14 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the US—And Connecticut’s on It

Connecticut Town Named One of the 14 Most Beautiful to Visit in the U.S. 

When it comes to small-town charm and straight-up beauty, the national spotlight always seems to fall on one Connecticut town: Mystic. Normally, I’d roll my eyes when it comes up—because let’s be honest, Mystic feels like the obvious, chalky answer.

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But you know what? I’m gonna let that go for once. Because seeing The Nutmeg State recognized at all on a list of America’s most beautiful small towns? I’ll take that win and smile.

According to a new article from Country Going titled “The 14 Most Beautiful Small Towns You Can Visit in the U.S.,” Mystic made the cut. And yeah… they kinda nailed it.

Here’s how they put it:

"River views and old clapboard houses give Mystic a quiet charm that sticks with you. You can still feel the town’s nautical past while walking through the shipyard, or checking out the maritime museum. Seafood spots line the waterfront, offering lobster rolls and chowder with a breeze off the water."

That’s the vibe. It’s got that New England postcard energy. You stroll past ships, duck into one of the waterfront restaurants, grab a lobster roll or some chowder, and you swear the salty breeze off the river is trying to lull you into a nap. It's almost like eating a giant turkey and drinking a full box of wine.

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Country Living didn’t just hand out a lighthearted compliment here, Mystic was right up there with heavy hitters like Sedona, Arizona, St. Augustine, Florida, and Telluride, Colorado.

Here’s the full list:

• Beaufort, South Carolina

• Leavenworth, Washington

• Galena, Illinois

• Sedona, Arizona

• Camden, Maine

• Telluride, Colorado

• St. Augustine, Florida

• Healdsburg, California

• Mystic, Connecticut

• Wallace, Idaho

• Bisbee, Arizona

• Bayfield, Wisconsin

• Franklin, Tennessee

• Winthrop, Washington

Look, we all know Connecticut doesn’t always get the love it deserves. But when you’ve got a place like Mystic getting national recognition for being genuinely beautiful, historic, and welcoming? That’s a win for the whole state.

So yeah, Mystic might be the predictable pick—but it’s earned it. And if people across the country are finally catching on to what we’ve known all along? We're Good, almost gooder or goodest.

Now go on, get out of here—grab yourself a lobster roll and enjoy life in one of the best places in the world: Connecticut. Yeah, I said it. Seriously though, scram—I’ve got work to do.