There’s something to be said for small towns where traditions are alive, folks are smiling and neighbors are actually inclined to lend you a cup of sugar. Here: the six friendliest spots in the whole entire country. (BRB: booking plane tickets.)
The Friendliest Towns in America
Does your hometown make the cut?
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Published Apr 5, 2016
Beaufort, South Carolina
This 300-year-old town located 90 minutes from Charleston is exactly what comes to mind when you think of southern hospitality. On any given afternoon, you’ll find many of the town's 12,000 residents gathered on a wraparound porch drinking peach tea or joining together for a laid-back crab boil.
Santa Claus, Indiana
This sleepy village just might win the award for sweetest Christmastime tradition. See, every year, thousands of children send letters to the post office (addressed to St. Nick, of course) requesting everything from new sleds to nicer parents. The kicker? The residents of this southwestern Indiana town all band together to actually write back--in the guise of elves, naturally.
Fredericksburg, Texas
The little Germany of Texas, this Hill Country haven has maintained many Prussian customs and traditions. While the biergartens are open year-round, the best season to visit is during the annual Oktoberfest, when you can expect to celebrate the town’s European roots with local artisans, food vendors and musicians. Bring on the schnitzel…
Bar Harbor, Maine
Yes, this New England seaside town (home to Acadia National Park) attracts thousands of visitors during summer months. But it’s the year-long residents who make it feel like home. Just about everyone here knows each other’s name, and the locals gather regularly for outdoor movie nights, art shows and the annual Acadia Night Sky festival, when families come together to go night-hiking and watch movies under the Milky Way.
Burton, Ohio
Breakfast people, we just found your dream town. Burton Ohio (aka Pancake Town USA) serves an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast to over 20,000 people each March. The delicious tradition has been bringing families and visitors together since 1951 and comes complete with locally-made syrup tapped from trees in the town square.
Gig Harbor, Washington
The secret’s out on Gig Harbor. Once a sleepy fishing town on Puget Sound, it’s now home to chain stores, upscale restaurants and vacationers. Nonetheless, Gig Harbor has retained its true, unpretentious vibe. Come any summer weekend to find open-air movie nights, chowder competitions, theater productions and farmers’ markets. The tight-knit community takes pride in their town--just ask Guy Hoppen, an Alaskan salmon fisherman who’s kinda of a local mascot--but don’t worry: They’re happy to share it with others.
