The origins of state and city names are incredibly diverse. Some trace back to Indigenous cultures, others to colonial powers, and still others to significant historical events or their natural surroundings. But a select few small towns in the U.S. drew inspiration from a much different source and were named after food. Warning: You might get hungry as you discover the quirky origins behind these six small U.S. towns with mouthwatering names inspired by food and drink.

Chicken, Alaska

No, this small town on the edge of the Yukon territory of Canada isn’t named after the feathered animal — at least not directly. So, how did this gold rush town founded in 1890 get its name? The town’s original prospectors got through their first harsh winter by feasting on an abundance of ptarmigan, a local grouse (now the state bird of Alaska). At first, they decided to name the town after the bird that aided their survival, but disputes over the tricky spelling quickly nixed that idea. Instead, they decided upon the name Chicken to avoid any confusion. Sadly, the population of Chicken (like many boom towns) eventually dried up — today, there are just about 20 residents, a café, a saloon, a gift store, and, of course, a chicken statue.

Two Egg, Florida

Soon after this small town in the Florida Panhandle was named Allison to honor generous contributions from the Allison Company (an engine manufacturer), the Great Depression swept in and the townspeople fell on hard times. No longer able to pay for their groceries with cash, the people of Allison resorted to trading with shopkeepers for the items they needed. Farmers often used eggs as bartering chips, and shopkeepers would turn around and sell those products to people outside the community.

As the story goes, two young boys used to come into the general store with two eggs to trade for sugar; they did it so often, in fact, that the store became known as the “two egg store.” The name caught on, and soon even the town name followed suit. Although the moniker may sound comical today, it’s a reflection of the hard times endured in the 1930s.

Cookietown, Oklahoma

Think back to when you were a child — could you imagine anything better than a place named Cookietown? A man named Marvin Cornelius had the same idea in 1928 and — so the story goes — named his general store Cookietown, U.S.A., to attract attention. Marvin would hand out free cookies to children, and legend has it that one young boy exclaimed he “never wanted to leave Cookietown” after receiving a home-baked treat. Unfortunately, Cookietown today is somewhat of a ghost town — the general store is no longer there and less than 10 people call the town home. However, the appetizing name lives on.

Hot Coffee, Mississippi

Nothing sounds warmer and more welcoming than hot coffee (except maybe Cookietown), and that’s just the sort of impression a Mississippi innkeeper named Levi Davis was trying to make in the 1870s. Davis always brewed hot coffee for weary travelers who passed through by horse and carriage, while his wife cooked up fresh tea cakes. His marketing strategy was simple, yet effective: a coffee pot sign with the words — you guessed it — “Hot Coffee” written underneath. The town became known to pioneers as a place where you could rest and get a steaming cup of joe, so eventually “Hot Coffee” was simply adopted as the official town name.

Tortilla Flat, Arizona

It sounds like the start of a promising meal, but instead of a feast, Tortilla Flat was inspired by a lack of food. Before the town was founded in the early 1900s, it served as a campsite with fresh water for those traveling from Tonto Basin to Phoenix for supplies. How did the name come to be? According to local legend, a group who camped on the flat near the creek endured heavy rain for several days and were trapped in their campsite by the flooded creek. When they ran out of food, the only provisions the group could scrap together were flour and water to make tortillas, which is what they ate for several days as they waited for the water to recede. Today, the town stands as a remnant of the Old West and is home to six just residents.

Pie Town, New Mexico

As the name implies, this small town in the Southwest knows how to bake a good pie. The town’s history dates to the 1920s when Clyde Norman, a World War I veteran, bought a gas station along Route 60 and began recreating his favorite childhood dessert — dried apple pies. Norman’s pies became popular with the cowboys in the area, and word spread quickly about his impressive baking skills. Norman’s love of pies eventually inspired the town’s official name.

Today, Pie Town celebrates its name with an annual pie festival where locals compete in a friendly bake-off. If you decide to visit Pie Town, make sure you come home hungry: There are only a few cafés in town, but you’ll find they offer enough pie varieties to keep your sweet tooth satisfied for days.

When you think of a city of canals, chances are Venice comes to mind. And for good reason: There are 150 waterways criss-crossing this historic Italian City, including the UNESCO-designated Grand Canal. While Venice is undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it’s definitely not the only canal town out there. Check out these 10 charming canal cities that aren’t Venice.

Bruges, Belgium

Located in the Flemish region of Belgium, Bruges was founded by the Vikings in the ninth century. Its location along the Zwin, a former tidal inlet that is now a nature reserve, linked it to the North Sea, which made Bruges an important international trading port during the Middle Ages. Today, this charming city features quaint cobblestone streets, gorgeous bridges, and gabled homes lining many of its canals, some of which date back to the 1100s.

A popular route for tourists is the leisurely 2-mile walk around Bruges’ inner canals, taking you past some of the city’s most romantic views and picturesque medieval streets. Walking around Bruges today, it’s hard to imagine that by the mid-1800s it was a city in decline — it was tourism in the 20th century that helped breathe new life into this historical gem.

Yanagawa, Japan

Yanagawa’s canals define this corner of Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s main islands — even the town’s manhole covers feature scenes depicting its waterways. To explore them, board a donkobune, a small flat-bottomed craft. Oarsmen expertly steer them using bamboo poles and dressed in traditional costume, from their conical hats to their rubber boots. They glide through the calm waters, punctuating the silence with folklore tales and centuries-old songs. 

These canals were originally dug in the seventh and eighth centuries to provide irrigation for local agriculture and to create a defensive moat around the town’s castle. It’s worth stepping ashore to tour the Yanagawa Ohana, a residence built for the ruling Tachibana family in the 1700s. This imposing manor house is surrounded by an immaculate garden with a tranquil pond garden framed by black pines and stone lanterns.

Giethoorn, The Netherlands

Next to Venice, Amsterdam is one of the most well-known canal cities in the world. If you’ve been to Amsterdam or are looking for something smaller and more charming, head to Giethoorn, which is less than a two-hour drive from Amsterdam. This primarily car-free spot — known for its beautiful canals and thatched-roof houses — is sometimes referred to as the “Dutch Venice.” There are lush footpaths and bike trails around Giethoorn that make it feel like the Dutch village popped out of the pages of a fairy tale.

Join a scheduled canal tour or rent one of the electric boats that seat two to three people and explore on your own. Remember to be respectful of people’s privacy as you are walking or boating around, and do not trespass onto people’s yards. Giethoorn is not a tourist village, it is a functioning town with around 2,600 year-round residents.

Bangkok, Thailand

A trip along Bangkok’s khlongs (canals) in a longtail boat offers a unique perspective on life in this sprawling Asian capital. The earliest channels were dug in the 1500s to improve navigation from the former capital, Ayutthaya, to the coast. Today, there are more than 1,600 khlongs. 

Within the city of Bangkok, canals such as Khlong Bangkok Noi and Khlong Mon still crisscross the district of Thonburi, once a separate settlement. Such waterways are a far cry from the glass and steel high-rises, shopping malls, and traffic-choked boulevards that characterize the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River. In Thonburi, you’ll cruise by locals going about their daily business: doing laundry, tending to their plants, shopping for fresh produce, and preparing food. Stilted homes are a common sight; you’ll occasionally also pass a waterfront temple or shrine. Floating markets are frequently held on Bangkok’s canals, especially on weekends.

Xochimilco, Mexico

On the outskirts of Mexico City lies Xochimilco, which translates to “the place where flowers grow” in Spanish. However, many people also call the suburb the “Venice of the New World.” You won’t find elaborate Byzantine and Venetian Gothic-style architecture here, but you will see the remnants of a vast Aztecan water transport system. A series of human-made islands (known as “chinampas”) built for agricultural purposes create a canal network in a shallow lake.

Xochimilco was designated as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its historical and cultural significance. Locals have been cruising the canal network, ferrying goods around in flat-bottom boats called trajineras, for centuries. Today, you can book festive, scenic tours on the brightly colored trajineras. Passing boat traffic includes serenading mariachis, vendors selling tacos and trinkets, and celebrating families — especially on Sundays.

Tigre, Argentina

Only an hour by train from Buenos Aires, Tigre provides a refreshing alternative to the often hectic pace of the Argentine capital. Indeed, day trippers have been using Tigre as an escape from the city since the railway was built in the 19th century. Today, it’s still as popular as a retreat for locals (known as porteños) as it is a destination for international tourists. 

Life in Tigre — situated amid the silt-laden Paraná River delta — takes place on riverbanks and beside canals. Stilted homes and aging mansions rise above the alluvial floodplain, attracting admiring glances from passing boat trippers. Visitors can rent kayaks or rowboats to get out into the wildlife-rich delta. On dry land, stroll along the Paseo Victoria; the market at the Puerto de Frutos and the Museo de Arte de Tigre are also must-see attractions.

Annecy, France

Scenic canals, historical buildings, and castles abound in Annecy. Often dubbed the “Venice of the Alps,” it raises the bar for other canal towns with its stunning turquoise lake and surrounding mountain scenery. Annecy is in the Haute-Savoie region near Lac d’Annecy, which is the third-largest lake in France and is bordered by the French Alps. Vieille Ville may have more canals than roadways, and each one is lined by beautiful pastel buildings. One of the most iconic photo spots includes the 12th-century Palais de l’Ile, located on a triangular turn of the main Canal du Thiou.

Zhouzhuang Water Town, China

A number of canal towns can be found near the city of Suzhou, located west of Shanghai. Suzhou itself is located on the UNESCO-listed Jing-Hang Grand Canal, the world’s longest canal. Nearby, charming Zhouzhuang can trace its history back around 1,000 years. For centuries, it made use of the area’s abundant water supply to grow and trade crops such as rice, lotus root, and water chestnuts. A slew of ancient stone bridges, some of which survive today, connected people on either side of the waterways. 

These historic properties and structures, many dating from the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties, are now the target of camera-toting visitors. Among those you should check out are the Twin Bridges (Shide and Yong’an), Jingye Tang (the Hall of Shen’s Residence), Yuyan Tang (Zhang House), and the Residence of Ye Chucang. Though it’s a popular day trip from Suzhou, you’ll need to set out early to stay ahead of the pack.   

Alappuzha, India

The city of Alappuzha is nestled deep in the southern Indian state of Kerala. A true “water city,” Alappuzha is famous for its network of interconnected backwater channels, boat races, beaches, and maritime commerce. The region is also known for its houseboat cruises that letvisitors explore the watery thoroughfares.

The biggest houseboats stick to the primary river “highways” that feature the heaviest traffic and most easily accessible tourism sites. However, the smaller vessels branch out and let you go beyond the basic routes to fully explore the incredible geography the region is known for.  

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Nicknamed the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale boasts approximately 165 miles of canals. In the early 1920s, Charles G. Rodes — a developer with a keen interest in the infrastructure and building techniques used in Venice, Italy — was contracted to dredge the canals and create the finger islands that would serve as the template for new real estate developments. 

The prestigious neighborhood of Las Olas quickly took shape, followed soon after by Seven Isles and Rio Vista Isles, the work of Boston developer W. F. Morang. There were setbacks, notably a devastating hurricane in 1926 and the fallout from the 1929 economic crash. But the lure of waterfront living was irresistible — and today, Fort Lauderdale’s canals make this one of Florida’s most attractive cities.  

For history buffs, New England offers plenty to explore of the nation’s colonial past. This northeastern corner of the United States — comprising the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont — is also filled with charming small towns amid forested mountains and scenic coastal areas. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path on your next adventure in the region, here are six of New England’s quirkiest and most charming small towns to visit.

Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock’s artsy vibe and buzzing creative atmosphere become apparent as soon as you step foot in the town of roughly 3,000 people in central Vermont. It’s not your imagination: Woodstock was founded by artisans, entrepreneurs, and craftsmen who settled here in 1786 and made it one of the largest towns in Vermont at the time. Today, the artistic culture and entrepreneurial spirit can be found in the quirky boutiques, farm-to-table restaurants, and unique creations and handicrafts sold by local makers. 

A number of attractions are clustered near the town center, known as the Green. From here, you can easily walk between the iconic Middle Covered Bridge, the historic Town Hall Theater (be sure to catch a show if you have time), the 19th-century Norman Williams Public Library, and a host of charming cafes and shops. 

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Sitting at the northernmost tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown draws a more laid-back crowd than much of the peninsula. A picturesque coastal destination with a free and easy-going attitude, Provincetown appeals to artists, creatives, and, in particular, the LGBTQ+ community. The town also has a high percentage of Portuguese immigrants, expanding the cultural depth of the eclectic community. 

P’town (as it’s affectionately known) is also where stars like Al Pacino, Bette Davis, and Angela Lansbury launched their acting careers. Some, like Al Pacino, got their start at the historic Gifford House, a historic inn that once hosted an experimental theater. The same inn has also welcomed several Presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft. 

Mystic, Connecticut

The village of Mystic is home to under 5,000 people, but what the seafaring community lacks in size it makes up for in rich history. Since the 1600s, Mystic had been a hub for shipbuilding. At the height of the American maritime industry, between 1784 and 1919, the village produced around 600 boats. Visitors can learn the prosperous history at the Mystic Seaport Museum — the largest maritime museum in the country — and see the only wooden whaling vessel still in existence, the Charles W. Morgan. 

Movie fans may also recognize Mystic as the inspiration for Mystic Pizza, the 1988 movie that put Julia Roberts on the map. The real-life Mystic Pizza refused to shut down their business for filming, so much of the movie’s scenes were filmed nearby and in a staged pizza parlor. The shop later renovated its appearance to look more like the movie set version and has benefitted from a surge in popularity ever since the film’s release. 

Castine, Maine

Castine — a beautiful hamlet in mid-coast Maine — is one of the oldest communities in North America. Continuously inhabited since the early 1600s, Castine boasts a diverse heritage. The French, Dutch, British, and Etchemin Native Americans all battled for control of this prosperous port city. Telltale signs of Castine’s storied history are still scattered around town — including Fort George (built by the British in 1779), Fort Madison (constructed by the U.S. Army in 1808), Fort Pentagoet (built by the French in the 1630s), and the historic waterfront. 

A port city at its core, Castine boomed in the 1800s before the Civil War and hosted hundreds of vessels in its advantageously deep harbor. In fact, due to the fishing, salt, and shipbuilding industries, Castine was once one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. on a per capita basis. Proof of this is seen today in the beautifully restored Georgian mansions scattered around town.

Burlington, Vermont

This picturesque city on Lake Champlain is known for more than just its postcard-perfect appearance — it’s also the birthplace of the band Phish and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Burlington doubles as a funky college town surrounded by quintessential New England nature. Like many New England towns, Burlington is proud of its local makers and creators. Visitors can purchase unique souvenirs like the state’s famous maple syrup, antique gems at the Vintage Inspired Marketplace, local ciders and brews, and of course, a Vermont-made flannel. 

If that’s not enough to keep you busy, you can always check out attractions such as the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet or the interactive art installation known as the Burlington Earth Clock. The latter’s location along the Burlington Bike Path doubles as an impressive viewpoint over Lake Champlain. 

Conway, New Hampshire

Conway is a scenic and historic town of around 10,000 people in eastern New Hampshire. The town attracts a mix of tourists, some who come to take advantage of its proximity to the region’s famous White Mountain National Forest. Others are drawn to the quaint vibes and family-friendly activities. Conway is divided into five villages, the most well-known of which is North Conway. Serving as the gateway to the White Mountains, a range that covers roughly a quarter of New Hampshire, the village is a hub for avid hikers eager to tick 4,000-plus-footers off their bucket lists, as well as the tallest mountain in the northeast, Mount Washington. 

Less keen hikers might choose to experience New England nature in a more laid-back manner by riding the Conway Scenic Railroad or taking a dip at Echo Lake State Park. North Conway is also a shopping hub, offering several tax-free outlets, as well as independent coffee shops, local cafes, and a famous general store. If the family’s in tow, a trip to the Story Land might be on the list, too.