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My wife and I really love Alpine, TX. Particularly due to it being small and remote, but also because they have access to 100Mbps internet, they have a small university there, and have a pocket of enough liberal people to have a unitarian church. We also love the landscape of west texas. Because we want to make sure we are making the best choice, my wife and I were curious about other US towns that might be similar to Alpine in one or more ways. Access to high speed internet is a must, but the other characteristics are variable.
Hello! Thank you for requesting a list of towns that are similar to Alpine, TX. After extensive research into towns that compare in terms of size, offerings and desired locations, I have located eight towns that share similar characteristics with Alpine and offer high speed Internet services faster than 50 Mbps. You will find description of each, along with sources, below.
METHODOLOGY
To compile this list, I first familiarized myself with Alpine, TX, by reviewing information about the town prepared by the Alpine Chamber of Commerce. This provided insight into Alpine's primary offerings: a college culture, museums, scenery, and a vibrant downtown.
Next, I located curated lists of "best" small towns, including 50 Best Small Town Downtowns in America, Best Small Towns in America, and USA Today's Readers' Choice: America's Best Small Towns. I then edited the resulting list based on these considerations:
1. Population: Given that Alpine has a population of approximately 5,000, I narrowed the list to towns whose populations were similar (less than 10,000).
2. Landscape: I curated the list to include only those in the geographic locations noted (the west, the plains, the desert, and the mountains; in states such as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon).
3. High Speed Internet Access: I checked the local service providers for each town and eliminated those that offered Internet speed of less than 50 Mbps.
I then reviewed descriptions of each town compiled by reputable sources such as local chambers of commerce, media outlets, and tourism boards, based on several criteria that were included in your description and that compiled by Alpine's local chamber.
1. Local universities
2. Shopping and dining opportunities
3. Events and cultural activities
4. Scenery
FINDINGS
1. Bisbee, AZ
Landscape: Desert
Local universities: No
Shopping and dining opportunities: Ranked #1 on USA Today's Reader's Choice poll for best small towns, Bisbee has a multitude of boutiques - offering everything from antiques and artisanal products, to fashion and culinary goods. The robust dining scene ranges from high-end restaurants to diners.
Events & cultural activities: Bisbee is home to three museums and 13 art galleries. The town also hosts an annual blues festival and garden tour.
Other: Bisbee is recognized as a "progressive, quirky" town with a significant population of liberal people, including those who are part of the Sky Island Unitarian Universalist Church of Bisbee.
2. Estes Park, CO
Landscape: Mountains
Local universities: No
Shopping and dining opportunities: The town offers a variety of dining options, from fine culinary experiences to family-friendly establishments; all locally owned. Given the small size of the town, there are also a surprising number (300) of small shops and galleries.
Events & cultural activities: The town is dotted with museums and galleries, and offers live music and theater events throughout the year. Special events include an annual jazz festival and an annual arts and crafts show.
Scenery: Estes Park, which is the base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park, is nestled among (and offers stunning views of) the Rocky Mountains.
3. Cody, WY
Landscape: Plains and mountains
Shopping and dining opportunities: While it has a small population, Cody's offers a variety of food and shopping options, thanks in part to the tourists that pass through the town. Restaurant choices cover a range of ethnic options, and shopping options cover most niches: from fashion to electronics.
Events & cultural activities: The town is home to art galleries and bookstores, and, like Alpine, TX, is positioned for beautiful scenic drives throughout the region. The Park County Arts Council, meanwhile, sponsors concerts and events throughout the year.
4. Dillon, MT
Landscape: Mountains
Shopping and dining: Dillon is home to 31 independently owned restaurants, a Patagonia outlet and a variety of shops and boutiques.
Events & culture: Along with the cultural opportunities offered by the local university, the area around Dillon is home to museums, galleries and studios.
Scenery: Along with the scenic views throughout town, Dillon is in close proximity to the 49-mile The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, which travels through the Pioneer Mountains, Big Hole River, and Coolidge Ghost Town.
5. Breckenridge, CO
Landscape: Mountains
Shopping and dining: Breckenridge boasts 203 shopping boutiques, with Main Street, especially, being known for shopping options. The town is dotted with 76 restaurants, ranging from upscale to ethnic; casual to saloon.
Events & culture: Known as a hub for culture, the town has an arts district, hosts a film festival and musical festival, and is home to the National Repertory Orchestra.
6. Hailey, ID
Population: 7,961
Landscape: Mountains
Shopping and dining opportunities: Hailey offers foodies everything from farmers markets to wine bars to ethnic cuisine.
Events & cultural activities: Hailey is home to a year-round arts center and theater company, and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including live music and dance performances.
7. Red Lodge, MT
Local universities: No
Shopping and dining opportunities: Along with shops that line downtown, Red Lodge has more than 20 restaurants, cafés and coffee houses.
Events & cultural activities: The town has eight art galleries, year-round activities, include holiday celebrations, music festivals, and culinary events.
Scenery: According to Travel & Leisure, which named Red Lodge among the 25 "Greatest Main Streets" in the United States, "shops, restaurants, and galleries are framed by the spectacular Beartooth Mountains".
8. Ketchum, ID
Landscape: Mountains
Local universities: No
Shopping and dining opportunities: Downtown has a variety of shopping opportunities; and cafés, coffee shops, and Thai, Chinese and Mexican restaurants are among the 67 food and beverage spots in town.
Events & cultural activities: 20+ art galleries, along with live music and theater, and a year-round lecture series.
Scenery: Named "One of the 15 Northwestern Spots That Will Take Your Breath Away", in part for stunning scenery.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, research revealed eight towns that share at least two similarities with Alpine, TX., in terms of location, landscape, cultural offerings and access to high speed Internet access.
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