There are lots of exciting small towns all over the world that remained unexplored. But these towns' historic past continue to shape the people that inhabit them. They may be small in area and population, but they boast of breathtaking sceneries and exciting activities.
Smithsonian described each town and truly, they must be included in the must-visit travel destinations this year. Here are five of them:
1. Bell Buckle, Tennessee - This town has a population 512 where antiquing is a popular activity. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The town started as a railroad town in 1852. Although the trains are no longer running in Bell Buckle, the town is deeply known as a destination for road trippers. The Bedford County town has been a tourist destination decades ago until today.
Bell Buckle is famous for its RC and MoonPie Festival because the town serves the largest MoonPie in the world. The pie weighs over 50 pounds. It started in 1917 when a Kentucky coal miner asked for a "treat as big as the moon." Later, the MoonPie was born which is made of graham, marshmallow, and chocolate concoction. It has been 100 years since the sweet treat started.
2. Talkeetna, Alaska - This small town has only 876 closely-knitted people. The town, nestled near Mount Denali is famous for its art and music. Tourists flock to Talkeetna during the summer months. The town that has no mayor because it was unincorporated boasts of its establishments like the Latitude 62 and the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Its Hurricane Turn Train can transport tourists to a scenic bridge above the Hurricane Creek. There is a zip line, a museum, and the Denali State Park.
3. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia - This town is inhabited by 293 people. In 1783, Thomas Jefferson visited the town and said that it was "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature." The town is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah and Potomac River valleys. Most of the town is considered part of the National Park Service which is called the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.
The historic town of Harpers Ferry is where the Storer Normal School is located. It is the first school in West Virginia and one of the pioneer schools in the world to take in students regardless of color, creed, or race. Later, it has become as the site for the Niagara Movement, the precursor of the NAACP.
4. Kent, Connecticut - This town will host this year's Gilmore Girls Fan Fest. Fans of the Netflix drama will surely troop to the town with 2,962 residents. The Gingerbread Festival during winter and the fall festival of the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association are two of the celebrations that tourists attend every year.
5. Makanda, Illinois - The Shawnee National Forest and the Giant City State Park are two tourist attractions located near Makanda. Blue Sky Vineyard is what makes the town with 547 inhabitants famous. It is a winery established in 2,000 where visitors can enjoy wines. This year, the town is expected to be filled with people to have a view of the Great American eclipse which will happen at around 1:21 p.m. on August 21. It is a solar eclipse that will stretch from coast to coast in the U.S. Makanda will be in the way of another solar eclipse that will happen in 2024.
Marking the calendars for these towns will make one's traveling experience not only enjoyable but educational. Visiting historic spots in these towns will enrich one's knowledge of history and at the same time keep memories of the small towns' scenic beauties.
