Astoria, located on the northwest tip of Oregon, is located at the mouth of the Columbia River and just a few miles away from the Pacific. It is the oldest permanent American settlement West of the Rockies - Lewis and Clark stayed here for the winter of 1806. With pretty, scenic backgrounds and a redone 1920s downtown, this relatively uncommercialized…...

Located in the Swannanoa Valley, Black Mountain is a recreational, homey town in North Carolina, not that far from Asheville. Hiking, biking, golf, gallery-hopping, and swimming are some of the main activities here. The town has a reputation as being an artistic town that attracts weekenders, vacationers, and retirees who tilt toward the liberal side. There is a nice downtown…...

Set in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, Williamstown is a delightful college town (Williams College) nestled in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. It is a sought after retirement community for these reasons and also because it is boasts an extremely rich cultural environment. The famed Clark Art Institute, the Williams College Museum of Art, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival are just…...

Yakima is a small city  and the capital of Yakima County in central Washington State. The population is about 84,000 with about 3 times that number living in the metro. Located in the Yakima Valley midway between Walla Walla and Seattle, this area is one of the best apple growing regions in the world. About 75% of the hops produced…...