Underrated Travel Destinations in the US

Posted by Tom in Featured, Guest Posts, USA | 0 comments

While popular U.S. destinations like New York City and San Francisco are often on traveler bucket lists, there are lots of great places that are highly underrated you might want to consider too.

Boise, Idaho

This up-and-coming capital city is not only a gateway to a wealth of outdoor adventure on roaring rivers and in the mountains, but it boasts a wealth of its own to enjoy, including the Boise River Greenbelt, Bogus Basin Mountain Resort and a downtown filled with shops, restaurants, breweries and cultural attractions. Families won’t want to miss the interactive Discovery Center of Idaho, a science-focused institution with some 200 exhibits from the Bubble Wall and Turbulent Orb to the Centripetal Wheel.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati has frequently been popping up on top 10 travel lists as the Cincinnati Business Courier recently wrote. Smale Riverfront Park connects the Ohio River and downtown, offering an ideal spot to relax or get active by walking the Ohio River Trail. Enjoy shopping and dining in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, home to one of the country’s largest urban historic districts and Findlay Market, a year-round market that dates back to 1852. Depending on the season you can catch an NFL (Bengals) or an MLB (Reds) game, and any time of the year, indulge your passion for art at the Cincinnati Art Museum with over 67,000 works that span more than 6,000 years.

The city also boasts one of the oldest, and “greenest” zoos in the country, the Cincinnati Zoo. There’s so much to see and do here, coupled with an affordable cost of living, you might want to check out the Cincinnati houses for sale while you’re at it too.

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City offers lots to visitors, including a practically endless array of nightlife options like the vibrant eight-block Power & Light District downtown, its entertainment hub with multiple entertainment venues, theaters, clubs, bars, and more than 50 restaurants. There are lots of live music venues throughout the city, from Crossroads at Grinders to the Green Lady Lounge, the latter of which is considered one of the best jazz bars in the world, speak-easy style. During the day, art enthusiasts can enjoy the 20-block Crossroads Arts District which showcases over 150 galleries and artists’ studios, plus around 100 eateries and shops, most housed in former warehouses. The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a must among history buffs, holding one of the most extensive collections of pre-Civil War art artifacts, spanning from the early American frontier through more recent decades.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green is just a short drive from Mammoth Cave National Park which boasts some 400 miles of caves, along with countless others that have yet to be charted. There are minimal crowds for enjoying the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations, along with crystal columns that hang from the ceilings, appearing as if they were sprinkled with fairy dust. You can also whiz across a zip line at Lost River Cave, ride a wooden roller coaster, and see the vintage Corvettes at the National Corvette Museum.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

This artistic capital city offers delicious southwestern cuisine and lots of museums, like the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum along with lots of artisan shops and galleries. Enjoy frequent live music at the Santa Fe Plaza, easy access to scenic parks like Bandelier and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks and Bandelier, and all sorts of outdoor adventures from hiking and mountain biking to skiing.