Peaceful towns to visit in the U.S.
Not everyone is made to live in the noisy and busy life of a big town. Some people would prefer something more serene, somewhere where the air is clean and there’s easy access to all the green parks.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should live in a small town on a mountaintop, but a quieter place, away from the chaos of the typical major city would be great. Luckily for you, if you live in America, there are many places with a wonderful small-town atmosphere.
Here are some of the quietest and nicest places where you can easily live in America, especially if you hate enormous cities!
Huntsville, Alabama
The incredible U.S. Space and Rocket Center is definitely Huntsville’s most relevant attraction, and it’s also known as the site of Space Camp. Even so, there are many things to do here, besides space-related activities.
Huntsville has an impressive art museum, numerous eccentric dining and entertainment venues, amazing botanical gardens, no less than three historical districts, many art performances, and an impressively active craft beer industry, to say the least.
Here, the population number circles around 200,574, and the quality of life has been rated with 7, while the accessibility to parks with a 3. What do you think about this town?
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is LOADED with fascinating historical landmarks. Probably the most relevant example is Reynolda Village, which includes other interesting attractions: the Reynolda Gardens and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
The museum has been built in the former home of R.J. Reynolds, the well-known tobacco mogul. The edifice, which dates all the way back to the early twentieth century, is the home of some of the best public collections of American art that you could possibly find in the South.
We’re talking about the Museum of Early Southern Ornamental Arts (MESDA), which is devoted to some of the earliest South’s original decorative artworks.
Fort Myers, Florida
In Fort Myers, also known as the “City of palms”, you might easily find a mid-sized urban area. Its location is right on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, a place that will forever be abundant in history, business, and nature.
The town has many job opportunities, entertainment, and interesting waterfront properties, without losing a bit of that super relaxed atmosphere. And among other things, that’s where you’ll get the sunniest days in Florida.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Probably one of the most amazing things about Knoxville is that you can easily find all the great conveniences of a big metropolitan city, but the residents are also very close to that peaceful and quiet lifestyle they desire, whether we’re talking about a farm or the serene Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If you are longing for that ideal balance between the city and bigger outdoor open spaces, Knoxville is definitely the place where you’d feel best.
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne has around 250 sunny days each year, thanks to its proximity to the equator. The city has a lavish and fascinating art sector, but also various shopping malls. Back in 1996, it was the place where the official Olympic Torch Relay took place. Melbourne locals are also treated to a free-of-charge annual Melbourne Arts Festival every April.
Des Moines, Iowa
Did someone say Des Moines? Because that’s where you’ll find low-cost housing, short and rapid commuting, and a wildly diverse population. This city has so many things to offer! First of all, it’s the main cultural point in Iowa, as there are many museums, art organizations, and performance venues over there.
Because of Gray’s Lake Park, Des Moines also comes with a wide variety of outdoor activities. Don’t worry, there are many things to do there indeed, but this doesn’t mean that the city isn’t peaceful. In fact, Des Moines has been voted one of the five quietest cities in America.
Asheville, North Carolina
Located in Buncombe County, Asheville is right in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is famously known as a regional art hub. In fact, many reputable authorities decided that Asheville is among some of the greatest cities you could ever live in. Or, as many citizens call it, the “Beer City USA”. That’s right: beer enthusiasts will have a hard time leaving this place, which has no less than 26 craft brewers and another 60 nearby.
Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville is known as the upstate’s cultural and entertainment hub, and rightfully so! After all, there’s an award-winning downtown there, a very big and relevant performing arts center, a 17,000-seat arena, and a 340,000-square-foot convention and exhibition complex.
And that’s not all! Besides all of that, it also has plenty of nationally recognized museum collections, 40 parks, playgrounds, and relaxing facilities.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the perfect combination between big-city excitement and the small-town atmosphere. Even more, the community here is very fond of its pride and intimacy, as all the locals are oftentimes brought together by major events such as ArtPrize, Restaurant Week, and LaughFest, among many others.
Grand Rapids has approximately 1,800 acres of parkland spread out in over 120 different areas. Some of them include softball, soccer, volleyball, and even basketball.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is proudly the oldest city in southern California, but there are still plenty of things to do there. Besides all the interesting museums about its luxurious history and culture, there are also many fabulous churches there.
Lansing, Michigan
L-Town is probably the best place for your retirement years, especially if you’re looking for a low-cost area where you can reside within Michigan State. There’s another reason why Lansing is worth mentioning: there, the cost of living is 17% cheaper than the national average, and the housing cost there is 47% lower.
Despite the fact that its citizens have to go through long and harsh winters, there are many outdoor things that are still enjoyable. At Burchfield Park, you can cross-country ski, while at Hawk Island Park, you might go snow tubing and even ice fishing.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is in northwest Arkansas. It’s the home of the well-known Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas, and it has been ranked among the top five locations for living in the United States. Approximately 650 acres of property surround Lake Fayetteville, but also its adjacent parks. The park can be easily accessed by Fayetteville residents for leisure activities, such as camping, kayaking, fishing, and even hiking.
Manchester, New Hampshire
If you’re wondering where are all the cultural institutions and landmarks in New Hampshire, wonder no more! They’re in Manchester! The Currier Museum of Art, for example, is a nationally recognized art museum and one of the most successful small galleries in the country. The New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, but also the Opera League of New Hampshire are performing at the Palace Theatre.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is located somewhere in the panhandle of Florida, close to the Gulf of Mexico waters, but also the crystal clear bay areas. This makes Pensacola the ideal mix between a relaxing beach town and an active metropolitan area. There’s also a temperate climate there, and a welcoming community.
Albany, New York
Albany is the original inhabited settlement that has been continuously occupied by 13 English colonies. The city is famously known for its architecture, commerce, culture, and higher education institutions, but also for its long history.
Throughout the whole year, Albany has various interesting festivals, such as Alive at Five concerts, the Tulip Festival, the Capital Pride Parade, the Price Chopper Fabulous Fourth, and the Fireworks Festival, among others.
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