MyDatingAdviser.com, an online resource guiding people through the world of dating, recently released its list of the coziest small towns in America. Staff at the site compared three key areas — weather, food, and activities — in 170 small towns and used 10 metrics across a 100-point scale to determine which towns have “the most favorable conditions for coziness” in winter, the site says.
Towns in Western states such as Colorado, Montana, and Idaho led for coziest winter weather. Coziest activities and dining were scattered throughout the U.S., with Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, landing in the top 5 of both lists.
Of the more than 150 towns on the list, several names are familiar to Tri-State residents. Nearby New Harmony scored the highest of any place in Indiana. Ranked #70, New Harmony scored 56 out of 100 overall points. We may be biased, but we think that score is a little low given New Harmony’s vibrant arts culture, unique utopian history, and extensive list of regional events, many in partnership with the University of Southern Indiana .
Also on the list are Santa Claus, Indiana (#132) and Nashville, Indiana (#164). We’ve reported on Santa Claus (the town, not the man) several times, given its iconic status in southern Indiana as the home of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. The town also offers year-round recreation at Lake Rudolph, a huge Christmas store, and close proximity to Lincoln State Park.
Nashville, Indiana, sits in beautiful Brown County and is the home of award-winning Hard Truth Distilling Co., which we have profiled digitally and in the January/February 2023 issue of Evansville Living.
Other regional towns that made the list are Grand Rivers, Kentucky (#61), a 100-mile drive from Evansville on the northwestern tip of Land Between the Lakes; and Sainte Genevieve, Missouri (#141), a French-influenced historic settlement south of St. Louis and 160 miles west of Evansville.
Completing the top 20 is Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, which Evansville Living visited during a trip to Door County in December, just as the peninsula was on the cusp of its true snowfall this winter. While in Baileys Harbor, we explored Scandinavian culture at Björklunden, feasted on European fare at Clover & Zot Public House and Craft Kitchen, and hiked through The Ridges Nature Sanctuary. Intrigued? You’ll have the chance to read more about our trip to Baileys Harbor and Door County in a 2023 issue of Evansville Living magazine.
Looking for more quaint towns within driving distance of Evansville? We have you covered.
