5 Small Midwest Towns You'll Love

Perhaps it's the Mississippi River that gives such an aura of permanence to Louisiana, Missouri (100 miles northwest of St. Louis). Its thoroughfares (left) have been called some of the most intact Victorian streetscapes in the state, and its antebellum-style Georgia Street Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Spending time in Louisiana might mean fishing or boating on the river, strolling the streets to see the 20 murals around town, cruising the 50 Miles of Art corridor, or visiting the ASL Pewter Foundry, which gained acclaim for the 500-plus authentic pewter articles it produced for the HBO biopic John Adams. The Great River Road scenic byway links Louisiana (population: 3,863) to Clarksville and Hannibal, which hold a biannual studio and gallery crawl. All three of these towns have seen artists' communities flourish during the past five years.

Click ahead for more details on what to do, where to eat and where to stay in Louisiana.