CNN Travel has named Sarasota, Florida, as the top destination in its annual list of America's Best Towns to Visit, released on July 1, 2026.
The network selected ten under-the-radar communities based on local identity, cultural institutions, and visitor experience.
According to CNN Travel, the selection process evaluated hundreds of locations nationwide to find less-discovered communities.
Sarasota secured the highest rank by blending coastal attractions with an expansive performing arts sector.
"What really pushed Sarasota to the top of the list was that it offers the best of both worlds," said Marnie Hunter, Senior Producer for CNN Travel.
The coastal city features historical links to the circus industry alongside its beaches. "You have these incredible beaches, but you also have a rich arts and cultural scene.
Add in The Ringling's circus legacy, and it becomes a destination that's both beautiful and fascinating," Hunter added.
The publication explained that its third annual list aims to look past traditional tourism heavy hitters to discover unique local history.
"Our third annual list looks beyond some of American tourism's heaviest hitters to find less-discovered communities or places whose unexpected histories and curiosities have been obscured by splashier attractions," CNN Travel noted.
The network highlighted the specific artistic history of the Gulf Coast destination on its website.
"This Gulf Coast city goes all-in on artistic excellence with a cultural compound that grew from the fortunes of a circus magnate, and other visual and performing arts attractions," read the blurb on CNN's website.
The profile also detailed the diverse demographic and natural appeal of the area. "Circus lore and a population of Amish snowbirds add to this town's intriguing history.
Throw in rare gardens and beautiful beaches, and you have a sophisticated cultural getaway that delivers sun and surf, too," the blurb stated.
An accompanying feature story further analyzed the evolution of the waterfront lifestyle in Florida, titled "This coastal Florida town is world-class in more ways than one."
The travel guide recommended specific local establishments for visitors exploring the bay area.
"Any visit to Longboat Key should include raising something cold to drink — perhaps a Hugo Spritz or mojito — and sampling a grouper sandwich or blackened grouper tacos at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, where alfresco tables overlook Sarasota Bay (a playground for eco tours and dolphin cruises) and egrets stalk the breakwater," CNN noted.
Other cities ranked highly on the list include New Haven, Connecticut at number two, Greenville, South Carolina at number three, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at number four.
Bethlehem has transitioned from its historical roots as a steel manufacturing hub into a cultural destination.
Local musician Robbie Lawrence performed with a polka band outside the city's industrial history museum, singing, "I come from Bethlehem and I'm proud of it, Bethlehem is my home."
Lawrence noted that community members actively worked to preserve the town's identity after the local steel industry declined.
"A lot of people foresaw the potential of this area, and they didn't want it to die with the steel," he said.
Former employees of the plant highlighted the historical economic importance of the manufacturing site.
"If you talked to one of the old guys who worked here, he'd tell you that the US won World War I and World War II because of Bethlehem Steel," said Mahesh Vyas, a museum docent and former research engineer who spent nearly four decades working for the company before it ceased production.
"Bethlehem Steel was Bethlehem," Vyas said, recalling the stable employment opportunities provided by the plant during its peak operation years.
"It was a very good job."
Iowa City, Iowa, also earned a spot on the list, recognized as the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States.
CNN described it as "America's engine room of literature," noting that "almost everyone including taxi drivers seems to have ink-stained fingers."
The network also recommended that travelers visit nearby Riverside, which promotes itself as the future birthplace of "Star Trek" captain James T.
Kirk.
