I went to Omaha last year for a weekend to visit a friend that was living there at the time and I can say I really enjoyed it.

Sacramento was a nice city to visit earlier this year as well - I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

the best thing about these towns are their relaxed life and i really love to spend the period from winter to spring.

Um, I think you mean Austin. Dallas BBQ is good compared to much of the US, but quite mediocre in comparison to what Central Texas has to offer. But there's a whole 'nother thread on that topic.

That's always our first spot on any generic "south of the Bay Area weekend getaway." The flight from MCI lands at SFO a little after 10, leading nicely to lunch in Santa Cruz. I like how they turned a little light-industrial neighborhood into a giant meta-tasting-room for a couple dozen area vineyards. ^


As for a barbecue MR, I think you definitely need multiple cities to experience the different styles. Completely agree on Austin over Dallas. Kansas City, Memphis, and probably Carolina should be on the list. (I'm not a huge Carolina 'cue fan myself, but it is one of the distinctive styles...)

I recall few that were really memorable, but there are some:

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sedona, Arizona
Bemidji, Minnesota
Barrow, Alaska

Those all must count as small I suppose, for medium I'd offer,

Louisville, Kentucky
Madison, Wisconsin
Santa Barbara, California

I don't really know how to categorize Boise, Idaho and Park City, Utah but they are two of my favorite American small cities, though they both have features of much larger places.

What's so fascinating about Austin? I've lived there for 18 years and can't think of anything worthwhile to go see. Sixth street is a PITA to drive through, Zilker Park is nothing different than other city parks, what's so interesting about downtown? I find it congested and filled with drunks most nights...

Comfy place to live but not somewhere I'd want to go for a vacation...

Although I did not choose Austin I think I can offer a partial answer to your question. if one compares Austin to any other medium sized city in the entire region Austin is clearly the class act. Further, the city is usually quite kind and gentle with strangers. It is also reasonably refined and attractive; I must admit that the 'refined' part is quite a stretch around the sophmoric college kids.

in sum, the same people who will choose Ann Arbor or Madison will choose Austin, for some of the same reasons. I quite like all three of them. I'm also fond of Oxford, Heidelberg and White River Junction. Whatever else may be there a well endowed college town is a special place with culture and atmosphere far more attractive than other cities of the same size, and a fair quantity of relatively inexpensive decent places to eat and drink.

I know a few people who have lived for years in such places and like living in them but don't see their appeal to visitors. That said, the supply of drunks, young or old, seems plentiful in most such cities. maybe not so much in Provo.

Not mentioned:
Naples, FL
Hilton Head, SC

Already mentioned:
Palm Springs, CA
New Orleans, LA
Santa Fe, NM
Tuscon, AZ


SunLover

I'm heading to Bend in a couple weeks. If the weather cooperates I'm going to go skiing two days and of course visit the Deschutes Brewery. Any other suggestions for things to see or places to eat / drink?

Another vote for Nashville here! Also love Louisville, KY, and found Austin, TX and Flagstaff, AZ to be quite lovely.

Not in the U.S., but our very favorite small/medium North American city of all (including all the many we've visited and/or lived in within the U.S.) would have to be Vancouver, BC, hands down... amazing food scene, incredibly nice people, beyond-gorgeous scenery, so many things to do... it's like Canada's version of So Calif: you literally can go snow skiing in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon!

Hilo, Hawaii and Marquette, Michigan. These are sorta extremes, but have a similar charm.

These have been mentioned, but consider them additional votes:

Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
San Antonio, TX
Omaha, NE
Minneapolis, MN
Indianapolis, IN
Reno, NV
Salt Lake City, UT

Some that you might consider small and others might consider medium:

Eugene, OR
Chattanooga, TN
Boise, ID (lots of neat places to see in the surrounding area, too)
Bellingham, WA (actually is small, but has feel of larger than it is)

Some of the best small towns in the US happen to be college towns. If you're willing to visit on a gameday and join in the fun, you can have a really amazing weekend experience...

For my money, the best college town in the country is Lawrence, KS. I'm no KU fan - far from it - but Lawrence is a gorgeous downtown to walk around with gobs of character. A very close second is Madison, WI - which has already been repeatedly mentioned. Both have lots of local shops and restaurants, a walkable urban core, and arts/music venues of caliber disproportionate to their size.

For second tier medium-to-large cities, I second the Seattle, Portland, and Portland recommendations many have made...

2 years back i visited madison uwi campus at my cousin's and it was pretty cool.

Agree on Madison WI. If you want to see some serious college sports fans, be there on game day.