By Liam The US has plenty of famous cities that are major tourist destinations. New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, New Orleans and Chicago receive plenty of visitors and rightfully so. However, the US is an absolutely massive country and there are loads of overlooked US cities well worth a visit.
If you can’t take advantage of cheap Summer flights abroad, you could always consider a trip within the US. Instead of heading to a crowded major city, you could head a bit off of the beaten path to one of the following destinations. Without further ado, here is our list of 10 overlooked US cities to visit.
Overlooked US Cities – 1. San Antonio, TX
With loads of history and incredible food, San Antonio makes for a great city break. In downtown, the Alamo is obviously an iconic attraction and free to visit. The San Antonio Riverwalk is an excellent place to stroll and stretches 15 miles.
A few miles south of downtown on the Riverwalk, you’ll find King William. It’s a neighborhood with ornate mansions, plenty of art galleries and coffeeshops. Further down south, don’t miss out on San Antonio’s famous Spanish colonial mission churches. These include Mission Concepcion, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísma Concepción de Acuña, Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
After you’re done learning about the history of the area, make sure to sample San Antonio’s delicious Mexican food. El Chivito Tortas Ahogadas and Taqueria Datapoint are two spots to check out. The German food and beer at Künstler Brewing and BBQ at Reese Bros are two other options.
Overlooked US Cities – 2. Burlington, VT
Burlington is a college town on Lake Champlain with an excellent restaurant scene. Although it has under 45,000 inhabitants, it is the biggest city in Vermont. There are opportunities for cruises on the lake and swimming in Lake Champlain at North Beach Park when the weather permits.
The Lake Champlain Causeway is an incredible bike trail which goes through the middle of the lake. At the end, you can take a quick shuttle over to South Hero Island. You can also head south of the city to Shelburne Farms, which you can tour for free and see sheep and lake views.
Meanwhile, the downtown Church Street Marketplace is one of the best pedestrian malls in the US. Plus, there’s the nearby University of Vermont and Burlington Farmer’s Market, with incredibly fresh local produce. Burlington’s restaurants make full use of local produce.
Some of the best options in the city are the James Beard nominated Honey Road, The Daily Planet and May Day.
3. Pittsburgh, PA
Located at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, Pittsburgh is one of the most overlooked US cities. The “Paris of Appalachia” is going through a revival and is well worth a visit.
There are plenty of attractions you could fill a long weekend in Pittsburgh with. Consider heading to the National Aviary, Andy Warhol Museum in the Allegheny West area. Plus, near the University of Pittsburgh, head to the Phipps Conservatory and Carnegie Museums.
Downtown, admire the varied architecture and head to Market Square and Point State Park, which is on all three rivers. You can also head south and take either the Duquesne or Monongahela incline railways to see great views of downtown.
The Strip District is full of converted warehouses and solid Italian restaurants and sandwich shops. Try DiAnoia’s Eatery, one of the most iconic restaurants in the city.
4. St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, on the Mississippi River, played a major role as a hub for expansion out West. The famous Gateway Arch commemorates its status as the “Gateway to the West”. The city reached its peak population in 1950 and it has been declining ever since but it is still worth the trip.
Downtown, you can catch a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. Plus, there’s the highly-regarded City Museum and National Blues Museum.
Forest Park is massive and a can’t miss stop in the city. Along with being a great place for outdoor recreation, there are plenty of free museums. The Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Zoo and Saint Louis Science Center are all on the park grounds and free to visit.
St. Louis has its own style of pizza, characterized by its yeast-free cracker thin crust, Provel cheese blended with others and square slices. Pirrone’s in Florissant or Joe Boccardi’s are two places to try it. Bogart’s Smokehouse is also a great spot to try St. Louis style BBQ. Meanwhile, Balkan Treat Box has all sorts of Balkan specialties.
Check out the Lafayette Square neighborhood, which is a historic district near downtown. There are Victorian mansions dotted around Lafayette Park. Further south, you can tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for free.
The Grove District, which is west of downtown, is also worth checking out. City Foundry Food Hall is a popular stop along with the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
5. Madison, WI
In the US there are only two big cities located on Isthmuses, Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin. I lived in Madison for almost a year and it is undoubtedly one of the most overlooked US cities.
It’s a buzzy state capital and college town that is home to five lakes. Mendota and Monona are the two lakes that frame the isthmus. They make Madison an incredible place to be during the Summer.
Plus, the massive Dane County Farmers Market is a Saturday morning staple around Capitol Square from April to November.
Williamson, or Willy, Street is Madison’s bohemian neighborhood with solid restaurants like Bandung Indonesian and Willalby’s Cafe.
Also, check out the Olbrich Park Botanical Gardens and the Olbrich Park Biergarten. Another one of my favorite activites in Madison was going to UW-Madison’s Memorial Union Terrace for homemade ice cream, beers and Lake Mendota views. The UW-Madison Lakeshore Preserve and Arboretum are also well worth a visit.
State Street is the center of the city’s nightlife and has some food gems. The cornish pasties at Teddywedgers and pel’meni at Paul’s are delicious.
6. Portland, ME
Portland, Maine, not to be confused with Portland, Oregon, is certainly one of the most overlooked US cities. Between fresh seafood, great sea views and charming areas, Portland makes for a great visit.
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and was recently named the most iconic lighthouse in the entire world. If you are driving to Portland from the south, stop at Head Light at Fort Williams Park on your way to the Old Port.
Bug Light Park, which is also south of the city, also has excellent views and the tiny lighthouse is very photogenic.
Portland’s upscale West End has beautiful brick houses and the Western Promenade is a great place to walk around. So too is the Eastern Promenade on the other side of the city, which has a food truck park.
The Old Port area is certainly worth wandering around and it has some of the city’s best restaurants. You can also take a ferry to Peaks Island, which has nice views of Portland itself.
Eating lobster rolls is a must, which you can do on Peaks Island or in Portland itself. The Highroller Lobster Co. and The Porthole are two options for lobster rolls in the city. You could also make a stop at the popular Allagash Brewing Company.
7. Santa Fe, NM
With iconic adobe architecture, an artsy culture and abundant outdoor activities, Santa Fe is one of our overlooked US cities. Downtown, consider supporting the Native American vendors selling silver jewelry at the Palace of the Governors by Santa Fe Plaza.
Some downtown attractions include art museums like the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, Museum of Contemporary Native Art and New Mexico Museum of Art. There’s also the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and Loretto Chapel Museum, with its iconic spiral staircase.
Plus, there’s the short hike to the Cross of the Martyrs, which has nice views of the city below. San Miguel Chapel is a unique adobe chapel, which is the oldest such structure in the US. While that’s close to downtown, with a car you would be able to check out the Museum of International Folk Art and the wacky art installations at Meow Wolf’s Santa Fe House of Eternal Return.
There’s nearby skiing in the winter and hikes to peaks like Picacho and Deception in the Summertime.
Ras Rody’s Jamaican vegan food truck gets rave reviews and you can also try New Mexico’s famous green chile at The Pantry.
8. Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga is the fourth-most populated city in Tennessee and is located on the Georgia border.
A wildfire recently closed its iconic Lookout Mountain Incline Railway but it is set to reopen in early June. The railway is one of the steepest in the world and will be worth the trip once it reopens.
Once you’re on top of Lookout Mountain, at Point Park, you’ll be able to see unmatched views of the Tennessee River bend.
Chattanooga is a nature lovers’ dream in general, as there are plenty of hikes in the area, including at Point Park. Some other options include Stringer’s Ridge and the beautiful Mullens Cove Loop. From Rock City, which is six miles south of Chattanooga, you can allegedly see seven states.
Downtown, check out the Chattanooga Choo Choo. It’s a former train station which was converted into a hotel. Also, walking across the pedestrian-only Walnut Street Bridge is a great downtown activity.
In the Bluff View Art District there are plenty of art galleries and the Hunter Museum of American Art. The Tennessee Aquarium also receives rave reviews.
Meanwhile, Calliope and Main Street Meats are two of Chattanooga’s most beloved restaurants.
9. Savannah, GA
Between live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, beautiful architecture, numerous squares and cobblestone streets, Savannah is a very photogenic place.
Walk through Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park. On Bull Street, from Forsyth Park to the Front River, there are plenty of nice public squares. Past city hall, walk on the cobblestone-lined River Street, which has plenty of shops.
Then, wander around the historic district and consider taking a ghost tour at night. With more days in Savannah you can head to the beach at Tybee Island. You could also go up to Charleston, which is a couple of hours away and one of the most beautiful cities in the USA.
While in Savannah, some of the best places to eat include B Matthew’s Eatery, Crystal Beer Parlor, Common Thread and Green Truck Pub.
Overlooked US Cities – 10. Flagstaff, AZ
One of the top 10 snowiest cities in the USA, Flagstaff is a haven for outdoor recreation in all seasons.
The most populous city in Northern Arizona is in the heart of the Coconino National Forest. There are hiking opportunities all around the city, like at Thorpe Park, as well as nearby National Monuments.
Walnut Canyon and Sunset Crater National Monuments are worth the stop. Flagstaff is also close to Sycamore Falls and under an hour from the hiking paradise of Sedona.
Plus, it’s just 90 minutes from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. One can also ski at Flagstaff’s Arizona Snowbowl Resort.
Downtown Flagstaff is very compact and a food place to explore on foot. There are also good restaurants in downtown Flagstaff, like Pizzicletta, MartAnne’s Burrito Palace and Tourist Home Cafe. Flagstaff can be a base camp for plenty of activities in Northern Arizona and is one of the most overlooked US cities.