Comments on: America's Coolest Small Towns, Circa 2009

Budget Travel Magazine's Readers Picked Them, And Results Were Announced On The Early Show

[Strider300]

Huntingdon PA? No industry, no employment opportunities. The younger generations leave and don't come back. There's simply nothing in this town. I left 22 years ago and never looked back. I took my daughter on a tour a couple weeks ago and the schools are falling apart. The middle school steps are crumbling, they had to brick up the windows in the pool to save energy. No theaters, nothing for kids to do except hang out at the mini-marts One of the worst hospitals in the state, yet at the same time, one of the most expensive. This town is dying.

[uzark]

As wonderful as all the towns listed sound, I am amazed and surprised at OAK PARK, IL not been included. Based on what I saw as the criteria's I would have expected Oak Park to be in the top 10.

[Larkinvos]

Onancock, VA??
I'd like to have been present
at that name-picking meeting.

[parisdakar]

Huntingdon COOL? You've got to be kidding. It maybe a cool town if you're a well off College prof, or a student who's outta there in 4 years, or if you've made your money elsewhere and retire there to do your painting, mountain biking, photography or other yuppie-approved nonsense. But these articles are a slap in the face to the people who live in these towns and face lack of opportunity, employment, healthcare etc. When I went to school there, we callously called the locals "townies". Now I realize how sadly inappropriate that was.

[christies47]

Old town Covington, Louisiana. Lively and lovely-- they've preserved and updated the vernacular shotgun style houses--imagine wide porches, gas sconces, pretty little yards amid a town with people out eating and shopping at 9:00 pm -- in a suburb!

There are many art galleries, shops and incredibly hip, healthy and fun restaurants- local produce, fish, creative combinations, but not so chi-chi- you can't relax.

It blew my mind- I never expected Covington to be so cool.

[taffygirl04]

It shocks and apaws me to see grown people being so mean about a simple competition. If their is a west coast bias that is because the east coast was not available to nominate their towns as well as vote for them. I do not understand why some of the users feel the need to bring out the negative of every place. We should all be focusing on the positive of EVERY town big or small. EVERY town is special and has their own unique charm to bring to the table as well as their own problems. All of the towns have their own character and I plan on visiting every single one.

[miriald]

What's with the obvious East Coast bias? Did you only poll folks from Chicago to New York?

[seezero1]

What about Intercourse, Pennsylvania!!!

[terrydarc]

One town west of the Rockies? What kind of poll was this?!

How is it that there are no West Coast cities represented on this list? I smell a Left Coast bias...