My hometown downtown probably wouldn't make my list, but it is improving
By Kevin Williams
Admittedly, this list is very subjective, but I've traveled a lot over the years and have had a chance to sample many small towns, more small towns than large. Â And I can sort of quickly gauge whether I like the place or not, what sort of color or character it has, etc. Â Some places like Lima, Ohio just have glum downtowns, while other cities the same size have seemingly vibrant downtowns teeming with activity. Â Ugh, Jackson, Michigan (admittedly, it's been years since I was there) was another town where I just saw the downtown and went "ugh." Â So, here is a very subjective list of 5 favorite downtowns of cities under 50,000 people.
Traverse City, Michigan: Â You just can't beat a lak front, the touristy shops, a giant bookstore (Horizon Books).....I have visited a ton of small-town downtowns over the years and Traverse City would top my list. Â Only drawback in the newspaper there, not a fan of the Record Eagle, but otherwise I am a big Traverse City fan.
Quincy, Illinois: Â Love the quaint, clustered, bustling downtown. Â Quincy is the largest city for miles in all directions which gives its downtown the feel of a much larger city than it is....
Parkersburg, West Virginia: Â Another rivertown, hemmed in by smokestacks, etc, maybe not most peoples' choice, but there a bustling downtown, an historic home district, I've been to P-burg numerous times and there's just something appealing about its downtown.
Ionia, Michigan: Â I don't remember much about the downtown, but I remember the main road being a beautiful red brick one and that makes it stick out
Elkins, West Virginia: Â Just a picturesque mountain town with a beautiful, bustling downtown...
Kathy Barnes
We have family in TC and it is a lovely town. We live in a small town and I love it, Niles,MI. We have a great Fall festival call the Apple Festival. This year it's the last weekend in September. We also have a great Scream park. It's open from the end of September through the end of October. I moved here from Lansing,MI and I must say I like the small town feel.
Kathy
Kevin
Kathy, I know Niles well...I gave a talk at the library there once...had a good turn-out. That was probably six or seven years ago
J
Bad, no awful newspaper for sure. No Amish either, however, not to far away there is a very, very small community . Growing up there was fantastic, however, it is not the same city it was in the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. Oh, well, there are always the memories.