Planning a trip? Skip the big city and go here instead

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Big cities offer a lot: Bright lights, opportunity, people-watching and the ability to order egg rolls at 4 a.m. But if you're limiting yourself to the metropolises of the world, it may be time to think a bit smaller.

Smaller cities offer plenty to do and have loads of personality that can't be replicated anywhere else. Whether you're into food, nightlife, the arts scene or outdoor activities, there's a small-city destination just calling your name.

Not sure where to start? Well, CNN Travel shuffled through amber waves of grain, scanned up and down the purple mountain majesties and even took a look above the fruited plain in order to narrow it down to 10 places.

🗺️📋 You can find that list here, along with lodging options and other travel tips.

Stories people are clicking on today

🏞️ No timeline for reopening: Denali National Park in Alaska will remain closed as a rare active wildfire burns near park's entrance. Evacuation orders were issued earlier this week as crews began battling the Riley Fire, which has burned hundreds of acres. Park officials tell CNN there hasn't been an active fire in that area for 100 years; cause of the fire is under investigation. Full story

🚴🏻‍♂️ The 'Manx Missile' makes history: Mark Cavendish wins record-breaking 35th Tour de France stage, surpassing the legendary Eddy Merckx for most stage wins of all time. The 39-year-old Astana-Qazaqtsan rider won a chaotic sprint finish of today's 110-mile Stage 5 to break Merckx's record, which has stood for nearly 50 years & was considered nearly impossible to surpass. Full story

⛽ Good news for drivers: Your Fourth of July road trip should cost less this year as gas prices hit three-year low. GasBuddy projects tomorrow's national average price for regular gas will be $3.49 -- a penny shy of a year ago and sharply down from the $4.79 two years ago, when oil prices spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine. States seeing an especially significant drop from last year include Washington, Oregon, and Utah, according to GasBuddy averages. Full story

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Today’s PM Plug-In was produced by CNN’s Brendan Cosgrove, Claire Colbert and Matt Tettelbach.