10 Coolest Small Towns, Wash.

Yachats, Ore. Population: 617 Nearest City: Eugene, 86 miles In 2005, Dave Thomas and Deb Gisetto left Vermont for Oregon and soon found themselves awestruck by the scenery around Yachats (yah-hots). "It was just unbelievably beautiful," recalls Thomas. "And the people were possibly the most friendly in the country." Thomas and Gisetto put down roots by opening Green Salmon Bakery & Coffee House (220 Hwy. 101, 541/547-3077). Yachats also has cute shops, like Raindogs (162 Beach St., 541/547-3000, raindogsonline.com), and a deli called Grand Occasions where you can watch the sea roll in while you eat pie made with blackberries, strawberries, or whatever's in season (84 Beach St., 541/547-4409). After staying in a Shamrock Lodgettes beachfront cabin, you may move to Oregon, too (105 Hwy. 101, 800/845-5028, shamrocklodgettes.com, cabins from $99).

Milford, Pa. Population: 1,292 Nearest City: New York, 71 miles A resort town since the Gilded Age, Milford is popular with newcomers interested in its Victorian houses. Sean Strub (a direct-mail and publishing entrepreneur who moved here in 1997) and retired executive Richard Snyder spearheaded the town beautification effort, launched Milford Magazine, and in 2001 bought the 1880s-era Hotel Fauchère. Five years and $6.5 million later, it reopened with heated slate bathroom floors, Frette sheets, and a price point that's ritzy for such a small town, not to mention Budget Travel (401 Broad St., 570/409-1212, hotelfauchere.com, from $275). The 70,000-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is nearby (nps.gov/dewa); buy picnic supplies at Fretta's (223 Broad St., 570/296-7863). Kitchen and bath designer Derek Roberts moved to Milford in 1991. "My mountain bike is well used," he says. "After work, I like to go swimming in a waterfall." He has become such a civic booster that he began organizing Fluviarchy dance parties--named for the network of waterfalls--at The Emerson House (call the Fauchère for info). "Find me for free-drink tickets," he says.

Millerton, N.Y. Population: 925 Nearest City: New York, 103 miles There's no such thing as a straightforward stroll down Millerton's Main Street, even if it is only a couple of blocks long. Inevitably, you're tempted to pop into one shop, zigzag over to another, or grab a latte and a scone at Irving Farm Coffee House, an offshoot of a Manhattan café (44 Main St., 518/789-6540, irvingfarm.com). The Dutchess County village lies within 30 minutes of prime second-home destinations, yet Millerton has remained affordable and unpretentious. "This town feels very real," says Susan Schneider, who moved her business, Shandell's, which sells vintage and new lamps, from Connecticut to Millerton in 2004 (34 Main St., 518/789-6603, shandells.com). In 2005, Robin Helfand, a former manager of New York City's Dean & Deluca, opened a specialty food store, Millerton Market (21 Main St., 518/789-6677), and this past spring she launched another enterprise, Millerton Card & Candy Co. (28 Main St., 518/789-8669). Helfand credits Millerton's growing appeal to its old-fashioned Main Street: "It's full of independent businesses instead of chain stores," she says, "so you see products that reflect what the community really wants."

The Upgradees "I'm traveling to Singapore and Malaysia with my mother, brother, and two aunts to visit my mother's relatives, as well as to sightsee," wrote Melissa Walsh, a music teacher in Indianapolis. "Shopping isn't on the itinerary, although I'm sure the other ladies will disagree." How could we please everyone in a group that included Melissa Walsh, a 24-year-old music teacher; her mother, Meng, who was born in Malaysia; her 18-year-old brother, Aaron, who had never traveled outside North America; and her two aunts from Ohio, Sheila and Eileen? Enter Singaporean food celebrity K.F. Seetoh--culinary guidebook author and host of Makansutra on the Asian Food Channel--who led the Walshes on a half-day tasting tour of the city-state's Chinatown and Little India neighborhoods. "Mr. Seetoh told us all about how food reflects the history of a place," says Melissa. "And he's very witty!" The group sampled dumplings and curry puffs at stalls in Maxwell Food Centre near Chinatown, then had lunch at The Banana Leaf Apolo in Little India, where they ate tandoori chicken and fish-head curry, using banana leaves as plates. Seetoh even showed them how to remove the fish's eye, a local delicacy, and eat it. "Everyone tried everything at least once," says Meng (except for the other eye, which stayed right where it was). "If someone didn't like something, the rest of us made up for it!" Many Thanks to... The Singapore Tourism Board, which has info on Little India and Chinatown on its website, visitsingapore.com, and K.F. Seetoh, whose company's website is makansutra.com.