Amid prolonged airport chaos and rising oil prices, you may be unsure if you should book your summer travel yet.
But you don’t have to fly overseas to see incredible sights — there are many far closer to home.
Better yet, many of them still fly under the radar.
While some travelers flock to the same photo-worthy beaches and mountains, there are plenty of lesser-known spots around the US that are just as memorable … without the crowds.
So whether it’s a more challenging hike, an extra 30-minute drive, or an off-the-beaten-track spot in a major city, these lesser-known destinations are well worth the effort to visit. Just don’t tell anyone.
Here are 25 unique travel destinations around the US.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers clear waters, kayaking, rock climbing, bird watching, fishing, and some great exploring.
The picturesque spot is just as beautiful in the winter, when visitors and locals can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
Thor’s Well in Cape Perpetua, Oregon
Thor’s Well is a large hole in a rock that constantly drains water from the ocean.
During high tide, ocean water rushes through the hole, creating a fairly dangerous site. Because the waves are so aggressive, photographs of the scene are rare, making this site fairly unknown.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
About 30 minutes outside New Orleans, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve protects Louisiana’s Mississippi River Delta region.
Paths are built-in, and visitors can stroll through the swamps, where alligators swim past your feet. Trees and plants fill the swamp water, giving off the illusion of a grassy field and creating the ideal environment for unique southern wildlife.
Fly Geyser in Gerlach, Nevada
Located on Fly Ranch Property, these two geysers are a product of a man-made accident.
In 1964, a well was drilled, but eventually, work stopped once they reached geothermal boiling water. Apparently, the well was sealed, but the seal didn’t keep, resulting in a super natural-looking mound that continues to grow.
The green and red colors come from the thermophilic algae, which illuminates in a moist and hot atmosphere. The geyser can be viewed during nature walks held between April and October.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
About 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a secluded getaway spot. The only way to the island, which is home to the 19th-century Fort Jefferson, is by ferry or seaplane.
Upon arrival, visitors can explore the fort, take in the tropical views, and enjoy the peaceful, remote, blue-water beaches on the island.
Fern Canyon in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
The hike to Fern Canyon isn’t easy, which keeps this hidden paradise quiet and fairly unpopulated.
Unlike most dry canyons out west, Fern Canyon has seven different types of ferns attached to the rocks, with an abundance of salamanders and frogs living underneath. Weave through the canyon using the footbridges, where you’ll pass by different waterfalls and creeks as the canyon begins to close in on you.
Mildred B. Cooper Chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas
Sun streams through the Mildred B. Chapel, made up of 15 arches that reach over 50 feet into the air.
The chapel is transparent, which makes the interior feel different depending on the changing weather and seasons. Secluded on a wooded hilltop, visitors and locals enjoy meditating and reflecting inside and around the peaceful forest.
National Lakeshore Ice Caves on Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
The National Lakeshore ice caves come out when the temperature is just right — and they’re closed when conditions are dangerous — so this might be one to save for your winter travels.
It has to be cold enough for visitors to delicately tread across Lake Superior, but the trek is well worth it. The red sandstone cliffs are dripping with massive icicles that sparkle in the sun. Tourists need the correct gear to make the hike, which makes this site fairly undiscovered and empty.
Mendenhall Ice Caves in Alaska
Tucked away within Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier are stunning blue ice caves that glow.
Located 12 miles from Juneau, seeing the caves is only possible when conditions allow, with guided hikes available for those who prefer. The ice caves, with their shimmering blue hues and intricate ice formations, provide a unique experience, allowing visitors to enter a frozen world unlike any other.
Taggart Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Hiking the Taggart Lake Trail takes you away from the crowds and tourists.
The trail opens into a glistening (and cold) Taggart Lake, offering a clear reflection of the Grand Tetons on the water. This hidden treasure also awards hikers with picturesque views of the American West and the opportunity to spot some incredible wildlife.
Soldier Pass Trail in Sedona, Arizona
The red rocks in Arizona may be fairly known, but the opportunity to see them in the wintertime is entirely different.
Most tourists are used to photos of the red rocks under the hot Arizona sun, but to see them covered in a light dusting of snow and bursting with pine trees is truly unique.
White Sands National Park in New Mexico
White Sands National Park in New Mexico features a beautiful landscape of white dunes, with some towering up to 60 feet high.
Uniquely composed of gypsum crystals, it is the largest gypsum desert on Earth. Visitors can explore the surreal terrain through hiking, sledding, or scenic drives.
The Met Cloisters in New York City
The Met Cloisters offer a taste of Europe in the heart of New York City.
This unique museum is housed in four medieval cloisters, including pieces from France that were carefully dismantled, transported across the globe, and reconstructed in Manhattan. These days, they serve as the home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval art and architecture collection, providing a serene escape filled with history and beauty.
Blue Lakes Trail in Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado
The Blue Lakes Trail should be on the top of everyone’s list if you ever find yourself traveling through Colorado.
The trail winds through wildflower meadows and leads you to three lakes: lower, middle, and upper. Lower lake is the easiest to get to and has flat space where hikers can choose to spend the night, but the middle and upper lakes offer the best 360 views of the entire glacial basin.
Grand Prismatic Spring at the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming
The Grand Prismatic Spring, nestled in Yellowstone National Park‘s Wyoming area, is the largest hot spring in the US and the third-largest globally.
Its vibrant, rainbow-like colors are produced by heat-loving microbes that thrive in the 160-degree Fahrenheit waters. The hot springs are a perfect example of beauty best admired from a distance.
Taos Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico
The Taos Pueblo is one of the few Native American sites that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The buildings have been inhabited for over 1,000 years and are constructed entirely out of straw, water, and the grounds of the earth to form a mixture called adobe. The site lies about a mile north of modern Taos and is an important destination to check out on any road trip through the West.
Abiqua Falls in Marion County, Oregon
Abiqua Falls Trail is a difficult trail, but the payoff is enormous.
Hikers can enjoy a leisurely nature hike that ends almost directly across from the top of the waterfall, giving them a fantastic view looking down into the bright swimming hole. However, more daring hikers will continue the very physical descent down the dirt-covered rocks, where they can plunge into freezing cold water and enjoy the seclusion for hours.
Mount Scott Hiking Trail in Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater Lake National Park is a popular national park, but hiking is a great way to get off the beaten path and take in 360-degree views.
The challenging, seemingly never-ending switchbacks on Mount Scott Hiking Trail make this hike less-populated than others, and the few who reach the top earn a quiet lookout point all to themselves.
Tennessee Valley in Marin County, California
Close to San Francisco, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is the Tennessee Valley Hiking Trail, which offers breathtaking sunset views and opens onto a secluded beach.
Most tourists head towards Marin headlands and completely miss this hike and beach access, bringing the lucky ones peace and quiet.
Mount Washington in Coös County, New Hampshire
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeast, and a unique way to summit the peak is via the Cog Railway.
An hour to the top, this historic railway ends with a 360-degree view of Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, and five different states. Take the train in early fall and you’ll weave through the brightly colored trees and leaves that make New England autumn so famous.
Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Hocking Hills State Park has seven main hiking areas, and Cedar Falls is a must-visit.
The trail itself is only a half-mile long and perfect for kids of all ages. It ends with a whimsical waterfall plunging over moss-covered rocks and surrounded by huge trees. Because the trail is so short, it’s a great spot to have a picnic or spend an afternoon relaxing.
Mohegan Bluffs Beach on Block Island, Rhode Island
Thirteen miles off the coast of Rhode Island and itself about 9 miles long, Block Island offers beaches, hikes, and endless exploring. As tourists flood the island on the daily ferry, the main beaches quickly fill up.
But a rugged hike down the breathtaking Mohegan Bluffs opens up to a more private beach built into the rocks. Plus, locals say rubbing the dark mud from the rocks onto your skin makes for a perfect exfoliant.
Grace Farms in New Canaan, Connecticut
Grace Farms is approximately 80 acres of open meadows, woods, and ponds.
A quick drive away from New York City, visitors can stroll through the property and modern architecture, experiencing a rare few moments of peace and quiet.
Jekyll Island, Georgia
The southernmost of Georgia’s Golden Isles, a series of barrier islands off the coast of Brunswick and Darien, Jekyll Island is a quiet destination halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville.
The island features a 250-acre historic district, including the once-exclusive Jekyll Island Club, a Gilded Age getaway for wealthy families. Visitors can also explore the island’s beaches, including the picturesque Driftwood Beach.
Glen Canyon, Utah
Over 1.25 million acres across Utah and Arizona, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses many breathtaking views of natural canyon formations and the human-made Lake Powell reservoir.
These Utah canyons are a popular boating and hiking destination for those looking for amusement, with picturesque formations like Horseshoe Bend and Rainbow Bridge offering unique views of the Glen Canyon.
Editor’s note: This story was first published in January 2020 and was most recently updated in March 2026.
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