Former mining town Galena, Ill. was chosen for its many historic buildings, including those along its Main Street. Photo by Chris Light via Wikimedia Commons.
Three Great Lakes locales are listed by Business Insider as among the 10 best small towns in America.
Traverse City, Mich., Door County, Wis. and Galena, Ill. are among those recognized March 31 for unique atmospheres, charming shops and restaurants and scenic beauty.
“In a time when “authentic” is a travel buzzword, these hamlets are attracting visitors with an often unexpected–and surprisingly sophisticated–array of independent and locally-minded cultural, outdoor, and culinary offerings,” reports Business Insider, a business and technology news website.
Traverse City, on the shores of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, was selected for its proximity to sites of natural beauty like Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore and for its award-winning food and beverage business. The city boasts the largest tart cherry harvest in the United States.
Door County consists of several small towns spread across 2,370 square miles. The county has banned chain hotels, shops and dining. Instead, a variety of boutiques, galleries, studios and independently-owned hotels and restaurants dot its 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the publication reported.
Rounding out the Great Lakes contribution to the list, Galena is a former lead-mining town about three hours west of Chicago. More than 85 percent of the town’s buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the home of 18th President Ulysses S. Grant, according to Business Insider.