As you gaze out over Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay it is easy to understand why so many people come to this laidback lakeside town to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. There are cute stores and bustling restaurants, of course, plus Marblehead Lighthouse (pictured), built in 1821. The Great Lakes’ oldest continuously operating lighthouse, it makes the perfect spot to contemplate life and realise it's so much better when enjoyed at a Marblehead pace.

Here are more of America's most beautiful lighthouses

The most charming small towns in America's Midwest