Every time we think about traveling to the United States, we are always reminded of New York, Miami, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas. Yes, those travel destinations get a lot of love year in and year out. What about the lesser-known cities of the United States that deserve a look? We will be taking a look at the top five lesser-known travel destinations and what you can check out in the area – so let’s get started with the list right now.
1. Charleston, South Carolina
Our first destination is one of the most charming coastal cities in the southeastern United States. Charleston has plenty of historic homes, landmarks, and cobblestone streets that rival the colonial coastal cities of ages-old. While you’re in the area, you could snag a place to stay at an excellent price using one of the best US 5-star hotel deals.
Best of all, you’d be surprised by what you can find in places like Charleston or anywhere else on the list. Let’s go to our next destination, which actually isn’t near any oceans whatsoever. Yet, it’s a hot little place to check out in the wintertime. There’s even a French Quarter that you can check out (but don’t tell New Orleans about it, though).
2. Aspen, Colorado
If you enjoy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, this will be heaven on earth. It’s indeed one of the tourist hotspots in the wintertime. However, Aspen is still a popular tourist attraction during the warmer months. Needless to say, it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. You would be remiss if you didn’t take any pictures of the majestic Rocky Mountains while hiking the miles of trail or peeing the wildlife.
This Rocky Mountain adventure is a year-round destination that deserves all the love it can get. If you’re thinking about a mountain getaway, Aspen is it.
3. Napa Valley, California
It is perhaps one of the undisputed wine capitals of the world. We could go so far as to say that it is THE wine capital of the world. In any case, you’ll be checking out not just the numerous wineries in the area but also plenty of fine dining as well. You can also book a hot air balloon ride to tour the valley by air. This is perhaps the go-to place for wine lovers, and you might have already marked it as your bucket list destination.
California has plenty of “wine countries”, and Napa Valley is second to none. Yet, if you want to stick around in the Golden State for a little bit longer, we’ve got another suggested destination to check out.
4. Big Sur, California
Big Sur is just a three-hour drive south of Napa Valley, via the legendary Pacific Coast Highway. This is a must-visit destination for those who want beautiful sea views while enjoying plenty of fine dining options. The coastlines are quite rocky, making it a great place for photo shooting and compiling the results in a photo album that you can show off to your friends and family.
If you want to relax and take in the sea air, this is the place for you. You might take up some seaside hiking as well if you’ve got your hiking books handy. There are the Garrapata State Park trails, Soberanes Canyon trails, and many more. Speaking of hiking, you might want to keep them around for this next destination (and our final one on the list).
5. Sedona, Arizona
Our final stop is Sedona, Arizona. This is a place where you can do some hiking but also take in the views of the iconic red rock formations. For the ultimate peace and tranquility, you’re in for quite a treat here. If you are more of the spiritual type, you may be happy to know that it’s a place where many people come here for retreats for meditation and yoga.
Sedona is off the beaten path, so to speak. If you are looking for a US destination that isn’t a hustling and bustling city, Sedona could be your go-to place. Perhaps it’s a good thing Sedona, and these other destinations are less well known. Otherwise, they would be crowded and less peaceful.
Final Thoughts
These five lesser-known US destinations are places that not a whole lot of travelers talk about. Yet, you can bet that you’ll get the best travel experience by visiting one of these places (or even all of them). It’s all about finding a destination that fits your description of “the perfect trip.” If you love the outdoors, hike the trails along the Colorado Rocky Mountains or take in the rugged but beautiful coastlines of California if you love the ocean. Forget the big, congested cities – these are the places you should go to in the United States.
