Month: July 2025

Framed by charming storefronts, tree-lined sidewalks, and the smell of coffee drifting out of local coffee shops, some of America’s main streets aren’t just postcard material – they’re good for your health. According to public health experts, walking just 30 minutes a day can improve cardiovascular health, boost mental well-being, and reduce the risk of chronic illness. But if the route is scenic, social, and a little bit magical? You might not even notice you’re exercising.

Assisted Living Magazine, a senior living concierge, carried out a survey of over 3,007 residents to name the most walkable and lovable main streets in America. From cobblestone stretches in New England to palm-lined avenues out West, they asked people to nominate the spots where walking isn’t a chore, but a pleasure.

The top 10 were as follows:

1. Main Street, Lake Placid, New York.

Lake Placid’s Main Street runs like a ribbon beside Mirror Lake, reflecting the mountains and inviting walkers to slow down and take it in. There’s a soft grade to the street, enough to warm your legs, especially if you’re coming off a chilly morning. You might see Olympic athletes training, or just locals sipping hot drinks on a bench with a view of the peaks. Whether it’s winter lights or summer wildflowers, this street makes wellness feel natural, like something the landscape itself has always encouraged.

2. State Street, Santa Barbara, California

State Street is one of those rare places where a walk feels like a reward, not a task. You move from the buzz of downtown into beachy calm without even noticing the shift. The wide sidewalks are lined with palms and cooled by ocean air, and there’s always the scent of saltwater and orange blossoms in the mix. Shaded courtyards and quiet benches invite you to pause, sip a coffee, or people-watch under red-tile roofs. Whether it’s surfers heading to Stearns Wharf in the early morning or couples out for an evening stroll beneath twinkling lights, walking here always feels a little luxurious—and somehow good for you, too.

3. E Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

East Las Olas Boulevard feels more like a breeze than a street, lined with palms, flanked by fountains, and always touched by the scent of salt air and tropical blooms. The sidewalks are smooth and shaded, made for slow walking or long strides, depending on your mood. You might spot a local sculptor setting up a new piece, or grab a cold coconut water from a juice stand. Morning light turns everything gold, and in the evening, the soft roar of the beach draws you east. It’s a flat, walkable stretch with enough beauty and movement to lift your mood—and enough stops along the way to keep you fueled and inspired.

4. Front Street, Nome, Alaska

Front Street doesn’t feel like a sidewalk stroll—it feels like you’ve stepped into another world. The cold air wakes you up in the best way, and with the sea on one side and weathered wooden buildings on the other, it’s a walk that keeps your senses engaged. The flat terrain makes it easy for anyone to explore, and with nearly round-the-clock daylight in summer, folks tend to walk late and often. Even a slow stroll here clears your head fast. The horizon seems to stretch forever, and somehow, after just a few blocks, your lungs feel fuller and your mind a bit quieter.

5. Downtown Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Walking Gatlinburg’s Downtown Parkway is a full-body sensory experience: sweet smells, bright colors, and the soundtrack of bluegrass, rushing water, and laughter. The terrain is flat and friendly, but the visual energy never lets up—from glassblowers and woodcarvers to mirror mazes and moonshine flights. It’s a mountain town, sure, but one that wears its carnival heart proudly. Every step offers something new, from old-world crafts to neon-lit fun, with the Smokies rising like a steady, grounding backdrop.

6. Main Street, Sag Harbor, New York

Sag Harbor’s Main Street doesn’t pretend. It’s elegant but grounded, historic but lived-in. The harbor breeze keeps things moving, and the slope to the water offers just enough pull to get the blood flowing. You’ll pass clapboard buildings with centuries behind them, and bookshops that still carry Steinbeck in the window. There’s clam chowder cooking and kids skipping stones just beyond the last café. It’s not just a walk—it’s a moment in the story of a place that hasn’t lost touch with its roots.

7. Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor’s Main Street gives you that deep-breath feeling from the very start. The ocean’s never far, and the breeze smells of salt and pine and maybe blueberry tarts if you’re lucky. You’ll start walking downhill toward Frenchman Bay, which makes for a relaxed beginning, just enough to wake up the legs. Coming back up offers a little extra movement, but the scenery makes it feel effortless. Victorian storefronts, lobster rolls on the patio, and the call of gulls overhead—it’s a walk that feels like a reward in itself, especially when the fog lifts and the harbor appears, clear and still.

8. King Street, Charleston, South Carolina

King Street in Charleston walks like a Southern novel—layered, lyrical, and rich with detail. Every few steps, sweetgrass baskets meet haute couture, and garden gates open into shaded courtyards humming with conversation. The terrain is easy, but the culture is deep. You walk to eat, to admire, to pause—and somehow, it always feels like the right pace.

9. Broadway Street, Skagway, Alaska

Walking down Broadway Street in Skagway is like slipping into a living postcard. The wooden sidewalks creak a little underfoot, the buildings look straight out of a Gold Rush film set—and that’s exactly the point. There’s a steady uphill stretch that’ll raise your heart rate just enough, but the cool breeze off the mountains makes it easy to keep going. Between stops at locally-owned shops, you’ll hear stories from friendly historians and catch the scent of fresh-baked pastries or piney spruce-tip beer. It’s the kind of walk where you’re not just getting exercise—you’re walking through history, and that’s something you can feel in your bones.

10. South Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge’s Main Street walks like a workout and unwinds like a vacation. At nearly 10,000 feet, you’ll definitely feel the elevation—but it’s the kind of healthy challenge that leaves you refreshed, not worn out. The buildings, painted in old-fashioned shades of alpine blue and burgundy, keep things interesting as you wander. There’s always a breeze coming off the Blue River and usually the faint smell of pine or fresh snow, depending on the season. Locals amble along slowly, hot drinks in hand, and it’s easy to fall into that rhythm. The altitude gives your heart a boost, the scenery clears your head, and somehow, a simple walk turns into the highlight of your day.

“Too often, wellness gets boxed into gyms and gadgets,” says CEO Jeremy Clerc of Assisted Living Magazine. “But the simple act of walking – especially in places that are beautiful, social, and full of charm – can be just as powerful. These main streets remind us that movement can be both joyful and effortless when the environment invites you in.”

When it comes to wellness, we often think in terms of step counts, workout classes, or fitness apps. But what if the secret to feeling better is hiding in plain sight—right on your town’s Main Street? Our recent survey of 3,000+ Americans revealed the most walkable and “feel-good” streets in the country.

And once we dug into the full list, a few patterns stood out.

Key Findings

The word “Main” really means something

For over half the list, most walkable streets are literally named “Main Street”—a testament to the enduring charm and centrality of these hubs. Whether it’s Wickford Village in Rhode Island or Deadwood, South Dakota, “Main Street” still signals community, character, and foot traffic.

Northeast nostalgia is strong

New England streets are over-indexed in the rankings. Massachusetts alone claims four spots (Chatham, Concord, Stockbridge, and the surprising dark horse, Main Street in tiny Shelbyville), while Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire each have multiple entries.

Turns out, cobblestones and clapboard still tug on the heartstrings – and the hamstrings.

Alaska quietly dominates

Not one but three Alaskan streets made the top 50: Nome, Skagway, and Homer. That’s more per capita than any other state.

While Alaska may not be the first place you think of for strolls, locals clearly value walks that come with a sea breeze and a backdrop of mountains and memories.

Walkability isn’t just about the coast

While beach towns like Santa Barbara and Fort Lauderdale made the top 10, so did inland gems like Dahlonega, Georgia, and Bozeman, Montana.

People love to walk where there’s character, not just coastline.

South of the Mason-Dixon, hospitality leads the way

Streets in South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee scored high, not for urban walkability, but for warmth, street life, and sensory overload.

Gatlinburg’s Parkway and Charleston’s King Street both turned walking into something soulful, social, and slightly slow—and people love them for it.

Elevation doesn’t deter – it motivates

High-altitude towns like Breckenridge, CO, and Park City, UT, still ranked highly, despite the physical challenge.

In fact, that slight exertion seems to add to the wellness factor. If the air’s fresh and the view’s good, a bit of incline isn’t a dealbreaker—it’s a feature.

More than half the streets listed feature water

Whether it’s lakefront (Lake Placid, NY), riverside (Eureka Springs, AR), ocean-adjacent (Bar Harbor, ME), or harbor-based (Sag Harbor, NY), there’s something about walking near water that clearly boosts appeal.

It’s not just scenic—it’s calming, grounding, and good for your pace.

Walkability feels local, not urban

Very few large cities made the list. The focus was on smaller towns and mid-sized communities, where you’re more likely to make eye contact with strangers or recognize your barista. It’s walkability as a human scale, not infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

This list isn’t just a collection of pretty towns—it’s a quiet argument for designing places where walking is natural, not forced.

Where exercise feels more like leisure, and wellness sneaks up on you between coffee stops and gallery windows.

If we want to encourage healthier lifestyles, maybe we need more tree-lined sidewalks with a bookstore at one end and a bakery at the other.

Methodology

Online panel survey of 3,007 respondents based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.

Respondents are carefully chosen from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. This selection is further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we design questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the alignment of the survey with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employ an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures like digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, etc. each response undergoes a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extends to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.