Worlds away from the USA's biggest cities, many of America's small towns are filled with treasures and offer life at a deliciously slow pace. Here we've chosen our favourite dinky towns (and a few teeny-tiny cities) from every state.

Stretching along the shores of Mobile Bay, this pocket-sized city in Baldwin County was founded in 1894 and its quaint French Quarter is packed with independent shops and a charming cobblestone plaza. Scenic walks through streets lined with oak trees and pre-Civil War era homes await and you'll catch beautiful sunrises and sunsets down by the water too.

The remote town of Sitka, in the far reaches of southeastern Alaska, is one of the state's most beautiful. It's located on the harbour in the foothills of the Three Sisters Mountains, so there are plenty of outdoor activities on offer, from boating and kayaking to fishing and hiking. Sitka is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit peoples, whose heritage can be explored in the town’s museums and National Historical Park.

One of the last silver-mining boom towns in the West, Tombstone is now a living relic of the bygone days of cowboys and gunslingers; the streets are lined with red-brick buildings, age-old saloons and quirky storefronts. Take a tour of the old courthouse, visit the Gunfighter Hall of Fame and watch battle re-enactments on the streets.

Situated in the heart of the Ozarks, the scenic town of Eureka Springs in northwest Arkansas is filled to the brim with Victorian-style architecture. The distinct lack of chain stores makes way for plenty of independent shops and bars, and some of the state's best-known landmarks can be found in the area too. Look out for the tree-clad Thorncrown Chapel and The Christ of the Ozarks, a 66-foot-tall (20m) statue of Jesus.

Dropped in the hills of California's most famous wine region, Napa County, this charming town is surrounded by vineyards and dotted with grand buildings. One of the finest is Rhine House (pictured), home to Beringer winemakers, which offers tours and tastings. You’ll also find award-winning restaurants and sleek boutique hotels.

A former silver-mining community, Leadville was once so populous and thriving that it was almost named the capital of Colorado. It was pipped to the post, however, and now the town's population is below 3,000. Well-preserved Victorian buildings – with more than 50 dating back to the 1870s – and beautiful scenery are its main draws today. It's also the highest incorporated city in the state, and you can take a scenic railway tour that chugs through the Rocky Mountains.

Though it's best known as the setting for the 1988 film Mystic Pizza starring Julia Roberts, this southern Connecticut port town has so much more to offer. A stroll through the 18th-century style Olde Mistick Village is a top draw for architecture lovers, while four National Historic Landmark ships can be viewed at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Love this? Follow our Facebook page for more travel inspiration

Lewes Historic District, the heart of this small city in Sussex County, is a quaint area filled with Victorian architecture, churches, museums, boutiques and several fine restaurants. But the peaceful strands are the main attraction here. Beach-lovers can take to the coastal trails of Cape Henlopen State Park, where you'll find military bunkers tucked away in the sand dunes.

With over 400 years of history, St Augustine is tipped as the oldest continuously occupied city in the contiguous United States. Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, the small Historic District is a charming mix of narrow streets, museums and 18th- and 19th-century buildings, some of which are rumoured to be haunted. The brooding Castillo de San Marcos is a highlight too.

50 photos that show why Florida's attractions are unmissable

Home to German-style shops and beer gardens, Helen is a charming recreation of a Bavarian Alpine village, and feels much more like a town on the Continent than one in the American South. The town typically also holds one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the country, with flowing beer and plenty of bratwursts.

Incredible beaches and spots for fresh seafood fill this charming town on Maui, which is tipped as the Aloha State's windsurfing capital. Laid-back with a bohemian vibe, pretty Paia gets top points for its colourful coffee shops, yoga studios, surf shacks, street art and the popular Paia Fish Market.

Spread over a leafy pocket in northern Idaho, Wallace is surrounded by forests and there are plenty of ways to enjoy its natural attractions. There's biking and ziplining for adventure seekers; or hiking along the Blossom Lakes Trail, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of the Hiawatha. The town is also one of the world’s largest producers of silver and is famous for its mining industry.

The cute town of Galena, tucked away in far northwestern Illinois, is full of traditional charm. Its brick-lined streets are studded with historic attractions like the Old Blacksmith Shop and the P.T Murphy Magic Theater, with its old-school magician's shows. Main Street bursts with boutique stores, antiques shops and restaurants too.

An utterly charming collection of 19th-century buildings, the tiny city of Madison has lots to offer. There are historical sites aplenty (the entire downtown is a National Historic Landmark), plus locally owned shops, galleries and casual restaurants. It’s a relatively short drive from Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; and the Indiana state capital of Indianapolis too.

Founded by Dutch immigrants, Pella is affectionately known as 'America’s Dutch Treasure', and its canal, distinct Dutch architecture and traditional windmills make the town feel more like Amsterdam than Iowa. The city's Dutch heritage is also celebrated at the annual springtime Tulip Time Festival with tulip gardens, music, food and daily parades.

Here are more US destinations that feel like you're in a different country

Historic Abilene in Kansas is most famous for being the hometown of President Eisenhower, and first-time visitors typically make a beeline for his house at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum, where he is now buried. The Georgian-style Seelye Mansion is also a popular attraction.

Most notably the home of the Jim Beam distillery, Clermont is a prominent stop on the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Jim Beam offers distillery tours, while the nearby Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is perfect for long walks. The whole of Bullitt County is steeped in bourbon history, so there are plenty of other distilleries nearby too, like Maker's Mark, which leads tours with advance reservations. 

The historic Natchitoches was a French colony founded in 1714 and is the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana. Situated on the Cane River, the area has maintained its distinctive French Creole architecture, with elegant townhouses, wrought-iron balconies and brick paths. It’s also home to the 19th-century Oakland Plantation (pictured), a designated National Historic Landmark that was once a cotton farm. Today, it's possible to visit and also learn about the enslaved people who lived here.

Nicknamed the ‘Jewel of the Maine Coast’, Camden is a quintessential seaside town with a charming harbour, an old lighthouse, jagged rock bays and the opportunity for sunset cruises. Many visitors enjoy hiking up nearby Mount Battie or indulging in a feast at one of the town’s many coastal restaurants. 

These are North America's best beaches

As well as looking incredibly pretty, the vibrant town of Berlin in Maryland's Worcester County has a cool, laid-back atmosphere and plenty of history: Main Street has a mix of Victorian and early 20th-century buildings, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is also dotted with beautiful magnolias and sycamores, and is close to the sandy Assateague Island, where wild horses roam.

The romantic coastal town of Rockport in Massachusetts, located on the Cape Ann peninsula, is surrounded by beautiful beaches and is home to Motif Number 1 – a red fishing shack often cited as the most-painted building in America. In the centre of town, Main Street has quirky art galleries, a pottery studio and gift stores, plus Tuck’s Candy Factory. 

Known for its Bavarian-style architecture, Frankenmuth is a celebration of the area’s German roots. Settled in 1845 by German Lutheran immigrants, the town is now filled with Bavarian-themed bakeries, restaurants and hotels. A highlight is Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland – a Christmas shop that began trading in 1945 and is open 361 days a year. 

The small town of Lanesboro in Minnesota sits along the scenic Root River State Trail – covering around 42 miles (68km), the route can be enjoyed on foot, by bike or even with kayaks or tubes right on the water. Back in town, Lanesboro's quaint centre is full of individual shops and bars, with a refreshing lack of chain stores and fast-food outlets.

Set on the Mississippi River, elegant Natchez has everything you might expect from a classic Southern town – 18th-century homes, beautiful scenery and traditional down-home cuisine. Here you can walk along the riverbank or visit the town’s art galleries and museums.

Nestled in the Ozark mountains, Branson has plenty going for it. Here you’ll find the quaint Silver Dollar City, an 1880s-themed amusement park with rides, performances and craft demonstrations, and visitors can also hop on the Branson Scenic Railway for a tour through the Ozark foothills between March and December. When it comes to dining, White River Fish House is a popular spot for hearty country cooking and seafood dishes.

Take a look at these captivating images of America's oldest theme parks

The cute mountain town of Whitefish is a true all-season spot. During the winter months, it's a popular ski resort, and at Christmastime, the snow-capped peaks provide the perfect backdrop for the festive markets downtown. In summer, the lakes transform into scenic swimming spots and the mountain trails are overtaken with bikers and hikers.

10 ski resorts that are just as appealing in summer

With the rolling hills and sandstone canyons of the Smith Falls State Park nearby, Nebraska’s Valentine is a small town with a large offering. In fact, the bucolic area is nicknamed 'God’s Country' by locals, and elk and bison roam free at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge too. Pictured is the Centennial Hall Museum, which is housed in the state's oldest high-school building and displays historical artefacts from the area.

Walking down Virginia City’s main street is like stepping into a cowboy film, thanks to the kitschy western-style saloons, restaurants and shops. Once a bustling silver-mining community, which attracted thousands of newcomers including Mark Twain, the quaint town in Nevada is now home to fewer than 900 people. Stay overnight at one of the charming bed and breakfasts and get to grips with local history on a mine tour.

Home to the prestigious Ivy League Dartmouth College (pictured), Hanover is one of the nation’s oldest towns. Head to Main Street for classic New England architecture, individual boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. The town is also located along the Connecticut River, where you can enjoy kayaking and canoeing or take a walk across the pretty Ledyard Free Bridge.

Find the most beautiful college town in your state

This charming coastal city, which has a population of less than 4,000, is admired for its pristine beaches and the pretty, colourful Victorian buildings along the waterfront. In fact, the preservation of these eye-catching structures helped the whole city earn its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The slew of seafood restaurants and locally owned food and fashion stores is not to be missed either.

The beautiful old town of Taos is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in northern New Mexico, and is hailed for its super creative locals and its many art galleries. The desert landscape is also home to the traditional adobe structures that make up the Taos Pueblo (pictured). This community dwelling has belonged to the Puebloans for more than 1,000 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Amazing American road trips you might not know about

Named for shimmering Lake Placid itself, this little town in the Adirondack Mountains is a top spot for outdoorsy types. It's known as a hub for winter sports, and was most notably the host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Fly-fishing is popular here too: the West Branch of the Ausable River, near Lake Placid, is a well-known year-round fishing destination.

Not to be confused with Beaufort in South Carolina, this gorgeous North Carolina town is all historic Southern-style architecture and tranquil parks near the harbour. Most of the action happens along the town's picturesque Front Street, which opens out along the shore, while there's plenty of opportunity for waterfront activities, like kayaking, fishing and sightseeing cruises.

Bottineau is gloriously quaint – it has a store of retro attractions, from a pastel-washed movie theatre to a charming creamery that's tipped as having the best ice cream in the state. It's also the perfect springboard for outdoor adventures in the Turtle Mountains and the sprawling, flower-filled International Peace Garden – a symbol of friendship between Canada and the States – is a stone's throw away.

'New England Charm in the Heart of Ohio' is the strapline of this dinky Midwestern village. Here you'll find gorgeous Federal-style architecture and quaint streets brimming with colourful candy stores, coffee houses, antique outlets and old-style bookshops. Standout sites include the sprawling Bryn Du Mansion and the Buxton Inn, which has been operating since 1812. 

The former capital of Oklahoma, Guthrie is a small city packed full of history. Architecture buffs will appreciate the Victorian buildings and the 19th-century stone façades, while the downtown district brims with antique stores and cute bed and breakfasts. The area is also home to the Scottish Rite Temple, one of the country's largest Masonic centres. Ghost hunting tours are a crowd favourite here too.

The beautiful port of Hood River sits in the foothills of the snow-capped Mount Hood on the Columbia River Gorge. Given the small city's incredible backdrop, it's not surprising that hiking, snowshoeing, mountain-biking and sailing are all popular here. There's a good handful of breweries in the area too, so you can reward yourself with a pint after an afternoon's adventure. 

Discover these picture-perfect ports from the skies

Nicknamed 'the Switzerland of America', the Pennsylvanian town of Jim Thorpe is nestled in the Pocono Mountains. This alpine-esque bolthole, with winding streets and Victorian architecture, also sits close to Lehigh Gorge, a spectacular state park with thick woodlands, dramatic waterfalls and a trail that follows abandoned railroad tracks. 

New Shoreham on Block Island is the smallest town in the smallest state in America. It's far quieter than nearby Newport or Narragansett, but it still has bags of quintessential New England charm. Here you’ll find sandy shores, stunning lighthouses and miles of nature trails. The beautiful Southeast Lighthouse is a top attraction too. 

Your state's most scenic walk that you can do in a day

Behind dreamy Charleston, Beaufort is the second oldest city in South Carolina. The area is renowned for its stunning Victorian and pre-Civil War era architecture and moss-covered oak trees. Walking tours typically run throughout the town and the excellent Beaufort History Museum is worth a stop. It has some of the finest waterside views in the Southern states too. 

During the Gold Rush in the late 1800s, thousands flocked to the Black Hills and Deadwood specifically to seek their fortune. They included Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and other notorious gunslingers, many of whom you’ll find buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery. With just over 1,200 residents, this small town is a lot more peaceful these days, though you can still often enjoy shoot-out re-enactments in the historic main streets and saloons. 

These are America's eeriest Gold Rush ghost towns

Many visitors head to Gatlinburg in Tennessee to explore the Great Smoky Mountains, but the town itself is also worth discovering. Head to the Gatlinburg Space Needle (pictured) or jump aboard the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway for great views of the leafy surrounds. You’ll also find plenty of charming restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries in the area. 

The tiny town of Marfa has fewer than 2,000 residents, but it has become a nationally renowned arts hub, largely down to one man. Artist Donald Judd fell in love with the desert community in the 1970s and transformed the place by creating the Chinati Foundation Gallery, art installations (like the bold Marfa Prada, pictured here), and film and music festivals. Since then, quirky shops and restaurants have flourished, including the popular Marfa Burrito.

Check out more secret wonders hiding in the world's deserts

Despite holding the annual Sundance Film Festival and hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City in Utah is a surprisingly quaint and laid-back place. Once famous for silver mining, the area is surrounded by jaw-dropping mountains, while the town itself is centred on historic Main Street and has over 100 independent boutiques.

Stowe is the perfect small town for nature enthusiasts, art lovers and ice-cream fans, who'll find Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factory a short drive away – the fun behind-the-scenes factory tour is a crowd-pleaser. The town is also surrounded by thick forests, rivers and valleys and the state’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, just to the north. It's host to an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in July too.

The adorable Chincoteague Island is just seven miles (11.2km) long and three miles (5km) wide, but bursting with nostalgic charm. The area is dotted with cottages and surrounded by sandy shores and there’s a distinct lack of fancy resorts, high-rises or boardwalks. Head to the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge to spot hundreds of wild horses roaming the neighbouring Assateague Island too. 

Now discover America's most beautiful islands you can visit

Port Townsend in Washington was an important shipping port in the late 1800s, and it's one of just three recognised Victorian seaports in America. A wave of regeneration in the 1970s restored the area’s historic buildings (its historic district is now on the National Register of Historic Places) and the small city has a charming marina and thriving arts scene with several galleries and museums.

With the largest lake in the state and the only working lighthouse, Summersville is a unique place to visit in West Virginia. Summersville Lake is perfect for boating and swimming, and plenty of biking and walking trails are laced around the water's edge too. Downtown is home to charming old storefronts and the Neoclassical Revival county courthouse, built in the 1890s.

Perched on the shore of Lake Superior and surrounded by apple orchards, lavender and strawberry fields, Bayfield in Wisconsin is a wonderful, bucolic escape. For most of the year, it’s home to around 500 people, but thousands of tourists typically visit in the summer to enjoy the scenic waters, galleries and nearby Apostle Islands.

Cody was named after William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, and he’s still a mighty presence in the town. Here you’ll find museums and scenic byways dedicated to the famed showman, as well as the Cody Nite Rodeo, which features plenty of lasso-wielding cowboys. For the full Wild West experience, head to the nearby Old Trail Town (pictured) – a living museum with traditional cabins, a saloon and old wagons. 

Now find out how to save money on multi-destination visits to the USA