Who Here Wants to Bring Back the Town Square Pillroy?

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20 Beautiful Town Squares That Will Make You Feel Right at Home

Stars Hollow might not be real, but these are.

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Small towns have a special place in our hearts. We've found the best spots for antiquing, leaf peeping and of course living. But let's not forget the best part of any city: The picturesque town square. These 20 plazas are the absolute best places to people-watch, relax and spend a lazy afternoon.

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Fairbanks, Alaska

Before the sun sets and the northern lights begin, pay a visit to the city's downtown Golden Heart Plaza. The statue at the center celebrates America's "Unknown First Family," but the time capsule looks far ahead into the future: 2059, to be exact.

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Scottsdale, Arizona

Pay a visit to the "West's Most Western Town" and a serenade from from the Old Town Singing Cowboy won't seem so surprising. Double down on the regional vibes with a stop atWestern Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. (Are you tired of the word "west" yet?)

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Bentonville, Arkansas

Bentonville is famously home to Walmart's headquarters (and the Walmart Museum!), but the town square is where it all started. The original Walton's Five and Dime faced the center green, and now houses the superstore's visitor center.

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Healdsburg, California

Take a break from the Sonoma vineyards in Healdsburg Plaza Park. The town center hosts musicians and festivals, with plenty of nearby wineries for more vino later on.

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San Jose, California

Find fountains, art installations and concerts at Plaza de César Chávez in this happening "town" square. The annual Christmas in the Park event also brings in 500 decorated trees (and 15,000 candy canes)!

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Key West, Florida

Mallory Square hosts a great party every night: It's renown (and crowded) Key West Sunset Celebration. While you're waiting for the sun to disappear, street performers, magicians and jugglers get the festivities going.

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Savannah, Georgia

Does it look familiar? Chippewa Square is the backdrop of Forrest Gump's memorable bus stop. Unfortunately the bench was just added for the film, but it's currently on display at the Savannah History Museum.

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New Orleans, Louisiana

The French Quarter's iconic Jackson Square hosts Christmas caroling every year as a New Orleans tradition. Year-round, pop in the overlooking St. Louis Cathedral, the United States'oldest cathedral.

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Bar Harbor, Maine

A visit to Acadia National Park starts here, the pickup point for the Island Explorer shuttle. But with the fountain, pavilion and scenic landscape, a wait at the Village Green doesn't seem so bad.

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Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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Frankenmuth, Michigan

Nope, you're not in Germany. Frankenmuth's downtown mimics a Bavarian village, and features the "world's largest Christmas store."

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Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The harbor town's Market Square centers on North Church, an 1854 meeting house. Art galleries, bookstores and antique shops line the neighborhood streets for an afternoon of exploring.

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Cape May, New Jersey

If the weather's not right for a day at the beach, head over to the Washington Street Mall for better shopping and an ice cream cone. It's never too cold for a sundae.

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Corning, New York

Named the "Most Fun Small Town in America," the Crystal City's signature attraction is the Corning Museum of Glass. The downtown shops and restaurants only add to the tourist town's charm.

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New York, New York

Between Union Square, Times Square and Washington Square (just to name a few), there's no shortage of spots to spend a New York minute. If you're feeling bold, sit down for a game of street chess.

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Lyndonville, Vermont

It'sGilmore Girls in real life. Located in the picturesque Northeast Kingdom, this tiny New England town hosts summer concerts, a farmer's market, craft fairs and (of course) weddings in Bandstand Park.

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Durham, North Carolina

Formally a pair of tobacco factories, the brick buildings lining Brightleaf Square now contain numerous stores and restaurants, including a brand-new brewery.

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Granbury, Texas

Every month, Granbury Square hosts Girls' Night Out for late-night shopping and eats. Of course, everyone's welcome at the small town's numerous events, like a community carnival and intriguingly-named "Wine Walk."

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Alexandria, Virginia

If the charming cobblestone streets don't get you, Old Town's Market Square museums will. History buffs can hit three attractions within a block's radius, and art lovers need to stop by the world-famous Torpedo Factory.

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Jackson Hole, Wyoming

At each corner of the town square stands an enormous antler arch. Since male elk shed their racks every spring, local Boy Scouts collected the bones from a nearby refuge to make each photo-worthy entryway.

Caroline Picard Health Editor Caroline is the Health Editor at GoodHousekeeping.com covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news.

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Who Here Wants to Bring Back the Town Square Pillroy?

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/g3865/town-squares/

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