Seven Small Towns You Must Visit in the U.S.

Anacortes was put on the map by salmon fishers and canners who needed a place to drop their hauls. The town has since been transformed into an artsy community of sea lovers. The canneries are dwindling, but the streets have been filled by creative entrepreneurs opening galleries, boutiques, and cafés. Hop the Anacortes ferry in the spring for the Skagit Tulip and Anacortes Arts festivals, or simply wander Washington beach looking in tide pools. Try to come on a clear day, when visitors will be met with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains, the Puget Sound, and nearby Whidbey Island.