Two Small Maine Towns Named Among the Best to Visit in America

There are really two kinds of small towns in Maine. There's the small towns that people who have lived their entire life in Maine have never visited or maybe never even heard of. There's also small towns that have become so well-known and popular, that residents of the state don't even think of them as small towns anymore.

They still are small towns, and two of them were recently honored by US News & World Report as two of the best small towns in America to visit.

#1 - Bar Harbor

Sure, Bar Harbor probably doesn't need any more hype than it already has, but here's a little more for good measure anyway. US News & World Report named Bar Harbor the #1 small town in America for their 2022 list, besting other well-known destinations like Lake Tahoe, Sedona, and Steamboat Springs.

Bar Harbor was lauded for its food diversity, quaint shops and lodging, and proximity to Acadia National Park, whose profile is rising to become one of most popular national parks in America.

Bar Harbor was also given credit for having an underrated amount of recreation. The US News & World Report pointed towards numerous boat, history, and culinary tours available for visitors to relax and unwind in a gorgeous Maine town.

#20 Kennebunkport

Outside of Maine, the majority of people know Kennebunkport, Maine, as the place where the Bush family have their Walker's Point summer retreat. Actually, a lot of people in Maine think of Kennebunkport in that same exact way, fair or not.

In reality, Kennebunkport is home to spectacular beaches, top-notch resorts, and a Main Street filled with unique galleries, shops, and restaurants. The beaches are perhaps the most underrated aspect of Kennebunkport, as many of them are quiet and unassuming, even during the height of summer.

Kennebunkport bested some other heavy hitters on the list, including Gettysburg, Sanibel Island, and Hilton Head. Despite some grumbles from locals, perhaps there's a reason why these two small towns in Maine are so popular. It isn't just hype.