How do you measure the peacefulness of a city? Is it a lack of traffic? An abundance of parks? An overall sense of safety? A recent study from the finance website Insider Monkey looked at a city’s tranquility based on two important factors above all else: low noise levels (those pesky city sounds contribute to stress, after all) and easy access to the outdoors (since being in nature is shown to reduce mental fatigue). Read on to see which cities promise peace of mind on your next visit with 10 of the most peaceful cities in the U.S.

Portland, Maine

Portland is not only one of New England’s most charming coastal cities but also one of the most peaceful cities in the country. Its picturesque location on Casco Bay — a quick two-hour drive from Boston — contributes to Portland’s tranquility, as do its numerous walking trails, bike paths, and beaches. Since Maine is home to a bevy of organic farms, farmers markets abound in the summertime, and fresh produce is available from local farms throughout the year. When the city’s population swells with visitors during the summer, the Casco Bay Island Ferry helps locals get out onto the water and away from Portland’s bustling waterfront.

Fort Collins, Colorado

Famous for its bike-friendly culture and local craft brews, Fort Collins is located 60 miles north of Denver. With 200 miles of dedicated bike lanes and 50 miles of marked bike routes, many of the city’s 170,000 residents choose to travel on two wheels, which may contribute to the low noise levels in Fort Collins. In terms of outdoor access, nearby nature can be found in the Horsetooth Reservoir — a popular spot for camping, fishing, and swimming — and the Poudre River Trail, a 21-mile trail that meanders through diverse landscapes and into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Green Bay typically offers an abundance of peace and quiet to its residents — with the notable exception of Green Bay Packers home games. This northern Wisconsin city boasts outdoor activities during all four seasons. There’s cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling in the winter; come summer, residents and visitors can enjoy nearby places for hiking, swimming, and biking. The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary provides 700 acres of pristine trails and bird-watching opportunities, while the 25-mile Fox River Trail is a favorite among local cyclists and runners.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Surrounded by acres of farmland and leafy suburbs, Grand Rapids is a low-key city with a strong emphasis on nature and the arts. It’s home to the annual ArtPrize, an international art competition, and public works of art are stationed throughout town for locals and visitors alike to enjoy throughout the event. As for public green spaces, Fred Meijer Millennium Park has an extensive network of walking and biking trails, while the White Pine Trail runs from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, stretching 92 miles in total.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Home to the prestigious University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a tranquil college town with a high quality of life, low noise levels, and plenty of green space — all factors that make it one of America’s most peaceful cities. At the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, visitors will find a network of riverside trails that meander through natural woodlands and landscaped gardens. There’s also the Bird Hills Nature Area, which offers the largest natural terrain in the city, and the Huron River, home to several launch points for relaxed tubers who want to spend a day on the water.

Boulder, Colorado

Colorado’s famous outdoor lifestyle is highly accessible in Boulder, an active community situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Regardless of the season or the weather, residents of this laid-back city are likely to find reasons to be outside. From downhill skiing at the nearby Eldora Mountain Resort to the challenging climb up Mount Sanitas, Boulder’s outdoorsy lifestyle draws many of its residents and visitors. With plentiful hiking trails and recreation areas, the city’s focus on well-being and balance also contributes to its relaxed vibe.

Rochester, New York

Despite being the third-largest metropolis in New York state, Rochester ranks as one of the most peaceful cities in the U.S., largely thanks to its abundance of open spaces. Of its many parks, Highland Park is especially popular with residents. The 150-acre space is located approximately 2 miles south of Rochester’s downtown, with leafy trees, large lawns, the Lamberton Conservatory, and the Sunken Garden situated inside a castle. Held annually in the spring, the annual Lilac Festival celebrates both the olfactory and visual beauty of the park’s many lilac bushes, which number over 1,200 in total.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster is home to the largest Amish settlement in the world. Since Amish culture calls for an avoidance of modern technology, locals tend to prefer horses and buggies over cars, and candles over power lines. It’s no surprise, then, that the community’s noise levels stay relatively low. Lancaster also offers easy access to peaceful outdoor activities, including hiking trails and waterfalls along Tucquan Creek and bird-watching at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Madison, Wisconsin

Ranked as one of the best cities for quality of life in the U.S., Madison is a vibrant city of approximately 290,000 people. Madison’s location on Lake Mendota contributes to its residents’ contentment and the city’s peaceful vibe. Thanks to easy access to the outdoors, the average local boasts an active outdoor lifestyle throughout all four seasons, with opportunities to paddle, ski, and hike throughout the year. The city’s extensive bike trail system, including the Lake Monona Loop, helps locals and visitors alike make use of Madison’s ample outdoor space.

Reading, Pennsylvania

Despite its proximity to two major metropolitan areas, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley, Reading continues to remain a peaceful enclave in southern Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill Valley. The city scored highest in terms of access to outdoor spaces — which include Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, home to numerous hiking trails and bird-watching opportunities, along with the nearby Appalachian Mountains. The Schuylkill River is also a popular recreational area for paddlers, anglers, and boaters, or anyone who seeks quiet respite from their busy lives in Reading.

France has been the most-visited country in the world for the past 30 years, and with good reason. For starters, this European nation is home to some of the planet’s most romantic cities, centuries of fascinating history, beautiful architecture, renowned cuisine and wine, priceless art, and stunning natural landscapes. Chances are, you’ve already visited France at least once — but if that’s the case, these often overlooked destinations should also be at the top of your list for your next visit. Check out seven of the most fascinating and unexpected places to visit in France below. 

Verdon Gorge

The juxtaposition of impossibly turquoise waters and white limestone cliffs is one reason so many visitors flock to this gorgeous canyon in the foothills of the Alps. Rising nearly half a mile above the Verdon River, Les Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Gorge) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in southeastern France’s Provence region. Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Europe,” the canyon stretches over 13 miles and plunges to depths greater than 2,200 feet. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s a favorite with hikers, rock climbers, and cyclists. And on the river itself, canoers and kayakers stop at the canyon’s many small, rocky beaches to enjoy picnics and brisk swims. 

During high season, many visitors also drive the twisting and narrow roads and stop at the scenic villages that encircle the canyon’s rim. In Moustiers-Sainte-Marie — one of the most picturesque villages in France — don’t miss the 12th-century Notre Dame de Beauvoir Chapel. In nearby Castellane, which has been settled since prehistoric times, you’ll be surrounded by another of Provence’s most famous sights: seemingly endless rows of lavender fields. 

Mont-Saint-Michel

One of Europe’s most enchanting medieval vistas is this Benedictine abbey that dominates a small tidal island just off the coast of Normandy. If it appears straight out of a Disney film, that’s because it is: The magical island inspired Disney animators when they drew up Rapunzel’s birthplace in the 2010 film Tangled. The island’s namesake abbey flaunts slender spires that jut up from the surrounding rocky cliffs, with architecture that dates back to the eighth century. Remarkably left intact following the Hundred Years’ War and both World Wars, Mont-Saint-Michel is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that welcomes more than 3 million visitors annually. 

The changing tides of Mont-Saint-Michel present a fascinating contrast: As tides recede, a bed of shimmering, sifting sand appears as a cushion around the island, but when waters are high, it seems to float in the bay. The abbey was cut off from the mainland until the late 19th century, but visitors can now cross a bridge to discover a walled village of narrow cobblestone alleys and stairways, home to restaurants, hotels, and a full-time population of just 30 people.

Aiguille du Midi

Nestled along France and Switzerland’s southern border is Chamonix, a French extreme sports mecca that hosted the first Winter Olympics. Chamonix stands in the giant shadow of Aiguille du Midi, a mountain that reaches magnificent vantages 12,605 feet above sea level. Getting to the top requires a nearly 6-mile round-trip hike or 30-minute cable car trip. But you might want to opt for the latter, and not just to avoid the legwork — the last leg of the aerial journey comprises the highest vertical ascent you’ll find on any cable car in the world, and the views are out-of-this-world. 

But the experience awaiting riders at the top may be even more impressive. Upon exiting, travelers beeline for a tiny steel bridge — less than 50 feet long — that connects Aiguille du Midi’s north and south peaks. The vertigo-inducing bridge provides 360-degree views of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps, including nearby Mont Blanc, Europe’s second-tallest mountain, and the famous Matterhorn on clear days. If you’re somehow still craving an adrenaline rush, there’s an elevator to an attraction called “Step Into the Void” — a cube featuring five reinforced glass sides to give the impression that you’re levitating above a precipitous 3,400-foot drop.

Catacombs of Paris

Looking like the work of a White Walker (at least, for Game of Thrones fans), the meticulously arrayed skeletal remains that deck the halls of this subterranean warren beneath the streets of Paris are, in fact, the work of Louis-Étienne François Héricart-Ferrand, viscount of Thury. When ancient Parisian cemeteries were overflowing at the turn of the 19th century and becoming a public health threat, the politician, scientist, and mining engineer repurposed a defunct quarry into the municipal ossuary. 

Carefully orchestrated wall patterns began to emerge under the viscount’s curatorial eye: waves of skulls cresting and falling around crosses, rows of alternating tibias and skulls, and cabinets full of curiosities, for starters. Some of the reinterred remains date back more than a thousand years, but Revolutionary era icons, from Robespierre to Marat, were also buried there. Opened to the public in 1809, the site has become a popular attraction, especially those who tend to prefer a more macabre view of Paris. After descending 131 stairs into the tunnels’ depths, you can explore about a mile’s worth on your own, or on a fantastic guided tour.

Arles

The Provence region of southern France is best-known for its fabled riviera, the Côte d’Azur. But Arles, along the Rhône River about 60 miles northwest of Marseille, also deserves a spot high on your list. As one of the oldest cities in France, Arles was once a Phoenician trading port before the Romans conquered the town in the first century BCE, digging a canal to the Mediterranean and making it an important provincial capital. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filled with monuments from this era, including a well-preserved amphitheater that once held 20,000 spectators, an aqueduct, a large necropolis, and an ornate theater. 

The mistral wind blesses Provence with clear skies, and many artists have flocked to Arles. Paul Gauguin and Picasso painted here, but the most famous is Van Gogh, who found inspiration and painted some of his best-known works while living in “The Yellow House” on Place Lamartine. The house was destroyed in World War II, but the tourist office organizes a walking tour of locations familiar to his fans.

The Camargue

Arles is located at the northern end of France’s Camargue region. The greater region offers some of the country’s most spectacular biodiversity, highlighted by the area’s emblematic white horses running freely along its sandy shores and pink flamingos wading by the thousands in the marshy wetlands bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The semi-wild horses, which are indigenous to the area, are considered one of the world’s oldest breeds, and today some are used by ranchers (known as the “guardians of the Camargue”) for corralling native groups of black bulls. The guardians also host an annual Festival of Abrivado every November along the beaches of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where they gather on horseback to showcase their impressive herding skills.

At the center of this vast expanse lies the Camargue Regional Nature Park, a 210,000-acre preserve that includes a renowned ornithological section home to a wide variety of bird species. Geographically, the Camargue sits between channels of the Rhône River, creating a lush wetland known for being the only location in France where rice is grown — a farming practice that began in World War II to meet national demand.

Place de La Concorde

Covering almost 19 acres, this 18th-century tribute to Louis XV remains the largest square in Paris. So yes, it’s a well-known destination, but many visitors don’t realize that, looming even larger than the dimensions, is the local lore. It was here on the right bank of the Seine — where the Tuileries Gardens meet the Champs-Élysées — that everyone from Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette to Robespierre were publicly guillotined during the French Revolution. In those days, the square was better known as the Place de la Révolution, one of several names bestowed upon the site over the centuries. 

But not until the mid-1800s was the square modified in ways that modern visitors would recognize. First was the installation of the approximately 3,000-year-old, 75-foot Luxor Obelisk at the center, followed by the construction of the Orangerie and Jeu de Paume (now two of Paris’ most beloved museums) along the periphery. Though there’s clearly plenty to see at Place de la Concorde anytime, if you’re in town on July 14 for the Bastille Day celebrations, the famed annual military parade ends right here.

From caverns deep underground to former cell blocks, there are many places across America where you’d never expect to find overnight accommodations. Many are landmark properties with a storied past, and the hoteliers behind them have opted to highlight their quirky, grandiose, or industrial characters through inspiring décor, unique amenities, and other thoughtful touches. These eight U.S. hotels are highly unusual, but very much worth booking if you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind overnight experience. 

East Brother Light Station – Richmond, California

The East Brother Light Station bed-and-breakfast is one of the few hotels in the world housed within a former lighthouse. Built in 1873, the restored Victorian B&B is perched atop a small island in the strait between the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. Adventurous guests will have to brave a 10-minute boat ride across the water and climb a 12-foot ladder to reach the property. The complex was home to a staffed lighthouse from 1873 until the 1960s. After the lighthouse was automated, the Coast Guard was set to tear down the structure, but local preservationists stepped in and turned it into a B&B, which opened in 1980 with five bedrooms. Guests will receive a tour of the grounds, hors d’oeuvres, wine, a multicourse dinner, and breakfast with their stay.  

Shack Up Inn – Clarksdale, Mississippi

Would you spend upwards of $100 a night to stay in a shack? Deep in the Mississippi Delta, guests have the opportunity to imbibe at the world’s oldest “bed and beer” and sleep in their very own rustic room outfitted with a corrugated tin roof and homespun furniture. Luckily, guests can enjoy modern amenities such as air conditioning and indoor plumbing, too. These former cotton sharecropper shacks were abandoned after mechanical cotton pickers were introduced in the 1940s, but the inn’s owners bought them and turned them into these unique accommodations in 1998. They have since hosted famous guests such as Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. “The Ritz we ain’t” may be its motto, but the Shack Up Inn promises a memorable stay nonetheless. 

Jules Undersea Lodge – Key Largo, Florida

You’ll have to be scuba-certified to stay at this unique accommodation in the Florida Keys. Jules Undersea Lodge is the only hotel in the world that requires guests to make the dive into the lagoon to reach rooms, which are located 30 feet under the surface. Your room will include a window of the watery abyss and ocean-inspired décor. Even better, you can get pizza delivered to your underwater abode and watch TV, as there is electricity inside the capsule. And if you aren’t yet scuba-certified, the property offers an instructor-led course on site for an additional cost. 

Liberty Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts

You won’t get locked in your room from the outside at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, but that wasn’t always the case. Built in 1851, the historic Charles Street Jail on Beacon Hill once housed some of Boston’s most notorious criminals, but it is now a four-star hotel boasting playful nods to the building’s past. These include jail bar doors at the on-site restaurant Clink, keys to the cells framed on display, and ball and chain accents throughout the property. 

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge – Parthenon, Arkansas

In the Ozarks of northwestern Arkansas, nature lovers will find one-of-a-kind accommodations at the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge. Eight guests can fit comfortably inside the 5,800-square-foot house nestled within a bluff overlooking the valley. Each room within the lodge has stalactites overhead, and the exposed rock walls complement the minimalist interior décor. Best of all, guests will have the property’s 256 acres all to themselves. Perhaps one of the perks of being so isolated is that you’ll be able to drift to sleep in total darkness here with no noise to disturb you.

Hotel Grinnell – Grinnell, Iowa

The bell won’t wake you up if you fall asleep at your desk — or rather, bed. This former junior high school constructed in 1921 is now a 45-room, schoolhouse-inspired hotel in Iowa, complete with a gymnasium-turned-ballroom featuring the original basketball court floor for events, a cafeteria converted into bunks, and locker rooms that now house the hotel’s bar and restaurant, aptly named Periodic Table. Rooms include chalkboards, bench seating, and other nods to academia. The school officially closed in the 1970s, but class is still in session — at least for hotel guests.  

Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast – Farmington, New Mexico

Carved into a 60 million-year-old sandstone cliff face, Kokopelli’s B&B is another accommodation you’ll need to see in person to believe. Here, guests can watch the sun dip on the horizon and appreciate unparalleled views of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in the Four Corners region. There is no elevator to reach your room, so it’s not recommended for those with limited mobility, but guests can appreciate rustic touches including a replica Native American kiva (circular communal space), a waterfall shower with a rock wall, and Southwest-inspired décor throughout. 

Red Caboose Motel – Ronks, Pennsylvania

In 1969, the Pennsylvania Railroad put a total of 19 surplus cabooses — each weighing 25 tons — up for auction, and local businessman Donald M. Denlinger was the lucky bidder. Denlinger chose to convert the cars into hotel rooms, and the Red Caboose Motel was born in Lancaster County on Mother’s Day 1970. In the decades since, it has expanded to include 38 cars and has hosted countless travelers in search of a one-of-a-kind accommodation. 

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