The Midwest’s 10 Most Charming Small Towns
The Midwest’s 10 Most Charming Small Towns
Photo Courtesy of Pure Michigan
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/midwest-best-small-towns
Small Midwestern towns deliver easy weekend getaways from bigger cities, with art, nature, food, and culture worth the trip.
As someone who was born and raised in the Midwest and lived in Canada for more than 26 years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit many small towns in the Midwest. The most interesting places in the Midwest are not always those that people tend to brag about. Apart from the big cities, small towns provide an entirely different type of escapade where one can relax, be outside, and feel a connection with nature. These places show that you do not necessarily need a big vacation spot in order to have an extraordinary weekend. Many times, these are the most impressive places one can experience.
PHOTO: Cavan-Images/Shutterstock
1 OF 10
Saugatuck
WHERE: Michigan
Without question, Saugatuck certainly lives up to its remarkable status, which is earned through its guests’ praise. Located beside the shores of Lake Michigan, it is a wonderful destination where one can have a great time enjoying sandy beaches, sand dunes, and an arts district all in the same area on the weekends. In summertime, summer events add some additional buzz to this tiny town. With its unique blend of outdoor nature and creativity, the town has something special that you would hardly see anywhere else around the Lake Michigan area. One may choose to climb up the sand dunes and enjoy the view or just use the chain ferry.
INSIDER TIP: Go early to Oval Beach for a quieter experience, then take the chain ferry across the Kalamazoo River before the afternoon crowds build.
PHOTO: Dice Sales
2 OF 10
Galena
WHERE: Illinois
Galena is like going back in time. Most of the town’s Victorian architecture still exists today, allowing one to feel the history in Galena even without visiting a museum or historical site. This, along with the town’s brick sidewalks, restaurants, and presidential mansion which once belonged to President Ulysses S. Grant, surely make this city attractive to history buffs. One could spend an entire day walking around the town, finding a new sight or attraction every few steps.
PHOTO: Travel Iowa
3 OF 10
Decorah
WHERE: Iowa
Decorah’s Norwegian roots shape nearly everything about it, from its festivals to its museums. Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum is an important part of the cultural heritage of the city, whereas its surroundings provide hikers with many opportunities to enjoy nature walks, as well as ice fishing in Ice Cave Park. Nordic Fest is one of the events which help the people of Decorah reveal their community’s character. The surrounding landscape makes it just as appealing for outdoor trips as it is for cultural experiences.
PHOTO: Dougtone [CC BY-SA 2.0] / Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 10
Stillwater
WHERE: Minnesota
Set along the St. Croix River, Stillwater blends historic charm with outdoor activity. There are antique stores and coffee shops along all the streets, and the opportunity exists to kayak or paddleboard on the river. There are so many craft breweries in the area that one could easily spend an entire weekend exploring them. With such a laid-back pace and the river flowing directly through, it is easy to settle down in this place.
PHOTO: Dad1966/Shutterstock
5 OF 10
Madison
WHERE: Indiana
Madison sits along the Ohio River with a downtown that’s easy to explore on foot. It’s not a busy town, which is one of its charms. In fact, a leisurely stroll in the afternoon can easily stretch out into a whole evening. There are galleries, stores, and coffee shops along the roads, and natural trails and scenic drives close by make for a change into the natural world.
PHOTO: Photo Courtesy of Pure Michigan
6 OF 10
Mackinaw City
WHERE: Michigan
While considered the gateway to the island of Mackinac, Mackinaw City certainly makes for a worthwhile stop itself. Acting as the gateway to both the Mackinac Bridge and the surrounding scenery, along with many chances for trying out the local fudge and seafood, it is far more than just an intermediary step on the road somewhere else. Tourists have the chance to explore the waterside area, take in their surroundings, and take things at a leisurely pace before moving on to other areas.
PHOTO: Meybruck/iStock
7 OF 10
Grand Haven
WHERE: Michigan
Grand Haven is a city that revolves around water. It’s well known because of its famous musical fountain and beaches. Visitors can choose between cycling or spending time on the lakeside, as the area never lacks anything related to the life of the lake. The bustling downtown district provides an adequate amount of stimulation with stores and eateries that are just lively enough to keep things exciting while not being overwhelming.
PHOTO: Chris Light [CC BY-SA 4.0]/Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 10
New Buffalo
WHERE: Michigan
New Buffalo is an easygoing escape along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. It covers everything from wineries to luxury boutique hotels, beaches to outdoor sports like cycling and golf, providing you with an all-inclusive package for the weekend. It offers you the chance to spend time outside, but at the same time gives you numerous places where you can unwind and enjoy yourself at the end of the day. The location is perfect because of its proximity to cities.
PHOTO: CJ NATTANAI/SHUTTERSTOCK
9 OF 10
Holland
WHERE: Michigan
Holland stands out for its strong Dutch heritage and seasonal traditions. Starting with the Tulip Time Festival all the way to the windmills and bakers in town, it is easy to see why the town has a unique character in contrast with other towns in the area. A combination of parks, waterfronts, and artisan stores makes the town ideal for spending the weekend in. The season will also dictate a unique atmosphere during each visit, particularly in the springtime.
PHOTO: PHOTO COURTESY OF PURE MICHIGAN
10 OF 10
Charlevoix
WHERE: Michigan
Charlevoix offers lake access, a walkable downtown, and some of the most unusual architecture in the region. Visitors will never run out of things to do, whether boating, fishing, or exploring the world-famous Mushroom Houses. Besides the lakeside recreation, there are plenty of other ways to have some fun outdoors. With all the water around the area and the architectural structures, it offers an entirely different appearance compared to others around.
Hotel execs have a partly sunny outlook for summer in the US
Short booking windows an ongoing challenge, even for major events like World Cup
Beach destinations remain popular for leisure travelers in the U.S. this summer, while major urban markets will likely see mixed results. (Getty Images)
https://www.costar.com/article/1062392064/hotel-execs-have-partly-sunny-outlook-for-summer-in-the-us?
By Bryan Wroten
Summer's still around the corner, but U.S. hotel executives already say they feel better about this year.
Summer 2025 was marked by multiple disruptions that put a damper on travel for both guests and hoteliers. New tariffs were leading to higher costs and uncertainty; the U.S. saw lower international inbound travel volume, and federal immigration raids interrupted business.
This year has its own set of disruptions, including higher oil prices, increasing what people pay at the pump as well as in the air.
Even with the uncertainty, revenue managers are saying this summer could give their hotels a much-needed moment in the sun.
Short booking windows
The overall booking window remains short, but that’s consistent with how travelers booked summer travel last year, said Leah McFarland, senior vice president of revenue strategy at Crestline Hotels & Resorts. A good percentage of business still makes its way to the hotel in what would be considered a short term, even in leisure markets and during higher-demand periods.
“I think it's going to be interesting to see if the short-term booking windows and the short-term demand plays out the same way the long-term demand has, because a lot of times those have very different behaviors,” she said.
The rate of people booking their hotel anywhere from 90 to 60 days ahead of the stay is similar to how people booked last summer, McFarland said. But how shorter-term demand — from people who book their hotels less than 60 days out — plays out this year remains to be seen.
“Everything is moving so fast in terms of things that impact travel behavior,” she said. “We likely aren't going to know that until we are in that booking window, and that may mean that we have to pivot strategies very quickly, to ebb and flow with that demand.”
Though the first quarter wasn’t bad, June is when transient business pace really picks up, said Tina Meredith, senior vice president of revenue optimization at PM Hotel Group.
Major events dotting this summer's calendar in the U.S. is causing some travelers to make reservations earlier compared to last year, she said.
“They're booking reservations now for all of these things," she said. "If this was last year at this time, we wouldn't have seen nearly as much on the books, so that's ... proof that the lead times are pushing out for the summer."
When excluding 2026 FIFA World Cup or America 250-related events, the booking window is still generally pretty short, she said.
People are staying longer, but Meredith said length of stay often depends on an event as well. Non-event-related hotel stays likely are shorter than those related to an event.
"Ultimately, it's still going to show by the time the summer is said and done, that we'll have longer lead times,” she said. “But we still have a lot of room to book between now and then.”
World Cup uncertainty
How World Cup demand will play out this summer remains a mystery, McFarland said.
Hoteliers in her company's portfolio are watching the situation with cautious optimism, but on the FIFA group bookings front, demand has come in short of projections.
“We have seen a tremendous amount of group [business] fall off," she said. "On the transient side, there are bookings occurring, but not at any great speed, and so we're left with a decision to make about how we want to strategize that event."
With demand being softer than expected and the short-term booking window playing out as it is, commercial teams are left to figure out whether to set rates that won’t turn away normal, everyday travelers or hedge their bets longer and see if the World Cup demand pays off.
Other major sporting events in the U.S., specifically the Super Bowl, are events that are easier for hotels to benchmark against because of the deep history.
The World Cup is tougher to forecast, largely in part because the international travel associated with it remains up in the air.
Group is coming in lower than expected, international travel is a big question mark, and some of the match draws aren’t overly favorable, McFarland said. That raises the question of whether the U.S. traveler is enough to create compression in those markets and if they’re willing to pay the higher event rates.
“What I'm thinking right now is the answer is, no, it's not,” she said. “But it's not an all-or-nothing approach. You have to continue to walk back the strategy and walk back the policies until you see the demand capture click.”
Calling herself “a forever optimist,” Peachtree Group President of Hospitality Management Vickie Callahan said she believes the World Cup demand will come in, just later than hoteliers want it to.
“This is probably just some short-term pickup that we're probably going to get at a later date,” she said.
Many travelers are going to go to host markets even if they’re not going to the game, just like football fans do for the Super Bowl, because they want to experience the game where it’s happening. The cities will have extra entertainment and events going on.
“I think people are going to have a World Cup experience without actually going to the game,” she said.” I think we'll get some local drive-in traffic from that.”
Meredith said PM Hotel Group’s World Cup markets are seeing opportunities to drive rates. Transient occupancy is up in most of its markets, and average daily rate is up significantly, too, especially in Philadelphia. That’s likely because there are multiple things going on in Philly besides the World Cup and the America 250 events this summer.
“I will tell you that generally in all of our World Cup markets, our ADR is up relatively significantly versus last year,” she said. “We don't have too many situations where there's a huge amount of compression to take advantage of, so we are doing that the best we can.”
Hot summer markets
Beach destination markets are still doing well, McFarland said, pointing specifically to California and Florida. Leisure markets overall are seeing solid demand, including mountain cities in Colorado, which suffered from a bad snow season this winter.
“The ski season was absolutely horrific for your traditional Colorado ski towns,” she said. “But you know what? A lot of us are very hopeful that they get a lovely resurgence of summer travel, because it was a drier, less-snowfall winter that's going to lead to a shorter mud season or shoulder season there.”
That will depend, of course, on those areas keeping wildfires at bay this summer after such a dry winter.
The major cities continue to face challenges, with the exception of New York City, McFarland said.
“New York continues to be that outlier that just keeps churning, but your other first-tier cities are a little bit challenged,” she said. “I think that the leisure traveler — just right now for whatever reason, and maybe it's cost-driven — doesn't seem to be as drawn to the city as they once were outside of New York.”
Washington, D.C., is an example of a major city facing some challenges. With no World Cup matches and some America 250 events, performance there could be a mixed bag, Meredith said.
“I think D.C. could be a little bit of a struggle,” she said.
On the negotiated side, PM Hotel Group isn’t seeing as much headed into the summer, she said. Group, generally for many of its markets, is flat or up, but that’s a mix between corporate and social, military, educational, religious and fraternal groups. It’s not solely one or the other, and there’s some good occupancy still on Tuesdays and Wednesdays while in the throes of the booking window.
Corporate travel is happening, but with higher gas prices and other increased expenses, they're facing some obstacles that might slow travel down, she said.
“Airfares are in some places astronomical, and companies are feeling the pinch right to the bottom line," she said. "Travel is in fact probably one of the easiest and first things that they can start curtailing to help with expenses.”
The leisure markets are where Peachtree is seeing most of its summer lift, Callahan said. Nashville, Atlanta, Sacramento and Tempe, Arizona, in particular are looking good.
“It’s coast-to-coast for us, and it’s specific markets, which has been the trend for the last 12 months," she said. "Certain markets do really well and then others have been a bit sluggish, which I think is normal in our industry.”
Most of the company’s hotels are in suburban locations with a few in urban markets, she said. The smaller urban cities are doing OK, especially if they have any kind of entertainment venue nearby.
Nashville was a surprise because of all the new hotels opened in recent years, but it is having a solid second quarter, Callahan said. She attributed it to the city's mix of long-term groups with smaller retail and negotiated SMERF and leisure groups.
She emphasized that there's still room to fill in hotels, but this summer definitely looks better.
"At this time last year, we were truly redirecting our sales effort pretty quickly,” she said.
European hotels set to gain from Middle East woes
Turkish Riviera, Budapest, Copenhagen among the markets to benefit
Turkey is among the Mediterranean countries expected to benefit from guests and tourists switching away from traveling to the Middle East. (Terence Baker)
https://www.costar.com/article/1807237384/european-hotels-set-to-gain-from-middle-east-woes?
The ongoing war in Iran will lead to reduced travel demand in the Middle East as business pivots to Europe, along with increased intracontinental travel from Europeans themselves.
The usual suspects likely will win out, notably Southern Mediterranean markets, as well as the Turkish Riviera, according to participants in a recent webinar hosted by business advisory HVS London and legal firm Bird & Bird titled “Hotels in 2026. Feast or famine? Whither the recovery?”
Aoife Roche, regional vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, STR, CoStar’s hotel-analytics division, said the signs are already present.
She said occupancy in Europe in year-on-year terms for March 2026 increased by 1% to 62%, and in Northern Africa in the same period it increased by 6% to 59%.
The Middle East is a different picture, although there are budding signs that the market is returning slowly. For the same month compared with March 2025, Middle East occupancy fell 11% to 65%.
She added the numbers suggested a potential for Europe to benefit from diverted traffic due to the conflict, and said hoteliers could draw parallels with the current situation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We do know that demand will always rebound,” she said.
Guests and investors are not leaving the sector.
“In good times people want to travel, and in bad times people need to travel,” said Jack Rice, relationship director, hotels and hospitality, Barclays Bank.
Tina Yu, partner, KSL Capital Partners, said firms such as hers are believers in the long-term value of the sector.
“It’s the only sector we invest into. … This type of disruption and volatility is what creates opportunities for investors to pick the right winners,” she said.
Roche said March saw occupancy plummet in Gulf Cooperation Council countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Occupancy had already fallen in February in year-on-year terms, by approximately 5%, she said. In March, the metric fell by more than 30%, with the United Arab Emirates feeling the brunt.
Bahrain, Roche added, is the market currently with the smallest occupancy, with March seeing that metric reach only 17%. Kuwait fared only a little better at 23%.
Oman in the same month saw occupancy of 23% while the UAE was at 36% and Qatar was at 47%. Only Saudi Arabia managed to see occupancy above the halfway mark at 57%.
In Saudi Arabia, it was the Holy Cities and adjacent markets that did the best, along with the city of Damman. In the kingdom, there was occupancy pickup in most markets for the week ending April 4, but improvements were slight, with Roche stating this demand boost is a domestic one.
Eureka Europe
In Europe, business on the books shows that markets such as the Turkish Riviera, Budapest, Copenhagen, Sardinia, Barcelona and Malta are set to fare admirably as vacation guests pivot away from the Middle East and long-haul travel.
It is not that Europe’s hotels and hoteliers will not see some downside from the Middle East conflict, which will be added to some homegrown woe, said Sophie Perret, managing director at business advisory HVS London.
The cost of debt will increase and dampen hotel values, she said, with most investors likely to play a wait-and-see policy before restarting equity allocation.
One market that is suffering is Amsterdam, she said. The market there has borne a hotel tax of 12.5% since the beginning of 2024 and a national increase in value-added/sales tax from 9% to 21% since Jan. 1.
Kate Nicholls, chair, UKHospitality, raised investment concerns in the United Kingdom.
“We now have the highest employment taxes in [Europe] and the second-highest national living wage in the world. … Those are the bigger challenges that distinguish the U.K. market and mean that investors are just a little bit more cautious about investing in it,” she said.
Bright spots are Southern Europe, where leisure demand remains strong, and Eastern Europe, where demand has performed in a likewise manner and permitted hoteliers to raise average daily rate.
There might not be a replication of 2025’s 30% increase in hotel transactions volumes, though, Perret said.
She said that in terms of total transactions volumes, London and Paris were the most liquid markets in Europe, with 2025 seeing values of €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) and €1.9 billion, respectively, that represented 10% and 8% of total volume, also respectively.
For single-asset transaction volumes, it was also London-Paris in the top spots in 2025, with London seeing values of €1.8 billion and Paris posting values of €1.9 billion.
Another market in 2025 that was notable for single-asset sales was Prague, which posted a value of €580 million, she said.
Perret and Roche said the European landscape bodes well for positive revenue per available room in 2026.
“Europe remains a very well-positioned continent in terms of attracting travelers,” Perret added.
U.S. demand will focus on Europe and away from the Middle East, and they very likely will be joined by increased European demand for staycations or intracontinental travel.
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