College towns are pretty fun. Usually a little more forward thinking than other rural areas and more music, food, coffee, shopping options. My dad lives in keene NH, its got lots going on for a small town. The Vermont "cities" are fun towns. But alot of these recs are cold.
I often wonder about resort areas, where you've got a lot of seasonal stuff that builds up a decent amount of entertainment and whatever but the town itself stays small. Near parks or lakes like big national park stuff or whatever