The Meaning Behind The Small Town Tourist Logo

The Small Town Tourist started in 2019 as an outlet. I was writing content for the radio station I was working at, and loving it, but it came with parameters and restrictions (as most content-related jobs do.) I wanted a place where I could share stories that were more personal, an outlet that wouldn’t have any parameters, a place where I could write whatever whenever I wanted to.

Driving home from a dental appointment in Little Falls I had the idea to start a blog to do just that. The logo I created initially was a compass surrounded by arrows. It was really basic, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It served its purpose. The Small Town Tourist turns four years old in April of 2023 and I thought it was time for a refresh.

I decided to make the centerpiece of the logo an outline of a water tower. It is something that I have found to be a strong identifier of many small towns. Freeport has its smiley face water tower, Sauk Rapids has one painted like a hot air balloon, and I remember how big of a deal it was when my hometown of Long Prairie got a new water tower. Water towers are a beacon in their towns, proudly displaying the town name in bold for all to see. I love the symbolism and wanted that to shine through in a new logo.

I also included leaves in the new logo to symbolize my love of the outdoors. In recent years I’ve gotten more in touch with nature. I’ve had the opportunity to get out and golf more, hunt more in the fall, go for more walks, and just take in the beauty that is all around me. That has brought me so much peace, and I wanted it to be part of the brand.

The circle around it all is symbolic of community. I started The Small Town Tourist Podcast early in 2023 and the goal of it is to spotlight different people, and communities and bring people together through sharing stories. Sharing the podcasts creates a circle of friendship and community. That circle is more digital than physical, so I wanted to include it in the logo to create a visual reminder of it.

I’m excited about this new chapter of The Small Town Tourist, the podcast and a renewed passion for writing have been so beneficial for my mental health. This logo is symbolic of Chapter 2 of The Small Town Tourist and I’m thankful you are along on the journey of experiencing and exploring everything that makes small towns great.