The 24 coolest towns in the USA – 2017

WARNING: If you’re looking for some algorithmically-based, data-driven list of towns, you may want to ignore this article altogether. Because when it comes to places, we’re pretty whimsical.

Instead of sitting around an office analyzing data, we’re listening to people’s stories from the road. We’re checking out the spots they’re adding to travelstoke.

And somewhere in the mix, a few places capture our imagination beyond the ordinary. They remind us how unlikely certain places in America can be — especially when local people decide to collectively achieve a dream — like a surf wave in the middle of Montana.

In fact, some of these places barely qualify as “towns.” They’re more like outposts on the edge of the Rockies or the Great Lakes, or off the coast entirely. And still, others may qualify more as small cities. Places that have just the right size and that rare quality of inclusiveness, where even crazy old travelers can rest for a while.

Ultimately what we sought was originality. The kind of place you’d be stoked to call home, even if for just a few days. If your town deserves to be on this list, let us know why in the comments below! And finally, we hope you take a moment to simply appreciate this country’s diversity, wherever you find yourself in 2017.

Lander, WY

Wind River Range outpost and the birthplace of NOLS

Lander is a quirky little town with lots of museums, an amazing alpaca ranch/outfitter, and the headquarters of the National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS. Lander sits on the edge of the Wind River Range, one of the most under-appreciated areas for outdoor adventure for all but most hardcore climbers and locals (who surely want to keep it that way.) Finally, Lander has one of the best ‘in town campgrounds’ in the entire US, Sinks Canyon on the Popo Agie River. If you’re road tripping north to visit Yellowstone, stay here.

Read the full story here.