This small town in California ranks No. 1 in US for food and wine. Why it’s special

A tiny coastal town in Northern California is the perfect place for foodies and wine lovers, according to a new report.

Travel + Leisure ranked Elk as the nation’s best small town for food and wine, according to a Sept. 5 report.

To determine the best small town , Travel + Leisure editors studied towns across the United States with fewer than 25,000 residents.

To be recognized, a town had to “excel in its category and offer a variety of activities, accommodations, and a timely reason to visit — be it a notable new festival, hotel, restaurant, attraction, or tourism initiative,” Travel + Leisure wrote.

The magazine then looked to colleagues, contributors, travel advisers and industry leaders for nominations of small food and wine towns. It then “chose the destinations we believe our readers will enjoy the most right now.”

What makes Elk special?

Elk landed a spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of “ America’s Best Small Towns of 2024 ” for the small food and wine town category.

This town overlooks the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino County and has a population of about 275 people.

It’s home to a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Harbor House Inn , according to the magazine. The cozy place with only 20 seats offers a “coastal-cuisine focused tasting menu.”

Along with a highly rated dining experience, Elk has wineries and is about a 30-minute drive from Anderson Valley’s vineyards, the magazine wrote.

“Unlike many wine regions that have been popularized to the point of overtourism, the wine experience in Elk and Anderson Valley remains approachable and intimate,” author Evie Carrick wrote.

Visitors can also explore Greenwood State Beach and take in the “ picturesque view ” of the water, according to California State Parks.

Elk is about a 140-mile drive north from San Francisco.

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