Two Wisconsin Towns Make America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns List
America sure has some real beauty, and according to a new study, there is a list of the “55 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America". A handful of towns in the Midwest made it onto this list, and two Wisconsin towns were also found on this list.
It seems like a pretty great honor to be on this list. Can you guess which two Wisconsin small towns found themselves on the list?
How They Got These Numbers
A few different things were used to make these judgments. The things Architectural Digest looked at include,
- history
- topography
- natural beauty
- community
We looked at easy access to nature, the presence of historic or design districts, and topography that’s appealing in its own right—whether it’s beaches or mountains, or maybe a riverside perch.
Other Midwest Spots On This List
Some other beautiful spots that made it onto the list that you may want to visit are as follows:
Galena, Illinois - We actually wrote about this one. Learn more here...
- Deadwood, South Dakota - This Black Hills town’s Main Street appears to be trapped in a time where life stands still.
- Grand Marais, Minnesota - There is a vast wilderness that spans Minnesota’s Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.
- Rocheport, Missouri - Two hours from both Kansas City and St. Louis.
- Holland, Michigan - The area was settled by the Dutch in 1846, and this heritage remains a big part of the city’s current culture.
- Ketchum, Idaho - In the heart of Idaho’s Sun Valley, this town is an outdoors utopia, with snow sports, fishing, rock-climbing, and more.
- Yellow Springs, Ohio - See a 78-mile-long Little Miami Scenic Trail that connects to the 752-acre John Bryan State Park. Also, many residents are artists.
Wisconsin's Most Beautiful Small Towns
This list is in no particular order when it comes to ranking the beauty of these towns.
Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
The AD had this to say about Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin:
Near the top of the Door County peninsula, and along Lake Michigan, this harbor town boasts a cute A-frame coffee shop, a microbrewery’s taproom, a nature sanctuary with hiking trails, and adorable inns.
Sounds absolutely beautiful, and like an awesome place to visit sometime!
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
You probably saw this one coming... the AD had this to say about Lake Geneva, Wisconsin:
Considered “the Newport of the Midwest,” this lake community two hours north of Chicago is rimmed with opulent mansions once belonging to wealthy Chicago families (Sears, Wrigleys, etc.) and, even today, are rich in affluence and design. Mail is still delivered by boat during the summer months.
Personally, I think this list cheated a little bit... According to the 2019 census the estimated population is 8,105. Most towns with a population over 5,000 aren't considered small, but hey let's keep focusing on the beauty!
The visit Lake Geneva site states,
Maybe it’s the way the sunlight shimmers on the lake or the way the sunset casts its warm glow. Maybe it’s the bird-like sensation of soaring through the air on a zipline or in a hot air balloon. Or laughing with friends after a fun-filled day on the trails. Or perhaps it’s a well-deserved afternoon of posh pampering at one of our acclaimed spas, followed by a stroll on the shore path. You might reminisce of time spent exploring the area’s distinctive shops and sampling our award-winning restaurants. Whatever your choices, Lake Geneva promises experiences worth coming back for time and time again. Like generations before us knew… it’s always been the place.