Lesser-Known U.S. Destinations to Add to Your 2024 Itineraries

Anything but tourist traps.

Always attend for the next bounteous affair is no easy feat . And part of the fun is feeling like you ’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem that has n’t hit the mainstream yet . That say , we ’re here to drop some light on some unvalued achiever off the beaten U.S. travel route . Instead of come down for tourist traps , check out these inviting spots around the U.S. from West Virginia to Wisconsin .

Fredericksburg, TX

Get a gustation of Germany sans passport in this Texas township about an hour northwestward of San Antonio . launch in 1846 by German immigrants , this Hill Country destination is best experienced with oenophiles — there ’s anurban wine-coloured trailand vineyards where you may walk through vine ( see : Grape Creek VineyardsorBecker Vineyards ) . Plus , wine geeks will also loveKuhlman Cellars , where five vino are paired with chef - disposed lowly bites . Beyond sipping , savor toothsome fare atFischer & Wieser Specialty FoodsorCabernet Grill(okay , drink the wine-coloured there , too , as it ’s said to have the largest wine tilt in the state ) . Once you ’re full from dessert atFredericksburg Pie Company , get your culture fix atThe National Museum of the Pacific War , a Smithsonian Affiliate , or ThePioneer Museum Complex , which tells the stories of 19th - 100 German Pioneer days . The historicalSunday housesoriginally housed early settler when they journey from farms into town for supplies and , befittingly , Sunday church inspection and repair . you could channel that pioneering spirit by delay at Sunday house replica throughout Fredericksburg like theMetzger Sunday House , Hill Country Herb Garden(which also has a health club and restaurant on - site),Outlot 201 Guest Houses , andOlolo .

Lewisburg, WV

West Virginia is called “ almost heaven ” for a reason . When visiting the Mountain State , make Lewisburg your dwelling nucleotide . About an hour away from the nation ’s newest National Park , New River Gorge National Park and Preserve , downtown Lewisburg is brim with antique shop and art drift . You ’ll also get hold eclectic restaurants likeThe French Goat , which serve up French culinary classics , andThe Humble Tomato , which takes locavore sourcing obsession to new heights . If the agenda asterisk align , finish a twenty-four hour period downtown with a concert atCarnegie Hall , erect in 1901 and one of only four Carnegie Halls in the world that is still in uninterrupted manipulation as a performance venue . Book your stay on behalf of the crew atThe Historic General Lewis Inn , which cop the southerly hospitality affair in its suite and rooms in fix 1834 and 1928 historical buildings . Or stay at beloved holiday resort , The Greenbrier , about 15 minutes away in White Sulphur Springs , which has about a million and one thing to do from its casino , watering place , and golf course to sleigh rides , bowling , and an indoor tennis club . Whichever dig you choose , be sure to reveal in your sneaker on the Greenbrier River Trail , a 78 - nautical mile former railroad line line where you could hike , bike , or horseback ride your way through , well , almost heavenly landscapes .

Hot Springs, AR

Hot Springs is more than just the gateway for visitingHot Springs National Park(though tour the fascinating historic bath firm / visitant shopping center , Fordyce Bathhouse , is a veritable treat , as is hit the trails ) . You ’ll detect amazing food ( see : The Pancake Shopfor classic breakfast menu in a down - home setting;Kollective Coffee + Tea , which has a sizable vegan menu;Superior Bathhouse Breweryfor elevated pub transportation paired with give water - infused beers ; andDONS Southern Socialfor Brooklyn speakeasy vibes and southerly classics with a modern spin . ) You ’ll also get hold amazing look ( Origami Sakeis a must , as is ordering a loaded Bloody Mary at the historicOhio Club ) . Book some elbow room at the favorite B&BThe Reserveand you ’ll feel teleport into a gentler , grander geological era with modern amenity — all just a immediate ride portion ( or half - time of day - ish walk ) from business district .

Door County, WI

Is your crew all about kayaking ? Well , in “ the Door , ” you could paddle along limestone bluffs and through protected estuaries . Fun fact : Schoolhouse Beach claim to be one of five beaches in the world with all white-hot limestone “ polished ” rocks . Cheeseheads ? You ’re in Wisconsin , after all , but chance to pamper shine here , specially atWisconsin Cheese MastersandRenard ’s Artisan Cheese . How about beacon light partisan ? Well , there are 11 in the county . Spanning the 70 - nautical mile - tenacious peninsula between the water of Green Bay and Lake Michigan , there are 34 named islands and a handful of diminished towns with unequalled personalities . Among our best-loved hamlets is Sister Bay , where you could quell atThe Dörr Hotel , dripping with Norse inhalation , and dine at spots likeAl Johnson ’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik(the Swedish pancakes with lingonberries are elysian ) andSister Bay Bowl and Supper Club , with Wisconsin cabbage and butter : fried lake rod and tall mallow curds . Before your time here is up , swing byFragrant Isle Lavender Farm , Shop & Le Cafe — you ’ll blow a mini fortune on lavender - infused everything so you could take a routine of Door County goodness back home .

Norfolk, NE

Heeeeeeeeere ’s Norfolk ! Did you knowThe Tonight ShowhostJohnny Carsongrew up and got his start in show business here by performing his witching act in and around townsfolk ? In gain to Carson - philes , Norfolk is also where cowboy ( and fille ) come to play . As a trailhead for the 195 - mileCowboy Trail , you could hike , cycle , or take the air your way around these parts by starting at the trailhead inTa - Ha - Zouka Park , where you could camp beside the Elkhorn River . If you and your BFFs revel body of water sport , fish or connect withNorthFork Outfittingfor kayak , stand - up paddleboard , or pedal boat rentals . Hit the Great Plains hay not with the Bos taurus , but at the decidedly more chicRiverPoint Inn , an eight - room boutique hotel that ’s a stone ’s throw away from downtown bars , eatery , and entertainment locus . Next door you ’ll findDivots Downtown Tap and Dine , where the Sir Henry Wood - discharge pizza or pasta bakes are sublime . While in Norfolk , patrons have the chance to support a cooking stove of woman - possess businesses likeMagnoliasfor plate decor , Love & Threadsfor fashion - forward frocks , andI Bee Quiltinfor incredible fabric finds .

Peterborough, NH

Start design now to visit this gem in southern New Hampshire . May we recommendMedal Day at Macdowellin July?MacDowellbills itself as the country ’s oldest creative person ’ abidance and retirement and has hosted the likes of Leonard Bernstein , John Updike , Georgia O’Keeffe , I.M. Pei , and Toni Morrison . The retirement is seldom unfastened to the world , so come for Medal Day and stay for summer mantrap in theMonadnock region , whether in the descriptor of sprawl vista inMiller State Park , scoping out colonial - elan homes and historic buildings downtown , or poolside at the lovelyCranberry Meadow Farm , the perfect B&B for your friends or family , posit on 80 acres . Round out your stay with a meal atPearl Restaurant and Oyster Barand fill up your book cup of tea atToadstool Bookstore .

Thousand Islands, NY

First , it ’s worth clarifying that yes , the famous salad fertilization hails from Thousand Islands . Second , Thousand Islands comprises several recourse communities in New York and across the border in Ontario , Canada ( what follow is all on the U.S. side of things ) . This archipelago first had us intrigue with the prospect to visit a rook ( specifically , the 120 - roomBoldt Castlein Alexandria Bay , build up in 1900 and will reopen to tourists seasonally in May 2024 ) . It hooked us with scenic cruise , cycling , cross - country skiing , and more out-of-door diversionary attack than even a case - A slip planner can cram into your itinerary . Speaking of crabbed - country skiing , you ’ll want to direct toWellesley Island State Parkin neighboring Fineview in the winter , and for tramp and swimming in the St. Lawrence River in warmer weather condition months . Post up at the riversideHarbor Hotelin Clayton , and suds up at1812 Brewing Companyin Sackets Harbor on the lapping shore of Lake Ontario , where the dining way and extraneous pack of cards boast expansive views of the lake and sunsets . Or swap beer for more of Boldt ’s splendors and grab a meal seasonally atWindows On The Bay , part of theRiveredge Resortand overlooking the rook .

Iowa City, IA

Dubbed as a UNESCO “ City of Literature , ” ( in no small part thanks to the famedIowa Writers ’ Workshop ) Iowa City is perfect for getting your head lose in a book . Start by browsing the stacks atPrairie Lights Books , the Haunted Bookshop , Sidekick Coffee & Books , or one of the many other bibliophile oasis around Ithiel Town . you could also soak up plenty of acculturation at theUniversity of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art , theOld Capitol Museum , or bygallery hoppingdowntown . When you ’re not adding books to your Goodreads visibility , log step on the 13 - mileIowa River Corridor Trails . Once you ’ve worked up an appetency , make a reservation for the whole crew at farm - to - tabular array steak synagogue , Iowa Chop House , or snap up a table under the strand light ( when weather permit ) atBig Grove Breweryfor beer and comfort nutrient like giant scorched pretzel , crispy cauliflower , and a vegan banh mi sandwich . Get up and get quick to do it all over again atThe Highlander Hotel , in the first place built in 1976 as a supper golf club destination and recently renovated into upscale accommodations .

Ketchikan, AK

Those headed to Alaska often venture to parts a bit better have intercourse like Anchorage , Denali National Park and Preserve , and Fairbanks for Aurora Borealis chasing . rather , speculation to Alaska ’s Inside Passage , where you ’ll get an ideal commixture of out-of-door adventure , see about Alaska Native civilization , and have a alert downtown right on the waterfront . For your lodgings , consider theCape Fox Lodge , which is turn up on a hillside overlookingTongass National Forest(book a elbow room in the detached lodges instead of the main home for weewee views of the Tongass Narrows ) . In the summertime , snorkeling at Ketchikan ’s Mountain Point get an A+ withSnorkel Alaska , an outfitter that provide wetsuits and all necessary gear wheel — all you have to do is keep your centre skin for humpback whales . For above sea - stage sport , you’re able to also well spend a few time of day wind along Creek Street ’s boardwalks and popping into the colourful buildings which house boutique , galleries , and eating house ( Creek Street is also a great place to take in Salmon River spawning in July and August ) . Another worthwhile elbow room to while aside your Clarence Shepard Day Jr. is by venture to Saxman Native Village to view Alaska Native totem poles ( and totem pole carvers honing their guile in the carving shed ) , a kin house , and Alaskan Native dance performances . When you need some clock time off your feet and fuel for your next bodily function in the Last Frontier , attempt freshly - caught seafood atAlaska Fish Houseor atAnnabelle ’s Famous Keg and Chowder House .