Budget Travel recently revealed the 10 coolest small towns in America. To make the cut, towns had to have a population of under 10,000 and be drawing attention and new residents because of the quality of life, arts and restaurant scene or proximity to nature.

Ranked #1 on the list was Ely, Minnesota which is a rustic small town known for it’s lakes and being the birthplace of Jessica Biel. How do I know this you ask? Well to find an image for  Ely, MN, I searched for the town name and was bombarded with references to Ms. Biel and lists this small, cool town as her birthplace.

Rounding out the top ten with more than 300 miles of hidden coves and summer beaches on Lake Michigan, Egg Harbor, Wis. rounded out Budget Travel’s top 10 list. “Egg Harbor in May is a sight to behold,” said Jamie Sanger, Regional Manager for Coldwell Banker the Real Estate Group. “With over 1 million daffodils in bloom and on display along the main street this waterfront hamlet is a place like no other. In summer the marina and harbor are chock full of day sailors who enjoy sailing the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Autumn and the change of colors brings the infamous Pumpkin Patch Festival when thousands flock to the village to enjoy art, entertainment, shopping and eating.”

Here are the 10 cities that topped the list of coolest small towns in America:

1. Ely, Minn.

2. Cloverdale, Calif.

3. Brevard, N.C.

4. Saugatuk, Mich.

5. Kennett Square, Pa.

6. Bandon, Ore.

7. Cuero, Texas

8. Nyack, N.Y.

9. Medicine Park, Okla.

10. Egg Harbor, Wis.

While this list just scratches the surface of cool towns across America, there are many more place to be discovered. Share your favorite small town and even comment on what’s the coolest part of your current city in the comments section.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Maggiejumps