U.S. News & World Report, best known for its influential best colleges and hospitals rankings, has listed the best small towns (with a population fewer than 100,000) to visit in the USA – and the town of Sonoma came in on #1.
Sonoma made the number one spot on the U.S. News list based on votes from users, or “users score” (50 percent weight) and “editors score” (50 percent weight) taking into consideration elements such as restaurants, attractions and “unique character.”
U.S. News says Sonoma “boasts all the charms of a rustic yet refined locale without the crowds and high price tags of its larger neighbor, Napa” and advises “before heading to the wineries, spend the day exploring the shops and restaurants along the 8-acre Sonoma Plaza.”
(When you click on the “read more” tab, U.S. News seems to confuse the town of Sonoma with the county of Sonoma – a mistake often made by visitors, and often pointed out by locals).
See the full list of “best small towns in the USA” here.
