When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. On the other hand, Hays, home to Fort Hays State University, is just on the cusp of small town status (whats an extra thousand people among friends, right?). Bar hopping in Ruidoso is unmatched. Inside a former instrument/record store where Ike Turner and other bluesmen bought instruments, the owner Red set up the juke joint -- basically, a quasi-legal spot to throw a party and experience some live music. The vibe inside this warm, wood-clad haunt is vintage New England on steroids, featuring dusty maritime art, nautical odds and ends, an old-school popcorn machine, and, inexplicably, a year-round Christmas tree perched atop a potbelly stove. Technically, this bar actually sits in a town with a population of zero, in the ghost town of Sacramento about 5 miles outside Holdredge. Come along for the ride! One of America'spremier (and more low-key) party islands, Block Island puts forth a welcome lack of pretension relative to certain other New England destinations (stares daggers at Martha's Vineyard). Some bars are the Shooting Star. One wouldn't immediately think of New Hampshire as a place with one of the great small college bars in America, but the oldest bar in Keene is the sort of nostalgia-filled boozer that keeps Keene State College alums coming back for generations. While Middleburg isnt quite known as the Napa of the East, it does pack in three wineries and a cidery/distillery into a tiny town of 800. Stockholm is another picture perfect town in Wisconsin. The architect's 800-acre Taliesin estate is conveniently located south of town. Monowi offers a truly singular drinking experience that you cant find anywhere else. Travel to another world in the seafaring town of Sturgeon Bay, Sitka is the paradigm of an isolated small town. When you think of Wisconsin, darling Main Streets with town parks or squares and cute shops might come to mind. It doesn't need to be. Watertown, WI 9. You dont even have to do the ski part of apres ski to have a good time at the Paul Bunyan Room, you just have to show up ready to party. The century-old fireplace helps keep the place cozy in winter. Spend the night at the chic Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, a reimagined former Playboy Club. Galena is one of those idyllic small towns that only seems to exist in distant memories, a riverside village where cobblestone streets are lined with historic mansions and everybody seems to be in a great mood. Population: 5,981 That's because the place -- with an aesthetic that marries the rustic tin-shed look with an ultra-modern tap system -- takes its beer very, very seriously, to the point that each of the joint's pub tenders boasts a Cicerone certification. And you'll need a cheap beer to wash it down. And when there isn't world-class talent burning up the stage, you can always kick back and enjoy some cheap-as-hell beers in the darkened, delightfully worn-in tavern, and snack on some of the most average pub food in the world. Wrightstown, WI Towns in Wisconsin FAQs Conclusion Have you heard of the city of Wisconsin? Come for the history, small-town beauty and outdoor activities, stay for the drinks. Behold the best of the best: the Catahoula Hotel's sleekly designed Catahoula Pisco Bar ; the Roosevelt Hotel's epically historic Sazerac Bar and live music-fueled, wine-focused Fountain. Time from Madison: 2 hrs 45 minutes. But these days the Goble Tavern, located at Oregon Highway 30 mile marker 41, has a simple motto: "Where the Hell Is Goble?" And yet, theres Encore, a restaurant in the repurposed Albright Mansion, which hides the oldest absinthe house outside of New Orleans. Rainier The bars on this list represent the absolute best small-town drinking experiences in their respective states. The bars on this list represent the absolute best small-town drinking experiences in their respective states. Population: 8,331 Check out the freshwater critters (gigantic sturgeon, otters, trout) at the two-story Great Lakes Aquarium. The tavern claims to be the oldest continuously operating bar in the state. The drinking scene is a mix of cocktail bars like Tongue and Groove Drinkery, live music joints and a whole lot of dive bars. Located in Fountain City, the Irish-themed tavern features a restaurant, a brewery and a bar. Janesville has over 2,500 acres of parks and nature trails, and an additional 500 acres are allocated as greenbelt land, which protects the local wildlife from waste runoff. Scratch that. Visitors here can enjoy a traditional fish. And while there are nice little pubs dotted around the state, we're going the unexpected route and throwing in Ballard's, one of the best damn beach bars in America. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Or just wait till the Goble Warming music festival every summer: The music twangs, the meat's smoked on hickory, and if you overindulge you can camp in the backyard. When it does, you too can experience the majesty of a truly lit barn with a cupful whiskey and a crowd of amped line dancers. If a change of pace is what youre looking for, drinking in the view (and the cocktails) on the rooftop bar of 723 Whiskey Bravo is the perfect escape from the real world. You may be in Ohio, but youll feel like youre in a tiki wonderland with Florida beach sand and pool games. 12
Willie Nelson's mom tended bar there in the '60s. This spot is everything you'd expect from the oldest bar in Nevada. According to the Woods High Mountain Distillery website, the distillers who call Salida home took inspiration from the great mountainous landscape of Colorado when they crafted their whiskey, gin and elderflower liqueur, some of which even include local Colorado ingredients. Everything you could want from a classic Wisconsin supper club - steaks, prime rib and Old Fashioneds. Bistro 63, located in Barronett, is another wonderful spot to satisfy your steak craving. ZDT's Amusement Park, 301 W Kingsbury St, Seguin, TX 78155, USA. Order a craft brew and a bite to eat inside what once was a car repair shop. For a more natural offering, visit nearby Tower Hill State Park, known for hiking, birding, and paddling. Population: 3,113 Manhattans and negronis are barrel-aged for two months before being served in the dimly lit bar, and though the bartenders here would never dare refer to themselves as "mixologists" they can craft up pretty much anything if you tell them what you're into. The New York Times writes that what makes Bar Harbor great is that its deliciously frozen in time. Theres definitely something delicious and (sometimes) frozen about Bar Harbor, but its the drinks, not the time. This is one of the best bars in the country, one filled with some of the most interesting characters you'll ever drink a Shiner underground with. Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is a charming coastal town with a truly fascinating history. Here are seven towns that have some of the best Main Streets in Wisconsin. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Neart the northernmost point of the state, Bayfield is considered the gateway to Madeline Island and the Apostille Islands National Lakeshore, where a chain of lakes stretches into Lake Superior. Pretty Stockholm is set on the Great River Road, a newly designated National Scenic Byway. I have lived near Starrs for the last few years and have ordered and dined and and if I say so my self one of the best small town bars I have (personally) been. We'll tell you the good about "Awesome Cross Plains." Everyone here is rich; families average $87,125 a year, which is the 5th highest in the Madison region. To get the freshest taste, you have to travel to the little town of Decorah, where each beer release brings in more than 2,000 visitors, equivalent of a quarter of the towns population. Sturgeon Bay. We've rounded up the best small towns in Wisconsin all with a population under 15,000 that offer something for every type of traveler. Idaho is a weird place, man. It's a piece of big city cool in small-town Vermont, a place you won't want to tell anyone about but still feel like bragging that you discovered. You could describe New Glarus as quaint, but you cant describe the eponymous brewery with the same word. If youre down for a bit of a trip, you can go to the Fish Heads Bar & Grill tiki bar. known for its giant, broasted chicken wings and arcade games. Janesville Is One Of The Cutest Small Towns In Wisconsin. Though it's only about an hour's drive from Miami it feels decades away, and it probably the most authentically Floridian experience one can have on a vacation to the southern tip of the Sunshine State. The bars walls sport over 9,000 brands (the singed flesh kind, not the whiskey brand kind) from cattle ranchers all over the state, along with plenty of taxidermy. The food menu, too, is outstanding, a collision of high end taste and lowbrow bar food that includes an arsenal of specialty burgers, wings, and tots covered in custom dry seasonings like tikka and the herb-covered Megan, all of which come with custom dipping sauces (opt for the white Cheddar & gouda sauce, and save some for the stellar wings). Gatlinburg Oklahoma lake bars range from holes in the wall to rowdy college-style fiascos, but there are few more simple pleasures in the Sooner state than sitting with an ice cold beer and watching the sunset. Its packed with charming boutiques and welcoming bars and restaurants. Be sure to add this, This old shipbuilding town in Door County has become a tourist Mecca, and the downtown has been transformed into a charming and welcoming vacation spot. The bar overflows with taxidermy, especially elk antlers donated by locals. You won't be sorry. 36
Weston The town is also home to Burley Oak Brewing, which serves its large portfolio at its taproom (often to the accompaniment of local musicians) including their Home Grown series, featuring hyper-local grains grown just 15 minutes away. Love Wisconsin? It's also home to a bra safe, where visitors have left "donations" for decades, and a 14-ingredient Bloody Mary that'll put any drink in Vegas to shame. Learn more about one of the, In far northern Wisconsin, Bayfield is the gateway to the famous Apostle Islands. Oberlin Population: 4,014 OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Sure, Gatlinburg is a tourist town thanks to its proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort, but it's also arguably one of the best small towns in Tennessee, and here the moonshine-loving locals flock to Hogg's. This historic community has a little something for everyone. Ski season is one of the best times to visit New Hampshire. And so perhaps it's not surprising that Chelsea's, which has been open for 25+ years, hosts a ton of music. Located on Baranof Island, the town is hemmed in between snow-capped mountains and the sea, making it accessible only by plane or ferry. Case in point: Pleasure Island, a 1,600-square-foot tiki paradise where you can roll up by car or boat and enjoy drinks like the Bahama Who? This peaceful place looks over the shimmering waters of Granite Lake and has a menu full of culinary delights. The site, now recognized by UNESCO for its cultural importance, includes highlights like the Taliesin home and Hillside Studio. 1. Wedged in with the town is Pioneer Baraka, P Bar, as the locals call itwhich looks like a shanty mixed with a diner, decorated with photos of ships that are the lifeblood of the towns harbor, as well as a massive bell that hangs over the bar. The Lake Erie island is home to the best beachy, tiki and kitschy bars in the Northern Midwest. Or just go out and shoot pool at any of the other eight bars nearby. . In Monowi, Nebraska, theres only one tavern. Then theres the two breweries and five cideries. Unlike other upscale second home spots, these properties are accessible for ogling via the 26-mile-long Geneva Lake Shore Path. Saddle up, cowboy, you're in for a wild ride. Stop for a fresh, locally grown meal at Hop Dish & Vine, which serves an ever-rotating menu based on the bounty of nearby farms. (715) 386-2109 Order online. For example, The Globe is a renovated theater that combines a bar, restaurant, performance space and art gallery under one roof. Mama, Rowdy Rum Runner, Pleasure Island Lemonade, and the infamous Bushwhacker. The Germans know how to drink, and the closest you can get to German drinking in America might just be in New Ulm. Bridgeville The walls here are over-filled with school and city history, a venerable museum where you can learn everything about the area whilst enjoying cheap beer and free popcorn. Over the past four-plus decades, it has evolved into a true music mecca off the Delaware River, playing host to artists as varied as Norah Jones, George Thorogood, and jazz virtuoso Stanley Jordan. Or you can just hang out in the beer garden and enjoy the warm desert air; the smell of the smoke is almost as glorious. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Population: 2,302 To learn more, visit their Facebook page, The rare mix of supper club and tiki bar, Jake's is on Tainter Lake and is known for its prime rib, the outdoor tiki bar and live music on the weekends. 2014 Washington St, Two Rivers, WI 54241-2646. Yes, Saloon #10 is touristy: It's a place that doubles as something of a living Wild West museum, complete with cowboys at the poker table where Wild Bill was shot. Skagway Small towns abound in Wisconsin, so there is always a great place to escape to from the hustle and bustle of life. Eat local seafood and drink local beers at Geddys on Main Street, then kick back with even more beer at the Atlantic Brewing Company. You know, to give the place character. Save. Right outside of Baraboo, Devil's Lake State Park is Wisconsin's most-visited state park with towering quartzite cliffs and a crystal-clear lake surrounded by 500-foot-high bluffs. Pay extra special attention to their special releasesif youre in town for the festival in January, consider the Midwinter Nights Dram. After a day at a Wisconsin Dells waterpark, grab dinner with your family at the. What makes Paddle Inn truly stand out, though, is the cocktail list, which is headed up by the heralded team from Bostons Trinas Starlite Lounge. The drinks are cheap enough that you can indulge enough to find you in an eventual staring contest with one of the mounted deer heads and your wallet will be no worse for the wear. And Fish Creek welcomes them all under the shared banner of booze and fellowship. Among the booze offerings are 23 taps, including local faves like 16 Mile and Fordham & Dominion. Cedarburg. Bisbee is full of characters that can only be described as colorful. Floridas Emerald Coast on the states panhandle is lined with small beach towns, but none compare to Santa Rosa Beach. Youll find plenty of those locals there as well, as the bar is a gathering place after church or the yearly Augusta American Legion Rodeo. And it's all wrapped up in one pretty little indoor-outdoor package, complete with a handsome vintage dark wood bar, plenty of communal tables, and a slew of colorful tiki-inspired bric-a-brac strewn about for good measure. The patio at one of the locations on the water is both heated and air-conditioned, meaning you can make the summer last just a bit longer as you stare out at the lake. The Choctaw Casino offers plenty of drinking and gambling should you need to escape from nature, while Hochatowns Beavers Bend Brewery offers a midpoint between outdoors and in, with a patio where you can sip brews as you watch life pass by. Swiss inspired spots like Glarner Stube and the Ott Haus Pub & Grill can make any drinkers day. Beads hang on mounted antlers, next to the bar's lone hanging bra, which legend says belonged to Raquel Welch. Spend the day at one of these great, historic towns. This relaxing East Coast retreat is filled with bed-and-breakfast accommodations and plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun. But while the burgers might steal the show, the bar itself is not to be overlooked. While this petit Georgian town sits in the Appalachian mountains, it looks as if it belongs in the Alps. Architecture buffs will recognize Spring Green as Frank Lloyd Wright central. Population: 5,855 Its hard to top a 9,000-square-foot pool with a swim-up bar like the one at the Sand Bar. Rockville And while youre there, order the classic hot pastrami sandwich, which pairs nicely with any brew. Population: 2,497 It's Alabama Jack's, a time warp to Florida before the days of air conditioning and bug spray, where swampy rednecks dance to a live country band and folks on their way to and from the Keys sip beers by the water. As it should -- when you're dealing with an average wintertime low of 13.6 degrees, you're going to need all the liquid hugs you can get. Were it located in a big city in one of America's best beer towns, Pella's Cellar Peanut Pub would be a formidable presence elevating the beer scene. Population: 5,235 Tybee Island Population: 632 Cross Plains Cross Plains is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Madison area. Hudson Wisconsin is known for a lot of great things, but its possible that none are better than our iconic supper clubs. The Alchemists Heady Topper and Focal Banger are extremely hard to find outside of Stowe, and are worth the trip on their own. The sprawling backyard lawn hosts picnic tables, a maddening hook-and-ring game popular with both hustlers and hecklers, a well-used country music stage, and the most beautiful backyard view in Oregon, looking out on the rolling hills of Columbia River country. It is a great place for a quiet escape, but also has plenty to do, including scenic kayaking on Green Bay. Her work has appeared in a variety of print and digital outlets, including. 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