Mentone, IN

Mentone is a quiet northern Indiana town in Kosciusko County, best known for the giant concrete egg sitting right downtown. Long dubbed the "Egg Basket of the Midwest" thanks to its poultry farming roots, the town leans into the reputation every June with the Mentone Egg Festival, featuring parades, food, and community contests. Home to fewer than a thousand people, it offers a peaceful rural atmosphere surrounded by farmland, while keeping residents within an easy drive of Warsaw and Rochester.

ATTRSkvader / CC BY-SA 4.0

Aviation is another surprising part of Mentone's story. It is the birthplace of Lawrence Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft, and his legacy is preserved at a local museum featuring historic aircraft models and memorabilia. The town airport also draws flight enthusiasts every summer for the annual rotorcraft fly-in. With Mentone Elementary, the Bell Memorial Public Library, and quiet residential streets, it is a comfortable place for anyone looking for a slower pace of living.