Irv Gordon claims a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most miles ever recorded on a single-owner, non-commercial vehicle. He’s racked up 2.7 million miles (and quickly counting) on his 1966 Volvo P1800 and has made quite a study of the American countryside in the process.
 
Drawing on his vast firsthand knowledge and a desire to see people out and enjoying summer vacations on the country’s highways and byways, Gordon has compiled a list of some of his very favorite small town destinations from coast to coast. Being, of course, a die-hard Volvo fanatic, he’s also imbued his list with a certain Swedishness that’s impossible to miss. Read it below.

•    Newburyport, Mass. "This small town, birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard, is just a few miles north of Boston and has a rich maritime history heritage. You can still find shipyards, as well as New England style saltbox homes and rather large federal and colonial style homes all over town. Be sure to visit Lowell's Boat Shop, the country's oldest boat building business still in operation."

•    Shelburne, Vt. "This beautiful area is nestled between the mountains and Lake Champlain. It's home to the Shelburne Museum, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne Farms and the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory."

•    Lindsborg, Kan. (a.k.a. Little Sweden) "Lindsborg is a real taste of Sweden hidden 150 miles west of Kansas City. The town is beautiful, neat as a pin and the townsfolk are just as friendly as can be. Swedish pancakes and other specialties are served in almost every restaurant in town. Swedish Midsommer celebrations with Swedish folk dancing take place in June each year. Don't forget to stop by the bison ranch nearby and check out the wildlife."

•    Mitchell, S.D. "Home of the Corn Palace. It's a building like you have never seen before. Approximately 275,000 ears of corn, as well as other grains, stalks and grasses cover the building's exterior, forming elaborate murals designed by local artists. The murals are changed periodically, but always depict local history. If you want to get the feel of a real, old western town this is a terrific place to start."

•    Wamego, Kan. "This small town's claim to fame is the Oz Museum. The attraction contains more than 2,000 Oz artifacts dating back to 1900. If you loved the story of Dorothy and Toto, you will love spending time here. Wamego is another friendly, Midwest town with welcoming residents."

•    New Sweden, Stockholm and Westmanland, Maine "These three tiny towns, first settled by 51 immigrants from Sweden, boast a rich Swedish heritage and easily allow you to ‘get away from it all.' If you live in the Northeast and feel a drive to Lindsborg, Kan. (Little Sweden) is a bit far, this will give you a bit of Swedish hospitality closer to home."

•    Groveland, Calif. "This former gold-mining town of the 1840s is home to the oldest continually operating saloon in California and sits 30 miles from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Amidst beautiful woods and lakes, the town is at the top of Priest Grade, a road once used to haul gold down the mountain and one of the steepest inclined roads in the U.S. Just the ride up the mountain is worth the trip."

•    Vermilion, Ohio "Here you'll find New England charm on the shores of Lake Erie and the Vermilion River. Lighthouse and sailboat enthusiasts will be right at home. Stores, shops and the Inland Seas Maritime Museum remind you of decades past. During the summer months, you can hear concerts and sample hand dipped ice cream cones in the town square. Don't forget to visit Thomas Edison's birthplace in Milan, just a few miles away."

•    East Sweden, Texas "This is another Swedish heritage spot, now considered a ghost town. If you like getting a bit off the beaten path and seeing things as they used to be, this would be a great choice. It's easy to reach on U.S. Route 190 in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The town remains show what happened when the railroad by-passed the settlement almost 100 years ago."