Rand McNally’s Best of the Road Rally revealed what 30 of the best small towns in America have to offer from the Friendliest to the Most Fun. If you’re looking for a scenic getaway or an all-American road trip, consider one of the Most Beautiful or Most Patriotic town finalists.
Most Beautiful
Coral Gables, Florida’s source of beauty lies in the local nature, architecture, and culture. The town is home to the renowned University of Miami, the historic Biltmore Hotel, and the world-class Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. Visitors can savor time golfing at the country club, boating through waterways, relaxing at the Venetian Pool, or shopping at Merrick Park.
Marco Island, FL is celebrated for the Ten Thousand Islands off its coast and incredible sunset views. The town boasts an immense diversity of wildlife from dolphins to manatees to birds and offers jet ski, catamaran, and boat tours through the environment. This Gulf coast area features plenty of water recreation and great local seafood right on the beach.
Franklin, TN is a small, friendly town outside of Nashville full of Civil War history. The Main Street flows through small boutiques and eateries, a setting which provides a quaint, slow-paced feel. Franklin’s known for The Factory, a complex of 10 depression-era buildings that once accommodated four factories and now house antique and art shops, event venues, and restaurants.
Baker City, OR is nestled between the Elkhorn, Blue, and Eagle Mountains for majestic views of the great outdoors. The town offers tours down the Oregon Trail and the beautifully restored Geiser Hotel. Visitors are encouraged to try the local digs downtown particularly Barley Brew Pub.
Sandpoint, ID has a notoriously overwhelming view from the Long Bridge into town with Schweitzer Mountains creating the backdrop and Lake Pend O’Reille perfectly supplementing the setting. Visitors can take a ski lift up 6800 feet for the majestic view or try a boat cruise down below.
Pacifica, CA hosts parks and beaches with coastal, mountainous views and noteworthy sunsets. Only 15 minutes outside of San Francisco, the city cherishes its smaller town feel. Visitors love Rockaway Beach, the Pacifica Pier, Pedro Point, and Skyline Blvd.
Most Patriotic
Clarksville, TN is the proud home of the 101st Airborne Division. This town completely rallies around their military and wrote more celebratory reviews than any other town on Best of the Road. The city has volunteer welcoming patrons for soldiers returning from service and organizations like Bikers Who Care that support the troops. They even have children in a neighborhood color guard who help a veteran raise his flag on every holiday.
Peachtree City, GA is a residential area containing 90 miles of golf cart trails. The people here are friendly and welcoming, hosting honorary celebrations for fallen soldiers arriving at the local airport. There isn’t a local base, but citizens are proud of the fact that most have served or have family serving in the military. Locals have preserved WWII memorabilia including planes the local Dixie Wing still flies.
Williamsburg, VA houses the history of America’s birth with buildings from the 1600’s, citizens reenacting colonial times, and landmarks representative of our country’s lineage galore. The first chapter of American settlement took place here and today’s locals replicate and share this story with all who come.
Fort Leonard Wood, MO is a community of soldiers, civilian volunteers, and veterans alike surrounding one of the most prominent Army posts. The small town is united in patriotism and demonstrates service both overseas and in emergencies on American soil.
Rapid City, SD hosts both Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, two must-see national landmarks. The town is as beautiful as it is patriotic, surrounded by the Black Hills, and is the home of Ellsworth AFB.
Emporia, KS prides itself in founding Veterans Day, which they celebrate with a full week of festivities. Locals support the troops and celebrate America with events and fundraisers. Tour the All Veterans Memorial in addition to other memorials, a museum, and the local zoo.
Check out the rest of our finalists in the Friendliest, Most Fun, and Best for Food categories.
We meet Kurt Zuelseorf, owner of kayak Nature, at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club to start our adventure. Kurt’s “Bring Back the Bayou” waterway clean up program has recieved national attention as the trash totals are nearing 200,000 lbs…all removed from waterways using kayaks! The result of Kurt’s actions is a wonderful and amazing “Clam Bayou” that you really need to see. We were going to tour the bayou by way of kayak, which would have been fun, but instead
A healthy hearty breakfast with small town friendliness. We chose to try their Sampler Plate which included fried green tomatoes made with Chipotle Aioli Dipping Sauce, Hand Chopped Corned Beef Hash with One Quail Egg Southern style, Mini Biscuit & Gravy and Mini Lox. The Gulfport chef’s lack nothing on creativity, variety and style in serving beautiful and tasty meals. This was also a scheduled get together with the locals. Many people showed up to have breakfast with us.
It was really nice. There is even a coffee mug rack on the wall that holds mugs belonging to the regulars. They just come in, grab their mug, and sit down. Stella’s replaces them after washing for the owners next visit. Now that’s community!
Lunch at Omaddys with the press was a hit. We met representatives from area papers and had a fantastic lunch. Omaddys is on the beach and the view was beautiful. They, like 14 other restaurants in town, had a sampler platter in honor of “The Rand McNally USA Today Road Rally” and it was great.
The staff at Isabelle’s Restaurant went above and beyond the call of duty. In fact it was not a duty at all but pure pleasure. It seems that creating an atmosphere where all guest feel welcome, relaxed and special is their motto. Several friends and supporters of ours, AKA the Fun Finders were staying at The Peninsula Inn and ready for lunch. When lunch timed rolled around the owner,
Alexandra Kingxett came to accommodate them. During this month “Sampler Platters” are available but not this day. The chefs, Bernie and Edgar made an exception and prepared just for our friends that very thing. It was beautiful and made our friends feel as though they were treated as royalty.
More food at Pia’s Trattoria. This was a very relaxing atmosphere. Definitely Italian too. Here is an excerpt from their website which says it better than I can:
Lunch our first day was at Peg’s Cantina. Her sampler plate consisted of a Mini Shrimp Burrito, Mahi Fish Taco and an Aztec Salad. All the senses were touched. Sounds great, looks great, smells great and tastes great. All and all a great combination. They have won several
medals for their home brewed beer. To support the local farmers they have a farm to table menu of entrees for their clients. Their chef sautés, poaches and bakes but no frying. Peg’s Cantina is a healthy and fun eating place with a quaint pub atmosphere.
We spent the afternoon enjoying a walk around the down. T and Me welcomed us in for a cup of tea and a healthy snack.
What a wonderful place. They offer a fresh brewed tea (either hot or over ice), and a unique twist on ice tea called “FROST TEA” a fresh brewed tea slushy for the inner child in all of us. What a great way to take a break.
I got to make my own ornament from start to finish from spinning the glass on the rod in the oven, adding color(red, white and blue for the holiday), back to oven a couple of times and finally the blowing. It is a lot harder than it looks. I gave it all I had and finally have my piece to take home.
A cool down time was in order so we enjoyed some Ice Cream at Yummy’s. It is more than an ice cream shop. Their Sampler plate was a ½ Italian beef sandwich with a side of natural gravy, perfectly prepared Chicago dog and Yummy veggie wrap.
One local man we met was Sterling Magee. What a life story to tell. He is 72 years old and a guitar player of old. Raised a preacher’s kid in Mississippi and went off to be a musician. He played with Bo Diddley, Etta James, James Brown and toured with George Benson in the 80’s. At that time he nick named “Five Finger Magee”. But them he had a stroke while working as a “has been” in Harlem as a street musician. He was recognized in a Gulfport nursing home very withdrawn and tapping his foot to some music. The rest is history for Gulfport residents brought him to Peninsula Inn to relax and join in the music. Through time and the compassion of the community he regain his music memory and skills and now participates with the bands. A miracle from a miraculous community!
Can you believe more food coming with Dinner at Backfin Blue. 
What can be said but crab, crab and more crab. Their Sampler Plate included Crab cake, Crab Imperial on portabella mushroom with fire raosted red pepper cream sauce and corn crab chowder.
