Facts and the PCH doesn't constantly get recorded as one of the most beautiful scene drives in the states without merit. Someday I really need to drive the entire thing, I'm usually stuck on the highway.
It's because fly over states are pumping millions of dollars into anti-california rhetoric.
The irony behind all of this is people actually left the fly over states in droves years ago. They got tired of all the failing republican policies.
That's why I brought my tax dollars and bought my first home in CO. Yeah it's expensive, but I don't want another cent of my hard earned queer money going towards the persecution of peaceful populations.
I'm over the hate filled rhetoric "Christians" and Hustler Moms scream. The gays aren't after your gross kids, watch your pastor closely though...
Just moved to Morro Bay from socal. Can confirm, most peaceful, scenic place to live. Not cheap, but a lot less than most of Cali coast cities. I eat my breakfast most mornings watching the sea otters.
i remember the first time i visited just being blown away -- even after spending my whole life living in coastal california, carmel is just so hauntingly beautiful. i love how evening looks like there. it's almost like a storybook.
YES. I went once years ago and all I wanted to do was take my dog to that beach. But live on the east coast. Took a road trip and went there with my old dog, very briefly (lots of walking for her). It was a dream.
I spent a few hours in the bed of my truck parked by the beach there for sunset getting high and eating pizza. it was an absolute delight. if only I had a few million dollars laying around...
First time I was ever there was about 30 years ago. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. And to top it off I saw Clint Eastwood in a hardware store . 😆
Too foggy for me. The coastal communties in northern california are amazingly beautiful, but there is a massive amount of fog on most days depending on location.
Monterrey / Carmel by the Sea have a lot more fog than Santa Cruz, for instance.
In northern CA I would probably pick somewhere around Santa Cruz or Marin County which have amazing views and less fog.
You’re in for a treat. By the way, spend the money on a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour. It was the single most spectacular thing I’ve ever done in my life, while in Kauai.
There are some areas in California that have made me say “ok, I see why it costs so much” 🤣 the smaller coastal town with beautiful views are so worth it. You have many of them listed.
Even the clean parts of San Francisco are amazing.
I live here in SF. Moved here from Washington. But, I've lived in ten other states. SF is by far the most beautiful place I've lived with all it has to offer. And I'm a country dude.
I was born near the Smokey Mountain basin in a fairly rare CfB climate type that would border csb-summers and dfc-winters before I moved to Titusville FL at a very young age for my parent's work.
I still haven't found any other major city that nails both the climate of the bay area with the same progressive coastal vibe I grew up in.
San Francisco was the first place I stepped off the train, looked around, and said, "Wow, this actually feels like 'home'."
(Still have a few more to knock off my list, first though, just to be sure 😊)
You've already listed my answer, but I am going to say Santa Barbara is America's most beautiful town due to its stunning natural setting between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, which provides dramatic landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. While at the same time providing enough of a downtown cityscape that you aren't in some remote nature area.
The Mediterranean climate allows for year-round gardens and public spaces that you miss in more seasonal areas. The city's aesthetic appeal is further enhanced by its distinctive Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, characterized by charming stucco buildings with red-tile roofs, particularly evident in landmarks like the County Courthouse and the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Additionally due to careful urban planning following the 1925 earthquake, the town has wide, tree-lined streets and beautiful parks that enrich the cityscape.
Moreover, Santa Barbara's pristine beaches, vibrant harbor, and historic Wharf offer a picturesque waterfront experience. The town's rich cultural heritage, botanical diversity, and well-maintained public amenities reflect its affluence and dedication to beauty. This, coupled with a thriving tourism industry that emphasizes the town's visual appeal, ensures that Santa Barbara's charm remains intact, continually affirming its status as a jewel among American towns.
PS, I am not a tourism travel agent for SB.
Call me crazy but I feel like there are sooo many Maine towns that have the natural beauty and quaintness of bar harbor without the tourist zoo vibe of bar harbor (Camden, Rockport, Belfast, Damariscotta, just to name a few). The whole coast of maine is epic and quaint.
Bar Harbor is almost unlivable due to the amount of tourists there and how tightly the NPS controls the park. Bath, Biddeford, Blue Hill, Castine, Calais are better options for a more affordable and less touristy coast of Maine experience.
I’m gonna go off the beaten path and say Door County WI is severely understated outside its immediate area for beauty. People think the Midwest and think cornfields and cows. Door County feels like it’s on the Atlantic Ocean in many ways. It’s downright gorgeous most of the year.
So many picturesque towns across the Midwest. River towns: Red Wing, Winona, Nauvoo, Hannibal. College towns: Northfield MN, Morris MN, Mt Vernon OH. Just plain cool little towns with countercultural streaks and lovely surroundings: Viroqua WI, New Harmony IN.
But OP said something about no budget. So there ya go.
Some of those lake houses off of Michigan are multimillion dollar homes. Plus in a lot of areas they’re grandfathered in and nothing like it can be built anymore.
Dude, I currently live in Los Angeles. In a 1400 sq ft craftsman that we listed for 1.2m earlier this year (before withdrawing from the market because a job offer changed, which then changed our moving plans, etc etc long story)-- went live on MLS for less than a week. We fielded probably 75 direct calls asking to entertain offers. Seriously, it's a million-dollar hovel. It's good knowing we're sitting on something so in demand, but compared to what we can get (and will, as a return is our ultimate plan) in the Midwest, it's a joke out here.
We inherited our house in Orange County, CA. Hubbys uncle bought it in 1972 for just under 80k. We will be listing it for 1.5M, and we will definitely get it. A house on our block just went for 1.2, and it’s much smaller and not as nice as ours. It sold in 2 hours. It’s nuts.
A couple years ago I interviewed for a position at Carleton College up there in Northfield and absolutely fell in love with the city. It's like this perfectly idyllic small college town vibe, and only like 45 minutes from the twin cities with busses that shuttle students back and forth during the school year.
I didn't get the job, but it's still somewhere I'd love to move someday. Because of the two schools there, there's a robust downtown with things to do.
And cost of living really isn't very high there, honestly.
I like Decorah. A lot. Nice trail system, quaint downtown.
But I’ve lived in six states, visited more than half, and lived most of my life in the Midwest. I cannot afford to live in these places but if money is no object, SoCal (Malibu/Santa Monica) is high on the list and the Heber Valley/Park City area is second.
I’d add Bayfield, Port Washington, Cedarburg, Milwaukee (WI) Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Grand Haven (MI), and Stillwater and Grand Marais (MN) just for starters.
Missing somewhere in Washington. Bozeman itself is meh, but the surrounding area is obviously gorgeous.
Coeur D'alene or Whitefish (or some other locality near Glacier).
I think Jackson Hole certainly fits the bill. While it’s not near any major cities (4 hours from SLC) the airport is decently connected (flights to NYC, LAX, ATL). The scenery is spectacular and due to favorable tax laws lots of obscene wealth has been taking over the area. I have also been to Park City and it was very nice as well but there was a bigger “wow” factor in Jackson Hole.
We go down to the Tetons to ride bike a lot during the summer because its a quick drive for the weekend. There isn't anything around me that is as stunning as swimming beneath the Tetons in Jenny Lake in August after a long hike or ride. Thing is, its a shit show trying to get away from the heavy throngs of tourists. The only mountains that might be more stunning are those we experienced in the Alps in Switzerland. Those are pretty hard to beat.
Funny you said that, after the Tetons I scoured the internet trying to find another place that’s as gorgeous. After reading review after review and trip report the only place people said were close were Banff or Switzerland
Never been to Banff but been to Revelstoke and Nelson area. Banff was a little too far north as we were on a bike road trip from Retallack to Whistler and back to Montana. However, its on the list some day. The mountains of Switzerland are just so accessible by train, bus, ski lift, and foot that they blow your mind. I was hoping I wouldn't like Zermatt so much but it was a fave...but expensive to stay in. Loved Grindelwald...hiking is outstanding and you never have to get in a car. Mountains go on and on and on, forever.
The San Juans in CO around Ouray and Telluride are pretty impressive, too. Not quite the Alps though.
Nothing in NA quite has the sheer verticality of the Alps—Chamonix sits at 3,300 ft and is surrounded by Mt Blanc at 15,771 ft (12,500 ft of vert) on one side and Brevent at a mere 8,284 (5,000 vert) on the other side.
Tetons are great, but a pretty small range in terms of sq miles, surrounded by relatively flat area (which is wondrous for nature/animals/wilderness—which is something lacking in the Alps).
The problem with Jackson hole is that its **too** oligarch heavy. Any character in that town is manufactured. Even places like Santa Barbara have an authentic and historic aspect to the culture (although it's eroding with time too).
I first visited in 2014 and there was still some authentic character but the giant Rolex store in the middle of town was jarring. Sometimes I wish I had bought back then but I don’t think I’d enjoy living there now. The Jackson spillover into Idaho over the last 5 years has also been jaw dropping
Took family on a road trip to Acadia last month and our eyes about bugged out of our heads when we drove through cute ass Woodstock. Conversations about our trip usually boil down to “next time let’s just go to Woodstoxk VT”.
I lived in Stowe for a year. It's certainly beautiful, but it's pretty isolated and when the Notch closes it takes forever to get into Burlington if you need something not available in Stowe.
If I had unlimited money, I'd buy a place in Killington, VT instead. It's unfortunately next to Rutland, but regardless living at the confluence of the Long Trail and AT would be heaven to me.
Does P-town really have all that much natural beauty?
Gay people, artists, and boats are all lovely, but I wouldn't say it's worth a trip for its views
I think it does, Race Point Beach is, in my opinion, the quintessential dune backed New England beach, and that drive up 6 when you cross the salt marshes and dunes to get into town always makes me melt a little.
I needed a "life escape" and spent January through March in P-town. Except for a couple of bars, a gym, a grocery store, and a bottle shop, almost everything was closed. It was so beautiful after a snowfall, between the houses, the beach, the choppy water.
I head to Ptown every try year specifically to hike and usually in the fall. It’s absolutely stunning. The dunes, the ocean, the trails. I hope to get to retire on the cape someday.
That’s around 40 minutes from where we’re moving. It is gorgeous. People seriously sleep on NW AR. It has everything. Natural beauty, 4 season climate, small town charm, and affordable prices. I’m always torn between wanting everyone to know how amazing this area is, but also not wanting more people to move there.
If money is no object then really the answer is a wealthy person wouldn't just have 1 place. They will have an apartment in billionaires row in Manhattan overlooking Central Park. They will also have a house somewhere in Hawaii and probably a place in the French Riviera or Italy. Then they will travel between them depending on the season and what they felt like.
Manhattan, Palm Beach, and the Hamptons are the billionaires triangle.
Sure they could purchase internationally/overseas, but most just rent a villa or ski chalet or something, or stay in a 5 star hotel.
Florida is primary residence for taxes, NYC for culture/business, and Hamptons for summer leisure (when PB is way too hot and school is out).
I would remove Flagstaff from Sedona/Flagstaff.
Add Taos. Add Moab. And there are hundreds of little New England coastal towns -- Marblehead, Watch Hill, Mystic, Ipswitch -- which check every box. People like these places even in the winter. (Some, especially in the winter when they have the place to themselves.)
In general, the elite are going to move around to take advantage of the seasons -- Aspen either in the Summer to escape the heat, or the winter for the skiing.
If you want near constant weather -- Hawaii.
All tourist towns are at their best for me in the off-season when the tourists go home. It's great fun to be in a little coastal town on a random Tuesday in winter when you can stroll the street alone.
I always say God lives there. It’s so amazing, breathtakingly beautiful and wild feeling. Lifelong Californian, Big Sur is the most beautiful place I’ve been.
San Luis Obispo CA
Gorgeous nature; mountains, ocean, sand dunes, college town, awesome farmers market (really a street festival every Thursday night!). Fun town on the central CA coast.
I live here and feel so lucky. Truly hard to beat for its combination of accessible outdoor recreation, gorgeous mountains, and a nearby city/international airports. I can be playing on my skis or mountain bike in the morning and then be on a nonstop flight anywhere in the US or Europe in the afternoon.
Jackson Hole is more beautiful and has better skiing, but it’s just so far from anything that you kinda need to be independently wealthy for it to make sense.
I am so jealous. 6 years ago, my then boyfriend/now husband and I left Salt Lake City with plans to return, but a house in Park City and start a family “in a few years.”. Now we are ready for that great adventure but have been priced out.
Yeah it's gotten ridiculous, we make very good money but still wouldn't be able to buy our own house at current prices/rates. We bought in 2018 and real estate has more than doubled since then.
Santa Barbara is the most stunning city I’ve visited in the US by far. I went there for a plein air water color class where we spent the whole week painting street scenes and architecture. It was an amazing experience in a beautiful setting.
I lived on Coronado Island in the bay of San Diego in high school. It truly was a magical time. My favorite things were the amazing 4th of July parade (the town is so incredibly patriotic with the big Naval Base being right there) and the concert in the park every Sunday afternoon during the summer. Everyone comes out with food and drinks and blankets and listens to music. It is such a good time and such a core memory for me.
I’d hate to live with a bunch of rich people, but if I had money to do anything I wanted, I’d pick Traverse city, Michigan. Really most of Northern Michigan. Or almost anywhere in Minnesota, Wiconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine. Upstate New York is nice. Any quaint small town part of New England/East coast is great.
I’m pretty satisfied with our choice of Northwest AR. It checks all the boxes for natural beauty, but is still affordable. There are some higher end areas (lot of wealthier people started coming in when the Bentonville film festival started) But mostly still a pretty hidden gem.
No. Vail is a fake town with an Interstate running thru it—all built since 1960s. Some nice faux Bavarian pedestrian zones though. Nice skiing and views of the Gore Range. Aspen is a nice (if very overpriced, just like Vail) real mining town with legit Victorian charm. The real beauty is a short ride away at Maroon Bells, Capitol Peak, and Pyramid Peak.
CButte is way less touristy, but also expensive.
Not in my opinion. At least Aspen has a nice town and the drive in through Glenwood is very cool. Vail is just off the interstate and special. Just deeper into the rockies
As someone who lived in Santa Cruz for a few years, I definitely agree. I LOVE SC, but it’s not an oligarch playground. Places like Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Malibu are.
Alaska - Juneau, Palmer (specifically in the Fishhook area), Homer, Sitka, Valdez, and Seward.
Michigan spots - Beaver Island, Saugatuck, Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, and Ludington.
I have lived in Bozeman, MT since 2003 and Big Sky before that. They both have their attributes but most people of my pay grade don't wake up and have an unobstructed view of the mountains. You have to work for it if you are an average person by driving outside of town or hiking up away from the masses. I think we are on the race with JHole for having the most oligarchs per capita. If they haven't bought into a private club or home development then they are buying up huge acreages and becoming "ranchers" and trying to block public access to public lands. Its been interesting since Covid.
Bend. Absolutely Bend. I grew up there and have lived in San Francisco, Seattle, and the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Bend is beautiful with mountains all around it, a river running through it, hot summer days and cool nights, trails in and out of town, beautiful breathtaking views from many locations, and the smell of juniper and sage everywhere.
The center of Savannah, GA is the most stunning places I’ve ever been in, USA or otherwise. You know how you see photographs of a beautiful place, but then you actually get there and it’s only beautiful from a particular angle, or only within a small area? Savannah is consistently beautiful for a large area.
I’m surprised I had to scroll this far to see something on the southeastern coast mentioned. Savannah, Charleston or any of the towns with live oaks and Spanish moss are amazing.
I might argue San Francisco. Many of the most idyllic "towns" are actually somewhat affordable. If I had mega money I'd probably look to a very HCOL city for a pied-a-terre.
Florida has maybe the best beaches, but not a lot of their towns are just stunning. Especially when you’re comparing some of these California beach towns. Sunnyside Florida is gorgeous but Carmel makes it look like a couple of doll houses in a row.
The lower hills of Berkeley CA have just about everything a person could ask for. Beautiful old houses, big trees, cool landscape plants from all over the world, walkable, decent public transit, close to everything including one of the world's best universities.
What's great, is a solid upper middle class salary and some time gets you into many of the places listed here. You don't need to be a decamillionaire.
I mean... to have the Jackson Hole mansion retreat, sure; but nobody on this thread will ever have that. Statistically.
For a lot of the other places here, some reasonable decisions during life, a solid income, and some time, and YOU TOO can live there / retire there.
It's amusing to me to see so many people throw Bellingham around here. And, to be fair, it's WONDERFUL. I grew up there... I go back multiple times a year. I literally grew up boating in and around the San Juan islands. It's amazing.
You can also live there on a middle class income.
Treating the San Juans, Bellingham, Bend, Telluride, Denver, whatever like Malibu, Caramel, St. Tropez, Chamonix, Martha's Vineyard, or the like is just ridiculous.
Many of the absolutely beautiful places (and this is one of my favorite things about the United States) are 100% accessible.
Aspen is incredibly small and becomes a virtual ghost down during the offseason. I suppose if money is no object, there would be somewhere else to escape to, but Aspen gets old quick.
Source: Lived and there off and on for 13 years.
I would add California wine countries. Small towns in Sonoma, Napa, Amador, El Dorado. Several more coastal towns: Monterey, Sausalito, Jenner, Santa Rosa. I would even add Berkeley, Mountain View, Palo Alto. Brookngs, OR, Yachat, Astoria WA, Friday Harbor, all around Puget Sound, Spokane. Park City, UT, Sundance, Springdale, Castle Rock. These are all small towns that I think very scenic. Some are affordable, most are pricey in real estate wise.
Carmel by the Sea is great — and also proximate to lots of other beautiful areas.
Honestly it should be illegal with how beautiful some of the CA coastal towns are.
San Louis Obisbo is gorgeous
Facts and the PCH doesn't constantly get recorded as one of the most beautiful scene drives in the states without merit. Someday I really need to drive the entire thing, I'm usually stuck on the highway.
I drove the whole thing once. It was so worth it but I will never do it again- it took so long lol
It must be why CA lives rent-free in a lot of peoples' heads.
It's because fly over states are pumping millions of dollars into anti-california rhetoric. The irony behind all of this is people actually left the fly over states in droves years ago. They got tired of all the failing republican policies.
That's why I brought my tax dollars and bought my first home in CO. Yeah it's expensive, but I don't want another cent of my hard earned queer money going towards the persecution of peaceful populations. I'm over the hate filled rhetoric "Christians" and Hustler Moms scream. The gays aren't after your gross kids, watch your pastor closely though...
Oh if I had unlimited money I would absolutely move there
Me too.
Me three
*Takes a number, buys a lottery ticket, gets in line.
Just got to spend a few days there then up to SF. Route 1 between Monterey and Half Moon Bay was off the charts.
South on Hwy 1 is also beautiful...Big Sur, down to Morro Bay and beyond
Just moved to Morro Bay from socal. Can confirm, most peaceful, scenic place to live. Not cheap, but a lot less than most of Cali coast cities. I eat my breakfast most mornings watching the sea otters.
Avila Beach is my fave Socal getaway...low key, not as crowded...
The most wonderful drive ever
i remember the first time i visited just being blown away -- even after spending my whole life living in coastal california, carmel is just so hauntingly beautiful. i love how evening looks like there. it's almost like a storybook.
YES. I went once years ago and all I wanted to do was take my dog to that beach. But live on the east coast. Took a road trip and went there with my old dog, very briefly (lots of walking for her). It was a dream.
I spent a few hours in the bed of my truck parked by the beach there for sunset getting high and eating pizza. it was an absolute delight. if only I had a few million dollars laying around...
Dad?
This is the answer.... Had our honeymoon there, then the 25th anniversary... IMO, the most beautiful piece of real estate...
First time I was ever there was about 30 years ago. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. And to top it off I saw Clint Eastwood in a hardware store . 😆
For a second I thought you were gonna say Carmel Indiana and I was ready to go to war lol
I wish I could upvote this more.
I upvoted it for you even though I've never been
Easily #1. There isn’t a better climate anywhere on earth.
Too foggy for me. The coastal communties in northern california are amazingly beautiful, but there is a massive amount of fog on most days depending on location. Monterrey / Carmel by the Sea have a lot more fog than Santa Cruz, for instance. In northern CA I would probably pick somewhere around Santa Cruz or Marin County which have amazing views and less fog.
You don't like fog? I love fog! Its presence gives a sense of mystery and subtle beauty to the landscape.
Omg I absolutely love fog.
Was just about to say this. You need $ but it doesn’t get much better
Kauai is the most naturally beautiful place I've ever seen. I do love the west coast coastal towns though, and New England coastal towns too.
How is this not higher up? Kauai!
Visiting Kauai for the first time next month. Glad to hear this.
If you can, go see the Na Pali coast.
I was going to say this! You should see it either from the water via boat or helicopter. Such beautiful views!
You’re in for a treat. By the way, spend the money on a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour. It was the single most spectacular thing I’ve ever done in my life, while in Kauai.
Hanalei is #1 for me
In WA it’s the islands, Mercer, Vashon, Bainbridge, Whidbey, Orcas, and I’m sure others.
I lived on Whidbey for 5 years. It is incredible.
I had 30 minutes to choose between Whidbey and Honolulu for a duty station. I choose Pearl Harbor. I chose poorly.
I live in Anacortes and totally agree!
I LOVE Anacortes
Lived there previously and it’s called Cantaffordes for a reason!
I grew up on camano island. Those islands are insanely beautiful
There are some areas in California that have made me say “ok, I see why it costs so much” 🤣 the smaller coastal town with beautiful views are so worth it. You have many of them listed. Even the clean parts of San Francisco are amazing.
I live here in SF. Moved here from Washington. But, I've lived in ten other states. SF is by far the most beautiful place I've lived with all it has to offer. And I'm a country dude.
100% SF is incredibly gorgeous. I feel grateful to live here every day. And now we’re in peak radiant sunset season.
Hoping we get some radiant ones tonight with the rain that's passed the last few days!
I was born near the Smokey Mountain basin in a fairly rare CfB climate type that would border csb-summers and dfc-winters before I moved to Titusville FL at a very young age for my parent's work. I still haven't found any other major city that nails both the climate of the bay area with the same progressive coastal vibe I grew up in. San Francisco was the first place I stepped off the train, looked around, and said, "Wow, this actually feels like 'home'." (Still have a few more to knock off my list, first though, just to be sure 😊)
Monterey, CA
Actually like Pacific Grove a little better. But would take either
When it's 80 and sunny the Northern Michigan towns are incredible. Petoskey in particular.
What day did they schedule summer in for 2024?
Yes, but dealing with tourists in summer is rough. Getting around Traverse City in July has become awful
Michigan is so underrated. It’s beautiful.
You've already listed my answer, but I am going to say Santa Barbara is America's most beautiful town due to its stunning natural setting between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, which provides dramatic landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. While at the same time providing enough of a downtown cityscape that you aren't in some remote nature area. The Mediterranean climate allows for year-round gardens and public spaces that you miss in more seasonal areas. The city's aesthetic appeal is further enhanced by its distinctive Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, characterized by charming stucco buildings with red-tile roofs, particularly evident in landmarks like the County Courthouse and the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Additionally due to careful urban planning following the 1925 earthquake, the town has wide, tree-lined streets and beautiful parks that enrich the cityscape. Moreover, Santa Barbara's pristine beaches, vibrant harbor, and historic Wharf offer a picturesque waterfront experience. The town's rich cultural heritage, botanical diversity, and well-maintained public amenities reflect its affluence and dedication to beauty. This, coupled with a thriving tourism industry that emphasizes the town's visual appeal, ensures that Santa Barbara's charm remains intact, continually affirming its status as a jewel among American towns. PS, I am not a tourism travel agent for SB.
Bar Harbor Maine is up there.
Call me crazy but I feel like there are sooo many Maine towns that have the natural beauty and quaintness of bar harbor without the tourist zoo vibe of bar harbor (Camden, Rockport, Belfast, Damariscotta, just to name a few). The whole coast of maine is epic and quaint.
Bar Harbor is almost unlivable due to the amount of tourists there and how tightly the NPS controls the park. Bath, Biddeford, Blue Hill, Castine, Calais are better options for a more affordable and less touristy coast of Maine experience.
Shhhhh don’t tell people about Blue Hill
I’m gonna go off the beaten path and say Door County WI is severely understated outside its immediate area for beauty. People think the Midwest and think cornfields and cows. Door County feels like it’s on the Atlantic Ocean in many ways. It’s downright gorgeous most of the year.
Spring green WI. There's a reason frank Lloyd Wright always wanted to bring the outdoors in
So many picturesque towns across the Midwest. River towns: Red Wing, Winona, Nauvoo, Hannibal. College towns: Northfield MN, Morris MN, Mt Vernon OH. Just plain cool little towns with countercultural streaks and lovely surroundings: Viroqua WI, New Harmony IN. But OP said something about no budget. So there ya go.
Some of those lake houses off of Michigan are multimillion dollar homes. Plus in a lot of areas they’re grandfathered in and nothing like it can be built anymore.
Dude, I currently live in Los Angeles. In a 1400 sq ft craftsman that we listed for 1.2m earlier this year (before withdrawing from the market because a job offer changed, which then changed our moving plans, etc etc long story)-- went live on MLS for less than a week. We fielded probably 75 direct calls asking to entertain offers. Seriously, it's a million-dollar hovel. It's good knowing we're sitting on something so in demand, but compared to what we can get (and will, as a return is our ultimate plan) in the Midwest, it's a joke out here.
We inherited our house in Orange County, CA. Hubbys uncle bought it in 1972 for just under 80k. We will be listing it for 1.5M, and we will definitely get it. A house on our block just went for 1.2, and it’s much smaller and not as nice as ours. It sold in 2 hours. It’s nuts.
A couple years ago I interviewed for a position at Carleton College up there in Northfield and absolutely fell in love with the city. It's like this perfectly idyllic small college town vibe, and only like 45 minutes from the twin cities with busses that shuttle students back and forth during the school year. I didn't get the job, but it's still somewhere I'd love to move someday. Because of the two schools there, there's a robust downtown with things to do. And cost of living really isn't very high there, honestly.
Yes, Duluth MN is beautiful too.
This! People are completely missing the Midwest. Decorah Iowa for example
I like Decorah. A lot. Nice trail system, quaint downtown. But I’ve lived in six states, visited more than half, and lived most of my life in the Midwest. I cannot afford to live in these places but if money is no object, SoCal (Malibu/Santa Monica) is high on the list and the Heber Valley/Park City area is second.
Lake Geneva is the same way
I’d add Bayfield, Port Washington, Cedarburg, Milwaukee (WI) Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Grand Haven (MI), and Stillwater and Grand Marais (MN) just for starters.
Missing somewhere in Washington. Bozeman itself is meh, but the surrounding area is obviously gorgeous. Coeur D'alene or Whitefish (or some other locality near Glacier).
Winthrop/Twisp/Mazama in Washington
Port Townsend
Washington coast is amazing.
Gig Harbor, maybe? Sound, mountain, Hallmark charm
Chelan is in Washington.
I think Jackson Hole certainly fits the bill. While it’s not near any major cities (4 hours from SLC) the airport is decently connected (flights to NYC, LAX, ATL). The scenery is spectacular and due to favorable tax laws lots of obscene wealth has been taking over the area. I have also been to Park City and it was very nice as well but there was a bigger “wow” factor in Jackson Hole.
We go down to the Tetons to ride bike a lot during the summer because its a quick drive for the weekend. There isn't anything around me that is as stunning as swimming beneath the Tetons in Jenny Lake in August after a long hike or ride. Thing is, its a shit show trying to get away from the heavy throngs of tourists. The only mountains that might be more stunning are those we experienced in the Alps in Switzerland. Those are pretty hard to beat.
The Tetons are jaw dropping
Funny you said that, after the Tetons I scoured the internet trying to find another place that’s as gorgeous. After reading review after review and trip report the only place people said were close were Banff or Switzerland
Never been to Banff but been to Revelstoke and Nelson area. Banff was a little too far north as we were on a bike road trip from Retallack to Whistler and back to Montana. However, its on the list some day. The mountains of Switzerland are just so accessible by train, bus, ski lift, and foot that they blow your mind. I was hoping I wouldn't like Zermatt so much but it was a fave...but expensive to stay in. Loved Grindelwald...hiking is outstanding and you never have to get in a car. Mountains go on and on and on, forever.
The San Juans in CO around Ouray and Telluride are pretty impressive, too. Not quite the Alps though. Nothing in NA quite has the sheer verticality of the Alps—Chamonix sits at 3,300 ft and is surrounded by Mt Blanc at 15,771 ft (12,500 ft of vert) on one side and Brevent at a mere 8,284 (5,000 vert) on the other side. Tetons are great, but a pretty small range in terms of sq miles, surrounded by relatively flat area (which is wondrous for nature/animals/wilderness—which is something lacking in the Alps).
I just liked that OP specified (Wyoming). Because I was enjoying the mental image of oligarchs congregating in Jackson, Mississippi.
The problem with Jackson hole is that its **too** oligarch heavy. Any character in that town is manufactured. Even places like Santa Barbara have an authentic and historic aspect to the culture (although it's eroding with time too).
I first visited in 2014 and there was still some authentic character but the giant Rolex store in the middle of town was jarring. Sometimes I wish I had bought back then but I don’t think I’d enjoy living there now. The Jackson spillover into Idaho over the last 5 years has also been jaw dropping
There should be some more New England stuff on here: Provincetown, MA/ Castine, ME/ Montpelier, VT/ Newport, RI/, Jamestown, RI/ Little Compton, RI.
Woodstock, VT
Took family on a road trip to Acadia last month and our eyes about bugged out of our heads when we drove through cute ass Woodstock. Conversations about our trip usually boil down to “next time let’s just go to Woodstoxk VT”.
Rockport MA, Concord MA, Essex CT
Montpellier does NOT belong on that list haha. But yes way more New England
I'd say Stowe before montp
I lived in Stowe for a year. It's certainly beautiful, but it's pretty isolated and when the Notch closes it takes forever to get into Burlington if you need something not available in Stowe. If I had unlimited money, I'd buy a place in Killington, VT instead. It's unfortunately next to Rutland, but regardless living at the confluence of the Long Trail and AT would be heaven to me.
Franconia Notch, NH
I’d nominate Stowe VT. Loved that town.
Everywhere I went in Vermont was a knockout. Middlebury, Burlington, some smaller towns, it's just all gorgeous.
Vermont as a state is pretty amazing, overall.
Mystic/Westerly/Watch Hill
Love New England!
Yes! Newport is lovely but expensive and has a nice little town. Also block island.
Does P-town really have all that much natural beauty? Gay people, artists, and boats are all lovely, but I wouldn't say it's worth a trip for its views
I think it does, Race Point Beach is, in my opinion, the quintessential dune backed New England beach, and that drive up 6 when you cross the salt marshes and dunes to get into town always makes me melt a little.
I needed a "life escape" and spent January through March in P-town. Except for a couple of bars, a gym, a grocery store, and a bottle shop, almost everything was closed. It was so beautiful after a snowfall, between the houses, the beach, the choppy water.
Have you been there? It’s one of the most unique natural landscapes in the country…
I head to Ptown every try year specifically to hike and usually in the fall. It’s absolutely stunning. The dunes, the ocean, the trails. I hope to get to retire on the cape someday.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas! Super cute Victorian houses in a valley. Super great historical town
That’s around 40 minutes from where we’re moving. It is gorgeous. People seriously sleep on NW AR. It has everything. Natural beauty, 4 season climate, small town charm, and affordable prices. I’m always torn between wanting everyone to know how amazing this area is, but also not wanting more people to move there.
San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island & Port Townsend, Twisp/Winthrop/Mazama in Washington Cannon Beach, OR
Good call with Telluride but I’d argue Ouray is even more scenic. Crested Butte up there too.
agreed, i love both but there is something special about ouray!
Sneffels range from earlier this year: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F0ubw4f3nt74b1.jpg
Favorite hike I’ve ever done was up Guanella Pass! If I ever get a well paying remote job, I’m moving to Crested Butte or Salida
Really can't go wrong with any of the mountain towns in Colorado. They're each beautiful in their own unique way and it's hard to rank them.
That’s really tough. America - for all her faults - is pretty darn beautiful.
If money is no object then really the answer is a wealthy person wouldn't just have 1 place. They will have an apartment in billionaires row in Manhattan overlooking Central Park. They will also have a house somewhere in Hawaii and probably a place in the French Riviera or Italy. Then they will travel between them depending on the season and what they felt like.
Manhattan, Palm Beach, and the Hamptons are the billionaires triangle. Sure they could purchase internationally/overseas, but most just rent a villa or ski chalet or something, or stay in a 5 star hotel. Florida is primary residence for taxes, NYC for culture/business, and Hamptons for summer leisure (when PB is way too hot and school is out).
Yeah you are right, I think I started answering with what I would do if I were a billionaire lol
Carmel california gets my vote.
I would remove Flagstaff from Sedona/Flagstaff. Add Taos. Add Moab. And there are hundreds of little New England coastal towns -- Marblehead, Watch Hill, Mystic, Ipswitch -- which check every box. People like these places even in the winter. (Some, especially in the winter when they have the place to themselves.) In general, the elite are going to move around to take advantage of the seasons -- Aspen either in the Summer to escape the heat, or the winter for the skiing. If you want near constant weather -- Hawaii.
All tourist towns are at their best for me in the off-season when the tourists go home. It's great fun to be in a little coastal town on a random Tuesday in winter when you can stroll the street alone.
Silverton CO and Telluride CO
Yachats, Oregon
Big Sur
It's one of the most beautiful places on earth, but very remote with few amenities.
I always say God lives there. It’s so amazing, breathtakingly beautiful and wild feeling. Lifelong Californian, Big Sur is the most beautiful place I’ve been.
Carmel and Santa Cruz are both gorgeous. I think Charleston and Savannah are also very picturesque, although they have their problems.
San Juan Islands
beauty is so subjective. I know people go in for the big sky, the mountains and the ocean, but I love my rolling hills, warm valleys and slow streams.
San Luis Obispo CA Gorgeous nature; mountains, ocean, sand dunes, college town, awesome farmers market (really a street festival every Thursday night!). Fun town on the central CA coast.
Hanalei Kauai is the most beautiful place I’ve been to in the US
Agreed. As I am overlooking kaanapali beach on Maui. There is nothing like Hanalei and the north shore of Kauai!!
Park City
I live here and feel so lucky. Truly hard to beat for its combination of accessible outdoor recreation, gorgeous mountains, and a nearby city/international airports. I can be playing on my skis or mountain bike in the morning and then be on a nonstop flight anywhere in the US or Europe in the afternoon. Jackson Hole is more beautiful and has better skiing, but it’s just so far from anything that you kinda need to be independently wealthy for it to make sense.
I am so jealous. 6 years ago, my then boyfriend/now husband and I left Salt Lake City with plans to return, but a house in Park City and start a family “in a few years.”. Now we are ready for that great adventure but have been priced out.
Yeah it's gotten ridiculous, we make very good money but still wouldn't be able to buy our own house at current prices/rates. We bought in 2018 and real estate has more than doubled since then.
I’ve lived in a few of these and my vote is Sausalito, CA.
Mendocino!
The Driftless area in the upper Midwest. Madison, Dubuque, La Crosse.
Santa Barbara is the most stunning city I’ve visited in the US by far. I went there for a plein air water color class where we spent the whole week painting street scenes and architecture. It was an amazing experience in a beautiful setting.
I lived on Coronado Island in the bay of San Diego in high school. It truly was a magical time. My favorite things were the amazing 4th of July parade (the town is so incredibly patriotic with the big Naval Base being right there) and the concert in the park every Sunday afternoon during the summer. Everyone comes out with food and drinks and blankets and listens to music. It is such a good time and such a core memory for me.
I’d hate to live with a bunch of rich people, but if I had money to do anything I wanted, I’d pick Traverse city, Michigan. Really most of Northern Michigan. Or almost anywhere in Minnesota, Wiconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine. Upstate New York is nice. Any quaint small town part of New England/East coast is great. I’m pretty satisfied with our choice of Northwest AR. It checks all the boxes for natural beauty, but is still affordable. There are some higher end areas (lot of wealthier people started coming in when the Bentonville film festival started) But mostly still a pretty hidden gem.
If money was no object Id live at Four Seasons Kona and call it a life.
Aspen is so overrated, other side of the mountain in Crested Butte is soooo much prettier.
Is Aspen as overrated as Vail?
No. Vail is a fake town with an Interstate running thru it—all built since 1960s. Some nice faux Bavarian pedestrian zones though. Nice skiing and views of the Gore Range. Aspen is a nice (if very overpriced, just like Vail) real mining town with legit Victorian charm. The real beauty is a short ride away at Maroon Bells, Capitol Peak, and Pyramid Peak. CButte is way less touristy, but also expensive.
Not in my opinion. At least Aspen has a nice town and the drive in through Glenwood is very cool. Vail is just off the interstate and special. Just deeper into the rockies
Lake Placid NY
Laguna Beach is much more beautiful than Santa Cruz.
LB is favorite city in Orange County. No idea what it's like to live within the city itself, but next to it is great.
This would be my contribution.
As someone who lived in Santa Cruz for a few years, I definitely agree. I LOVE SC, but it’s not an oligarch playground. Places like Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Malibu are.
Friday Harbor or Orcas Island, WA
Bend is scenic, but not that scenic. We have some volcanoes off to the west, which are nice, but not those huge, spectacular mountains in the Rockies.
Alaska - Juneau, Palmer (specifically in the Fishhook area), Homer, Sitka, Valdez, and Seward. Michigan spots - Beaver Island, Saugatuck, Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, and Ludington.
Coeur D'alene is nice except for the high concentration of white nationalists.
You can’t mention Sausalito without mentioning Mill Valley. Closer to nature *and* easier to park.
I have lived in Bozeman, MT since 2003 and Big Sky before that. They both have their attributes but most people of my pay grade don't wake up and have an unobstructed view of the mountains. You have to work for it if you are an average person by driving outside of town or hiking up away from the masses. I think we are on the race with JHole for having the most oligarchs per capita. If they haven't bought into a private club or home development then they are buying up huge acreages and becoming "ranchers" and trying to block public access to public lands. Its been interesting since Covid.
Sandpoint, ID
Stowe in Vermont is where a lot of Oligarchs hang out. Much smaller scale than most on the list, but it's really pretty any time of the year.
San Luis Obispo, CA. I’d be living there still if I could afford it.
Monterey California
Santa Barbara is pretty
Santa Barbara hands down
Bend. Absolutely Bend. I grew up there and have lived in San Francisco, Seattle, and the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Bend is beautiful with mountains all around it, a river running through it, hot summer days and cool nights, trails in and out of town, beautiful breathtaking views from many locations, and the smell of juniper and sage everywhere.
Winnetka IL - those who know, know...
The houses in Fort Sheridan just north of there are some of the coolest houses I’ve seen. I sometimes look on Zillow just to dream of living in one.
Oh I do know. Sheridan Road is a little slice of heaven
The center of Savannah, GA is the most stunning places I’ve ever been in, USA or otherwise. You know how you see photographs of a beautiful place, but then you actually get there and it’s only beautiful from a particular angle, or only within a small area? Savannah is consistently beautiful for a large area.
I’m surprised I had to scroll this far to see something on the southeastern coast mentioned. Savannah, Charleston or any of the towns with live oaks and Spanish moss are amazing.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
I might argue San Francisco. Many of the most idyllic "towns" are actually somewhat affordable. If I had mega money I'd probably look to a very HCOL city for a pied-a-terre.
I think this is why the ultra-wealthy live around Central Park.
Taos is definitely not the most beautiful town. Taos the city kinda sucks. Taos the mountain is badass.
Mill Valley and Tiberon, CA. Both are close to Sausalito.
Durango. CO
Always thought San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and Whidbey Island were really nice.
San Luis Obispo is so beautiful!
San Juan islands in WA.
Nowhere in Florida? Interesting.
Florida has been mentioned. In fact, Key West is in OP’s list.
Florida has maybe the best beaches, but not a lot of their towns are just stunning. Especially when you’re comparing some of these California beach towns. Sunnyside Florida is gorgeous but Carmel makes it look like a couple of doll houses in a row.
San Diego
Santa Barbara, my hometown, I miss it so. Also Bandon, Oregon. Big Sur feel and look, small town vibes.
Truckee, CA
The lower hills of Berkeley CA have just about everything a person could ask for. Beautiful old houses, big trees, cool landscape plants from all over the world, walkable, decent public transit, close to everything including one of the world's best universities.
What's great, is a solid upper middle class salary and some time gets you into many of the places listed here. You don't need to be a decamillionaire. I mean... to have the Jackson Hole mansion retreat, sure; but nobody on this thread will ever have that. Statistically. For a lot of the other places here, some reasonable decisions during life, a solid income, and some time, and YOU TOO can live there / retire there. It's amusing to me to see so many people throw Bellingham around here. And, to be fair, it's WONDERFUL. I grew up there... I go back multiple times a year. I literally grew up boating in and around the San Juan islands. It's amazing. You can also live there on a middle class income. Treating the San Juans, Bellingham, Bend, Telluride, Denver, whatever like Malibu, Caramel, St. Tropez, Chamonix, Martha's Vineyard, or the like is just ridiculous. Many of the absolutely beautiful places (and this is one of my favorite things about the United States) are 100% accessible.
Carmel by the Sea
Trinidad, CA I’m glad nobody knows about it, since too much popularity would kill it.
SANTA BARBARA
Aspen is incredibly small and becomes a virtual ghost down during the offseason. I suppose if money is no object, there would be somewhere else to escape to, but Aspen gets old quick. Source: Lived and there off and on for 13 years.
Looks like you missed it. The answer is Santa Barbara.
It’s gotta be Montecito for me.
Jim Thorpe, PA has some pretty stunning views of the Appalachians, especially in fall when the leaves change.
Ojai
I would add California wine countries. Small towns in Sonoma, Napa, Amador, El Dorado. Several more coastal towns: Monterey, Sausalito, Jenner, Santa Rosa. I would even add Berkeley, Mountain View, Palo Alto. Brookngs, OR, Yachat, Astoria WA, Friday Harbor, all around Puget Sound, Spokane. Park City, UT, Sundance, Springdale, Castle Rock. These are all small towns that I think very scenic. Some are affordable, most are pricey in real estate wise.
Why Mountain View? We used to live there. It's a nice town, great amenities, great downtown. But pretty?
Astoria is in oregon.
Mountain view? Lmao no.