CNN Travel Names Sarasota #1 on 2026 “America’s Best Towns to Visit” List

On July 1, 2026, CNN Travel released its third-annual “America’s Best Towns to Visit” list, naming Sarasota, Florida, the top destination. The ranking placed New Haven, Connecticut (2), Greenville, South Carolina (3) and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (4) directly behind Sarasota. The remaining spots were filled by Roanoke, Virginia; Lawrence, Kansas; Iowa City, Iowa; Juneau, Alaska; Burlington, Vermont; and Fort Collins, Colorado. The list was compiled to highlight lesser-known communities whose “unexpected histories and curiosities have been obscured by splashier attractions,” according to CNN’s editorial note.

Sarasota Observer

CNN Travel evaluated “hundreds of destinations nationwide” using a weighted rubric that considered attractions, food and drink, arts and culture, local identity, accessibility, proximity to other notable sites, and overall visitor experience. Editors also solicited nominations from readers and staff, then narrowed the field to ten towns based on scores for outdoor access, walkable downtowns, culinary scenes, historic character, and a “wow factor.” The process coincided with the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations.

CNN

• Sarasota, FL – arts-rich Gulf Coast city, home to The Ringling museum and a historic circus legacy.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• New Haven, CT – Yale University campus, renowned pizza and cultural venues.

CNN

• Greenville, SC – urban waterfall and pedestrian-friendly Falls Park.

CNN

• Bethlehem, PA – former steel hub now featuring a revitalized Main Street and UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Morning Call

• Roanoke, VA – “Star City of the South” with Appalachian Trail access.

CNN

• Lawrence, KS – historic Massachusetts Street resisting chain retailers.

CNN

• Iowa City, IA – literary capital with indie bookstores and a vintage diner.

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• Juneau, AK – remote capital surrounded by rain-forests, glaciers and wildlife.

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• Burlington, VT – lakeside college town with farmer’s markets and Ben & Jerry’s origins.

WGCU - NPR - Fort Myers

• Fort Collins, CO – brewery-centered mountain town with nearby foothill peaks.

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• Number of towns evaluated: > 100 (CNN cited “hundreds”).

Sarasota Observer

• Criteria weightings: attractions, food & drink, arts & culture, local identity, accessibility, proximity, visitor experience.

CNN

• Sarasota’s highlighted assets: cultural compound from circus magnate John Ringling, botanical gardens, Gulf beaches, and an Amish snowbird community.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The ranking spotlights Sarasota’s dual appeal as a world-class arts destination and a classic Florida beach locale, potentially driving increased visitor traffic and reinforcing the city’s “Cultural Coast” branding. For the other towns, inclusion offers national exposure that may boost local economies, encourage preservation of historic assets, and attract niche tourism (e.g., literary tours in Iowa City or wilderness expeditions in Juneau).

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

CNN’s spokesperson confirmed that the list reflects a comprehensive assessment of visitor experience factors and that the organization consulted both internal staff and the traveling public. Sarasota’s Arts and Cultural Alliance CEO Brian Hersh emphasized the city’s “incredible artistic excellence” and its capacity to deliver experiences comparable to larger metropolitan areas. Wade Tatangelo, executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, noted the coverage underscores the city’s growing reputation as a premier cultural and coastal destination.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• “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,” — CNN Travel

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• “I think what can surprise you is when you come down here, that there is absolutely incredible artistic excellence,” — Brian Hersh, CEO, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Sarasota Observer

• “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 Travel

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• “No, Bethlehem no longer produces steel. But its fabled industrial history lives on at the former Bethlehem Steel site, where visitors can tour the rusting plant and enjoy outdoor events in the shadows of the company’s towering blast furnaces, which punctuate the city’s skyline,” — CNN Travel

The Morning Call

• “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

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

All sources present a consistent account of the rankings and criteria; no contradictory information was identified.

CNN

CNN Travel plans to feature in-depth stories on each town throughout the summer, while local tourism boards are preparing promotional campaigns to capitalize on the heightened visibility.

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