Whittier, Alaska
Whittier, Alaska, is a small seaport town 60 miles south of Anchorage. It’s known as the “Town Under One Roof” because most of its residents live in a single building, Begich Towers. Begich Towers is a 14 story condominium building that is also home to many small-town essentials, including the post office, grocery store, and church. There is even an underground tunnel connecting the building to the one school in town. The only road in and out of Whittier, Alaska, is the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. It’s a 2.5 mile, one-way tunnel that takes you under a mountain to access the town. It is the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America.
Ferndale, California
Ferndale, California, is a perfectly preserved Victorian Village with most of its buildings dating back to the 1850s. The small oasis town is a state-designated historic landmark. Sandwiched between the Redwoods National and State Parks, Ferndale is a great place to see the tallest trees on Earth. The bridge into town was named the “Queen of Bridges” for being the longest functional poured concrete bridge in the world.
Boley, Oklahoma
Boley, Oklahoma, is the largest and most well-known of the more than fifty predominately Black towns of Oklahoma and one of only thirteen still existing. This Western ranch town was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Boley draws in people from all across the world every Memorial Day weekend with its annual Boley Rodeo, the oldest African American community-based rodeo in the country.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is New Mexico’s largest city and home to the country’s largest hot air ballooning community. Every year Albuquerque hosts the largest hot air balloon event globally, drawing in people from all across the world. The Sandia Peak Tramway is another excellent way to check out the scenic mountains surrounding the city. At 2.7 miles long, it is the longest passenger tramway in the world.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio, is known as the “City of Glass” for its long history of glass manufacturing. You can find an extensive collection of glassworks showcased at the Toledo Museum of Art. The city also boasts twelve Metroparks which offers 12,000 acres of natural land to explore.
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana, is called “America’s Christmas Hometown” because they celebrate Christmas 365 days a year. You’ll find streets with Christmas-themed names such as Silver Bell Terrace, Candy Cane Lane, Reindeer Circle, and Prancer Drive. There are more than 20 statues of Santa Clause posted around the city. The largest is 22 feet tall! More than a million people flock to the town every year to check out Santa’s Candy Castle, the Santa Claus Museum, and Santa’s Lodge. It’s also home to the first themed amusement park in the world, Holiday World!
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas, isn’t just the home of the frozen margarita machine. The Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the United States with a 42 Murals walking tour, modern art galleries, and weekly live music! The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the ten largest art museums in America.
