25. Missouri: Branson
Sometimes called “the Nashville of the Ozarks,” Branson is filled with entertainment and theme parks. Many of country music’s biggest stars perform here regularly. Ride mountain coasters, giant slingshots, and hear live music revues. Silver Dollar City is an old-west theme park featuring high-speed coasters. You can also visit the Titanic Museum, featuring a full-scale mockup of the doomed liner.
26. Montana: Livingston
Born as the gateway to Yellowstone, this city is home to an influx of transplants but still has Old West grit. Restaurants are superb as world-class chefs have migrated here. Downtown houses numerous country bars with crowds and live bands hailing from all over. There’s fly fishing year-round on the river, and the park is less than an hour away.
27. Nebraska: McCook
In the Old West, McCook was an oasis of civilization among the vast western prairies and the stagecoach and train era. Today, it’s home to a brand-new art district, as well as annual storytelling and music festivals. There’s a James Beard award-winning bakery and Nebraska’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house.
28. Nevada: Virginia City
This is the destination for those who want to see the immaculate preservation of an Old West mining town. Check out the iconic Piper’s Opera House, which still hosts live performances. There’s also modernity and a lot of wacky fun, like the annual World Championship Outhouse Races or the International Camel and Ostrich Races that outdraw some professional sports teams!
29. New Hampshire: Lincoln
This small town of 1,600 people is home to the Loon Mountain Resort with lots of narrow, high-speed runs. The resort also has an on-site winery to reward yourself after a long day of skiing. In the summer, explore Franconia Notch State Park with some of the best hiking and mountain biking in the state.
