These small locales might not be well-known, but each have something special to offer.
Many small American towns are known for their hospitality and charm, but very few are known for their unique history or artifacts. From a Danish utopia to the Lost Luggage Capital of the World, here are seven cities with eclectic vibes worth traveling to.
Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Missouri, Branson is known for its live entertainment, with shows covering a wide range of music genres. Although its population is just over 10,000, it hosts over 9 million visitors each year. When the best-selling novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, written by Harold Bell Wright, was released in 1907, readers flocked to the Ozark hills to experience its famous views. Now tourists also get to visit the World’s Largest Toy Museum, the world’s largest Titanic Museum Attraction and the record-breaking theme park, Silver Dollar City.
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2 of 8 Romeo, Colorado
Romeo is a farming and ranching community in South Central Colorado with a population of 404. Its name comes from the surname Romero and most of its residents trace their roots back to the days of the early 1850’s settlements in the Sangre de Cristo and Conejos Land Grants.
Hope is a city in southern Dickinson County, Kansas, with a population of 317. It’s the home of Klipsch Museum of Audio History, President William Jefferson Clinton’s birthplace and several antique shops. Hope’s motto, which is also the name of the town’s centennial song, is “There will always be ‘Hope’ in Kansas.”
4 of 8 Scottsboro, Alabama
Have you ever wondered what happens to abandoned or unclaimed baggage left behind on domestic flights? This quaint Alabama town is known as The Lost Luggage Capital of the World thanks to the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where lost items such as snow skis, instruments, and engagement rings are for sale. In addition to the store, which has become one of Alabama’s top tourist and shopping attractions, the city’s parks and heritage centers are popular places to visit.
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5 of 8 Solvang, California
Dubbed “the Danish Capital of America,” this town was founded by Danish immigrants in the early 1900s who built dozens of Danish Provincial style structures, turning it into a European utopia. Its Danish-inspired eateries, local boutiques, windmills, and a horse-drawn streetcar add to its storybook-like charm.
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6 of 8 Leavenworth, Washington
Similar to Solvang, Leavenworth is also a European-inspired destination. It’s modeled after a German Bavarian alpine village, offering an array of outdoor activities all year long. It welcomes almost 2 million tourists each year and is home to the Nutcracker Museum, which has more than 7,000 nutcrackers from around the world. Many of its visitors travel to the village in December during its annual holiday festival to see it light up with more than one million Christmas lights.
7 of 8 Wamego, Kansas
This small mid-western town is about 90 minutes west of Kansas City and has a collection of all things Oz in the Oz Museum. It has the largest permanent public display of Oz artifacts in the world, ranging from the 1st edition of L. Frank Baum’s book to current collectibles. Wamego also has public art displays throughout town inspired by Dorothy’s canine companion, Toto.
This preserved Victorian village has served as a filming location for major movies such as Joe Dirt and The Majestic. It’s a registered California Historic Landmark known for its art, music and DIY culture, containing dozens of Victorian storefronts and homes. The magical charm of Ferndale is on full display during Christmas time during the lighting of America’s tallest living Christmas tree.
