11 Amazing Underrated Places In The US You’re Missing Out On

Underrated Places

When it comes to vacations, cities like Chicago, New York, and LA are probably at the top of your bucket list. They attract visitors because there’s lots to see and do to keep you busy. However, many smaller, underrated places are worth seeing outside of big cities at least once.

If you want to explore a new and unique place that’s a little more off the beaten path, there are a lot of other areas that are a ton of fun that many people would not think of. While these places may not be the number one tourist destinations that people immediately run to, they are a ton of fun to visit and offer many wonderful things for visitors to take in.

With overcrowded national parks, long lines at amusement parks, and sold-out city attractions awaiting you in America’s most popular destinations, it’s time to consider a vacation to an underrated place in the US. These 11 locations include cities and national parks and promise a less crowded, lower stress trip.

…Click “Next” below to see which places we’re talking about!

The Navajo Reservation, AZ

Camping fanatics should pack up their gear and check out The Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Navajo National Monument. This underrated place is a highly recommended detour from Glen Canyon to Monument Valley.

First, check out the visitor center, and then enjoy the walking trails and two free campgrounds. If you’re just passing by, great views can be seen along Hwy 163, but to get the whole experience, you should visit the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. A rough and unpaved scenic driving loop that covers 15 miles of remarkable valley views from the visitor center, and authorized guides give tours into inaccessible areas.

The silence here is strangely refreshing as you watch birds soaring between you and Spider Rock, an 800 foot bifurcated sandstone tower guarding the spot where Canyon de Chelly meets Monument Canyon.

Boise, ID

Idaho’s capital is an up-and-coming urban destination for outdoor attractions like the Boise River Greenbelt and Bogus Basin Mountain Resort. You’ll also find great breweries and unique museums. It has become fairly popular for people to move to in recent years. But what about vacationing in this city?

It’s still a location that has remained an underrated place for many travelers, but it’s definitely something that should change considering the fact that this city is home to so many fun things to do. Whether you like hiking, relaxing while sipping wine, kayaking, or eating at some really delicious restaurants, many fun things will draw any visitor into Boise.

Little Bighorn Battlefield, MT

In the summer of 1876, the US government sent Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops to defeat Sioux and Cheyenne Indians who had been forced to move.

Known today as “Custer’s Last Stand,” the Battle of Little Bighorn symbolizes centuries of Native American strains to preserve and defend their way of life from European-Americans. Nowadays, visitors can tour the very grounds of this underrated place where the turning point in the struggle occurred. There’s much to learn about the battle and Plains Indians through exhibits at the visitor center and museum.

Near the Battlefield, you’ll see the dramatic canyon walls cut by the Bighorn River at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, a few miles west of the monument. The 48,500-acre recreation area sprawls across mountains, valleys, prairies, and 345 wetlands and is home to more than 43 miles of hiking trails.

Letchworth State Park, NY

Many state parks around the country draw in visitors who love nature and like to explore the world around them. While some of them are incredibly popular, there are those that many people have not heard of… yet!

Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park is located in the Castile, New York area and right on the 17 mile Genesee River. This underrated place’s river roars through the park’s scenic gorge with three major waterfalls and cliffs as high as 600ft, surrounded by rich forests.

If you’re into nature, taking a trip to the east coast to see these trails and waterfalls is a must-see. In addition to the picturesque trails, several hundred campsites, and cabins, other activities include cultural events, athletic fields, festivals, history and performing arts programs, guided walks, whitewater rafting, and hot-air ballooning.

Bandelier National Monument, NM

You’ll find Bandelier National Monument on the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. It features ancient dwellings of the Anasazi (now called Pueblo) people who lived in the area from 1150-1550.

Interestingly, the pink canyon rocks are volcanic ash called “tuff” resulting from the volcanic eruptions in the nearby Jemez Mountains. Years of erosion caused the small openings that were later expanded to make homes. Around 70 percent of this underrated place provides a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitats.

And while there are only 3 miles of road, you’ll find over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country’s most extensive Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.

Florence, OR

The Native American Siuslaw tribe originally inhabited the Florence area, and it has been rapidly growing for many years, becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in Oregon. A lot of people choosing to retire on the Oregon Coast have made their home in this underrated place.

It also happens to be on the northernmost edge of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, extending through Reedsport all the way down to Coos Bay. Reedsport is also worth checking out and is just several miles inland from the mouth of the Umpqua River, and Winchester Bay is also popular with many tourists.

While in the area, don’t miss The Umpqua Lighthouse, which is a massive attraction for many visitors. And if you’re driving along Highway 101 just south of Winchester Bay, you’ll be greeted with magnificent views of the lighthouse, the river, and the breathtaking ocean beaches.

Hill Country, TX

While there are officially eight wine-growing regions in Texas, Hill Country is a standout. It produces excellent wines like Cabernets and Tempranillos from different grape varieties, usually found in Italy, Spain, and the south of France. In fact, this area occupies nine million acres, stretching over 25 counties.

Nowadays, the Lone Star state is said to be one of the fastest-growing wine regions in our country, and the area itself has become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations as well. It’s not surprising, then, that this underrated place has been popping up on people’s radars as one of the best locations to visit in the US.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

While Aspen may be the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Colorado, you shouldn’t miss out on this amazing, underrated place! Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park is similar to a giant sandbox, but for adults. It features the highest dunes in North America, the tallest dune tower is 750ft high, and also stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Set Against the backdrop of the intimidating rugged peaks in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the 30 square mile dune field with no designated trails is a fantastic adventure for outdoor types. For those not interested in these great dunes, you’ll also see forests, cottonwood groves, majestic mountain peaks, and tundra. The highest elevation in the park is 13,604ft above sea level.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Don’t think you have to travel to some faraway place if you want a relaxing island getaway. Mackinac Island may be small, but this beautiful island off the coast of the northern tip of Michigan is what we mean when we say underrated place! The charming island town is perfect for outdoorsy vacationers who love to spend their time swimming, biking, and boating.

Fun Fact: It’s home to one of the oldest lodgings in the state, the Island House Hotel.

Lovely Mackinac Island is a throwback to old-timey seaside recreation, from the candy-colored facades of its downtown shops to the grand front porch of the Victorian-era Grand Hotel. Mackinac is well known for its homemade fudge, available in every flavor you can think of. You can work off your sugar high with a round of golf, a bike ride along a coastal trail, or by exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.

Gatlinburg, TN

Besides all the incredible country music Tennesse has to offer, there’s no better place to take in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains than Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This underrated place boasts Tennessee’s only ski resort, as well as several museums and its 32-story Space Needle. Whichever season you choose to go, Gatlinburg offers a wide variety of attractions and activities.

Adventurers can hike, bike, and even ride horseback through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can ski and snow tube in the winter at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort.

Year-round, this mountain town offers plenty of unique distractions you won’t find anywhere else, including moonshine tastings and an 8-mile loop of galleries and boutiques featuring Appalachian arts like wood-carving and broom-making. To get a bird’s-eye view of the city, take the elevator up to the observation deck of the Space Needle or go on the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram.

Burlington, VT

This underrated place is a charming college town that’s beautiful throughout the year, but fall is the ideal time to take in the incredible Vermont foliage. Meanwhile, summertime means boating and water sports on Lake Champlain. The benches, playground, and bike paths of Leddy Park are filled with warm weather lovers.

Come wintertime, lace up your ice skates and head over to the Paquette Arena, or grab your skis and head over to any nearby resorts. From browsing through shops showcasing local artists in the downtown area to taking in the charm of the lake and harbor, this should be your next destination if you’re on the east coast.

Visit the downtown area and stroll through the Church Street Marketplace, with its early 1900s architecture, great restaurants, live entertainment, unique shops, and adorable stores. As a bonus, be sure to stop by Lake Champlain Chocolates for a tour and taste.

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