{"id":781,"date":"2025-07-04T12:08:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T04:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/6-underrated-cities-to-add-to-your-us-itinerary\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:06","slug":"6-underrated-cities-to-add-to-your-us-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=781","title":{"rendered":"6 underrated cities to add to your US itinerary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, to Chicago, Miami and Dallas, the USA\u2019s heavy hitters need no introduction.<\/p>\n

But for every major player, there\u2019s an understudy waiting in the wings \u2013 and whether you\u2019ve already explored the big cities or find yourself looking for less-expected destinations instead, there\u2019s an urban alternative to suit. Here are six lesser-visited cities in the US that are worth traveling to.<\/p>\n

1. Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/h2>\n

Though it\u2019s been overshadowed by the cultural cachet of state capital Santa Fe, New Mexico\u2019s second city is more than worthy of a second look. It\u2019s the fictional home of Breaking Bad<\/em>\u2019s drug-dealing Walter White \u2013 and in reality, the 505\u2019s melting-pot aesthetic and substantial natural charms are both serious draws.<\/p>\n

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Between its annual hot-air balloon fest and its easy access to earthly wonders, this gateway to the Southwest is heaven for outdoorsy types, with lots of sunny days, biking trails and hiking options. Across its 187 sq miles, there\u2019s a mix of Indigenous, Hispanic and American cultures, with museums, food, festivals and more reflecting its diverse heritage.<\/p>\n

Take your time in the adobe-housed galleries of Old Town, watch the nearby Sand\u00eda Mountains glow pink at sunset, enjoy a plate of chicken enchiladas smothered in red or green chile sauce (ask for it \u201cChristmas style\u201d if you can\u2019t decide), grab a beer at the country\u2019s first Native American woman\u2013owned brewery and consider stopping by Los Poblanos for a jar of lavender salve while you\u2019re nearby \u2013 it\u2019s a lifesaver at ABQ\u2019s high elevation and beyond.<\/p>\n

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Bend, Oregon is great for lovers of the outdoors \u00a9 Irra \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Bend, Oregon<\/h2>\n

Often cited as a top destination for outdoor adventures and a stellar quality of life, Central Oregon\u2019s Bend isn\u2019t exactly a hidden gem. But for those who aren\u2019t tuned into the worlds of hiking, biking, fishing and\/or rock climbing, it might fly under the radar in favor of Portland to the north, especially given the Rose City\u2019s name recognition these days. And that\u2019s a shame, because while Bend\u2019s outdoors offerings are quite impressive, so too are its shopping, dining and beer-drinking choices.<\/p>\n

Snap a selfie at the last Blockbuster store on earth, then head downtown to rummage through the stacks of vinyl at Smith Rock Records. From there it\u2019s a few blocks to Drake Park; grab a coffee from the on-site Commons Caf\u00e9 and meander around the half-mile riverfront as you sip your java.<\/p>\n

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Once you\u2019ve worked up an appetite, commandeer a casual picnic table at Alebrije Oaxaca to chow down on excellent tacos and piles of fresh tortilla chips doused with mole and cotija, or pull up to the bar at the slicker Chomp Chomp for crunchy, chewy pork-belly bites, crispy flash-fried brussels sprouts and can\u2019t-believe-it\u2019s-vegetarian miso ramen. Wash it all down on the Bend Ale Trail, which features 30 breweries, plus wineries, cideries, distilleries and kombucha makers.<\/p>\n

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Buffalo is more than just Niagara Falls (though they\u2019re unmissable) \u00a9 Tony Shi Photography \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Buffalo, New York<\/h2>\n

Once an industrial powerhouse, then an ailing metropolis that saw big swathes of its population fleeing to the suburbs and \u2013 notoriously \u2013 its pro-football team lose four Super Bowls in a row, New York\u2019s second-largest city is turning things around. There\u2019s been a decade-long effort to invest in housing, job training, public green spaces and the arts, among other things. Today, this city is hitting its stride.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s more to come. A major 30,000 sq ft expansion of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery) is scheduled to open in June 2023, and a new park and a collection of grain silos have been repurposed for mixed-use community on the waterfront. Check out the old stalwarts too: Niagara Falls, obviously, but also architectural gems such as Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s Prairie-style Martin House, Eliel and Eero Saarinen\u2019s Kleinhans Music Hall and parks by Frederick Law Olmsted.<\/p>\n

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In Greenville\u2019s Falls Park, the Liberty Bridge overlooks a spectacular set of waterfalls \u00a9 Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Greenville, South Carolina<\/h2>\n

Sixty-some miles south of Asheville, North Carolina, in the same beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the pretty city of Greenville is one part walkable downtown, one part nature escape, one part foodie haven and one part caffeine heavyweight (it\u2019s a top pick for the best cup of coffee in the state).<\/p>\n

For a small metropolis \u2013 roughly 72,000 people at last count \u2013 this Upstate charmer has plenty to recommend it. A stroll along Main St takes you past well-curated boutiques, buzzing farm-to-table restaurants and public art galore (keep an eye out for the adorable bronze mice hidden in plain sight). The picture-perfect downtown area is anchored by 32-acre Falls Park, with trails, gardens, green spaces and a suspension bridge overlooking a spectacular set of waterfalls on the Reedy River.<\/p>\n

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To get your heart rate going, rent a bike and hit the 22-mile Swamp Rabbit trail, or for an overall artsier vibe, head to West Greenville, a village billed as a Southern-style Soho, complete with galleries, even more restaurants and historic buildings in mint condition.<\/p>\n

\"Bonfires
During the WaterFire festival, bonfires illuminate the river of Providence, Rhode Island \u00a9 Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Providence, Rhode Island<\/h2>\n

When it comes to New England college towns, Providence might not come to mind as readily as, say, Cambridge or New Haven. But this small Rhode Island city of nearly 190,000 has an appealing energy, thanks not only to its own Ivy Leaguer, Brown University, but its other academic institutions too, including Providence and Rhode Island Colleges, Johnson & Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design.<\/p>\n

As you\u2019d expect from a community with a thriving student population, let alone one with an arts school, the cultural components here are outstanding, from museums, galleries and open-studio nights to art fairs, concerts and theatrical performances. A multisensory experience involving a series of bonfires on downtown\u2019s three rivers, WaterFire pulls in the crowds \u2013 almost a million people annually beginning in April, with lighting events throughout the year.<\/p>\n

The local dining scene also benefits from the school-to-community pipeline, with apprentices and alumni from Johnson & Wales\u2019 culinary-arts program popping up in restaurants across the city. Look for classic Italian in Federal Hill, eclectic global cuisines in Fox Hill, veg-friendly fare in the West End and upscale or casual alternatives downtown (or Downcity, as you may also hear it called).<\/p>\n

\"The
The Missouri Botanical Garden is a great place to visit \u00a9 Shutterstock \/ RN Photo Midwest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. St Louis, Missouri<\/h2>\n

Chicago tends to monopolize the conversation in the Midwest, but its neighbor to the south proves the region has room for more than one star. Ensconced on the west bank of the Mississippi River and famous for its iconic arch, St Louis is Missouri\u2019s largest and most populous city, with some 293,000 residents estimated at last count. And it has the amenities to match, from arts and culture to major-league sporting events to a strong live-music scene \u2013 which tracks, given the city\u2019s legendary relationship with the blues.<\/p>\n

Visit in late spring to experience PrideFest, the African Arts Festival and, in Forest Park, the Shakespeare Festival. Or pack a picnic and enjoy the urban oasis\u2019 1300 acres at your leisure. Also on the outdoor-art tip, you can see large-scale works year-round at Laumeier Sculpture Park and blown-glass installations by Dale Chihuly at the Missouri Botanical Garden from May 2 through October 15.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From New York, Los Angele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usa-travel-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=781"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1009,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781\/revisions\/1009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}