About 5 years ago, I was wrapping up a bike tour through Europe which ended close to the Cinque Terre region of Italy.  I expected to spend a few days relaxing by the beach and exploring the cute towns.  While the gorgeous views and quaint streets did not dissapoint; I was not expecting the insanely high prices for lodging which are not typical of most European destinations.  I was immediately faced with a situation where I had to scramble to figure out my next destination.  So I scoured the internet for cool small towns nearby but quickly hit a wall after some time.  The only sites that popped up were from opinionated blogs and the typical Top 10 Must See sites.  Great suggestions but nothing that allowed me to quickly filter out what I really wanted.  Eventually I just started asking the locals for their advice, and one of them mentioned this tiny town called Portovenere.  I never heard of if, nor did it pop up on any of the sites, but a quick Google search was all I needed to confidently book my bus ticket there!  What a treasure and what an experience!

What is Sthumble?

Sthumble contains a carefully curated list of over 5,000 (and growing) small towns throught the world. It contains an easy interface where fellow travelers can browse towns by country and/or interest.  This site is not meant to provide an exhaustive description of each town, but rather display a concise set of details which will allow a prospective traveler to explore further if their basic interests are met.  

We also provide an interface where fellow travelers can submit blog articles on a variety of travel-related topics.  

Lastly, Thank You! I want to thank each and every one of you who was generous enough to contribute your knowledge, expertise and passion! We provide the basic info, but it is you who provides the substance.  WIthout you this site would not be possible.