Blink and you'll miss the teensy town of Mentone, which is perched at the top of Lookout Mountain, in northeastern Alabama. It's thoroughly geared up for tourists with rustic mountain cabins (pictured), a handful of laid-back dining options and the Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort, tipped as the USA's southernmost winter sports hub. A highlight of the year is the Mentone Colorfest, a fall celebration of arts, crafts and music in the mountain bolthole.

You'll want to linger in Jasper's quaint downtown area, which has all-American spots like Ozark Cafe – a 100-year-old restaurant serving classic comfort food – as well as an elegant courthouse. But the great outdoors will be calling too. This Ozark Mountains town is perfectly placed for hiking, biking and canoeing – strike out on Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 for some epic views.

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Neat-as-a-pin beach towns abound in California and many are as famous as they are beautiful (we're looking at you, Carmel-by-the-Sea). Miraculously, Avila Beach, along California's Central Coast, has stayed a relative secret, overshadowed by the likes of Morro Bay. The town has a lot going for it: the charming promenade along Front Street is packed out with bistros and boutiques, and a handful of inns look over the ocean. It's a top spot for golfers too, with the swish Avila Beach Golf Resort.

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Paonia is one of the Centennial State's best-kept secrets. You'll enjoy a bounty of local produce here: the town sits in a region rich in cideries, wineries and farms offering tours and tastings. One of the best is Azura Cellars, a winery that doubles as an art gallery. Back in town, the colourful Creative District features mural-splashed galleries, artists' studios and boutiques, plus a historic cinema.

Slow down and smell the salt air in Seaside, a charming small town on the Florida Panhandle that leans into the Gulf Coast. A series of striking beachside pavilions characterise the town, which is also loved for its snow-white, cabana-dotted strands, its colourful houses and its cool record and bookstores. If you happen to recognise it, it might be because it served as the backdrop for 1998 Jim Carey movie The Truman Show.

In this rustic mountain town, evidence of a historic mining, ranching and lumbering industry still lingers. In its immediate outskirts, you'll spot decrepit barns and Gold Rush-era buildings like this one pictured, framed by the Salmon River Mountains. But these days, the town's top draws are artsy attractions and outdoor pursuits – hop between little galleries then strike out for rafting, hiking and biking adventures. The Blues and Brews Fest is an annual highlight too.

Arcola is just a 1.5-hour drive east of Illinois capital Springfield, but it's worlds away. The big city buzz is replaced with a dreamy, small-town vibe and the place is a gateway to Amish country. You can pick up Amish-made crafts at shops in town, and you should also make time to stop by the Hippie Memorial. A giant shrine to hippy culture, this artwork by free-spirited railroad worker Bob Moomaw is made from found materials. Main Street is stuffed with striking 19th-century buildings like this one pictured too. 

No, not that Nashville. Southern Indiana's Nashville is much smaller than Tennessee's Music City, but a quirky, creative heart is something they both have in common. The town punches above its weight when it comes to treasure-filled antiques stores, live music spots and funky art galleries. There are also plenty of quaint little restaurants for pizza, Mexican food and all-American comfort food.

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You'll be thoroughly charmed by downtown Midway which is packed with colourful storefronts and art galleries, plus American grills, cute cafés and inns. It was originally a booming railroad town and tracks, used by freight trains, still route through the quaint place. It's also home to one of the region's top wineries – Equus Run Vineyards – and Bluegrass Railroad Museum, which tells of the area's railroading history.

Abita Springs, just 45 miles (72km) from New Orleans, across Lake Pontchartrain, packs plenty of quirks into a small space. It's a beer-lover's haven, known for beloved Abita Brewery, alongside other top taphouses and brewpubs. Beyond a charming Main Street, another top attraction is the Abita Springs Opry – this series of live music concerts takes place throughout the year and centres on country and bluegrass.

Maine isn't short of coastal idylls and little Stonington is well worth a visit. A bridge links the town, at the southern tip of Deer Isle, to the mainland, but you'll find it hard to tear yourself away. It's a creative spot, packed with artists' studios and dinky galleries, and there's an opera house for live music and theatre too. Foodies will be satisfied – Maine lobster is a staple here and you can eat it while looking over the bay.

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A perfectly formed town on the peninsula of Cape Cod, Wellfleet is often overlooked in favour of more famous places such as Provincetown and Nantucket. That's a crying shame, though, as the town is awash with wonders, such as Uncle Tim's Bridge (pictured) which juts over marshland and connects to some scenic hiking trails. Once you've ventured into the outdoors, come back for a seafood feast by the water and a nose around the Wellfleet Flea Market – check for running times.

Rising over the Missouri River, Hermann was settled by German immigrants in 1837 and this heritage still runs deep. A hodge-podge of elegant, red-brick buildings make up the town, which is filled with museums – there's the fascinating City of Hermann Caboose Museum or the Deutschheim State Historic Site, which offers a glimpse into 19th-century life here. Best of all, though, this is wine country and historic wineries offer tours and tastings.

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Red Cloud is a small Nebraskan town with a fascinating literary heritage. It was the childhood home of Willa Cather, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of One of Ours, among other successful novels. Today, the house is restored and still contains precious relics from the family. Downtown, you'll stumble upon bookstores and antiques shops, plus cute guesthouses and swish restaurants and bars.

Gloriously quaint, the main area of this small town has a distinctly European feel about it, with streets lined with little cafés. The town celebrates its French heritage with a big Bastille Day bash in summer and the outdoors is a pull all year-round. The town spreads out along the Delaware River and it's a popular place for cycling too.

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It would be very easy indeed to miss Jud, a tiny town with just about 100 permanent residents. While there's little more than a handful of shops and a quaint old post office, it's a worthwhile stop for true art lovers. Passing through you'll spot a jumble of buildings brightened with street art, from bold floral patterns to farm scenes and forests.

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This is small-town America done by the book. As charming as they come, the little settlement in Lancaster County is filled with boutiques in historic buildings, family-run restaurants and compact museums plotting the town's history. A sure crowd-pleaser is the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery: here you can take an interactive tour and even roll your own pretzel.

Rhode Island's Newport County is packed with cute coastal towns and Little Compton is one of them. The town has a long history which is unravelled through changing exhibitions at the Little Compton Historical Society. It's a joy to spend some time by the water too: South Shore Beach is small but picturesque, and the colourful boats bobbing on the Sakonnet River make a great photo op.

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The Lone Star State is enormous, so it's inevitable that even towns as lovely as this one are occasionally overlooked. The town brands itself as the 'Gateway to Hill Country' and, as its name suggests, it's a stone's throw from some wonderful watery attractions too. The best and most famous of them is the Hamilton Pool Preserve, a historic natural swimming hole. Back in town, sample the region's fine wines and catch a concert – there's live music here almost every night.

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La Conner has become something of an artists' hot spot, not surprising given the cinematic views and sheer amount of natural beauty on offer here. The waterside town is picture-perfect and the wider county is known for its kaleidoscopic tulip fields, celebrated by the annual Tulip Festival. Big names like painter Guy Anderson once called La Conner home and you can get to grips with the local arts scene at the Museum of Northwest Art.

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Egg Harbor – whose name is apparently a nod to a food fight between fur traders back in the 19th century – is a lovely pit stop on a drive through scenic Door County. The pretty marina looks best at sunset and the little beach is a hit with visitors too. Downtown, the bounty of local produce is put front and centre in artisan bakeries, chic grocery stores and restaurants.

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Going back through the decades, Wyoming would have been filled with stirring one-horse towns and many still retain a feel of the Old West. That's true of Pinedale, which pitches itself as the 'Real Wyoming'. It's a perfect gateway to some of the state's finest wilderness, flanked as it is by the Wind River Mountain Range and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Back in town, there are ample places to fill up on hearty American food after a hike.

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