The 23 Most Charming Towns in America

Galena is set in the rolling hills of Northwest Illinois. Its 19th-century architecture and opportunities for outdoor recreation attract nearly a million visitors a year.

Highlands is a quaint town two hours north of Atlanta. As the name suggests, it’s situated on a plateau more than 4,000 feet high. It’s surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest and has the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies.

Homer is 200 miles south of Anchorage, at the end of the Sterling Highway. Surrounded by wilderness and ocean, it’s known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World and the City of Peonies.

Houghton is located in the Keweenaw Peninsula and is surrounded by water with numerous inland lakes and streams. It gets a lot of snow in winter and has lots of opportunities for recreation.

Jud is a tiny town — the population is just 69 — but it’s known as “The City of Murals.” Just about every building has one.