I often like to explore small towns in the US, whether they are cute, scary or just interesting. Any suggestions of where I can take a mini vacation from home?

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  3. [Leavenworth](https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5953762,-120.6628971,3a,75y,206.52h,82.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1svEqAu_-0StcFd41AGrrL_Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DvEqAu_-0StcFd41AGrrL_Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D329.6009%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en), WA is a faux Bavarian town that’s fun to visit around Christmas.

    I enjoy [Florence](https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8005456,-87.6760856,3a,75y,340.32h,76.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp5mxKBLgleAZxXsafdLDJg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en) here in Alabama. It’s a quaint, charming college town, which is sort of a rarity seeing as most universities in Alabama are located in larger cities. Plus, there’s a real live lion on UNA’s campus!

  7. Helen, Georgia for a bit of the Bavarian alps in the mountains of Georgia

    Nashville, Indiana — specifically the Brown City Arts Colony which is located in the center, which is just charming.

    Pleasant Hill, Kentucky – This is a preserved Shaker Village, but it is a privately-owned site, I believe, so I’m not sure if you can explore it via Google.

    Carmel-by-the-Sea, California – The fairytale houses/Hugh Comstock homes are beyond charming. Look for the Hugh Comstock Historical Hill District, which is slightly east of downtown.

  9. Mackinac Island, MI. Ferry access only, lots of Victorian houses, a couple of old forts, some cool natural landmarks, and those are horse-drawn carriages, not cars, on the streets.

  10. [Greenville, CA, to see what it looked like two years ago](https://goo.gl/maps/DwCvXT1yJJRqai1p9), since the Street View hasn’t been updated since it was almost completely destroyed by wildfire. [The aerial view *has* been updated post Dixie Fire](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greenville,+CA+95947/@40.1402107,-120.9477106,281a,35y,252.93h,44.98t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x809d064d94fce751:0x40c7930808c06f35!8m2!3d40.1396126!4d-120.9510675!16zL20vMHIzM2o), so the contrast going from satellite to Street View is … staggering.

  12. [Derby Line, VT](https://www.google.com/maps/@45.00552,-72.0980552,3a,75y,359.08h,72.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgWZwrCBN420O0CT7O9Hyog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) and [Stanstead, QC](https://www.google.com/maps/@45.0064849,-72.0907049,3a,75y,201.76h,82.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHa5orDvvVbMpPw6YrmMYpg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) — I wouldn’t necessarily call it a vacation spot, but a fascinating place that happens to have an international border running through it. Some people’s backyards are quite literally another country. And [the library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_Free_Library_and_Opera_House) that let’s you cross the border. In general I love looking at border towns and streets on Google.

  13. As someone that grew up in NH and finds it wildly underrated, get ready for a bunch: Exeter, Portsmouth, Franconia, North Conway, Alton Bay/Wolfeboro honestly, most of the towns around the lake) but Governors Island is the fancy part.

  14. Downtown Annapolis, Maryland might be a fun one. The historic district anyway. It’s been pretty well preserved from the colonial days

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