Whether you're looking for a great place to buy a painting on a weekend road trip or an inspiring and beautiful community in which to start a new life, The 100 Best Art Towns in America puts you on the right track. New Mexico author John Villani details all you need to know-from a town's lifestyle to interesting places to dine and must-do art festivals-written from the perspective of the nation's top arts travel writer. The communities profiled in this fourth edition of The 100 Best Art Towns in America range in size from under 1,000 to nearly 100,000 in population, but all have one thing in common: a strong sense of support for the visual arts, performing arts, and music. These communities are at the vanguard of an important national trend that's leading to the revitalization of smaller communities through arts-driven economic development. Essentials include:

Visual arts venues
Performing arts & events
Wining & dining
Accommodations
Population