Brevard is North Carolina's Land of Waterfalls, a Blue Ridge college town beside Pisgah National Forest and within reach of DuPont's famous trails. White squirrels, a walkable independent downtown, and the nationally respected Brevard Music Center give the place a character beyond outdoor adventure. Come for the singletrack and waterfalls. Stay when the orchestra starts.

Lockhart, Texas is a small town with outsized flavor—an emerging creative hub where historic architecture, world-famous barbecue, and a walkable downtown square come together just southeast of Austin.