I would definately add Coronado, CA as a great "small" town (25,000).

I've never understood the purpose of any "10 best" lists. I don't think that even Fodors' editors really think that all the small towns in America can be reduced to the "10 best."

And then I look at this list and wonder where they came up with some of these places. Maybe they meant to entitle it as "10 non-big city areas take are nice to go to for a vacation." They list a county as a being of the best towns? Sedona is a beautiful area but it is more of a resort than a town.

Healdsburg is nice but that photo doesn't make it look very attractive.

Sorry Tomsd, Bend went over 80,000 in the last census.
Maybe Brookings would qualify on the coast of Oregon.
Could the editors give us a simple list of 25 towns that were investigated?
As for Walla Walla WA, the original products were onions and cherries, not grapes and wine.

New Ulm, MN is one of my favorite small town. Especially, when August Schell Brewing(second oldest brewery) is having a beer festival. Break the winter blues and go to Bockfest in February.
http://www.schellsbrewery.com/newsevents_info.php?id=28