10 Charming U.S. Towns That Feel Like They’re Stuck in Time
Stepping into a world that’s chosen to ignore the ticking clock can feel refreshing in a world racing forward. There are charming towns across the United States that seem to have hit pause and kept the simpler times.
These places lure you into walking down their old-fashioned streets, admiring their historical architecture, and enjoying the small-town life that doesn’t seem to be affected by modern hustle. Imagine a place where you don’t read about the past in a book; the past is part of daily life.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Situated in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is nicknamed ‘Healing Springs’. Its Victorian architecture, Winding streets, historic hotels, and colorful cottages give this town’s buildings a fairytale quality that hasn’t changed in over a century. Walking the hillsides you’ll find art galleries, cozy cafes, and boutique shops squeezed into narrow streets, adding to the whimsy of the whole place that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a dream come true if you’re being called by New England charm and maritime history. Mystic is known for its picturesque harbor and wooden ships, and for bringing one into its quaint center. You feel as though you have stepped back into a 19th-century town of seafaring. Take a look at restored works covered by the famous Mystic Seaport Museum and see demonstrations of old-world trades such as shipbuilding and blacksmithing. Visit charming shops and riverside eateries, add a walk through town and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
Galena, Illinois
Once a thriving mining town, Galena still looks much as it did in the 1800s. The downtown area is lined with red brick buildings, steep hills and cobblestone streets, storefronts, and homes that have held on to their old-fashioned charm. Walking through Galena is like walking through a storybook, each building has its tale from the past. You can even tour the home of President Ulysses S. Grant.
Bisbee, Arizona
Located in southern Arizona’s mountains, Bisbee’s a copper town boomtown turned artsy Wild West time capsule. Vintage storefronts, galleries, colorful homes — many of which were built in the early 20th century — fill its streets. Bisbee has an unmistakable old soul character, complete with old mining relics strewn about the town and frequent ghost tours to keep its rough and tumble history alive.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is considered the oldest city in the U.S. with Spanish colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. This coastal town was founded in 1565 and has deep European roots and an Old World feel unlike anywhere else in the country. There’s plenty of beauty mixed in with history here, whether you explore the Spanish Colonial atmosphere of the island, from the gorgeous Castillo de San Marcos fortress to its charming narrow streets flanked by old stone walls, or spend the day playing in the sand on the edge of town.
McCloud, California
A former mill town located in the shadow of Mount Shasta, McCloud has retained its early 20th-century charm. McCloud has a quaintness you’d expect in a classic Hollywood film — commercial buildings painted in pastel hues and vintage storefronts. Hot climate towns with dairying interests in the fog belt or rain shadow of the mountains always retain a timeless feel about them, and the surrounding natural beauty, her mountains, lakes, and forests, only enhance the quality.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Situated in the Pocono Mountains and often called the “Switzerland of America,” Jim Thorpe has beautiful mountain views, Victorian architecture, and a cozy small-town feel. Once the coal transportation hub for the region, the town remains grand, with its 19th-century homes, inns, and world-famous Asa Packer Mansion. You can ride the scenic trains through the mountains, or wander this pretty piece of history.
Mendocino, California
Mendocino, located along the rugged California coastline, has maintained its New England-inspired architecture, along with its old fishing village feel. White cottages, weathered wood buildings, pretty gardens and its dramatic seaside cliffs give the town an added air of romance. The artsy vibe of Mendocino and its classic coastal views give it a simpler times on the West Coast feel.
Bath, Maine
The City of Ships, Bath, has a wealth of shipbuilding history, beginning in the 1600s. The town is a Federal style with a historic waterfront that feels like an early American trip. Maine Maritime Museum gives you more info about Bath’s nautical heritage. Take a walk through its charming streets with antique shops and cozy cafes and that will make you feel like you’ve been dropped into the past.
Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown is a small town with character. Known as “The Bourbon Capital of the World!”, It’s a colonial square crowded with nice colonial buildings and inns that would have been in place during the early 1800s. Bardstown has a real Southern warmth, and a sense of Southern hospitality that makes you feel at home. You don’t want to miss My Old Kentucky Home, a historic mansion that lets you experience what living in Kentucky was like in the past.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
