We took the list of America’s best small towns and cozy vacation spots then set out to find the best vacation homes from those towns. We will compile our findings throughout a series of posts on our website. For simplicity, each post will have 7-8 homes.
Click on the name of each rental home to check on pricing and availability of each. These are definitely homes to wow and brag to your family and friends about!
To see our first list of unique and amazing rental homes, click HERE. Part two of our list of unique and amazing vacation homes is found HERE.
The Treehouse– Cooperstown, New York
I don’t think there is a bad time of year to visit Cooperstown. Most people associate Cooperstown with baseball and the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. But Cooperstown is also known for its dining, breweries, festivals, golf, sailing, fishing, and more. In fall, the colors on the trees is breathtaking. In winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular activities.
A vacation to such a beautiful town deserves a stay in beautiful lodging. It doesn’t get any better than The Treehouse. Sitting right on the shores of pristine Lake Otsego, The Treehouse is a 5BR/4BA home that will sleep up to 12. For a larger group, you can also book the guest house that sits next to the main home.
Inside, this home exudes luxury. This is a TRUE log home throughout. It was constructed in Canada from massive Douglas Fir trees. The rooms are spacious. The main gathering spaces have soaring ceilings. The stone fireplace is nothing short of spectacular. You may never want to leave the home…
HOWEVER, the outside of the home is equally impressive. The large deck for enjoying lake views. Fire pits for those cool nights. Kayaks and a giant water trampoline for summer lake time. Plenty of lawn space for running and playing with the kids plus a barbecue grill round out the outdoor perks.
It’s no surprise that this home was featured in Log Home Living magazine. Luckily for all of us, it is available to rent. Click the name of the home above to check available and pricing. To see all Cooperstown vacation homes (and there are many!) click HERE!
Modern Home– Marfa, Texas
Marfa, TX is one of those places that is hard to describe, even if you’re from Texas. Marfa is a very small town in the middle of the west Texas desert. Over time, Marfa has become a popular place for the arts. Writers, artists, and musicians have gathered and now call Marfa home. Despite the very remote nature of this city, it has become a popular vacation spot as well. The rugged beauty of the desert along with various mountain ranges surrounding the city, Marfa is an outdoor enthusiasts dream.
So one does one stay when visiting a quirky town in the middle of a desert? Marfa has hotels, motels, adobe homes, cottages, ranches, tipis, casitas…and then homes like this gorgeous modern home located on the outer edges of Marfa.
This 3BR/3BA home will sleep up to six. The main common areas have huge windows, allowing tons of natural light in while giving unobstructed views of the mountains in the distance. The home was built with a modern feel. The walls are filled with art. We love the massive covered patio with outdoor fireplace. The night sky will be filled with stars unlike any sky you’ve seen before.
We highly suggest visiting Marfa. It’s an amazing place if you are into the arts, music, or pure nature. At night, you will want to check out the mysterious Marfa lights. Absolutely one of America’s best small towns! To learn more about this home and its pricing and availability, click the name above.
To see a listing of all area Marfa homes, click HERE.
The Watchman– Springdale, Utah
Springdale, UT is unique in that it perfectly blends cozy and quaint vacation town with rugged and outdoorsy National Park. That is because Springdale is LITERALLY at the doorstep of Zion National Park. There is one main road leading through town, and that road is lined with local cafes, coffee shops, bistros, breweries, and shoppes. Hike and explore in the mornings, freshen up at the house, then head out for dining and nightlife. PERFECT!
It was hard to pick just one home to highlight, as Springdale has MANY to choose from. We chose The Watchman for several reasons. Zion’s mountains are literally in the home’s backyard. The official park entrance is only a mile away. The home is close enough to town that you can walk to several dining options. Sounds pretty amazing.
The Watchman is a recently renovated 3BR/3BA home that will sleep up to ten people. We love the floor to ceiling windows in the living room that provide great views of the mountains. The walls are adorned with high quality photos from throughout the national park. And I normally don’t make a big deal about bathrooms, but LOOK AT THOSE SHOWERS! I hope there are instructions on how to use it!
Springdale definitely earns the right to be listed as one of America’s best small towns. The Watchman is a perfect choice for those visiting Zion National Park. Click the name of the home above to view more photos and see pricing and availability. To see all of the vacation homes in Springdale, click HERE.
The Hobbit House– Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix is a charming small town located on the shores of Lake Michigan in far northwestern Michigan. The local downtown shops have something for everyone. There are beaches on both Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. Skydiving is offered in the area. If you enjoy boating and fishing, there are plentiful opportunities for both. Lavender Hill Farms grows 29 varieties of lavender. Check out historic structures at Castle Farms (including 1918 Cellars for an excellent selection of Michigan wines. There are tons of nature and recreation areas. And then there are the mushroom houses…
Architect Earl Young had this wild idea to create homes from the many giant boulders found in the area along with cedar shakes. The result are these whimsical and almost fairytale like homes. There are many of all shapes and sizes around Charlevoix. Many are even able to rent as vacation homes, including The Hobbit House.
This particular mushroom house is perfectly sized at 2 BR and 1 BA. It will sleep 4. The Hobbit is very conveniently located just blocks from downtown and the beach. Both are very walkable. It is Charlevoix’s most popular vacation rental with over 300 five star reviews. The home is quaint and cozy and the large stone fireplace would be amazing during those cool Michigan nights.
It is easy to see why Charlevoix made the list as one of America’s best small towns. A stay at The Hobbit House would help immerse yourself in the area lore. To see all of Charlevoix’s other beautiful rental homes, click HERE.
Hilltop Haven– Black Mountain, North Carolina
Black Mountain, NC is a small, picturesque town located in Western North Carolina. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from Asheville and one hour to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Black Mountain sits right in the Blue Ridge Mountain range. It was voted Prettiest Small Town Vacation in 2016 by TripAdvisor! No surprise that we found it on a list of America’s best small towns too!
While small in population (fewer than 8000), Black Mountain is not lacking in things to do. Outdoor activities abound with fishing, hiking, and mountain biking being most popular. The town is home to plenty of restaurants, shopping, breweries, and more. They are famous for having rocking chairs around town, hence the town’s nickname of “The Little Town That Rocks!”
So where should you stay? Lodging options are plenty, but we fell in love with this adorable home. Hilltop Haven is a 3 bedroom/2 bath home that will sleep up to eight. The home is semi-secluded, surrounded by tasteful landscaping and trees. There are beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains that can be admired from the home.
Inside the home, you will find a warm and inviting space with tons of natural light coming from the many large windows. Rooms have lots of natural wood accents and are tastefully decorated. There’s a fireplace for cool evenings. Challenge your family to a game of pool in the home’s game room.
Outside, you will enjoy the rocking chairs on the front porch. On the back deck, you will find a hot tub, gas grill, chairs, and a small outdoor dining table. Of course, there are the views to admire and the fresh mountain air to breathe in.
To see pricing and availability of the home, simply click the name of the home above. If you would like to browse all of Black Mountains many vacation homes, click HERE. We certainly think Black Mountain deserves to be on the list of America’s best small towns.
Icicle River Lodge– Leavenworth, Washington
A visit to Leavenworth will have you asking “Am I still in America or have I been transported to the Bavarian region of Germany?” The cities architecture is true Bavarian. Instead of the Bavarian Alps, Leavenworth sits within the Cascade Mountain range. Restaurants serve delicious German foods and beers. Leavenworth has events throughout the calendar, however there are two that really stand out.
Oktoberfest is held for three consecutive weekends in late-September through mid-October. They host entertainment throughout the town, giving visitors the ability to take in all the Bavarian food, beer, music…you will feel like you are under one of the giant beer tents in Munich!
The other notable festival is Christmastown. The Germans are known for their cities really going all out for Christmas. That German tradition is replicated in Leavenworth. The entire downtown area is transformed into a winter wonderland. Millions of lights. Wandering carolers. Gingerbread houses. Photos with Santa. And much much more.
The Icicle River Lodge is the perfect place to stay during your visit to Leavenworth. Sitting just steps from the river, you also get plenty of mountain views all around you. The lodge is 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. It will sleep 6. The lodge has recently had a seven month makeover and renovation. The results are stunning.
We can’t tell what we love more about the Icicle River Lodge…the interior or the exterior. Huge windows, tall ceilings, tons of natural light, and open space. Luxury bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen. Gas fireplaces. Natural wood accent. Outside you have a sauna, hot tub, huge covered patio, large lawn for play, and 270 feet of private river frontage (with great fishing!).
To check rates and availability for the Icicle River Lodge, click the name above. To see all of Leavenworth’s stunning vacation homes, click HERE. Leavenworth proves you don’t have to leave the US to get an authentic Bavarian vacation. Because of that, Leavenworth earns its spot on the list of America’s best small towns.
White House Inn– Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry, WV is a very small town located where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers come together. For such a small town (population less than 300), it has more history for its size than any other town besides Gettysburg. Through the years, Harpers Ferry was also an important transportation hub and an industrial center due to the water power generated by the two rivers.
The area is also a haven for nature lovers. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, tubing, rafting and more are popular activities. The Appalachian Trail hits its halfway point between its ending locations in Georgia and Maine as it passes through Harpers Ferry. Washington, DC is just an hour away, which is perfect for day trips.
When visiting a historic location, we feel it enhances your trip to stay in historic lodging. There are several historic homes in Harpers Ferry that are available to rent, but we felt the White House Inn was about the best. Built 1837, this nearly 200 year old home strikes that perfect balance of retaining much of its historic nature while modernizing just enough to make your stay pleasant.
The home boasts 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It will sleep 10 comfortably. Some bathrooms have been modernized while others retain historic tubs and sinks. The outdoor patio area is a big draw and great for summer evening outdoor dining. The home is very close to the downtown area, so dining and shopping are an easy walk.
Whether you love history, outdoor activities, or both…Harpers Ferry is a fantastic choice for a small town vacation. The 1837 White House Inn makes an amazing place to stay while taking in all of the sites of Harpers Ferry. Click the name of the home above to see pricing and availability. To view the rest of the great homes in the Harpers Ferry area, click HERE. Harpers Ferry is certainly one of America’s best small towns.
We hope you have enjoyed this list of some of the BEST vacation homes from some of America’s BEST small towns. The next selection of homes will be featured in an upcoming article in the very near future! Hopefully some of these homes will light that spark and get you to plan and book your vacation!
