Over the past seven years, our readers have brought some very special locations to our attention in our search for the Nicest Places in America. The three finalists in 2023 are shown below. You can read about our winners in 2022 at rd.com/nicest, where we are collecting suggestions for places we should consider in 2024.
Coulterville, California
Couterville is a tiny town in Northern California, about 1000 miles from Phoenix. It was named after George Coulter, one of the first whites to come to the gold camp already populated by Chinese and Mexican miners. The Chinese first appeared in 1850, creating a small settlement at the north end of what was to be Coulterville. The entire area is a heaven for rock and mineral collectors.
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city full of originals. Pal's Sudden Service was born here, as was the recipe for the Original Long Island Iced Tea. The hand- carved carousel (旋转木马) is a beloved original too, which features 32 beautiful hand-carved wooden animals—each lovingly and painstakingly fashioned by a group of Kingsport workers. In the city of makers, more originals are soon on the way.
Buchanan, Michigan
Buchanan is a peaceful small town having a historic downtown and beautiful natural resources. When asked, "What's the best thing about Buchanan? The residents declare, Pears Mill." Pears Mill, a two-floor brick building fitted with machinery for pounding grain into flour, was constructed in 1857, listed on the Michigan Historical Register in 1987 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
