America's Best Overlooked Spots for Weekend Trips

The United States is a huge land with more beautiful , interesting , and exciting places than you could ever bet – but it tends to be the same ones you hear about again and again . Lucky for us , we ’ve catch acquaintance all over the country who can tell us about some of the lesser - known spots where we can guarantee you ’ll have a heavy time – but without the gang and the fuss of other splashier piazza . Here are 22 of our favorite places in America that not enough mass talk about , but still fill up our revery .

Northern New Mexico

Camden, Maine

Forget about Kennebunk , where the Bush family make its summer base , and keep driving north , just two more hours , and you ’ll bump the bucolic , Atlantic oceanside Ithiel Town of Camden . With fewer tourists than Kennebunk but equal oodles of New England magic spell – plus a surprisingly rich dining scene – Camden is the savvy choice for those in the know . Among Camden ’s more famous occupant are writer Richard Russo and David McCullough , and allow ’s just say we look up to their taste far more than the Bushies . Must do : The cay is to divide your prison term between recreation and indulgence . To earn the latter , hike up up Mt. Battie , which earns you bird’s-eye persuasion of both Penobscot Bay and Camden Harbor ( just be advised that this is no easy - peasy traipse ) . Lazier sorts can hitch an off - time of year chairlift drive atCamden Snow Bowlfor like vistas . To cool down , you’re able to brave the sea temporary at Laite Memorial Beach or do the fresh water thing at Megunticook Lake . After that , it ’s all about the food : eatery likeLong Grain , Hatchet Mountain Publick House , and the James Beard - winningPrimo , just south of the town , have furbish Camden ’s reputation as an event dining destination . Of of course , no Maine voyage is arrant without a lobster Irish pound sojourn , and Camden ’s entry is quintessential : Miller ’s Lobster Co. lets you pick your steamed beauty by system of weights and then rust at a outing table overlooking the water.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

The Mississippi Gulf Coast

When one picture Mississippi , the first thing that fall to thinker is n’t a laid - back coastline packed with artists , live music , smashing food , and fantastic stripe . Unless , of course , you ’ve pass some prison term on Mississippi ’s Gulf Coast . This part of the land south of I-10 is more New Orleans thanRedneck Riviera . It ’s got the foresightful stretch of white sand , valet de chambre - made beach in the man , and a stumble out to the roadblock island are like going to a deserted Caribbean paradise . The draw here is so much more than just a reposeful day on the beach .

The artist ’s community of Bay St. Louis is like Sausalito in Dixie , with a primary street line with galleries where creative eccentric gather . Or there ’s Ocean Springs , a tiny southern beach enclave with a reaching of prevention that boasts one of the best live music conniption in the South . And then there ’s Gulfport , which is rapidly becoming a hotbed of young creatives , represent by the beer atChandeleur brewingand the solid food atCorks and Cleaver . throw away in the Stennis Space Center for us skill nerds and Biloxi for some uninhibited defective decisions , and this might be one of the best all - around areas in the Southeast .

Must do : Take a tour up the Pascagoula River – it ’s the kind of magical swampland you thought only existed at the rootage ofMuppetmovies.– Matt Meltzer , Travel Staff Writer

Utah

Utah|kojihirano/Shutterstock

The Black Hills

South Dakota gets a spoiled rap as a flyover state where everybody think folk communicate with cows and do n’t know what an internet is . But it ’s alsoone of the most underrated state period , and you take only to shoot the breeze the west side of the state ’s Black Hills for cogent evidence . Starting with the stunning Badlands and cover westward , the Black Hills are home to some of the most majestic scenery you’re able to imagine , from the winding Spearfish Canyon to the peck lakes that surround Rushmore ( deal with it , you ’re go ) , rivers , deal , cave , and more , making it idealistic for hikers and climbers and everybody in between . Those in - betweeners let in the bikers who pile the otherwise placid Sturgis every class , and gamblers / HBO fan who cluster to Deadwood , the be museum of family - friendly drunken revelry . Small towns like Spearfish and Belle Fourche give you a chance for a little culture ( deplete the deep - fried beef point at theStadium , the IPA atCrow Peak , and the hamburger atLewie ’s in Lead ) .

It ’s basically a gigantic , serene cluster of little township amid enough crazy geographical feature article to live an entire major planet , all scatter within an hour or two of one another . Not bad for a place most associated with having a mammoth wall of presidential heads look over it .

Utah

Chances are , your red sway traveling phantasy omission over Utah entirely for the unquestionably more rosehip Colorado and New Mexico , but the Beehive State is sneaky in its appeals and has been too long neglect . Between the numerous national parking area , the cowboy lifestyle , and the generally accessible vibe , Utah is the commonwealth where you spend less , exercise more , and smugly congratulate yourself for take the lesser be intimate course . And we can also personally evidence to the fact that the country ’s novel - length"Alcoholic Beverage Control General Provisions"guide has been a contrary boon to Utah ’s cocktail scene .

Must do : Hiking is a required – the doubt is how much and how ambitious . Angels Landing in Zion National Park is one of the most Instagram - worthy treks in the Department of State ( just not for the superlative - adverse ) , while Moab gives you stunning rust - colored vistas and terrific whitened - water rafting . Four - legger fanatic demand to plan a side trip to theBest Friends Animal Societyin Kanab ; stay overnight and you in reality get to “ discipline out ” a canine tooth companion for a sleepover . Park City , scenic home of the Sundance Film Festival gives you a virile shot of civilization , if you ’re so inclined . And while you ’re not likely to head to Utah just for the boating , Bear Lake , aka “ the Caribbean of the Rockies , ” is a pretty bang-up place for it.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Sure , it ’s a fun place to say out loudly , but that ’s probably the extent of thought you ’ve yield to battle of Chattanooga . Your red . Its current tourism tagline is “ Best Town Ever , ” which a ) awww , and b ) is actually not far off . The Southern spot is the ideal space to lose your iPhone and detach from day - to - day backwash of citified life .

Must do : Absolutely plan on climbing around on Lookout Mountain ( a trip up on the disturbingly steepIncline Railwayis worth the production line ) , if for no other reason than to reach Sunset Rock , a onetime strategical observation post berth for allied superior general during the Civil War . But hiking is just one Jenga piece of the recreation scene : you’re able to also rock - climb , hogback ride , advert glide , or simply lease a two - wheeler and bicycle all around townspeople . Then take that sweat fairness and blow it all on barbeque – the Chattanooga BBQ scene is an intriguing commixture of many different pit styles . Check outSugar ’s Ribsfor the vista , the goats grazing alfresco , and of course of action , the ribs . The Flying Squirrelis the place for craft cocktails , but if you ’re face to pound a few beer while catching live medicine , the intimateTrack 29is your ticket . No visit to the Volunteer State would be sodding without a whiskey detour , andTennessee Stillhouse , Chattanooga ’s first legal distillery since Prohibition , just opened its threshold last year.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Door County, Wisconsin

First of all , the name is fantastic . But a sojourn to Door County is n’t just about the inevitable # closeoneDoorandanotheroneopens - hashtag . The “ Cape Cod of the Midwest ” is pristine and diverse and far more restful than its nickname namesake . Instead of irritable crowds and bridge traffic of Cape Cod , check out this far more welcoming , but equally as beautiful Wisconsin peninsula . Door Country is actually a string of 19 tiny communities bookended by Lake Michigan on one side and Green Bay on the other , which makes for an eclectic lot of vacay offerings . Ephraim village provides the picturesque sundown , Egg Harbor gives you golfing and o.k. dining ( and another great name ! ) , Fish Creek is for max relaxing , and Forestville lure in the outdoorsy folks . Must do : Make way for cherry red pie : county residents are charmingly and justifiably haunt with their 2,500 acres of cherry red orchards . crave a Nantucket - alike beach escape ? A ferry drive to Washington Island lands you on School House Beach Park , one of the only limestone beaches in the world.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Texas Hill Country

Austin is evidently dandy , but it ’s also obviously saturate with hipsters . Hill County , on the other hand , is a whole other grip . manoeuvre a half - hour out of town and you ’ll find yourself in the midst of dead on target Texan queerness . Once you ’ve put Route 66 in the rearview mirror , consider this area for your next epic road trip-up .

Must do : cease in the historic town of Gruene for alive euphony and imbibin ’ at Gruene Hall , which is passably much everything you desire from a Texas roadhouse . Bandera is where you ’ll stop for the requisite chicken fried steak ( atOld Spanish Trail Restaurant ) , then adhere around to gape at the actual horses tied to an actual hitching post ( they do n’t call it the “ Cowboy Capital of the World ” for nothing ) . Fredericksburg is a bizarre piffling harbor of German culture , sodding with biergarten ; after that , we say you whip out the inner tube and spend minute floating down Guadalupe River . Cowboys , German beer fests , and work-shy rivers , check – now it ’s on to the 15 winery along Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 . To wind it all up , headland to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to climb an ancient pinkish granite peak and follow all that you ’ve just visited.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Bellaire, Michigan

There are hundreds of idyllic lake townsfolk in Michigan ( suck it , Minnesota ) , but Bellaire ’s in a magical sweet spot , offering the good of every variety of Michigan summer experience . You need Rockwellian main street ? Bellaire ’s got a strollable Downtown that hits every beat , from the one - blind moviehouse to cute footling restaurant to mammy & soda store . Want dandy lake ? It ’s a unretentive drive to the Grand Traverse Bay , right across the water system fromvacation mainstay Traverse City , with secluded sandy beaches rocking some of the ripe sunset you ’ll ever see . Like your lakes not so great ? Bellaire ’s part of a Ernst Boris Chain of interconnected little lakes , all perfect for tube and pontooning ( and that have their own great piffling lake towns ) . Or do you want to just cool out on a wharfage in a cabin ? The rental opening are endless . This is the superlative of a lazy man ’s finish – a small townspeople that make you feel right at home plate and , if you ’re feeling ambitious , is just a short drive away from other plaza where you may plonk down and be lazy . The divergence ? The tourists - to - towny proportion is refreshfully even .

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

OK , so we do n’t unremarkably take change of location advice from Barbara Walters , but she was one of the first celebs to publicly praise this quality small slice of Idaho , so she must have something left in the tank . Coeur d’Alene is another waterside oasis you ’ve probably never try of unless you grew up within 200 miles of the place . But again , that ’s only been your loss – unless you eschew pristine water and outdoor activities aplenty .

Must do : Lake Coeur d’Alene is the lynchpin of a majestic country of northerly Idaho – a 25 - mile farseeing water body where you should plan to drown , gravy boat , Pisces , kayak , and oh yeah , golf on a “ float putting surface ” in the lake , which necessitate a boat drive to get to the hole . After all that excitement , more floating , this time atThe Cedars Floating Restaurantfor fume steelhead trout and a “ Huckle - tini ” made with vodka infused huckleberry . The city of Coeur D’Alene itself is both cosmopolitan and quaint and a reminder that urban life need not be debilitate ; at the least , it ’s well worth a shopping detour . As for where to quell , there ’s only one pick : Stoneridge Lodge , home to six championship … pickleball court of law . ( Look it up . It ’s awesome.)– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is Kentucky ’s ( relatively ) loose metropolis , an island of blue in a ocean of rifle - toting red . In late geezerhood Louisville ’s dining view has undergone a roaring renaissance : if you ’re a taste - bud touristyou’ll find plenty of exciting restaurantsto excite your palate . For starters : try the smoke gist of the god in the converted cellar that isHammerheads . Chow down on jumbo rainbow - colored sushi rolls atOishii Sushi . sample all the tapas atArtesano . Allow the prowess ofBistro 1860to forever ruin you for other eating place . Repent your sins at theHoly Grale(in a renovated church ) and take into account your sweet tooth to drag you back into sinfulness atThe Comfy Cow .

For those who prefer to drink their dinner party , Louisville ’s barsdeliverincredible craft cocktails(Meta , Butchertown Grocery ) plenty ofgreat beer options(Against the Grain , Goodwood Brewing Co.),vino , and of course an infrangible treasure treasure trove of Bourbon dynasty choice ( Haymarket Whiskey Bar , The Silver Dollar ) until 4am . That ’s veracious : the bars in Louisville are open until 4am . Louisville is also within wanton driving distance of some ofthe greatest bourbon distilleries on earth , for the whisky wanderer in you .

Must do : If you ’re into learning something new , visit Louisville Slugger , or the newly renovated Speed Art Museum and Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft . AndChurchill Downsholds many more races than the notorious Kentucky Derby , so if racing time of year ’s on bet on the trot at least once under the Twin Spires.– Elizabeth Myers , Thrillist contributor

Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf

West Virginia

Has any body politic suffered more from negative stereotyping ? ( learn the 2003 horror movieWrong Turnif you do n’t believe us . Or do n’t , because it ’s dread . ) Misbegotten Hatfield - McCoy figure apart , WV also gets passed over due to its tiny sizing – can a country this small really contain anything good ? Quick solution : yup . Did you know , for example , that the Mountain State house a dozen winery ? Or that the white water rafting rank among the state ’s best ? Or that Bluestone National Scenic River has some of the best fly ball angle on the Eastern Seaboard ? We could go on .

Must do : Plan to stay at least one Nox in one of the country ’s national Mungo Park , which offer plenty of logarithm cabin accommodations at near - tenting prices . We ’d distinguish you to pip up theForks of Cheat Wineryfor the name alone , but the Appalachian context and French cross red varnish the mountain . Water hemipteron will dig the white water thrills of either New or Gauley River . Those seeking a more sedate pace can hike a bit of the Appalachian Trail , then meander into Harpers Ferry – the geographic meetingplace of Virginia , West Virginia , and Maryland – for cheap beers , Civil War history ( a draw of the building remain untouched in over a century ) , and a decidedly unplugged lifestyle.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Islamorada, Florida

When you think of the Florida Keys , you believe of Key West in all of its excesses , both instinctive and human being - made . But far up the island chain is the Keys ’ best - kept secret . Islamorada gives you artistry galleries , advanced dining and lodgment , and renowned sportfishing on both the sea and gulf side . It ’s water sports by day and honky - tonk by Nox , with a more laid - back vibe than Key West . Plus , it ’s just a 90 - min effort from Miami International .

Must do : Cheeca Lodge and Spa , the island ’s most chichi hotel is a one - stop respite : golf , kayaking , fishing , and health spa - ing , plus a world - socio-economic class restaurant where the dinner special might include a jiffy - fried whole hogfish . When it comes time to salute ( at 11am),Morada Bayis the open - atmosphere beach legal profession of your daydreams , with tables set out on the white sands , and oblique Full Moon company every … full moon , complete with lively music , dancing , and bonfires . local also square off in atLorelei’sfor hot medicine and sundown tiki cocktails . And then there’sRobbie ’s Marina , the archetypal honky - tonk Florida Keys lacrimation trap . If you may charge yourself away from all that restful , break out the galleries clump along a reach of the Overseas Highway , or hop into your car to search the equally undersung collection of the low Keys ( keep an middle peeled for the teeny bantam Key deer).– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Alexandria Bay and Thousand Islands, New York

Alexandria Bay is at the center of the Thousand Islands , a meshing of almost 2,000 genuine - living island along the St. Lawrence River separating New York from Canada . The town balloons from a duet of thousand in the wintertime to ten of thousands in the summer – which feel like a heap when they ’re all partying along a two - block downtown airstrip . Everything in Alex Bay revolve around the the urine ( including15 insanely beautiful inland lakes ) – so there ’s ton of kayaking , K - skiing , scuba diving event , boat , swim , and booze - cruising . you could evenrent your own pontoon boatfor the day or weekend .

Alex Bay topical anaesthetic take summer very seriously ; and from Memorial Day until Labor Day the calendar is jam with events from block parties andbiker ralliestoblues festivalsandvintage boat shows . alive euphony pours out of all the bars Downtown and savouring are in full swing music at almost a dozen winery and still . A circle of people opt to just get out on the river all day , which means massive floating party barges in favorite swimming holes likeLake of the Isles . If you time your trip right , you could even witness the townsfolk ’s annualpirate festivalcomplete with staged plagiarizer - ship invasion , parade , and thousands of people running around with blade and eyepatch for nine days straight .

Arkansas

Located smack in the heart and soul of the potent tourism triangle of Tennessee , Louisiana , and Texas , Arkansas is the ultimate underrated and all - too - often - overlooked address . But you ’d be wise not to get around The Natural State , no matter the type of activities you ’re after . Outdoorsy types will gravitate toward the long slate of state and national parkland here , waterways ranging from ponds and falls to rushing rivers , the stretch of the Ozarks in the northwestern United States , and cycle trails designated as among the in force in the country . Those bet for more of a city flavor will love spend a few days in Little Rock , where cuisine swan from local diving to James Beard campaigner abound , the Clinton presidential museum offers a gustation of history amid sprawling ground perfect for biking or picnicking , and four - star accommodation wait .

Saugatuck, Michigan

East Coasters , admit it : we ’re all a bunch of travelling prig . Say “ summer getaway , ” and we think the Cape or the Islands or the Hamptons or Newport ; never , ever do we opine about the Midwest . To which all Michigan native simply smile and give a footling shake of their head . Saugatuck is the crown gem of Michigan ’s Sunset Coast , a small - town relic with many housing of a thickly settled beach resort but exactly zero attitude .

Must do : Wickwood Innis your landing place pad – a layer and breakfast that places a premium on service , decor , and dining . A Saugatuck escape valve begins and terminate at Oval Beach , which has won accolades as one of the salutary beaches in the world . ( Yes , world . ) Michiganders take their blueberries seriously , and Krupka ’s is the place in townspeople to pick your own . Never hear of a chain ferry before ? It ’s a Victorian - era , hand - cranked boat originally designed to channelise Equus caballus , and Saugatuck ’s reading – the only one entrust in the country – will take you across Kalamazoo River at a thrillingly glacial pace . Then there ’s the solicitation of honest dining establishments along the water , where you ’re potential to find yourself enjoy more than one beer alongside your fried walleye sandwich.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Nederland, Colorado

Colorado is not an underrated destination – the humanity takes off study to ski , fuddle , and smoke away their free time in the beautiful state . But Nederland – about a 25 minute campaign from Boulder – is a gem mostly reserved for local anaesthetic , a former mining town that does n’t nearly have the radiancy of topographic point like Aspen , Vail , or Denver . But Nederland has everything you could want ( and yes , it has a dispensary , too ) .

For three days in March every class , the town is select over by drinking and merriment forFrozen Dead Guy Days , in which one of its most notable events features grown men and char in outlandish costumes running around an obstruction course with a casket . It ’s even more sport than it vocalise . When it ’s not play false , there are plenty of outdoor activity in which to partake – angle for Brook trout in Barker Reservoir , easy hike at Mud Lake , and bivouacking at Kelly Dahl or Camp Dick in the Roosevelt National Forest . For music - lovers , August meansNedFest , a three - day euphony blowout that can only accommodate 2,000 mass , and which lean heavy on the jam isthmus ( String Cheese Incident and Leftover Salmon have close ties to the area ) . Pro point : call it Ned if you do n’t want to sound like a tourist .

Must do : Go skiing at Eldora – a small , 680 - acre ski refuge that ’s a 10 minute ride from quaint business district Nederland , and wo n’t cost you a million dollar mark for a elevator ticket like it does at the bigger - name resort in the area.– Lee Breslouer , Food & Drink Staff Writer

Camden, Maine

Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

Nags Head, North Carolina

Pass on the more crowd East Coast beach in favor of a more reclusive , relaxing corner of NC , a mythical land of drive - thru liquor shop and wild horses cast … well , fantastic . On top of the 11 - mile stretch of hang semivowel - able beach at Nags Head , nearby attraction include the tallest lighthouse in the US at Cape Hatteras ( sorry , New England ) and Roanoke Island where The mixed-up Colony settlers come over to America 30 long time before the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock ( sorry again , New England ) . You wo n’t be lack for great seafood alternative , which you’re able to casually sample during the one-year Seafood Festival or fish for yourself off of Jennette ’s Pier . There ’s several rental choice for sportfishing charter as well , if you captivate a shark , just play it cool alright ?

Boise, Idaho

Portland is so over .

OK perchance it ’s not completely run out , but when it add up to cool , outdoorsy destinations with great nutrient , imaginative beer , and nearby wine country , the secret about Portland is out . But you sleep together who ’s still flying so far under the hipster radar that peopledon’t even know how to pronounce it?Boise . That ’s correct , that city you only bed for potatoes and potentially terrorise reserves military man is actually the Northwest ’s best under - the - radar destination . First , the city is totally walkable , meaning you could arrive at any of its 17 museum and ethnical attractions – like the old Idaho penitentiary – without needing to rip a railcar . The Boise river is the city ’s centerpiece , and you may go whitewater rafting without having to leave Ithiel Town , or just jog or bike along the 25 - mile Boise Greenbelt that run alongside it .

Once you find dear and tidy , time to do the good insalubrious stuff , like inspect one ofAmerica ’s good wine regionsin the Snake River Valley . Or hit up one of Boise ’s 11 brewery along theBoise Ale Trail . It really is a place with all the heavy role of Seattle or Portland , at a fraction the cost , with modest crowds and friendlier people .

The Mississippi Gulf Coast

Fotoluminate LLC/Shutterstock

Must do : Goice blocking down Simplot Hill . Just trust us.– Matt Meltzer , Travel Staff Writer

Stinson Beach, California

When people cogitate of California beach they rarely think of Northern California , and they almost surely do n’t think of a beach only 25 miles from San Francisco . But they should . Stinson Beach is one of Northern California ’s well - kept secrets and the thoroughgoing escape cock from the summer heat . asunder from the unagitated beach , the hikes ( The Steep Ravine and Dipsea trails will give you pant - desirable views ) , amazing eating house ( Parkside CaféandSand Dollarare classics ) , the localisation ( a myopic distance from Muir Woods , Bolinas , and Point Reyes ) Stinson also happens to have the friendly locals that will make you wish your trip-up had lasted longer . Stinson Beach is a diminished town full of hippies , surfboarder , and lay - back local anaesthetic with zero flatulency station , one ATM machine , and a whole band of magic spell that makes it a worthy stop alfresco of San Francisco , or even a destination in itself .

Must do : Kayak with the Harbor Seals in the Bolinas Lagoon – just make certain you count at the tide schedule beforehand so you do n’t hit water that is too shallow . When the seals are n’t busy sunbathing they will often follow behind or even swim under your kayak . While the Bolinas Lagoon is always deserving a visit , it is particularly exciting every 4th of July because Stinson and Bolinas wager a favorable ( but also highly competitive ) game of tug of war over the small channel the break up the two towns.– Alexandra Seclow , Social Media Coordinator

Bristol, Rhode Island

Newport can have its boat shoes and whale belt . Just up the coast is a far less uppity waterside locus with an equally vibrant sailing scene , plus culture , history , and dining selection galore . Tack on aFourth of July celebrationthat ’s the oldest and most venerated in the country ( also , um , raucous ) , and you ’ve found yourself a pretentiousness - free weekend getaway .

Must Do : If you ’re look to bottom down like a richie , you ’d do well atPoint Pleasant Inn , a massive B&B with balconied suite and a 25 - acre waterfront lawn on the water . house physician fuck their bikes , in all probability owe to the ( monotonous , whew)East Bay Bike Paththat takes you all the way to Providence . If you secretly hunger the haughty yachty lifestyle , halt by the intimate Herreshoff Maritime Museum , which also houses the America ’s Cup Hall of Fame . But why canvass when you may eat ? A lobster drum roll at local favoriteQuito’sis best chased by a shot of rummy at nearby distilleryDeWolf Tavern . Then head out in the morning for maple Baron Verulam pancakes atBeehive Cafe , another locals ’ favourite . Guilt can be mollify with an open-air yoga class at Blithewold Mansion , one of the area ’s many architectural marvel that ’s open to the public.– Meaghan Agnew , Thrillist Contributor

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oklahomans might flout at the idea of Tulsa being called “ underrated , ” but to East / Left Coasters whose idea of the Sooner State is limited to Kevin Durant and renowned musicals , Tulsa is indeed one of those hidden metropolis that ’ll gas you away and defy your expectations .

racy in oil money and artistry - deco architecture , Oklahoma ’s cosmopolitan 2d city has always been the land ’s artsy kid , home to both the Philbrook and the Gilcrease – two of country ’s top museums – and its own ballet , opera house , and philharmonic . But now , in the midst of a massive Downtown Renascence that ’s left it flush with fresh stadiums / arena , condos , and revitalise neighborhood , it ’s gotten even hip to with the rebirth of the Brady Arts District and addition of Guthrie Green , a highly acclaimedurban garden and performance quad .

Tulsa is home to two universities ( the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts ) , and plenty of sport , eclectic districts like Brookside and Blue Dome and Cherry Street that are filled with creatives , youthful people , and all the requisite funky / upscale / hipster store , coffee shop , bars , and restaurant . Also , green space : Tulsa ’s riddled with parks and track / bike trails and is currently adding a 100 - acre waterfront park on the Arkansas River name The Gathering Place .

The Black Hills in South Dakota

Jess Kraft/Shutterstock

And finally , we ’d be neglectful not to mention the city’shighly underrated craft beer scenewith brewers likePrairie Artisan Ales , Dead Armadillo , andMarshall , bar such asMcNellie ’s Public House , and arenowned Oktoberfestthat systematically rule itself on the lean of mankind ’s best .

Utah