Current Leaderboard for Best Coastal Small Town
Forget about Miami and Laguna Beach! Our 20 nominees for Best Coastal Small Town – each with a population of fewer than 25,000 people as of the last census – offer unpretentious and affordable seaside fun without the crowds, proving that bigger isn't always better. Vote for your favorite once per day until polls close on Monday, June 6th at noon ET. The 10 best small towns will be announced on Friday, June 17th. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here.
Forget about Miami and Laguna Beach! Our 20 nominees for Best Coastal Small Town – each with a population of fewer than 25,000 people as of the last census – offer unpretentious and affordable seaside fun without the... Read More
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1. Ocean Springs - Mississippi
Known as the “City of Discovery,” the historic... More >
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2. Bay Saint Louis - Mississippi
The quaint seaside town of Bay St. Louis calls itself... More >
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3. Rockport - Texas
Across the Aransas Bay from Corpus Christi, the streets of... More >
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4. Georgetown - South Carolina
The small community of Georgetown on the Carolina coast is... More >
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5. Nags Head - North Carolina
One of the Outer Banks’ most popular tourist... More >
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6. Los Osos - California
“Los Osos, California seems to have it all,” says... More >
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7. Half Moon Bay - California
This northern California “seaside hamlet that time... More >
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8. Bar Harbor - Maine
10Best Travel Expert Marla Cimini tells us, “This... More >
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9. Cape May - New Jersey
Known as “America’s Original Seaside... More >
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10. Beaufort - South Carolina
Beaufort is more than a hidden Lowcountry South Carolina... More >
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11. Carmel-by-the-Sea - California
Visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea will discover one-of-a-kind... More >
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12. Southport - North Carolina
The historic maritime town of Southport has been a pitstop of... More >
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13. Bandon - Oregon
This small town on the Oregon coast features a rather unique... More >
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14. Kailua Beach - Oahu, Hawaii
10Best Contributor Marla Cimini describes Kailua as a... More >
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15. Mendocino - California
This coastal California Historical Landmark town was once a... More >
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16. Westbrook - Connecticut
This Connecticut community, located between New Haven and New... More >
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17. Hillsboro Beach - Florida
This Florida coastal town on the Atlantic Ocean is just three... More >
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18. Del Mar - California
Located just twenty miles north of San Diego, the quaint... More >
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19. Bucksport - Maine
Located by the Penobscot River, Bucksport’s downtown... More >
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20. Downe Township - New Jersey
This coastal New Jersey community is a “nature... More >
The Experts
10Best Editors
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased... Read More
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is... Read More
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and professional storyteller, she has covered topics that include wild Tahitian getaways; Sicilian wine trails, delectable Hawaiian food trends and luxury beachfront resorts. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and professional storyteller, she has covered topics that include wild Tahitian getaways; Sicilian wine trails, delectable Hawaiian food trends and luxury beachfront resorts. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Sherel Purcell
Sherel Purcell is a travel writer who specializes... Read More
Sherel Purcell is a travel writer who specializes in golf, Montreal and Quebec, contemporary art, cycling and food and wine. Her articles appear on USA Today's 10Best, About.com, Aol, Matador, Vacay, Travel+Escape and other large sites as well as print magazines including Dreamscapes (The Globe and Mail) and Frommer's Budget Travel. Her travel photos have appeared in the video, "A New York Minute" on the Smithsonian website and Brand USA. She has received an editorial award from Parenting Publications of America and a nomination from "See America".
Sherel Purcell
Sherel Purcell is a travel writer who specializes in golf, Montreal and Quebec, contemporary art, cycling and food and wine. Her articles appear on USA Today's 10Best, About.com, Aol, Matador, Vacay, Travel+Escape and other large sites as well as print magazines including Dreamscapes (The Globe and Mail) and Frommer's Budget Travel. Her travel photos have appeared in the video, "A New York Minute" on the Smithsonian website and Brand USA. She has received an editorial award from Parenting Publications of America and a nomination from "See America".
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
