What are the best small towns in America? How to vote for your favorite Central Coast spot
What are the best small towns in America?
USA Today is seeking readers’ help to select the winners for its 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — and four competitions feature nominees from California’s Central Coast.
Los Osos is among the 20 contestants for USA Today’s award for best coastal small town, where it’s vying against such seaside meccas as Carmel-by-the-Sea; Kailua Beach, Hawaii; and Beaufort, South Carolina. Voting in that category runs through June 6.
“Los Osos, California seems to have it all,” 10Best local expert Sherel Purcell writes, “small sophisticated restaurants and coffee shops sit on the quiet seaside that offers the best views of (Morro Rock) that appears to rise out of the sea to the north. A hillside golf course overlooks a sleepy bay and the beautiful Montaña De Oro State Park.”
Cambria and Los Alamos were both selected for the best small town food scene competition, with voting running through June 17. The list of candidates includes Mystic, Connecticut, and Traverse, Michigan.
According to Purcell, Cambria “boasts a remarkable variety of dining options,” including Linn’s Restaurant and Robin’s Restaurant. She said the quirky Sea Chest Oyster Bar serves up “some of the best seafood on the Pacific Coast.”
Los Alamos, meanwhile, has a number of foodie-friendly offerings including Dim Sama, Pico and Priedite. “Top off your visit with tapas at the 1880s Union Hotel, or treat yourself to Bell’s, an innovative French-inspired bistro listed in Michelin’s Guide in 2021,” USA Today says.
The northern Santa Barbara County community is also in the running for best small town cultural scene, along with candidates including Carmel; Ashland, Oregon; and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Also in Santa Barbara County, Solvang is vying for the title of best historic small town against Abilene, Kansas; Camden, Maine; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and others.
In addition to small towns, members of the public can vote on the top 10 zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, safari parks and train rides in the country.
People can vote once a day in each category at 10best.com/awards/travel.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 11:37 AM.
