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The West’s greatest small towns, neighborhoods, and new communities

Once neglected, Walla Walla's historic downtown now thrives.

For Sunset's fourth biennial salute to the West's best communities, we turned to the ultimate experts: our readers.

Sunset
Best small town Sandpoint, Idaho Best neighborhood California Heights, Long Beach, California

Best new community Civano, near Tucson

Best gathering place Vashon Island ferries

For Sunset’s fourth biennial salute to the West’s best communities, we turned to the ultimate experts: our readers. It was inspiring to hear from so many people who love where they live ― and who work so hard at making those places wonderful. The perfect hometown may be in the eye of the beholder. But the one constant is that it takes great people to make a great place to live.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: OUR 2002 PICKS Best neighborhood PASADENA: Bungalow Heaven

Best Main Street WALLA WALLA: Coming together downtown

Best tree city STOCKTON: A high-tech urban forest Best riverfront DENVER: The great South Platte Best modern public architecture SANTA FE: An eye-popping Visual Arts Center Best access to the outdoors OGDEN: The freedom to roam