Best Small Town for Adventure (2018)

The largest town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, still small Marquette sits on the shores of Lake Superior, making it a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. Presque Isle Park serves as the launching point for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding, while McCarty’s Cove offers a family friendly beach. Hikers and paddlers come from all over the world to explore the 150 miles of singletrack, 83 miles of Superior shoreline and 77 waterfalls in Marquette County.
Photo courtesy of Travel Marquette

Adrenaline junkies flock to Florence on the Oregon coast off Highway 101 for some of the nation's best sand dunes for buggy rides, sand boarding, hiking and fat-tire biking. Fishing, crabbing and clamming are also popular pastimes; the restaurants in the charming old town serve up the fruits of those labors.
Photo courtesy of Travel Oregon

Visitors to Watkins Glen have their choice of dozens of waterfalls, miles of hiking trails and one of the nation’s best state parks to explore. Within Watkins Glen State Park, hikers pass 19 waterfalls in less than 2 miles, while nearby Finger Lakes National Forest provides year round opportunity for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and cross country skiing. The Finger Lakes Trail is a popular footpath for hikers stretching for 560 miles.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Ultima_Gaina

Sedona, situated in the heart of Arizona’s Red Rock Country, often finds itself listed as one of the country’s most beautiful places. All that natural beauty begs to be explored, whether by hiking or biking the 300 miles of local trails, fishing in Oak Creek Canyon, catching some rays in Slide Rock State Park or taking a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
Photo courtesy of Visit Sedona

For three centuries, travelers have been enchanted by Jim Thorpe, nicknamed the Switzerland of America. Victorian architecture dominates the Old Mauch Historic District, brimming with restaurants, pubs, B&Bs and art galleries, while the surrounding rails, trails and waterways appeal to lovers of outdoor adventure.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Andrew F Kazmierski

Situated near the southern tip of Florida, Everglades City serves as the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, where outdoor enthusiasts come to canoe through mangrove tunnels, hike through Big Cypress National Preserve or look for gators on a tour of Everglades City swamp.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Simon Dux

Set amid the sprawling White Mountain National Forest, North Conway offers visitors access to Mount Washington (the tallest peak in the northeast) and the accompanying four seasons recreation. During the snowy months, the area boasts some of the region’s best skiing and snowmobiling, while summer is excellent for hiking, golfing, fishing and camping. Fall leaf peeping is some of the best in the country.
Photo courtesy of Dan Houde/Wiseguy Creative Photography

Those looking for a mountain escape have been coming to Blowing Rock since the 1880s. Today, this North Carolina village sits directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway and serves as a gateway to adjacent Pisgah National Forest.
Photo courtesy of iStock / skiserge1

Bar Harbor, as the gateway to Acadia National Park, offers abundant opportunity for outdoor adventure, from kayaking along the Maine coast to biking the car-free carriage roads. Whale-watching trips run from May to October, and come winter, outdoor enthusiasts can hit the trails for some snowmobiling or cross country skiing.
Photo courtesy of iStock / ericcote

It’s tough to find a city more beautiful than Jackson Hole, with mountains surrounding it on all sides; it’s enough to make anyone want to be outdoors all day. While the town's western heritage is still on display at places like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Mangy Moose, Jackson caters to luxury travelers as well with some of the country's swankiest ski accommodations. 
Photo courtesy of Visit Jackson Hole