What is it about small US towns that makes them so charming, alluring, and welcoming to travelers? Is it the need to experience a totally different environment, a unique place to run away and escape too, or perhaps they offer those special opportunities to find uniquely odd treasured bargains? Regardless of the reason, Small Town USA is a perfect low cost get-a-way vacation or weekend excursion by car, RV, train, bike, or for that matter, on foot.
I was asked a unique question the other day, and I had to take some time to think about how to answer it. Are small towns in the US really always so charming and unique, or is it that visitors in their quest to escape the complicated, hurried, and congested familiar city environment just envision it that way? Now my old Psychology-101 professor would say the visitor is seeing what they want to see to protect their sanity by getting away from their overwhelming daily lifestyle, the reaching out for a more simplistic environment. That makes some sense, but to be honest, people in Small Town USA aren’t simpletons…well at least not all of them. I should know, I grew up in the city and bought a whole new lifestyle in rural Small Town USA over fifteen years ago. I got a very quick education from those small town folks regarding water wells, septic tanks, and dealing with an assortment of pests and wild critters. Truth be known, early on I learned all by myself (the hard way) that it’s not smart to go out on late evening walks without a flashlight, as it gets really really dark on moonless nights without street lights; making even really huge tree trunks unhealthy obstacles.
If one can close their eyes to that sparkling rural town charm, it's easy to see Small Town folks are in fact marketing geniuses! Small towns have all the same issues big cities have, they’re just on a smaller scale; however, in Small Town USA, everybody knows everything about everybody’s business whether you like it or not. Think about it, small towns aren’t immune to sewer, water, building, or road issues. Realistically, little rural towns probably have a greater deteriorating infrastructure then a city, 'cause the locals don't want to change anything so as to maintain the town's original marketing character and charm. Why else would the little town look the same way it did a hundred years ago. The savvy town folks know visitors for the most part don’t stick around long enough to investigate beyond the photo image. Trust me, there are more Band-Aid fixes than a herd of preschoolers running in circles on cracked uneven concrete. The magical quick fix is to just keep slapping thick coats of paint on the old buildings year after year. I’d swear some of the older structures are just paint facades, because termites and rust ate the underlying building long ago.
Apart from the seemingly invisible small town issues, the wonderful little towns actually do try to maintain their charm and character. As I said before, small town folk are marketing geniuses, wherein each quaint little town wears its badge of history proudly, regardless of angelicness or evil. They idolize their famous local heroes, politicians, and athletes. They bestow fame to the local dastardly villains, robbers, and murderous evil doers from years past. However, what I like most are the huge leaping stretch of faith shrines where the famous and sometimes not so famous celebrities…slept here, sat there, ate here, used this commode, or died and now haunts the place…promotional glitz and glamour. Oh, how Small Town locals love a good story to tell.
So, is there any wonder why we all love Small Town USA? They are wonderful places to visit, fascinating to investigate, charming eye candy, soul satisfying, and just plain hometown fun. City folk can visit, let their hair down, not worry about keeping up with the Jones, and return to the simple comforts and joys of yesteryear. The locals of Small Town USA welcome everyone…just bring lots of cash and leave any uppity better than you big city attitudes at home.
“Ya‘all stop in 'n visit wit us some time, ya hear.”
Patrick Witz
Writer/Editor/Publisher/Photographer
Gold Country Families E-Magazine
A FREE Internet Travel, Entertainment, & Leisure Magazine
editor@goldcountryfamilies.com
http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com 
