Best small towns

[observer53]

Originally Posted by nickw252

I disagree with you that this is " small town romanticized" - that's what all small towns used to look like and should still look like. Instead they have been ruined by chain stores, multi-national corporations, walmarts, megamalls, etc..

As far as towns like that, have you looked into Bisbee AZ? Also are you only looking in Arizona? I have a suggestion for you in Nevada as well.

Star's Hollow from Gilmore Girls IS small town romanticized-- it's a TV show. that you may not have seen. They didn't all used to look like that, at least the ones out here. Small towns don't have "megamalls", either-- that's a bit of overstatement. Yes, chain stores have moved to many of them, but the central areas of many of the small towns (Show Low, Pinetop, are two I can think of right off the top) still look like small towns.

To the OP- I think you've received some good suggestions here. Wickenburg, in particular, still has a lot of small town charm, and yet it's an easy drive to a big city when you need one. Bisbee may work too, I haven't been there in a long time.

And, if you're a GG fan, we can always use more of those in AZ!

[MarianR]

You don't say how old you are... one thing you need to consider is health care. I've heard that it can be a pain to drive into Tucson from Benson every time you need a specialist, and I assume the same thing is true of Bisbee. From Wickenburg you would have to go to the west side of Phoenix.

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by observer53

Star's Hollow from Gilmore Girls IS small town romanticized-- it's a TV show.

I'll admit I've never seen that show, it must not be on ESPN

[Fra Diavolo]

Has anyone noticed that the OP of this thread was in 2007? Hopefully, they've found their small town by now!

[shiphead]

I wouldn't agree with the white mountain area having a good main strip. Most of those places have large amounts of abandoned buildings and how many mechanic shops and car dealers do you need... I mean seriously? lol.

Florence has a cool small strip. Sedona isn't "small" i guess, but it has a cool little downtown strip that reminds me of the TV typical downtown in a small town. What else.... I've wondered around AZ and got lost, i don't remember some of the places.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Fra Diavolo

Has anyone noticed that the OP of this thread was in 2007? Hopefully, they've found their small town by now!

No. Good catch.-- new member found it and bumped it up. Interesting discussion, though, for anyone who's still looking at the small towns.

[adolpho]

Originally Posted by Fra Diavolo

Has anyone noticed that the OP of this thread was in 2007? Hopefully, they've found their small town by now!

Now, it's a half price sale.......

[LinaJo76]

You could try here in Prescott/Prescott Valley. There's a few things to do here, but lots of retirees live here and cowboy/cowgirl types too. I don't know if you like that kind of stuff. And for nightlife, there's only bars and restuarants to go to. But it's nice. I prefer Prescott over Prescott Valley any day. Wished I lived there instead.

[Steerpike]

Originally Posted by nickw252

I disagree with you that this is " small town romanticized" - that's what all small towns used to look like and should still look like. Instead they have been ruined by chain stores, multi-national corporations, walmarts, megamalls, etc..
...

Well, the fact they USED to look like that, and have now been ruined, is exactly why the OP is saying 'small town romanticized' ... you hardly see it outside of hollywood. Personally, I want to live in the fictitious town created in the movie 'Phenomenon' (with John Travolta) - set in rural California (nominally the Gold Country), it was actually filmed in several different locations to give the impression of the one small town.

The one thing going for those of us who like those kinds of towns is that they are becoming very trendy again, so developers are in some cases revitalizing the 'old' centers to be desirable again. Typically, this is going to happen in a town much bigger than 10,000 population, though - you'll find a revitalized 'core' surrounded by modern developments. Petaluma, California has had its 'core' restored (and is used in numerous movies - American Graffiti, Basic Instinct, The Horse Whisperer, Phenomenon and Peggy Sue Got Married were all filmed in Petaluma). Unfortunately, towns that look like that are very pricey too!