WASHINGTON — Two picturesque Eastern shore towns, including a popular beach destination, have been named among the best small-town shopping hot spots in the U.S.
Berlin, Maryland, took the top spot on the list of the 10 best small towns for shopping, compiled by USA Today and based, in part, on public voting.
The Worcester County town (pop. about 4,500) is about a 15-minute drive from Ocean City. Its historic downtown features dozens of shops and boutiques, ranging from antiques, crafts, art galleries, a train shop, a toy store and jewelers.
The town’s charming downtown also served as the backdrop for the movies, “Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting.”
Coming in at No. 2 on the list was Lewes, Delaware. About an hour’s drive north of Berlin, the beach town (population about 3,000) is famed for its antique shops and nautical-themed gifts.
USA Today asked a panel of travel writers and experts to come up with an initial list of the 20 best cities in which to go shopping with populations less than 25,000. The 10 winners were based on online voting.
The full top 10 list:
- Berlin, Md.
- Lewes, Del.
- Sequim, Wash.
- Highlands, N.C.
- Woodstock, Vt.
- Fairhope, Ala.
- Fredericksburg, Texas
- Orcas Island, Wash.
- Allen, Mich.
- Taos, N.M.