Cayucos, CA.

Peterborough, New Hampshire

Grand Marais, Minnesota - it is beautiful and the whole drive to get there is gorgeous. It is right on Lake Superior.

Madison,IN. State park, Ohio River, meadows, streams, gorges, Hanover College is nearby, really great red-neck bars, antiques, federal and greek revival architecture, quiet, low crime, good schools, bed and breakfasts in huge old houses, and a couple of old masions, two chain hotel/motels, camping on the river front, hydroplane races, tree lined streets in old Madison. A great huge public pool on the river, one on the hill and one in Clifty State Park. The Hilltop (old Madison sits on the River, the 'new Madison is on 'the hill' N of old Madison) has the drive-in resturants, and The Strip. Takes no more than 10 minutes to get anywhere to want to go. an hour from Louisville, about 1 1/2 from Cincinatti, 2 hours from Indianapolis. New housing is lower than most places, rental is comparable with Indinapolis. Art festable in Sept, garden tour in Spring, and Christmas house tour in Nov. Come and visit!

thanks for the wonderful replies. i am off to investigate. cheers

Lake Placid, NY in the Adirondacks

Provo, Utah just south of Salt Lake City.

Middlebury, VT

Friday Harbor, WA

Petoskey, MI and Harbor Springs, MI.

Semi ditto to George's post.....a 3-in-1 area for me (all small) - Charleviox/Petoskey/Traverse City, Michigan. Charming!

Moose, Wyoming and Chestnut Hill, PA

Secaucus, NJ

How small are we talking? I really liked Rockport in Massachusetts.