What Is the “Townsizing” Travel Trend?

While big cities never sleep, an increasing number of travelers are choosing to hit the snooze button instead. Some of the most in-demand getaways are now the quietest ones — think laid-back small towns with walkable main streets, idyllic countrysides, and unhurried afternoons. Dubbed “townsizing,” this growing travel trend is not only about where you travel, but also about how you feel when you’re there. Find out more and our top places to try it below.

Why Are People Turning to Townsizing?

According to Priceline’s 2025 travel trends report, townsizing is all about the search for, or return to, simplicity. For some travelers, it’s the rediscovery of something that feels familiar and relaxing. For others, it can be an opportunity to step into the storybook charm of their favorite TV movies or series. In fact, the Priceline report found that 89% of Gen Zers are leaning toward this latter preference, with 67% of those surveyed craving a small-town feel. Here’s what’s fueling the shift:

• Slower Way of Life: Forget the agendas and alarm clocks — townsizing destinations are places that invite you to linger over breakfast, wander without maps and apps, and allow days to unfold naturally. It’s less about checking the boxes of visiting big tourist destinations and popular cities and more about discovering places that are off the tourist radar. 

• More Personal Local Experiences: Whether it’s a farmers market, a mom-and-pop diner, or a community-run gallery, you’ll be face-to-face with the actual people who bring them to life. Townsizing encourages travelers to skip the chain stores and focus on who and what really make a place special. 

• Affordability and Accessibility: Many of these towns sit just outside major cities, offering a fresh perspective without the hassle and logistics of a full-blown vacation. You’ll typically find fewer crowds and lower price tags, perfect for budget-friendly and spontaneous trips. 

• Peace and Quiet: In a world seemingly wired for noise, townsizing offers something radical: stillness. Think streets free from honking horns, nights without sirens, and mornings with a soundtrack of birdsong. 

• Connection With Nature: Going completely off-grid isn’t the only way to feel connected with nature. Townsizing destinations combine the best of both worlds and often have farmland, forests, lakes, and mountains at their doorsteps.

6 Great Places for Your Next Townsizing Trip

Curious about where to try townsizing? The movement doesn’t refer to one specific destination, but rather anywhere that promises charm, tranquillity, and a timeless allure. That could be a coastal village with a historic lighthouse and a gentle sea breeze or a mountain retreat close to hiking trails and fishing spots. It’s all about local businesses, traffic-free roads, and easy access to the countryside. 

Forks, Washington

Forks, where the popular Twilight series is based, sits on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, nestled between the Olympic mountains and the wild Pacific coastline. About a four-hour drive from Seattle, the town started out as a logging community, a proud heritage celebrated at the Forks Timber Museum. Its fame rocketed in the late 2000s with the cinematic release of The Twilight Saga. Today, fans flock to the Forever Twilight in Forks Collection to explore locations featured in both the books and movies. 

While Forks offers plenty of pop culture appeal, it also serves as a gateway to the fresh air and misty forests of the Olympic Peninsula. Hiking trails wind through the soaring moss-covered trees of Hoh Rain Forest — one of the planet’s most biodiverse rainforests and one of the quietest places in the U.S. — while dramatic sea stacks decorate the shores of Rialto Beach. 

Galena, Illinois

Around three hours by car from Chicago, Galena blends 19th-century charm with outdoor activities in the hills of northwest Illinois. The town was once a prominent mining hub and river port, but today life revolves around its picture-perfect Historic Main Street, lined with boutique shops and independent cafés in well-preserved brick buildings. Explore the town’s history by seeing the Civil War monuments at Grant Park and retracing presidential footsteps at the Ulysses S. Grant Home. 

Galena is also a short hop from countryside vineyards and the Mississippi River bluffs, where visitors can enjoy activities such as biking, boating, golfing, and hiking. Whether you’re coming for the cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Casper Bluff in winter or the Great Galena Balloon Race in summer, Galena is an appealing year-round destination to hop on the townsizing trend. 

North Wildwood, New Jersey

Located on the northern tip of Five Mile Beach, North Wildwood was established in 1885 as a fishing village called the Borough of Anglesea. For centuries prior to this, it was a prime fishing and hunting spot for generations of Indigenous peoples. The name was changed in 1906 to link it to neighboring Wildwood, which was growing in popularity as a seaside resort. North Wildwood now offers a coastal beauty that’s quieter and more relaxed than Jersey Shore hot spots like Atlantic City and Ocean City.

Wildwoods Boardwalk, stretching for 38 blocks, is a great place for early-morning bike rides, nostalgic tram trips, and classic funfair adventures. The quintessential Surfside Pier features roller coasters, water rides, and other family-friendly attractions. Meanwhile, a tour of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse delves into the history of one of the most significant landmarks on Five Mile Beach. 

Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Old Saybrook is a waterfront gem located where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound. One of Connecticut’s oldest towns, it was first home to the Algonquin Nehantic peoples and later settled by Europeans in the 1600s. The story of its development is showcased at the Old Saybrook Historical Society’s Hart House. 

Townsizing fans will surely appreciate Old Saybrook’s small-town vibe, with inviting cafés, seafood restaurants, and old pubs that are housed in colonial-era buildings. For culture buffs, the old town hall doubles as the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a theater and museum dedicated to the town’s most famous former resident. After visiting, enjoy walks and swimming at Harvey’s Beach and Town Beach, or visit the nearby Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, which brings visitors up close with undeveloped coastal habitats. The town is located just 30 miles east of New Haven.

Stowe, Vermont

Small-town charm and spectacular landscapes beckon in Stowe, located between the Green Mountains and Worcester Range in northern Vermont. Once mostly farmland and lumber country, Stowe has evolved into a year-round tourist destination. Set against a backdrop of lush green countryside, Main Street is home to wood-framed buildings that host boutiques, cafés, and cozy inns. Towering above town is the Stowe Community Church, featuring the state’s tallest steeple.

Outside the town center, follow the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path along the banks of the Little River or experience more of Vermont’s natural beauty via the Green Mountain Byway. For snow sports enthusiasts, Stowe Mountain Resort has over 100 trails spread across two mountains. And for film fans, the von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort is owned by the real-life family who inspired The Sound of Music.

Three Rivers, California

Three Rivers sits at the edge of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, roughly a four-hour drive from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Straddling the Kaweah River, it was home to the Yokut peoples before becoming popular with European ranchers. Today, Three Rivers is the type of place that invites you to slow down while also having easy access to nature and outdoor pursuits. The small community is home to a mix of artists, craftspeople, musicians, and writers, who are celebrated at annual events such as Jazzaffair and the Rebud Arts and Crafts Festival. 

Finding outdoor activities nearby is never a problem. Depending on what time of year it is, you can go biking, hiking, or horseback riding — or perhaps try water-based sports such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. Sequoia National Park, famous for its enormous sequoia trees, turns into a playground for cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing in winter.