Discover Hidden Gems: The 10 Most Underrated Cities in the USA for You

When it comes to planning a vacation, most people tend to gravitate towards the well-known destinations. Don’t get us wrong, we love places like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, or Charleston, but there are so many more wonderful places to see in the United States, especially if you’ve already been to those great places. Working at a travel company, you can’t help but fall in love with special cities off the beaten path, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite vacation spots that don’t get the props they deserve!

Kansas City, Missouri

Known as the "Paris of the Plains", and famous for BBQ, Sports, and Jazz, Kansas City is a wonderful little town with so much to offer. Kansas City sports a fantastic collection of unique museums, such as the WW1 museum, Negro League Baseball Museum, Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, and The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.

Kansas City also has Union Square which was the 3rd largest train station in the country and is home to a sprawling park, fantastic science museum, and beautiful architecture. KC also has a lot of great restaurants outside of the BBQ Scene like Succotash or Corvino Supper Club.

Kansas city also has beautiful gardens to walk through, and is home to the Country Club shopping plaza, which was constructed in 1923, and was made to emulate the look and feel of Seville, Spain.

Boise, Idaho

Nestled against the foothills of the Rock Mountains, Boise is slept-on, but is a paradise for people who love the outdoors, tasting wine, and a peaceful small town. Boise is home to the Snake River, which has dozens of award winning vineyards, so you can spend the weekend sipping wine amongst the scenic views, and boy is it scenic.

There are tons of botanical gardens, mountains to hike, rivers running between rocky cliffs to go white water rafting or kayaking, there are even abandoned mines and old penitentiaries to explore.

Boise also has an adorable downtown with lots of boutique shops and wonderful restaurants like Fork or the Boise Fry Company (which offers 9 different kinds of housemate ketchup, like blueberry!?). Boise is also home to the Boise Hot Air Balloon Classic, and you can't miss taking a ride in a hot air balloon over these beautiful fall colors.

Columbus, Ohio

Cincinnati and Cleveland may be the big names in Ohio thanks to their pro sports, but a lot of people don't know Columbus is actually the most populated city in Ohio, and it has a lot of fun things to offer.

Columbus is home to one of the best science musums in the country COSI, one of our favorite food markets in the country, North Market, and we can't get enough of the Short North Arts District, which is full of museums and boutique shops; and don't miss the Arnold Schwarzenegger statue around the corner.

Columbus is also home to Germantown which is known as the Brewery district, and is home to 39 craft breweries, one of the highest in the country! It's a great live music town, you can't miss a good show at Howl At The Moon! Franklin Park Conservatory is also one of the most beautiful indoor gardens in the country, it's historic and a very popular spot to get married. It's not full of all the glitz and glamour of other cities, but Columbus is just a great time no matter who you are.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis is one of our absolute favorite destinations, as it has a little bit of something for everyone. It’s an artistic town with giant sculpture gardens, and tons of art museums, one of which (Walker Art Center) has mini golf on the roof. It’s also a great city to experience real nature in, without have to drive an hour out of town. Not to mention it's a great sports town, acting as home to the Minnesota Twins right in downtown, as well as the Minnesota Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves. 

Just 10-15 minutes from downtown are the Minnehaha Waterfalls, and the area known as Chain of Lakes, which has a plethora of huge beautiful lakes with beaches that allow for swimming, kayaking, and more. Minneapolis also low key has one of the best dining scenes in the country with incredible restaurants like the famous Spoon & Stable (Above) or trendy Young Joni.

That’s just scratching the surface when it comes to Minneapolis, as it’s also home to Mall of America, a shopping mall with roller coasters and comedy clubs inside, and is right next door to St. Paul which boasts a huge craft brewery scene and one of the best zoos in America. Minneapolis is a great town whether your traveling solo, looking for a romantic getaway, or taking a family vacation.

San Antonio, Texas

Although Texas is stereotyped as the Deep South "Cowboy" area of the country, it’s a large state with a very diverse group of cities. Although Austin is famous for being the “hipster” town of Texas with an incredible live music history, and Dallas/Houston are the more traditional Texan cities, San Antonio is the more artistic and historic town.

Steeped with Spanish influence, San Antonio offers tons of historic cathedrals, missions, and war memorials like the Alamo, you can also go shopping in the adorable La Villita Village. San Antonio also has wonderful parks like the Japanese Garden, and even boasts real caverns to explore. There are also 3 major Art Museums that are all unique and wonderful in their own ways. Also take a ride to the top of the Tower of Americas, a 750ft high tower that's San Antonio's version of the Space Needle.

One of the most popular places in town, is Riverwalk, which is a gorgeous stretch of shops and restaurants along the river, of which you can ride gondolas through and pretend you're in Venice or Amsterdam. Colorful, hip restaurants are built inside of restored 1900's mansions, like Brassier Mon Chou Chou or Best Quality Daughter (Above), and it's also home to one of our all time favorite bakeries, Bakery Lorraine. It may not get the pop of Dallas or Austin, and it may not be weird like Marfa, but San Antonio is our favorite town in Texas.

Burlington, Vermont

Before everyone’s 2023 Spotify Wrapped told them they belong in Burlington, most people would have said “where!?” If you said you were going to vacation in Burlington, but it’s really a great town. Home to the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory, a lot of concert venues where venerable folk artist play often, and a ton of places to get some really good pancakes.

Peaceful but not without things to do, Burlington sports amazing colors in the fall, and rests between the waters of Lake Champlain and the large mountains of Stowe. This way you can spend the summer kayaking and boating and then spend the winter skiing and snowboarding.

Burlington is also filled with great restaurants like the incredible Hen of The Wood, beautiful little farmer’s markets, and is filled with tons of great breweries. It's a great place to make a fall escape and pretend you’re living in the world of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

Spokane, Washington

You’re probably reading this and thinking, “Spokane? Really?”, and trust us, we were just as surprised as you. Spokane is an incredible town between Seattle and Idaho that is unlike any other. Built right on top of a waterfall that splits the town in two, Spokane has adorable purple gondolas that take you down into the waterfall and across the river for a one-of-a-kind adventure. You can also kayak down the river in the summer, or go skiing and snowboarding on Mount Spokane in the winter.

Spokane boasts an area known as the “cork district” because there are over 15 wineries and vineyards across the area, the most gorgeous being Arbor Crest Cellars (Above) in the valley. Spokane features a good nightlife as it's a pretty popular destination for comedy shows, concerts, and musical theater, which can be enjoyed at the modern Knitting Factory, or the historic Fox Theatre.

Spokane is also home to a really diverse and great restaurant scene, everything from Cajun, to Mediterranean, to Italian, and you can't miss the unique fine dining at Wild Sage Bistro. How can you resist heading to Frank's Diner in downtown and having breakfast in a real antique train car.

Mount Spokane is also home to a plethora of great hiking trails, specifically the Painted Indian Rocks trail, and just north of downtown is an area known as Green Bluff. Green Bluff is neighborhood of over 25 local farms that let you come on the grounds, pet animals, and even pick your own fruits. There is literally something for everyone in Spokane, and although it's not a big city it's filled with old mills and cathedrals, and has a really unique, rustic charm that beckons feelings of an older time, we really think you'll enjoy it.

Louisville, Kentucky

Probably most famous for the Kentucky Derby, Mint Juleps, and Baseball, Louisville offers a wide range of unique museums, restaurants, and attractions the whole family will enjoy.

Louisville is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory which goes into the history and the making of official bats for the MLB for many many decades. There are also multiple art museums, science museums, and the Muhammad Ali center.

Louisville is also home to really cool hiking, like Mammoth Cave, a national park dedicated to epically long caverns you can explore. But there are also caves underneath the city, which have since been turned into a zip line adventure park for kids and adults, called the Louisville Mega Cavern (a can’t miss adventure).

Louisville sports tons of whiskey distilleries for tastings, especially big one’s like Evan Williams and Ange’s Envy. We also love eating at the delicious and beautiful Proof on Main. It’s a great town for the whole family as there are children’s museums, escape rooms, kayaking along the river, and tons of cute little neighborhoods to go shopping in.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Residing on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a city built on three things, Beer, Baseball, and boat loads of Cheese. Home to the Milwaukee Brewers, Kopp's Frozen Custard, and Cheese Curds, Milwaukee isn't somewhere you go to eat healthy, it's a really fun place to let loose with the boys.

Milwaukee is a fun combination of the old-school with old factories, mills, and houses in the Third Ward District; and the futuristic designs of the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Mitchell Park Conservatory. The Museum is an architectural marvel, and the conservatory is one of the largest and most beautiful in the country.

Milwaukee is a great place to chow down on some of the best pub grub in the country, with amazing burgers, cheese curds, and frozen custard all over the city. Kopp's frozen custard is famous for it's ice cream and burgers, but you can also get really nice upscale dining at Odd Duck or The Yard.

Milwaukee is full of unique museum and tour experiences, we highly recommend touring the MIller Factory and seeing it's real life caverns, you can also go to the National Bobblehead Museum, or the famous Harley Davidson Factory. But don't miss Lakefront brewery, the best brewery in Michigan. Milwaukee is a great place to drink, eat, relax on the water, and scratch the artistic part of your brain.

St. Louis, Missouri

In many ways it’s the companion town to Kansas City, so we figured we end this list where it started. St. Louis probably has the most "big city" feel of all the places on this list so far, as it has a great subway system, the famous Gateway Arch which towers over skyscrapers, a park bigger and better? than Central Park, and it's also home to many pro sports teams and fine dining restaurants.

Forest park was recently voted the best park in the United States, it's over 1300 acres and was home to the summer Olympics in 1904. St. Louis is also where general and president Ulysses S. Grant was born, and you can visit his farm, which is now turned into almost an amusement park for the whole family, and immerses you in what it was like to live 100 years ago.

There is no shortage of unique and incredible museums in St. Louis, whether it's the Chess Hall of Fame, Motorcycle Museum, Train Museum, or the City Museum, which is a must see! The museum is a dilapidated skyscraper transformed into an history center and amusement park with slides, tunnels and so much more. There is also a grorgeous Frank LLoyd Wright home on the outskirts of town.

St. Louis is also home to the Anheuser Busch factory which gives tours, has 65 breweries within it's city limits, and also is a bit of a comedy town, with many famous comedians living here, and tons of clubs with great acts all over town. It's not big on hiking, but otherwise it has something for everyone with Botanical Gardens in cool geo domes, world class zoos and aquariums, as well as art museums, candle making classes, ballet, and gorgeous cathedrals. Don't sleep on St. Louis!

Honorable Mention: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Now Santa, Fe is not an honorable mention because we think it's not as good as the other cities on this list, it's probably the best, we just aren't sure how under the radar it is anymore. Santa Fe is a truly magical one-of-a-kind experience to have in the USA. It's home to incredible Latin American food (do not miss Sazon), tons of historic pueblos, ruins, art museums, and incredible views.

One of the best things to do in Santa Fe is eat at the wonderful restaurant El Farol, and catch one of their iconic Flamenco dance shows, which happen at restaurants all over Santa Fe. You can also catch great live music at the wonderful Tumbleroot Brewery, or in the backyard of the adorable La Reina cafe.

Fly into Albuquerque and the drive the turqupise trail up to Santa Fe, and stop at all the incredible sights along the way. You'll see historic ruins, pueblo villages, turquoise mines, jewelry stores, and tons of opportunities to hike.

Santa Fe is also home to the best Spa in the USA, Ten Thousand Waves. Inspired by Japanese mountain resorts, Then Thousand Waves has everything from hot tubs, to massages, skin care routines, all in a unique and beautiful environment.

Santa Fe is also home to some of the best and most unique art museums in the country, you simply cannot stop at the famous Georgia O' Keefe Museum, as Santa Fe was her home until she passed away. Even more impressive is the Meow Wolf immersive art exhibit. It's one of the most insanely weird and beautiful things you'll ever see, part Art Installation, part escape room, and finances by George R. R. Martin, you don't want to skip it. Santa Fe is a truly incredibly town, so if you haven't been, make it your first stop!

Quick Recap:

1. Kansas City, MO

2. Boise, ID

3. Columbus, OH

4. Minneapolis, MN

5. San Antonio, TX

6. Burlington, VT

7. Spokane. WA

8. Louisville, KY

9. Milwaukee, WI

10. St. Louis, MO

HM. Santa Fe, NM