Many people think that traveling to ‘The Top Vacation Spots’ means leaving the country, or squeezing into overcrowded tourist destinations with thousands of other travelers, but some of the best destinations may actually be right in your neighborhood. In this article, we’ve listed four of the most underrated US cities you should definitely visit whether it is for a weekend getaway, a long vacation, or even for work purposes.
Providence, Rhode Island
Found just south of Boston, the once gritty and impoverished city of Providence is now a creative hub for culture and the arts. One of Providence’s claim to fame is the world-renowned art school of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Aside from training some of the best artists in the world, RISD is also home to the RISD Museum of Art, which is free to visit on Sundays and on the third Thursday of every month. The museum displays a huge collection of artwork from all around the world such as Rembrandt drawings, Chinese lacquerware and couture dresses from Balenciaga and McQueen. If you want to be more in touch with nature during your travels, Roger Williams Park is the right place to go to. The impressive park spans an impressive 435 acres of land that is covered with gardens, lakes and greenhouses. You can never run out of fun things to do since the park houses the Museum of Natural History and the Roger Williams Park Zoo that will surely be a delight to visit.
Baltimore, Maryland
If you want to go on an artistic adventure without leaving the country, the mid-Atlantic city of Baltimore is where you should go. The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) which is solely dedicated to the works of self-artists can be found in Baltimore. AVAM will provide you with an extraordinary museum experience because it lacks white walls and solemn security guards that shush children which are common in other museums. Another museum that will surely complete your artistic adventure is the Baltimore Museum of Art which is the largest museum in the city with over 95,000 art pieces. The extensive collection of the museum includes a large Matisse collection that is donated by Baltimore natives Claribel and Etta Cone. The museum requires no admission fee which makes it ideal for travelers on a budget.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is fast becoming the top city for work and play, and often in the same location. Springfield News-Leader reports that the Country Club Plaza is one of the most popular places in Kansas City, as it is the city’s premier shopping and dining destination. You can find high-end retail establishments across 18 separate buildings, as well as more than 30 statues, murals and tile mosaics. The plaza is also home to Industrious’s Kansas City site, making it a good choice for digital nomads and remote workers who might need to check in on some work while in the middle of a vacation. For beer lovers out there, visiting the Boulevard Brewery is a must. During their 45-minute tour, you will learn about the company’s history and brewing process, and have a taste of their amazing beer for free.
Asheville, North Carolina
This humble town in North Carolina is the perfect place for a trip that will take you back in time. Asheville is the home of the Biltmore Estate which is the largest privately-owned estate in the United States. Biltmore has a house from the bygone era of the Gilded Age, impressive tapestries that will make you feel like you are visiting a European castle, an on-site winery and estate gardens. After basking in the beauty and elegance of the Biltmore Estate, go straight to the Asheville Pinball Museum that will surely bring out the child in you. This game museum combines history, anthropology and technology with its amazing collection of over 75 pinball machines and various arcade games hailing from the 80s. The $15 admission ($12 for kids 10 and under) gets you open access to all the machines, no tokens required.
