15 Underrated Treasures to Visit Across America
The United States has plenty of small, charming towns that are begging to be visited. These towns are nice alternatives to the usual New York and San Francisco towns.
There are places off the tourist track with unique experiences without the usual crowds. Here are 15 of America’s most underappreciated treasures: beautiful, intriguing, cultural places just waiting to be found.
National Museum of Funeral History – Houston, Texas
You may not think it, but this unique museum provides an eye-opening overview of the funeral’s history with cultural practices.
Combining the best of history, art, and education, it contains 19 permanent exhibits (Abraham Lincoln’s coffin replica as one). That’s proof that museums can broaden your borders in strange ways.
Great Sand Dunes – Mosca, Colorado
Stacked, golden dunes high above the snow capping the surrounding Rockies are a stark—and gorgeous—contrast. They rise to 755 feet, the tallest in North America. Visitors can enjoy sandboarding, sledding, hiking to the top of the dunes for a view, or feeling otherworldly at the beach.
Mackinac Island – Michigan
Once you step onto Mackinac Island, you return to the nineteenth century. Cars are banned, and bicycles and horse-drawn carriages are the only modes of transport with visitors. You can bike the 8-mile shoreline loop and taste the island’s famous saltwater taffy.
Devil’s Kettle – Grand Marais, Minnesota
Another big draw is the Victorian-era architecture. One of the most popular sites in Grand Marais, Devil’s Kettle, falls along the Brule River and shows one drop plunging vertically into a 10-foot-diameter hole.
Famous for the baffling natural phenomenon of the mysterious waterfall, it is located inside the Judge C.R. Magney State Park. Like any other waterfall, half disappears into a hole with no visible outlet. Just where it goes continues to elude scientists, adding to its allure for curious explorers.
Chimney Rock National Monument in Colorado, Southeastern United States
The twin pinnacles of Chimney Rock tell powerful stories about the Ancestral Puebloans who made the area home over a thousand years ago.
This is a history enthusiast’s dream destination: it offers fascinating archaeological significance and stunning views over Colorado’s San Juan Basin.
Pawhuska – Oklahoma
This small town has considerable charm and ties to the Osage Nation. The Osage Nation Museum contains fascinating Native American history of the region.
In addition, it has The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, a store and restaurant operated by Food Network star Ree Drummond, who runs home-cooked meals.
Safety Harbor: Whimzeyland – Florida
Known as the “Bowling Ball House,” this vibrant artistic hub is covered in bright mosaic tiles, beads, and—you guessed it—bowling balls. It’s visual and says something about people who make the world whimsical. An Instagrammer’s dream!
Cahokia Mounds – Collinsville, Illinois
The largest archaeological site in the U.S. and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cahokia Mounds, once belonged to a Native culture that thrived before Columbus.
The preserved mounds’ visitor center offers interpretive exhibits that allow visitors to explore the site and learn about ancient Mississippian Culture.
Elbert County, Georgia
The Georgia Guidestones, also known as “America’s Stonehenge,” are masterpieces of granite stones with inscriptions in 8 different languages, giving instructions to humankind.
Their cryptic histories and conspiracy theories lure travelers with their mysterious origins and symbolic messages.
Crater of Diamonds State Park – Murfreesboro, Arkansas
This is your chance to be an online treasure hunter! In its 37-acre preserved volcanic field, visitors may mine for diamonds and semi-precious stones in this park.
The Diamond John has been operating since 1972. Visitors have found over 35,000 diamonds; your next souvenir here could be priceless.
Birmingham, Alabama – Sloss Furnaces
Sloss Furnaces was once a working iron-producing site that has become a National Historic Landmark where visitors can learn the story of the Industrial Revolution of America—claimed as one of the most haunted places in the U.S., art workshops, concerts, and even paranormal tours take place in this eerie, abandoned industrial complex.
Gove County, Kansas – Monument Rocks
These 70-foot limestone formations, known as the Chalk Pyramids, were formed over 80 million years ago. Otherwise, they stand on flat prairies as a stark reminder of ancient inland seas. Due to the lack of lighting pollution, this spot is perfect for landscape photography or night star gazing.
Luray Caverns, Luray, Virginia
Within their caverns lies a below-ground wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites, and shining pools, all of which provide the perfect setting for some of the world’s greatest acoustics.
The caverns are also home to the “Great Stalacpipe Organ,” an instrument that uses stalactites to create awe-inspiring, natural music. It is truly a magical experience.
Salvation Mountain-Niland, California
The ultimate labor of love, this brilliant rainbow-colored hill is the product of decades of work by artist Leonard Knight, who turned a desert mound into inspirational folk art. The destination is vibrant with eye-popping colors and vibrant Bible verses and inspires joyful wonder and reflection.
Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona
Named for the treasured relics within and listed as Arizona’s first national park, Petrified Forest National Park is home to some of the most magnificent and treasured relics in the Southwest.
This park is surreal, with trees over 200 million years old altered into stone. You can walk through this ancient forest, the vivid color of badlands, and the petroglyphs carved by Indigenous peoples.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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