20 US Cities You Never Thought to Visit but Totally Should

New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami. When asked which cities in the US they’d most like to visit, travellers often tend to go for a few usual suspects. However, in a country the size of the US, you’re bound to find some hidden treasures.

Here are some of the less famous US cities that should be on your travel bucket list.

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1. Detroit, Michigan

Motown’s decline and bankruptcy have been well documented but visit now and you’ll see a city that’s found a new lease on life.

A host of new developments and revamps of old buildings are waiting to be explored and if the slightly underground feel of guerrilla gardening and bohemian communities is your thing, Detroit is the destination.

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2. Portland, Oregon

Comedy series Portlandia perfectly sums up the independent spirit of the city where Kurt Cobain met Courtney Love.

You’ll find microbreweries, quirky stores, indie bands and an eco-conscious lifestyle, not to mention lots of green spaces.

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3. Aberdeen, Washington

Once known as ‘The Hellhole of the Pacific’ because much of it was such a dangerous den of iniquity, Aberdeen is now the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.

As you enter the town, a sign tells you to ‘Come As You Are’, a nod to the fact that Aberdeen is also the birthplace of Nirvana.

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4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Famous for its steel industry and sports teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the City of Bridges is not nearly as blue-collar as you’d expect.

It is, after all, the birthplace of Andy Warhol too and Pittsburgh has a lively cultural and contemporary arts scene.

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5. Providence, Rhode Island

Its waterways and many historic buildings make Providence a wonderful city to explore.

The annual WaterFire is a showcase of the city’s creative spirit and with both Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design located here, Providence has the young energy of a college town.

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6. Austin, Texas

Calling itself the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’, Austin is a vibrant, progressive city. It’s Texas, so you’ll see cowboy boots and hats but you’ll also see plenty of t-shirts with the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’.

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7. Baltimore, Maryland

Cop shows like Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire have created an image of Baltimore as a crime-ridden, poverty-stricken place. However, the city boasts a rich history, fascinating museums and mouth-watering cuisine based on blue crabs.

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8. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oklahoma conjures up images of flat, dusty landscapes but Tulsa is surrounded by rolling green hills and forest.

In its heyday, Tulsa was home to oil barons who built fabulous art deco structures, giving the city one of the highest concentrations of this architectural style in the US.

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9. Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is home to one of the world’s largest historic preservation districts featuring only Victorian buildings, the Muhammad Ali Center, lots and lots of bourbon whiskey and of course the Kentucky Derby.

The city also features a lively indie scene and the largest municipal forest in the US.

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10. Buffalo, New York

On the shores of Lake Erie and only about 80 km from Toronto, Buffalo has been changing from a declining industrial city into a cultural and foodie haven.

If the historic architecture, galleries and museums, craft breweries and delicious local cuisine aren’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of gorgeous parks and a rocking nightlife.

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11. Portland, Maine

Portland has been making the most of its seaside location with a revitalized waterfront full of art galleries, boutiques, coffee houses, brew pubs and restaurants serving Maine lobster.

When the weather is good, you’ll also want to go out on the water and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery.

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12. Missoula, Montana

The breathtaking scenery tells you that you’re in the Rockies but the vibe is positively Pacific Northwest: Missoula is a fascinating mix of cowboys, hippies and students.

There’s a lively arts and cultural scene but the main attraction is the great outdoors.

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13. Omaha, Nebraska

The birthplace of Gerald Ford, Malcolm X, Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, the Reuben sandwich and the bobby pin, Omaha is also known for its high ratio of millionaires.

There’s a vibrant foodie and cultural scene and the Henry Doorly Zoo is regarded as one of the best in the world.

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14. Nashville, Tennessee

When people use the nickname Music City for Nashville, they don’t only mean country music. Nashville has become a sophisticated city which is home to rockers and rappers too, from The Black Keys and Kings of Leon to Kesha and Young Buck.

Naturally you’ll find plenty of live music here and a favourite night-time activity is honky-tonking, better known to most people as bar-hopping.

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15. Asheville, North Carolina

In recent years, Asheville has been raking in the accolades for its food scene, its New Age culture, its festivals, its business and job opportunities and simply how liveable it is.

The surrounding mountains and waterways combined with the subtropical climate make Asheville a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors too.

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16. Boulder, Colorado

At the base of the Rocky Mountains foothills, Boulder was once a hippie Mecca and is still a New Age haven.

It’s a very sporty place too, with serious athletes coming here to train at high altitude and less serious athletes opting to cycle or hike in the stunning countryside.

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17. San Diego, California

Surf culture is just one of the reasons to come to laid-back San Diego.

Great beaches, parks, aquariums, zoos, a vibrant nightlife and a splash of Mexican flavour due to its proximity to Tijuana make San Diego a wonderful find in Southern California and if that’s still not enough to convince you, San Diego is also renowned for its craft beer.

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18. Santa Fe, New Mexico

The oldest state capital in the US, Santa Fe is also exceptionally photogenic with its Spanish colonial and Pueblo-style architecture.

Georgia O’Keeffe was just one of the artists who found inspiration here and "A Song of Ice and Fire" author George R.R. Martin has made Santa Fe his home too.

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19. Salt Lake City, Utah

Even though it was founded by and is the headquarters of the LDS Church, less than half of Salt Lake City’s residents are Mormons.

In fact, the vibe here is surprisingly liberal and mellow and the surrounding mountains are popular with hikers, bikers and skiers.

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20. Minneapolis, Minnesota

With its many waterways and parks, diversity, sporting events and indie scene, Minneapolis is not nearly as boring as the image you get from the movie Fargo and from Tom Waits songs.

Probably the best endorsement for the city’s charms is that fact that local boy Prince chose to stay here for most of his life.