PennyGeeks

Last Updated: May 1, 2019

Home to the Wright brothers and the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina offers visitors plenty of fresh air, with access to mountains on the left and beaches to the right. In between, there are some of the most charming cities in the country:

1. Cary

Make sure you arrive with an empty stomach: Master Baker Lionel Vatinet’s La Farm Bakery is a local point of pride, while the Neapolitan-style Pizzeria Faulisi is run by a renowned husband-and-wife chef team (ask about joining the Super Secret Sandwich Club). Try the banana pudding, birthday cake and Midnight Chocolate Crunch flavors on offer at FRESH. Local Ice Cream. Two award-winning microbreweries, Bond Brothers Beer Company and Fortnight Brewing Company, are giving the town a good name in beer-lovers circles.

2. Clayton

Brought your bike? Take it easy along the four-mile, paved Clayton River Walk on the Neuse, or gear up on the eight-mile, multi-directional Legend Park Mountain Bike Trail, with its rock gardens, boulders, jumps, and jumpable bridges. Looking for something more intimate? Sign up for a cruise for two with Neuse Adventures Canoe & Kayak Rentals, or if you plan to stay indoors, enjoy the sophisticated whiskey and craft cocktail bar and lounge Revival 1869. Family in tow? Book out the FlipSide: this restaurant and taproom has a menu to satiate any appetite.

3. Durham

Named NC’s Hippest City by Vogue Magazine in 2017, Durham offers everything from contemporary art installations at 21c Museum and locally distilled gin at Alley Twenty Six, to gourmet fish-and-chips takeout at Saltbox and whole-hog BBQ at Picnic. Take it all in at American Tobacco – the one-million-square foot former Lucky Strike factory is now an entertainment district, complete with authentic sushi, Cuban tapas, a documentary theatre and free, pop-up summer concerts.

4. Hickory

Lake Hickory Adventures offers a surprisingly well-stocked dinner menu along with the chance to take in the sights from the water, or take a hike in the 189-acre Bakers Mountain Park, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take home some fresh, local produce, plants and more from the Downtown Hickory Farmers Market, while the kids explore every inch of the 33,000 square feet of indoor activities at Hickory Dickory Dock: they’ll find bumper cars, mini-golf, two laser arenas, birthday party rooms and over 100 arcade games.

PennyGeeks

Last Updated: May 1, 2019

New Jersey is home to some of the country’s most charming destinations. Our team compared the state’s finest cities to find the best of the best. When the dust settled, the following destinations came out on top:

1. Jersey City

Liberty Science Center is an interactive science museum and learning center that’s just as fun for kids as it is interesting for their parents: look out for four floors 12 galleries of hands-on science exhibits, plus an IMAX Dome Theater. Find a refreshment suited to any palate at Zeppelin Hall, a charming Biergarten with over 140 brews on tap, or Torico, a monument to homemade ice cream that offers 65 innovative flavors. Walk it all off and enjoy a view of Manhattan from afar with a stroll, run or cycle along the scenic, beautifully-landscaped Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

2. Montgomery

Outdoor enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with an abundance of trails, parks, reservations and canals: go hiking abd biking in the natural spendor of Sourland Mountain Preserve, or for a less strenuous experience, take a paddle along Delaware and Raritan Canal. Pop into Tiger’s Tale for a lunch all the locals love, then treat the kids to miles of play area on offer at the recently renovated Skillman Park. Cap the day at One 53, a classy bistro with an enormous menu and romantic setting.

3. Chester Township

Tucked away in the north of NJ is a small but thriving spot tailor-made for family exploring. The town believes in encouraging community engagement, so expect farmer’s markets, craft fairs, free concerts, holiday tours and even a community garden. The free, guided Chester Hiking Series and floral gardens at Willowwood Arboretum are always a hit, while Kay Environmental Center is home to a flourishing butterfly population. Pick your own apples and pumpkins at Alstede and Riamede Farms, or stop over at Stony Hill Gardens to experience the Stony Hill Maze Fun Park. But that’s not all: for those who enjoy a slower pace, Chester Antique Mall is a superstore rich in furniture, china, pottery, paintings and prints – perfect for the avid bargain-hunter.

PennyGeeks

Last Updated: May 1, 2019

Michigan offers more than the best cars in the world; as our team discovered, it’s also home to some of the most charming cities in the country:

1. Marquette

For a full overview of the city’s rich history book a guided tour through Marquette Country Tours, or head out on your own armed with a map from the Marquette County Historical Museum. Take in the majesty of Lake Superior first-hand by following the North Country Trail, about 10 minutes away from downtown central – and the fun only increases in winter, when the locals start snowshoeing, snowboarding and skiing their way around. The 323-acre MooseWood Nature Center is great fun for the whole family, with customized day courses in camping, bird spotting, and geology.

2. Kalamazoo

Try the wide range of local beer on tap at Bell’s, and pick up a map of the six craft breweries in walking distance of each other. Or enjoy the art and natural history on display at the excellent Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Valley Museum and Heritage Guitar Inc. For a retail fix try the first outdoor pedestrian mall in the United States, Kalamazoo Mall, featuring specialty stores in an Art Deco-inspired setting. And to see the city in a whole new light, step into the burgeoning spirits scene downtown – try the cocktails at Principle Food & Drink, Green Door Distilling, and the Kalamazoo Stillhouse.

3. Clawson

One of the quirkiest cities in Michigan combines fun and learning for kids and adults alike. Learn a new trick or two at Wunderground Magic Shop, join a “craft party” with other artistic souls at Creative Chic, or bring a blanket and picnic chair to take in a movie under the stars at Cinema in the Street. The best time to be in town? Halloween. Trick or Treasure is a well-organized, community-based event that brings together children of all ages into a safe space to dress up and explore – while The Great Pubkin Crawl offers a similar experience, for adults. Collect your booklet of clues at Three Cats Cafe, then head downtown to solve puzzles, complete puzzles and tasks and find scavenger hunt items, then return for a lucky draw.

4. Huntington Woods

Golfers will enjoy the challenge of the 71-par Rackham Golf Course, designed by the legendary golf course architect Donald Ross. Foodies can enjoy the modern and elegant American menu at the iconic Vinsetta Garage, or excellent takeaway tacos and tequila from Imperial. Nature-loving kids will love seeing the penguins, wolves and kangaroos at home in Detroit Zoo Safari Station Exit – and excitable ones will burn some energy on the wall to wall trampolines, trampoline dodgeball and foam pits at AirTime Trampoline. An insider’s tip: Grasshopper Underground regularly hosts some of the country’s top electronic DJs.

PennyGeeks

Last Updated: May 1, 2019

Lots of rivers and plenty of rock n’ roll. Our team compared the most charming cities in Tennessee to find the best of the best. Read our top suggestions below:

1. Nashville

To take in the full range of local history sign up for one of many walking tours – choose from Walk Eat Nashville, Music City Pub Crawls or even Nashville Ghost Tours. Must-see sights include the Grand Ole Opry, which made this city the country capital of the world back in the 1920s, the life-size Parthenon replica and The Johnny Cash Museum. Choose from the wide variety of beans on offer at Barista Parlor, or grab a beer and burger at Tennessee Brew Works, then head down to Musicians Corner to catch regular free, family-friendly concert series featuring up-and-coming artists.

2. Elizabethton

The Watauga River offers great fun for children of all ages, with 16 miles of water known for its trophy rainbow and brown trout fishing: take the family on a whitewater rafting and kayaking trip on calm lakes or down challenging rivers, or get away from it all with a camping and fishing experience at Misty Waters Bait and Camping – tell the teens not to worry, there are plenty of shops just a few miles away. Then take part in a local tradition by finding your way out of the 4-acre maze at Beck Mountain, which is haunted all during October.

3. White House

It’s all happening in this hidden gem of a town deep in Tennessee: live music, craft beer and generous slices are all waiting at White House Pizza and Pub, while kids will love the funky decor at De La Paz Mexican Restaurant. Take a more holistic approach at Nature’s Market, where you’ll find locally sourced essential oils, courses in healthier eating, a range of organic produce and even pottery lessons.

4. Memphis

Start the day in the best possible way by watching the red-carpet duck procession from the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel, then burn some energy canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding at Shelby Farms Park. The Memphis Zoo, once named TripAdvisor’s top zoo in the country, houses over 3,000 animals, including lions, bears, elephants, penguins and even pandas. Visit Graceland, the home of Elvis, and Sun Studio, where he started out – then retire to Levitt Shell, the amphitheater that hosted his first public performance.

PennyGeeks

Last Updated: May 1, 2019

World-class amusement parks, acres of beautiful beaches – Florida has it all. If you’re planning to visit the Sunshine State or relocate permanently, read on to learn our picks for the most charming destinations:

1. Jacksonville

Known as a watersports wonderland – thanks to more shoreline than any other city in the country and a total of 22 miles of beaches – Jax is currently having a cultural revolution. Leading the way are a host of charming eateries, including Black Sheep, Good Dough, and Hoptinger, home of the local’s favorite Blueberry Bread Pudding. And it doesn’t end there: catch a quality cuppa at Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, take in dinner and a movie at the historic Sun-Ray Cinema, and make your own candy at Sweet Pete’s.

2. Port St. Lucie

At the heart of the Treasure Coast, see orchids, butterflies and hummingbirds at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, walk through mangroves at the Riverwalk Boardwalk, and spot manatees, river otters, egrets and alligators in the waterways of the North Fork St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve. You can also see the reefs up close with a snorkeling or Scuba diving trip to Pepper Park Beach or Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, or better yet, take a horseback ride along the beach.

3. Sebring

For 12 hours every March, sports car racers line up for the state’s premier endurance driving race at Sebring International Raceway, transforming the town into a festival of revving engines. For a more cerebral experience, a variety of galleries and performance centers – including the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for Performing Arts and the ever-popular Children’s Museum of the Highlands – cater to all ages. Wind down the day with karaoke, open mic nights and live music at locals’ favorite 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and Grill.

4. Collier County   

To learn the history of Southwest Florida over the past million years – or just to let the kids run loose for a couple hours – explore the large displays of prehistoric animals, recreations of the life of Calusa Indians and Spanish Explores, and the building of the town of Naples at the Collier County Museum. Don’t stay indoors though – just outside you will find acres of gardens complete with historic cottages, an archaeology lab, a mocked-up Seminole War Fort, a restored World War II tank, and more to keep young minds activated. The best bit: entrance is free for the whole family.

5. Naples 

Start by exploring the local wilderness along with joggers and dog-walkers on the Gordon River Greenway, then stop for either old-school milkshakes at Mel’s Diner or a health-conscious superfood smoothie at The Bowl. The kids will love the 2,300-gallon aquarium, and its pop-out bubble, at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, and the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon – featuring waterslides and pools in different sizes and depths – is a good option for little ones. Spend the afternoon exploring downtown on a rented bike (from Naples Cyclery) or pop into Segway Tours of Naples for a more novel way of getting around.

6. Gainesville

Known for its Butterfly Rainforest, home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies and birds, Harn Museum of Art, with a huge collection of Asian and African works, and the Matheson History Museum – featuring a vintage postcard collection – Gainesville rewards a curious traveler. But to take a look behind the curtain, visit Devil’s Den, a spooky spring where steam rises from a subterranean river, or climb the Devil’s Millhopper, a rainforest in a sinkhole that plunges 120 feet into the earth. Got time to kill? Waldo Farmer’s Market North is Central Florida’s largest flea market, and a dream for anyone with an eye for a bargain.