Stars Hollow might not be real, but these are.
Small towns have a special place in our hearts. We've found the best spots for antiquing, leaf peeping and of course living. But let's not forget the best part of any city: The picturesque town square. These 20 plazas are the absolute best places to people-watch, relax and spend a lazy afternoon.
Before the sun sets and the northern lights begin, pay a visit to the city's downtown Golden Heart Plaza. The statue at the center celebrates America's "Unknown First Family," but the time capsule looks far ahead into the future: 2059, to be exact.
Pay a visit to the "West's Most Western Town" and a serenade from from the Old Town Singing Cowboy won't seem so surprising. Double down on the regional vibes with a stop at Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. (Are you tired of the word "west" yet?)
Bentonville is famously home to Walmart's headquarters (and the Walmart Museum!), but the town square is where it all started. The original Walton's Five and Dime faced the center green, and now houses the superstore's visitor center.
Take a break from the Sonoma vineyards in Healdsburg Plaza Park. The town center hosts musicians and festivals, with plenty of nearby wineries for more vino later on.
Find fountains, art installations and concerts at Plaza de César Chávez in this happening "town" square. The annual Christmas in the Park event also brings in 500 decorated trees (and 15,000 candy canes)!
Mallory Square hosts a great party every night: It's renown (and crowded) Key West Sunset Celebration. While you're waiting for the sun to disappear, street performers, magicians and jugglers get the festivities going.
Does it look familiar? Chippewa Square is the backdrop of Forrest Gump's memorable bus stop. Unfortunately the bench was just added for the film, but it's currently on display at the Savannah History Museum.
The French Quarter's iconic Jackson Square hosts Christmas caroling every year as a New Orleans tradition. Year-round, pop in the overlooking St. Louis Cathedral, the United States' oldest cathedral.
A visit to Acadia National Park starts here, the pickup point for the Island Explorer shuttle. But with the fountain, pavilion and scenic landscape, a wait at the Village Green doesn't seem so bad.
After arriving at the nearby ferry dock, it's hard to miss Ocean Park on Martha's Vineyard. The town green is ringed with historic "gingerbread" houses with a bandstand at the center.
Nope, you're not in Germany. Frankenmuth's downtown mimics a Bavarian village, and features the "world's largest Christmas store."
The harbor town's Market Square centers on North Church, an 1854 meeting house. Art galleries, bookstores and antique shops line the neighborhood streets for an afternoon of exploring.
If the weather's not right for a day at the beach, head over to the Washington Street Mall for better shopping and an ice cream cone. It's never too cold for a sundae.
Named the "Most Fun Small Town in America," the Crystal City's signature attraction is the Corning Museum of Glass. The downtown shops and restaurants only add to the tourist town's charm.
Between Union Square, Times Square and Washington Square (just to name a few), there's no shortage of spots to spend a New York minute. If you're feeling bold, sit down for a game of street chess.
It's Gilmore Girls in real life. Located in the picturesque Northeast Kingdom, this tiny New England town hosts summer concerts, a farmer's market, craft fairs and (of course) weddings in Bandstand Park.
Formally a pair of tobacco factories, the brick buildings lining Brightleaf Square now contain numerous stores and restaurants, including a brand-new brewery.
Every month, Granbury Square hosts Girls' Night Out for late-night shopping and eats. Of course, everyone's welcome at the small town's numerous events, like a community carnival and intriguingly-named "Wine Walk."
If the charming cobblestone streets don't get you, Old Town's Market Square museums will. History buffs can hit three attractions within a block's radius, and art lovers need to stop by the world-famous Torpedo Factory.
At each corner of the town square stands an enormous antler arch. Since male elk shed their racks every spring, local Boy Scouts collected the bones from a nearby refuge to make each photo-worthy entryway.
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