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Certain travelers pretty much copy and paste the same itineraries year after year, whether that means flying to Cancun or staying closer to home in places like New York City.
But there are countless underrated getaways worth exploring – if only they could convince travelers to walk through the door.
The Travel Off Path team likes to pull back the curtain on underrated destinations that are actually worth visiting, not recycle another roundup you’ve seen time and time again.
We’ve rounded up 5 of America’s most unsung vacation destinations, ranging from overlooked beaches in the Northeast to beautiful desert paradises where you might not expect to have such a good time.
These 5 destinations charge a lot of money to get your attention, which, considering the current craze for overtourism, is actually quite refreshing.
Rochester, Minn
You’ve seen the madness of Minneapolis in the headlines lately, but I have to say it’s still a pretty cool city if you just turn off the news.
But Minnesota is overall one of the most underrated states in America, with reportedly more than 10,000 lakes – yes, really.
A waterfront city that barely attracts any hype aside from medical tourism is Rochester, another Minnesota charmer I visited with a quaint, walkable area that’s lovely to explore downtown.
Even though you can fly there, Rochester is positioning itself as a road trip destination with its new ‘one-tank trip’ campaignhoping to entice those tired of the same summer hotspots in favor of low-key weekends packed with an array of dining options, live music and summer festivals.
Moab, Utah
There are plenty of punchlines when it comes to Utah, but there’s no denying that Moab is perhaps the coolest escape, with beloved local watering holes, insanely scenic hikes, and adrenaline-pumping adventures along the Colorado River.
If we’re honest, many travelers flock to Zion National Park to witness the amazing red rock landscapes that Utah has become famous for, but Moab offers 2 beautiful national parks on your doorstep, plus everything from mountain biking and whitewater rafting to off-roading and canyoneering.
Just don’t watch James Franco’s 127 hours before you start splorining…
That said, tourism in Moab has taken a dip, but the town is not settling down. Grand County approved an additional six-figure advertising blitz after bookings fell short of expectations. The campaign aimed to win over last-minute travelers and fill more rooms during peak summer.
Cape May, New Jersey
We know what you’re thinking: “Cape” and “New Jersey” may bring back memories of Snooki falling off bar stools and Pauly D hailing cabs.
Cape May is the anti-Jersey Shore, with one of the East Coast’s dreamiest cityscapes, packed with colorful Victorian mansions, storybook inns and flower-lined streets.
Not to mention the beautiful coastline and the fact that it is one of the safest small towns in America.
If you’re looking for a truly relaxing beach getaway, Cape May offers beautiful dolphin cruises, waterfront seafood, and golden sunsets over Delaware Bay, plus the simple fact that you don’t have to keep your head spinning.
Cape May County is approaching the milestone of America’s 250th birthday with a summer-long marketing campaign in all 16 coastal cities, featuring the cheeky slogan, “George Washington Crossed Delaware, Why Don’t You?”.
The better question: why didn’t he cross paths with a dentist?
El Paso, Texas
Here’s one that’s a doozy…
El Paso gets a bad rap as a dusty border town that travelers only pass through, which is fitting for a place whose name translates to “The Pass.”
However, as someone who lived there and loved it, I have to say that Texas’ most culturally rich city has a lot more to offer than what you see from your plane window.
First, it’s remarkably cheap. If you love Mexican food, your budget seems endless.
Secondly, it’s not all dull, brown and dusty as its reputation suggests: there are some astonishingly beautiful walks through flower fields and even historic caves.
Third, it has long been considered one of the safest cities in America, despite ironically backing up to Juarez, Mexico – a city that is notoriously sketchy to visit.
Most recently it was voted the best big city to live in America, so if it’s good enough to call home, we say it’s at least even better to call for a weekend getaway, right?
But the PR problem has stopped vacationers from thinking El Paso is a desert oasis, regardless of its award-winning hotels, new water parks, epic dining options and even a fun casino across state lines.
Either way, El Paso wants more visitors. In fact, it wants to run more – even international ones.
Old Orchard, Maine
If you’re craving quintessential New England without the summer crowds and price tag of Portland, little-known Old Orchard might be the place for you.
This little-known seaside town has an old-world feel that’s brimming with nostalgia for those who prefer simple pleasures to flashy resorts.
The historic pier, beachfront hotels and Palace Playland attractions make Old Orchard an ideal place to kick back and recharge, while other holidaymakers elsewhere complain about the lack of space.
The problem Old Orchard has isn’t that it isn’t attractive; it’s that a majority of Canadians stop visiting, leaving a gap in previously guaranteed bookings.
The result is that companies are to widen their net and targeting more American road trippers with the aim of replacing cross-border visitors by selling the city as an easy, affordable getaway at a time when rising airfares could make classic beach destinations more attractive the old-fashioned way.
