25 Underrated US Cities You Need On Your Travel Bucket List
Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to share the most underrated cities in the US. Here are some of their favorite locations to visit across the country:
1.St. Augustine, Florida
"We went there two summers ago, and I didn't know what to expect, but it was actually a really cute city! There's a lot of neat history like Ponce de León, pirates, and the Spanish occupation, and it had some of the best seafood I've ever had. It was also not that crowded because everyone goes to places like Destin, Seaside, or other beaches, so at night, you could walk around, and it was quite peaceful."
2.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"I LOVE Philadelphia. I've never had a bad time there. They call it the city of brotherly love, and that's all I've ever experienced. I know they get a bad reputation for their sports fans, but the people there have always been so friendly and kind."
—Anonymous
3.Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
"Don't plan on an active nightlife or anything (everything closes by 7), but it's a charming little community by the ocean with lots of independent shops and local restaurants. Most of it can be seen in a day. If you have a long trip home, there are hotels nearby overlooking the ocean as well as budget hotels close to the highway, and Monterey is not far away either. Fun fact about it? Clint Eastwood was once the mayor."
4.Savannah, Georgia
"Same Southern historic vibe as more popular cities like New Orleans and Charleston, but it's smaller and cheaper! Plus, it's 30 minutes from the beach."
—Anonymous
5.Salt Lake City, Utah
"Salt Lake City is one of my favorite places in the US to visit. It is a beautiful city with lots of nearby hiking and nature. There is also a lot of great food, and the people are really friendly. It is the perfect size city for a trip with plenty to do but not overwhelming. I was also surprised by how LGBT+ friendly the city is. There are entire neighborhoods decorated in rainbow flags, and I felt very welcomed in the city."
—Anonymous
6.Mackinac Island, Michigan
"This beautiful little island in Lake Huron is accessible only by ferry, and no motor vehicles are allowed on the island. Travel is done entirely by horse and carriage, or bikes! They even have wheelchair-accessible carriages and tours. The island is great for hikers and nature lovers, with lots of hiking and biking trails, natural beauty, and beautiful Victorian architecture. Every spring the island hosts a lilac festival, and I truly believe this island is one of the most beautiful places in the country."
—Anonymous
7.Cleveland, Ohio
"Cleveland gets a bad rap. It has a great food culture, the second largest theater district behind NYC, sports, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the people are cool as s--t."
8.Charleston, South Carolina
"Maybe it’s not as underrated as I think, but the beaches are beautiful, the city is beautiful, and the food is delicious."
9.Montclair, New Jersey
"It has a lot of nice restaurants in addition to having a very large independently-owned bookstore (Montclair Book Center) and a cool comic book shop (East Side Mags). Not to mention it has an annual film festival that's a lot of fun to go to."
10.Bend, Oregon
"Beautiful mountain town that has insane rock formations."
—Anonymous
11.Oakland, California
"There are a few parts to avoid, but that's true of any sizable city. It's cleaner and easier to navigate than San Francisco, has tons of history and museums, and great (and cheaper) food."
—Anonymous
12.Fort Collins, Colorado
"Disneyland's Main Street was actually based on this town. Tons of hiking, and the old town/town center is adorable! Tons of restaurants, boutiques, and cute stores in the area. Good for a weekend trip."
13.Leavenworth, Washington
"It's nicknamed 'Little Bavaria' and looks like a cute little German town. Lots of fun shops and good food, plus the mountain view is gorgeous."
14.Little Rock, Arkansas
"It's a nice, small, downtown area with lots of good restaurants, such as Flying Fish which has the BEST catfish tacos, and Flying Saucer which is a great bar. South Little Rock even has streetcars that can get you around."
—Anonymous
15.Cincinnati, Ohio
"It's the perfect midwestern city. They have a beautiful riverfront park with bars, restaurants, and stadiums, as well as a super fun downtown area. They also have amazing food at Findlay Market and were ranked the best zoo in the US last year."
"I know Ohio gets a bad rap because there's not much to do, but Cincinnati is so much fun. There's lots of great nightlife, restaurants, and entertainment. The zoo is beautiful, and the museum is really neat. There's so much history here that can be explored."
—Anonymous
16.Pagosa Springs, Colorado
"It's a quaint little town nestled high in the mountains with beautiful views, and it's perfect for nature lovers! There's a lot of hiking trails and several hot springs. I know of at least one hiking trail that leads to a breathtaking waterfall. And there's a scenic lake for plenty of water sports in the summer. It's my favorite town to go to in Colorado when I just want to get away from it all because it feels so removed from the rest of the world...in a good way!"
17.New Haven, Connecticut
"New Haven is often overlooked as it's right between Boston and New York. New Haven has amazing restaurants, museums, night clubs, beach access, and the Shubert Theater if you want to see a show. There is also a ghost tour you can take, or you can tour the Yale University campus."
18.McCall, Idaho
"It's a cute mountain town with an amazing lake, cute little shops (including a jewelry store where I finally was able to achieve my dream of owning a moonstone ring!), and huckleberries. They're kinda like blueberries but better, and they only grow in the wild. I've never been during the winter, but there is apparently an amazing ice festival."
—Anonymous
19.Bloomington, Indiana
"Cutest college town with an amazing variety of cuisines and a pretty good bar scene. The campus there is rated one of the most beautiful in the country, and the town is surrounded by two lakes and a lot of state preserves. Great little getaway, a whole world in the middle of corn!"
—Anonymous
20.Eureka Springs, Arkansas
"Eureka Springs, Arkansas is this small mountain town in the Ozarks with Victorian homes, a French Gothic hotel with a sordid history, and a thriving arts/hippie/biker community. It's also close to a big mountain and lake, and it's just not at all what people think of when they think rural Arkansas. It's picturesque, beautiful, and perfect. I wish I could afford one of the historic Victorians."
—Anonymous
21.Sandpoint, Idaho
"It's an adorable small town that's on a lake for all the summer water sports fans, and it's right next to a mountain for those who enjoy winter sports and hiking. It really puts the 'gem' in the Gem State."
—Anonymous
22.Naples, Florida
"It's a paradise destination with amazing food and outdoor activities year-round."
—Anonymous
23.Anchorage, Alaska
"This is one of my favorite cities in the US. It has the perfect mix of city and nature. The wildlife and mountains are always nearby, and you can see the mountain peaks from anywhere in the city. It has unique little shops and restaurants, too. I had dreamed of going there since I was a child, and it met and exceeded all of my expectations!"
—Anonymous
24.Boston, Massachusetts
"Of all the 'major cities' in the US, I feel like Boston isn't brought up nearly enough as a place to visit. I really enjoyed visiting there when I was a kid. All of the history with colonial America and the Revolutionary War was really neat to see. It also doesn't feel nearly as cramped as some of the other big cities."
25.Kansas City, Missouri
"My husband and I started our Bourbon Trail vacation in KC, thinking it would be the least interesting city on the trip. We were wrong! KC was awesome! The Airbnb was a renovated school and super nice, the food was diverse and delicious, and the culture was fantastic. The art and history museums were big with numerous fascinating exhibits, and the overall vibe of the city was welcoming and cool. The distilleries and street art culture really impressed us, and the best gin we've ever tasted is distilled in a little known distiller in the warehouse district. We talk about going back all the time."
—Anonymous
"Incredible BBQ and Korean food, so many highly acclaimed FREE art galleries and museums, and some of the best jazz performances and history in the midwest! And for sports fans, two professional soccer teams, baseball, and football thrive here. This city has got it all!"
—Anonymous
What US city would you add to this list? Add your pick to the comments.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
