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Michigan Town Named One of America’s Best Small Towns

Author Anne Erickson
Getty Images / garyrennis

Small towns are all the rage these days. With the busy lives that most people lead, filled with meetings and wall-to-wall people, many people are finding that they want to get away from it all. Hence, small towns are very popular, whether it’s when considering a move or vacation destination. Now, a new study is out about about America’s best small towns. According to the study, Michigan has one of the best small towns in America. It will be interesting to see if any of the small towns in the study and up getting larger when people find out about them.

The study comes from ExtraSpace.com. In it, they list just nine small towns in America that they consider the best, so it’s an elite list. “Whether you’re searching for affordable places to raise a family or a community full of amenities perfect for your retirement, these nine locations across the U.S. are the top small towns to live in, thanks to their affordability, friendly communities, and unique attractions!” they state.

Before we get to our state’s city, let’s look at the others. Small towns that made the cut include Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Clarendon Hills, Illinois; Fayetteville, Arizona; Georgetown, Texas; Los Alamos, New Mexico; Louisville, Colorado; Portland, Maine; and Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania.

Michigan Town Named One of America’s Best Small Towns

So, which Michigan town is considered one of the most beloved small towns in America? It’s Traverse City. What makes it so great? According to ExtraSpace.com, “Situated on Lake Michigan, this northern tourist hub promises you’ll always have something to do. Nicknamed The Cherry Capital of the World for its reputation as the top tart cherry producer and the city’s National Cherry Festival, Traverse City is one of the best places to retire in Michigan and one of the best beach towns to live in.” Find the full list here.

Michigan Has 2 of the Most Beautiful Spots for Fall Colors in America

  • Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia and North Carolina

    The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it’s a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

  • Vogel State Park in Georgia

    If you’re looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It’s a great late-season trip.

    Vogel State Park

    ReservationsEventsPhotosPark Map

  • Cape May - New Jersey

    Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don’t miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

    CapeMay.com - Free Cape May Travel Guide

    Cape May distinguishes herself in many ways. We have the pristine beaches, promenade, and all the amenities that make any seashore town worth visiting, but we also have a rich history and an architectural diversity equal to none. Plan your visit

  • Lamoille Canyon - Nevada

    Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

    https://travelnevada.com/outdoor-recreation/lamoille-canyon-ruby-mountains/

  • Traverse City - Michigan

    The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

    Traverse City

    Traverse City combines breathtaking attractions with a rich blend of adventure and relaxation. Sled down the Sleeping Bear Dunes, voted the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America viewers. The cobalt blue waters of Lake Michigan make a stunning backdrop to the fresh white snow.

  • Torreya State Park - Florida

    I know what you’re thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn’t known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It’s worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

    Torreya State Park

    High bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River make Torreya one of Florida's most scenic places. The park is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that grows only on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River.

  • Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Michigan

    Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It’s beautiful in the fall.

    Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres and stretches 13-plus miles in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The park is home to multiple campgrounds, overnight lodging facilities, a boat launch, more than 35 miles of trails and multiple overlooks to the Upper and Lower Falls.

  • Washington Crossing - Pennsylvania

    The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it’s the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

    Home - Washington Crossing Historic Park

    Contribute Now: Help us save our national heritage The mission of the non- profit Friends of Washington Crossing Park is to support the programs of Washington Crossing Historic Park. Your tax-deductible gift will assist the Friends to support and promote the park as an historic site and aid in the preservation, collection and maintenance of materials, buildings, equipment, machinery and artifacts relating to the colonial period.

  • The Great Smoky Mountains - Tennessee and North Carolina

    The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park.

  • Lenox - Massachusetts

    Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It’s a nice area if you don’t want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it’s a bit more off the radar.

    Lenox, MA |

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Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.

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Author Anne Erickson
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