This Is The Most Charming Small Town In Maryland, New Report Says

MARYLAND — Some have wineries, some are perched on the water, others are tucked in gorgeous mountains. But these communities have one thing in common: They all rank on a new list of the most charming small towns across the nation.

Travel magazine Afar, in its new analysis, picked Easton on the Eastern Shore as the most charming in Maryland.

The report picked Easton for "the brick sidewalks and stately architecture fused with forward-looking energy." The community is on Highway 50 and a popular stop for travelers from Baltimore headed to the Atlantic Shore. It was planned by colonial leaders in 1710.

Here is what the writers at Afar had to say about Easton:

"Easton looks like many of the historic hamlets on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. But there’s also a surprising level of sophistication here in this Quaker-founded town that was once populated by sea merchants and farmers. The Academy Art Museum, for instance, occupies an 1820 schoolhouse, but its curation is future facing, with exhibits dedicated to artists like Oglala Lakota tribe member Marty Two Bulls, Jr. Easton also enjoys an outsize food and bar scene, thanks to energy executive Paul Prager, who fell in love with the place while at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. His Bluepoint Hospitality has completely reshaped the town, with openings like Bas Rouge, a refined Viennese-inspired restaurant with tableside guéridon (trolley) service, and the Stewart, a tartan-bedecked lounge with rare single-malt scotches. Beyond the historic district, bird lovers flock to these parts for the Pickering Creek Audubon Center."

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Other destination small towns listed in the report include Hudson in New York, North Adams in Massachusetts, New Hope in Pennsylvania, and Los Olivos in California.

For the list, Afar said it defined a small town as a place with around 25,000 people or fewer. The pick for each state was chosen based on a unique attraction or characteristic to draw in visitors – whether it’s “singular streets or spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities,” according to Afar.

For example, the standout Maine small town, Belfast, was chosen for its “palpable hippie-meets-hipster energy,” while Waterbury, Vermont, got a nod for being the home of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory.

Meanwhile, ski towns (and ski-town "vibes") made several appearances on the list — including Whitefish in Montana and Leadville in Colorado, while Wyoming, Georgia, and South Carolina all featured towns with deep histories: Cody, Dahlonega, and Beaufort, respectively.

Read the full report in Afar.