10 Hidden Gem Destinations in the US
What are the Fun and Lesser-Known Areas in the US?
Finding local color and really getting the vibe of a place is a great reward of travel. Yet when you visit bigger, more popular destinations, that can be hard, especially if it’s your first time. Maybe you feel obligated to see all the famous sites and skip more intimate settings, or you want to see everything and never slow down.
Whether you’re into history and art or dining in restaurants the locals love, there is a hidden gem gallery or off-the-beaten-track eatery for you. Take your family to see a planetarium show or walk the streets and see murals from street artists. Check out our list below to see the best hidden gem destinations in the United States.
1. St. Augustine, Florida
Jacksonville’s laid-back, elegant neighbor, founded in 1565
Good for: Couples, History, Shoppers, Unusual
St. Augustine mixes a deep, interesting history with beautiful views, a slightly indulgent spirit, and an easygoing vibe that can be rare in nearby metro Jacksonville. See history writ large at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a fortress the Spanish built in the 17th century. Nearby you’ll find the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Climb the 219 steps if you dare.
Stroll down the pedestrian-only St. George Street for local vendors selling jewelry, clothing, and home decor. Get fresh seafood at the Sunset Grille, St. Augustine Fish Camp, or other restaurants in town. You can even enjoy a ghost tour after dark to learn about the haunted history of America’s oldest city.
St. Augustine, Florida
2. Lafayette, Louisiana
Fabulous food and music in Cajun and Creole country
Good for: Food, History, Unusual
Lafayette was founded by Acadians (Cajuns), a people all about cuisine and music. Add to that gorgeous natural surroundings and you’ll see the allure of this city one-third the size of New Orleans. Sample food and live music at Prejean’s. Have a po’ boy sandwich (or two) at Olde Tyme Grocery. Dance to outdoor music at one of many annual festivals, including the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles.
Learn where the Cajuns originated and how their traditions developed at the Acadian Cultural Center. Dive deeper with a trip to Vermilionville, a 23-acre village of period homes and costumed staff depicting Acadian, Creole, and Native American cultures. While you’re there, take dance lessons, a boat tour, or a cooking class.
Lafayette, Louisiana
3. San Luis Obispo County, California
Featuring superb wine and outdoor adventures
Good for: Couples, History, Unusual
San Luis Obispo County has a far-flung, locals-only vibe with stops that are by turns cozy, majestic, romantic, and rugged. It’s not Napa, but it’s wine country for sure. Visit Paso Robles for Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends. Head west to Cambria for a one-mile walk on the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. Just north is Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the palatial estate of the late newspaper magnate.
If over-the-top decor is your thing, head south to the Madonna Inn in the city of San Luis Obispo. If you’re a surfer, “SLO Cal” has 80 miles of accessible coastline. For land-based adventures, rent an ATV and ride the Oceano Dunes near Pismo Beach.
San Luis Obispo County, California
4. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Art, cozy dining, and whale watching, within view of a giant rock
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Unusual
“Monumental” describes much of the Oregon Coast, and this is on prominent display in Cannon Beach. Its most-recognizable attraction is Haystack Rock, rising hundreds of feet from the Pacific Ocean just offshore. It’s visible from several nearby restaurants, including the Wayfarer, as well as hotels, such as the Hallmark Resort.
Stop in for fish tacos and a hazy IPA at Public Coast Brewing Co., named for the Oregon law that makes all 363 miles of coastline publicly accessible. Arrive in March or April for a good chance to see migrating whales. Visit more than a dozen art galleries or take a self-guided art walk. See Haystack Rock from a different angle on Ecola State Park’s 7-mile trail.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
5. Asheville, North Carolina
Majestic mountains meet an artsy vibe
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Asheville has a lot going on for a relatively small place in a somewhat obscure region: an eclectic downtown, thriving art and music scenes, and an enviable number of microbreweries. It’s also bordered by two locations that leave most people awe-struck: the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Biltmore Estate. Get into the mountains with Asheville Hiking Tours. You can view summits, waterfalls, and even fireflies on a night hike.
Back in the city, studios are open every day in the River Arts District. Head downtown for fine-dining options. Later, learn tactics used by paranormal investigators on a walking ghost tour, which winds through the Basilica of St. Lawrence and Pritchard Park.
Asheville, North Carolina
6. Kauai island, Hawaii
Natural wonders on an island of little towns
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Unusual
Kauai, “the Garden Island”, is known more for its natural splendor and outdoor activities than luxury accommodation. It’s the oldest of the main islands, which gives it remarkable geology. Two of the more breathtaking areas are Waimea Canyon, sometimes called “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, and the Na Pali Coast, with its overwhelmingly vivid color and stunning verticality.
Surf, snorkel, or bodyboard at Poipu Beach Park. Relax in a giant natural hot tub called the Queen’s Bath, but bring proper shoes for the slippery trek to get there. You can take a higher-elevation hike on the cliff trail to Waipoo Falls. Find small-town charm in Kauai’s cities and towns.
Kauai island, Hawaii
7. Bristol, Rhode Island
A lot to see in a little space
Good for: Couples, Food, History, Shoppers
Bristol is a peninsula shaped vaguely and, very appropriately, like a lobster claw located between Mount Hope Bay and Narragansett Bay. Just like Rhode Island, Bristol holds a lot in a small space, including Colt State Park, where you can take in gorgeous waterfront views, hike, or cycle. Visit the 33-acre Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum to see family heirlooms in addition to rare and exotic plants.
Learn maritime history at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, where eight consecutive America’s Cup defenders were built. Sample local fare at establishments including the Beehive Cafe and the Lobster Pot. Walk down Hope Street for local shopping. You can time your visit to see the oldest July 4 celebration on record.
Bristol, Rhode Island
8. Las Cruces, New Mexico
An artsy desert city looking up at the mountains
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Couples
Las Cruces is bordered by the Rio Grande to the west and by the steep, angular Organ Mountains that rise 9,000 feet to the east. It’s home to New Mexico State University as well as active art and theater communities. The region has a long history of aerospace research. It was home to Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered Pluto.
Get closer to the sky by hiking in the Dripping Springs Natural Area, where you could see desert mule deer and golden eagles, or the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument. Visit a 20-foot-tall roadrunner sculpture made from recycled materials. Sample locally grown food, meet area artisans, and hear local musicians at the Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
9. Hudson Valley, New York
Art, food, and eco-innovators come with the scenery
Good for: Couples, Food, Photo
Wine. Art. Food. The natural environment. Is that what it’s all about? If so, then it’s all represented in the Hudson Valley, which stretches from Westchester County near New York City up the Hudson River to Albany. Gain spectacular views on any of 14 hikes to fire towers that you can climb, including one near Rhinebeck.
Get great views plus remarkable wine at Robibero Winery and Vineyard in New Paltz. Mix art with the great outdoors at the Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre sculpture park in New Windsor. Sustainability and food are on the menu at the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, where you can follow a guided eco-hike or take classes on farming or gardening.
Hudson Valley, New York
10. Breckenridge, Colorado
Outdoor sports rule year round in this historic mining town
Good for: Adventure, Families, History
Breckenridge occupies a rare region that not only has outdoor opportunities year-round, but ones you can do in spectacular settings, in this case, the Rocky Mountains. In the warm weather months, you can hike, mountain bike, fly fish, kayak, even summer dog sled. Winter brings skiing (3,000 acres and five peaks at the resort), snowboarding, snowmobiling, and fat-tire biking. Even the fall has something special called leaf-peeping.
Then there’s the town itself, founded by prospectors. The historic downtown has restaurants and stores, many in colorful buildings that date to the 1880s and 1890s. If you need a break from the slopes, take a guided mine or ghost tour.
Breckenridge, Colorado
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