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America’s 9 Most Underrated Destinations

If you’re planning a U.S. vacation itinerary, you probably have New York City, Los Angeles, and perhaps San Francisco or Miami on your top list of places to visit. But there are a ton of smaller, underrated destinations that you really need to experience. Even those who live here often overlook them. Whether you’re an American who wants to get out and see more of their own country, or are coming from another nation, be sure to check out some of these gems.

St. Augustine, Florida
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St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine may be just a half-hour’s drive from Jacksonville, but it feels as if it’s a million miles away from the busyness of urban life. With its Old World ambiance and historic architecture, you might think you’ve stepped into Spain. The oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America was founded by the Spanish in 1565, and many of its original buildings still stand and can be visited today, like the 1672 Castillo de San Marcos, the historic city gate and the Plaza de la Constitucion.

Great Sand Dunes National Park Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Credit: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado by bigstock.com

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Into hiking? The most exotic hike in America is arguably inside Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park. While most people equate the state with the Rockies, this region is reminiscent of the Gobi or the Sahara, tucked between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the San Juan Mountains. These unique land forms are the tallest dunes in the nation, with some rising over 700 feet in height. By hiking to the top you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic vista of nearly endless dunes. The highest sandbox in America also offers the chance to try out sand-boarding and sand-sledding, and due to its high elevation and frequently clear skies, it’s also a fantastic spot for stargazing.

Texas Hill Country Hill Country, Texas
Credit: Hill Country, Texas by bigstock.com

Texas Hill Country

Texas Hill Country lies just east of the capital city of Austin, and boasts eight recognized wine growing regions, one of the fastest-growing in America today. It produces world-class wines like Tempranillos and Cabernets from grape varieties you’d typically find growing in places like Italy, Spain and Southern France. In the heart of Hill Country, the town of Wimberley is renowned for its spectacular wildflowers that dot the landscape in the spring, and also hosts frequent live bluegrass concerts as well as arts and crafts festivals. Jacob’s Well, a deep underwater cave is a must visit in the summer for a refreshing dip.

Camden, Maine
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Camden, Maine

The “jewel of the Maine Coast” as Camden is often referred to, lies adjacent to Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine. Just one of two places on the Atlantic seaboard where the mountains meet the Atlantic, it looks as if it were designed for postcards. Set around a historic working port, it hosts a fabulous historic district where you can gaze up at the classic New England architecture and enjoy shopping for unique items boutiques and independent shops. Outdoor adventures are on offer too, including sailing on the sea and hiking in Camden Hills State Park. After a day of exploring, be sure to sample some of the world’s best lobster in one of Camden’s many outstanding eateries.

Sedona, Arizona Cathedral Rock, Sedona
Credit: Cathedral Rock, Sedona by bigstock.com

Sedona, Arizona

While the Grand Canyon is certainly worth a visit, if you’d rather avoid battling huge crowds and paying exorbitant hotel prices, Sedona may be a better option. Less than a two-hour drive north of Phoenix, there are few places on Earth where you’ll find a landscape more dramatically colorful as this, with fiery red rocks and jagged sandstone buttes that rise up against the almost always bright blue skies. It’s a favorite destination with outdoor adventurers, with the opportunity to hike, mountain bike, join jeep tours and more. It’s also renowned for its ability to heal, with visitors arriving from around the globe to experience its swirling centers of energy that are believed to be conducive to spiritual healing, meditation and self-exploration. Something you won’t find in the Grand Canyon.

Joshua Tree, California Joshua Tree National Park
Credit: Joshua Tree National Park by bigstock.com

Joshua Tree, California

The village of Joshua Tree is home to Joshua Tree National Park, in an area that looks as if it’s something you’d see on another planet. The landscape is dotted with bizarrely-shaped plants that are indigenous to the region, like the Joshua tree – each seems to have a personality of its own, as well as ginormous boulders that rise hundreds of feet into the sky. It’s a hiker’s, climber’s, photographer’s, and a stargazer’s dream. In the village itself, you’ll find a thriving arts community with an eclectic mix of nature lovers, artists and hipsters, along with several highly rated eateries.

The Black Hills, South Dakota Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, Black Hills, South Dakota
Credit: Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, Black Hills, South Dakota by Bigstock.com

The Black Hills, South Dakota

While many people equate South Dakota with prairie, the west side of the state, in the region known as the Black Hills, is decidedly different. It boasts lush forested mountains, caves, waterfalls, unique rock formations, glistening lakes and abundant wildlife. A practically endless array of tourist attractions, including Mount Rushmore Memorial with four U.S. presidents carved into the granite face of a mountain, can be found here, though Custer State Park may be the highlight. Take a dip or rent a boat and paddle around Lake Sylvan, and be sure to drive the Wildlife Loop for the opportunity to see large bison herds, wild burros, mountain goats, deer, elk and more.

Asheville, North Carolina The Biltmore house. The visitors are at the Banquet Hall: Impressive room with a seven-story high ceiling
Credit: The Biltmore house. The visitors are at the Banquet Hall: Impressive room with a seven-story high ceiling by bigstock.com

Asheville, North Carolina

While most people are familiar with the Outer Banks and cities like Charlotte, Asheville may be the very best destination to visit in the entire state. Although Lonely Planet ranked it as the No. 1 city to visit in 2016, it’s still managed to stay mostly under the radar. Here you can sample one of the country’s best brew scenes, and a fantastic food scene too. One of America’s few castles can be found here too: the historic Biltmore Estate, which features spectacular gardens and the largest privately-owned home in the country.

Burlington, Vermont Church Street Marketplace in the historic district of Burlington, Vermont
Credit: Church Street Marketplace in the historic district of Burlington, Vermont by bigstock.com

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington, Vermont has become a popular destination with brew lovers. It hosts the annual Vermont Brewers Festival in the summer and a high concentration of breweries, like Magic Hat, Infinity, and the Vermont Pub & Brewery. But it offers a lot more than a good beer, as the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. You can also take a stroll on the Robert Frost Trail, which is marked with excerpts from Frost’s poems, browse the Saturday farmer’s market, and simply enjoy the view from Waterfront Park.

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