Despite having provided the backdrop to several Hollywood films, Mansfield manages to keep its all-American small town vibe. Its charming Main Street and Historic Carrousel District boast unique shops, galleries and an antique hand-carved carousel. The landmark Ohio State Reformatory has been the setting to several films, including The Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One. Mansfield's action-packed racing scene thrives at Mansfield Motorsports Park and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Rich with history and looking to the future, Springfield is a lively Midwestern city with all of the charm of a small town and the amenities of a larger city. Its past, dating to as early as 700 B.C. with ancient First Nations settlements, is preserved in artifacts, village sites, the new Heritage Center Museum - once the Springfield City Hall - and historic buildings along the National Road. Springfield's artistic trailblazers are celebrated in the city's theaters, dance venues and galleries.

Thrill seekers will have no trouble getting their kicks in Sandusky, home to the world-renowned Cedar Point Amusement Park, boasting 17 roller coasters, plentiful children's attractions and carousels. Outside the park, the city entices travelers with its sandy white Erie shores, stunning coastal trails, mysterious Seneca Caverns and numerous refreshing water parks. The downtown waterfront boasts historic architecture, charming boutiques and unparalleled views over Lake Erie.

Middletown, Rhode Island, is home to miles of wide sandy beaches, thousands of acres of unspoiled nature preserves, historic attractions, outdoor recreation and many restaurants. Bordering the popular resort city of Newport, this diverse coastal community is where you’ll find the Norman Bird Sanctuary, which encompasses more than 325 acres of diverse habitats and seven miles of marked trails, as well as the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, which offers a 2.5-mile trail with panoramic ocean views.

Is there any possible way Las Vegas could not be on our "best nightlife" list? The only way we could possibly omit it is on a technicality—since you can do pretty much anything 24/7 in Vegas, it might be wrong to call it "nightlife."