is a romantic small town that was incorporated in 1880. The town boasts spectacular mountain views. With its incredible gourmet restaurants, cozy cafes, such as Camp 4 Coffee, and romantic places to stay, there’s a lot of romance in the town.

29. Nantucket, Massachusetts

The town of Nantucket, located on an island in Massachusetts, is one of America’s most romantic small towns. From admiring the town’s historic buildings while strolling on cobblestone streets in the Nantucket Historic District to exploring unique boutique shops and art galleries, there are many romantic things to do in Nantucket. In addition to that, the town’s lodging options with ocean views and historic hotels add to Nantucket’s romantic ambiance.

30. Galena, Illinois

Galena, Illinois, is a beautiful small town that’s incredible for a romantic getaway. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort, a historic hotel, or a cozy bed and breakfast, there are plenty of romantic places to stay in Galena. From doing a spoon carving workshop to learning about coffee during an interactive coffee experience at Trolley Depot Coffee, there are many unique and romantic things to do in Galena. In addition to that, a part of Galena is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Galena Historic District.

31. Sandpoint, Idaho

Sandpoint, Idaho, is a romantic small town that dates back to 1898. The small town has a beautiful historic district and is home to cozy coffee shops, such as Evans Brothers Coffee, and incredible local restaurants. Furthermore, Sandpoint is surrounded by mountains, which adds to the town’s romance.

32. Frisco, Colorado

Frisco, Colorado, is a romantic small town that’s known for its ski resorts. From having dinner with live music to going on a scenic hot cocoa sleigh ride to shopping at the stores on Frisco’s beautiful main street, the romantic things to do in the town are wonderful. Furthermore, Frisco has plenty of lodging options with incredible mountain views.

33. Leadville, Colorado

Leadville, Colorado, is a wonderful town that was founded in 1877. A romantic experience in the town is enjoying a scenic train ride at the Leadville Railroad during which you can admire mesmerizing views. Besides that, there’s much more to do, such as having dinner at one of the town’s elegant restaurants, ice skating at the Huck Finn Ice Rink in the winter, and learning new things at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.

34. Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky, Montana, is a gorgeous mountain town that’s known for its ski resorts. The town has a lot to offer for those looking for a romantic getaway. From visiting one of Big Sky’s art galleries to shopping local, Montana-made products at the town’s stores to going to one of the numerous events in the town, there are many romantic things to do. In addition to that, there are romantic places to stay, cozy coffee shops, such as Caliber Coffee Roasters, and incredible restaurants.

35. Leavenworth, Washington

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth, Washington, is a gorgeous small town that is perfect for a romantic getaway. From doing a sleigh ride in winter to having authentic German food to tasting locally brewed beers, there are plenty of romantic things to do in Leavenworth. Leavenworth resembles a Bavarian Village, which adds to the town’s romantic ambiance. In addition, there are plenty of romantic places to stay in Leavenworth, including cozy bed & breakfasts and luxury hotels.

36. Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Pawleys Island is a beautiful small town in Georgetown County, South Carolina. With its incredible restaurants, wonderful golf courses, and romantic places to stay, including places with ocean views, Pawleys Island is a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Some of the most romantic things to do in the town include shopping at The Hammock Shops Village, which is a lovely shopping center that was established in 1938 where you can find more than twenty unique shops and two restaurants, and having dinner at one of Pawleys Island’s restaurants with live music.

37. Glenwood Springs, Colorado

From visiting the gorgeous Glenwood Hot Springs Pool to relaxing at Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves, Glenwood Springs, CO, offers a wide variety of romantic things to do. The romantic small town is home to boutique shops, scenic golf courses, and excellent restaurants, including restaurants with beautiful views.

38. Rockport, Texas

Rockport, Texas, is a romantic coastal town that was incorporated in 1870. There are many romantic things to do in the town including visiting one of the town’s art galleries and going to the Texas Maritime Museum. Rockport has charming local restaurants that are perfect for a romantic evening, such as Latitude 28° 02″, which is both a restaurant and a fine art gallery where local and regional art can be seen. Besides that, there are romantic places to stay in the town and there are several cozy coffee shops, including Rockport Daily Grind.

39. Cape May, New Jersey

The gorgeous seashore town of Cape May, New Jersey, is a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Some of the most romantic things to do in Cape May include enjoying a wine tasting, visiting Cape May’s boutique shops, and relaxing at a spa. From fine dining restaurants to eateries with ocean views to restaurants with live music, there are incredible places for a romantic dinner in Cape May. Those looking for a romantic place to stay have plenty of options in Cape May, including hotels that offer rooms with beautiful ocean views.

40. Helen, Georgia

Known for its Bavarian-style buildings, Helen, Georgia, is a romantic mountain town that’s located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With its colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and romantic local eateries, it’s a town with romance around every corner. Some of the most romantic things to do in the town include relaxing at a spa, playing mini-golf at Alpine Mini Golf, and going to one of the town’s wineries.

41. Gloucester, Massachusetts

Gloucester, Massachusetts, is a romantic coastal town that’s home to the oldest seaport in America. There are many romantic things to do in Gloucester, including visiting the town’s boutique shops and having dinner at one of the town’s excellent restaurants, such as Seaport Grille, which is an incredible restaurant with a beautiful water view. You can also find the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester. Hammond Castle, constructed between 1926 and 1929, is a European castle that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Nowadays, the castle operates as the Hammond Castle Museum where interesting exhibits can be seen.

42. South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island is a romantic small town in Cameron County, Texas. From staying at a romantic hotel with a beautiful ocean view to having fun at Gravity Park, which is an incredible amusement park, to having coffee at a cozy coffee shop, such as Karma Coffee & Books, which is both an indie bookstore and a coffee shop, there are many reasons why the town makes for a perfect romantic escape.

43. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a beautiful small town with many romantic things to do. From having a relaxing time at one of the town’s spas to having food with gorgeous lake views at 240° West to visiting Lake Geneva’s unique shops, the things to do in the town are incredible. Lake Geneva also has many romantic places to stay, including luxury accommodations and bed and breakfasts.

44. Eureka, California

Founded in 1850, Eureka, California, is a romantic small town with beautiful Victorian architecture. Eureka’s historic Old Town is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are plenty of romantic things to do in the town, including enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Old Town and having a drink at one of the town’s cozy coffee shops, such as Old Town Coffee & Chocolates. In addition to that, there are incredible restaurants for a romantic dinner, such as Bayfront One, which is a waterfront restaurant with beautiful views of Humboldt Bay.

45. Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend, Washington, is a beautiful small town that was incorporated in 1851. From having dinner with a beautiful waterfront view at Doc’s Marina Grill to visiting one of Port Townsend’s art galleries to going to a winery, those who are looking for romantic things to do will love the town. In addition to that, there are romantic places to stay, including historic B&Bs and hotels.

46. Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah is a romantic small town in Kentucky. From enjoying a performance at The Carson Center for the Performing Arts to seeing local art at Paducah’s art galleries to shopping at specialty shops, there are plenty of romantic things to do in the town. Besides that, Paducah’s Historic Downtown has many locally-owned restaurants that are perfect for a romantic dinner.

47. Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, South Carolina, also known as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands” is a romantic small town that’s located on Port Royal Island. With incredible options for waterfront dining, many art galleries, and romantic hotels, Beaufort is the perfect destination for a romantic escape. From playing indoor miniature golf at Glowcountry Indoor Mini Golf to getting fine chocolates at the Chocolate Tree, which is a chocolate shop that was founded in 1980, to seeing a movie at the Highway 21 Drive-In Theater, there’s a large variety of romantic things to do in Beaufort.

48. Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Blowing Rock is a romantic small town in North Carolina. Some of the most romantic things to do in the town include visiting The Spa at Chetola Resort, going to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, and having coffee at a cozy coffee shop, such as Camp Coffee Roasters. In addition to that, downtown Blowing Rock is home to unique boutique shops and art galleries.

49. Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, NY, is a romantic small town that is known for its mineral springs. There are many romantic things to do in the town, including going to the Saratoga Race Course, attending a concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and relaxing at the Roosevelt Bath & Spa. In addition to that, Saratoga Springs’ historic downtown shopping district is home to boutiques, art galleries, and much more.

50. Port Angeles, Washington

Port Angeles, Washington, is a romantic town that was incorporated in 1890. Some of the most romantic things to do in the town are visiting antique stores in downtown Port Angeles, having incredible food at fine dining restaurants, and exploring local art galleries. Those looking for a romantic place to stay have great options in Port Angeles, including cozy bed and breakfasts.

Methodology

To determine the 140 most romantic small towns in America, New York Travel Guides compared 600 popular American small towns across four categories: (1) romantic places to stay, (2) romantic activities, (3) historic architecture and scenery, and (4) cozy coffee shops and restaurants. These categories were then assigned a weight based on their importance. A description of the categories and their corresponding weights are listed below.

For each of the 600 small towns in the USA that we analyzed, we gathered data for all categories from the data sources listed below. For each category, a standardized score was calculated, with a higher score representing a better outcome for romance, which was then used to calculate the overall weighted score for each small town to rank the 600 small towns in our sample and determine the 140 most romantic small towns in America.

Romantic places to stay (25%)
The score for this category was calculated by determining the number of romantic accommodations in each small town, including stays with a view, luxury hotels, and bed and breakfasts.

Romantic activities (45%)
This score was calculated based on the presence of certain romantic features in each small town, such as spas, horse-drawn carriage rides, horse-drawn sleigh rides, movie theaters, performing arts theaters, art galleries, and ski areas.

Historic architecture and scenery (15%)
This score was determined based on the total number of listings in the National Register of Historic Places and the overall scenery (e.g., mountain views, lake views) of each small town.

Cozy coffee shops and restaurants (15%)
The score for this category was calculated by determining the number of coffee shops with a high review score and the number of fine-dining restaurants in each small town.

Sources: National Register of Historic Places, Booking.com, Yelp, Google Search, Google Maps

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