15 Underrated U.S. Cities (That We've Actually Visited!)

When it comes to defining things as underrated, there’s something you should know about me before I launch into this very subjective list of cities around the United States.

I hate calling things overrated. I even dislike calling things underrated. It’s a silly measure of worth (or a lack of worth) that can be dispelled with one quick, “YOU’RE WRONG!” because it’s just that subjective.

It sure does get people talking, though, so here we are.

I want to know how mad this gets you. I want to know your favorite underrated U.S. cities that didn’t make the list, especially if I’ve never been. (It’s possible!)

Most importantly, I want to know whether you agree. That’s why we all do what we do, right? We want to hear, “You’re totally right. I love you.” Kudos is my love language.

Why me?

Brian and I have both been to all 50 states, most of the country’s major cities, and quite a few very random American destinations that you may have never been on your radar. Sometimes our pooch was in tow offering her two cents and style points as appropriate.

A woman gets a kiss from her dog in Salt Lake City.

This isn’t a list of the best of the best. San Diego isn’t on here because it’s properly rated in most people’s brains. It’s America’s Finest City because it very well may be.

You won’t see cities like Savannah on this list, despite what Buzzfeed may try to feed you, because most people will agree that Savannah is NOT underrated.

Note: Are they just using AI to publish whatever over there these days or what?

I’m going to give you the places that pleasantly surprised me. These are cities that I had few expectations for but delighted me anyway. Most are from our two years of nomad life around the country in between selling our home in San Diego and moving to France.

That means quite a few were the result of conversations that started with, “Heyyyy…this place is really cheap for the month of X!” That’s how we found ourselves in places like Tulsa, for example, with no regrets.

Sometimes choices made on budget were filled with regret, but we’ll get into that some other time. We’re being positive today.

Let’s dig into my favorite underrated cities around the U.S., in no particular ranking order other than that good ol’ ABC.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

A home that resembles a spaceship in Albuquerque

I’ve heard this one described as an “armpit,” and for that, I must come to its defense. Honestly, I don’t even need to work that hard because Albuquerque is great. Those desert landscapes are just the start of it.

This is New Mexico’s most delicious city with a blend of Native American, Hispanic, and modern influences that make up its food scene.

Pair that with its affordability, a big positive when I compare these places to some of my favorite big U.S. cities, and you have a recipe for really good times.

Albuquerque is also home to a rich hot-air ballooning history that I’ve sadly only experienced via the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

(The weather took a turn on the morning of our planned ride, which means I’ll definitely need to make my way back there.)

This city is quirky, a hub for art galleries and culture, and an excellent base for adventures elsewhere if you’re here for longer. If you want to linger in the city proper, though, I won’t blame you. I have some ideas for how you can spend your weekend there.

Anchorage, Alaska

If you’re visiting Alaska, you’ll probably start in Anchorage. It’s the gateway to adventures into the wilderness and the stunning scenery of places like Denali National Park. I urge you not to rush through the state’s most populous city, though.

Anchorage has a great beer scene and restaurants for you to indulge in while you’re surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet as your backdrop. The city also offers quite a few opportunities to understand the culture of Alaska.

Start at the Anchorage Museum. The second floor has exhibits on Alaska’s Native nations and a window into the world of the oil boom. If you’re here for the great outdoors, you don’t need to leave the city.

The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail offers views of the coast and wildlife spotting if you’re lucky.

One day is enough for the highlights if that’s all you have. Read my Anchorage itinerary to help you plan.

Athens, Georgia

Athens is known for being a college town as home to the University of Georgia, but if you’re old like me you don’t have to let that dissuade you. We visited on a trip from Augusta, one of our bases for a full month during our trip around the United States.

I wish we stayed in Athens, instead. Augusta was fine. We found plenty to busy ourselves with during our time there, and its proximity to golf was great for Brian. Athens was just more fun.

It has an excellent music scene, in part thanks to its connection to acts like R.E.M. and The B-52s. It has a great dining scene. (South Kitchen + Bar is one of my favorite brunch spots in the American South thanks to its Green Tomato Benny.)

It felt like it had a little more culture, too.

That’s often the case with college towns. They have to keep those young people entertained while still catering to old folks like us who also like having a good, delicious time. My guide to Athens has more on all of that if you’re already sold on a trip there.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I’m guilty of overlooking all kinds of Midwestern cities in our travels throughout the region. Being from Chicago, I spend a ton of time there. We’re also frequently bopping around Wisconsin to see Brian’s family.

It’s just hard for a place like Cedar Rapids to make the cut when you have a full plate of stuff on your Midwest to-do list. It took a while for Iowa to make the cut altogether, but we spent a full week in Cedar Rapids to make up for it.

Start with cultural pursuits like the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, home to several works by hometown hero Grant Wood. Learn about the city’s Czech influence in the Czech Village and New Bohemia District.

Fun fact: By “learn” I mean indulge in sweet treats at Sykora Bakery and drinks at Little Bohemia, the oldest bar in Cedar Rapids.

Stroll the Cedar River Trail as your introduction to downtown or some urban birdwatching or take a trip to nearby Iowa City, another Iowa gem. Check out my Cedar Rapids guide for more things to do.

Charleston, West Virginia

The version in South Carolina is excellent, but it’s hardly underrated. The West Virginia version, though, isn’t as common on travelers’ bucket lists. This Charleston boasts a great blend of culture, historical heft, and scenery, especially if you visit in the fall as we did.

We visited at the end of a trip through New England and I’m so glad we lingered here. This town is one of the friendlier travel destinations we’ve visited in the U.S.

Start by exploring the West Virginia State Capitol Complex with its impressive gold-domed capitol building. Walk Capitol Street, home to Black Sheep Burrito and Brews, the tastiest spot we visited during our stay there.

Note: They had blueberry wings on the menu when we popped in, but I didn’t see them at the time of this blog. It’s an error I hope is remedied soon!

If you’d like to get some steps in, we loved the Sunrise Carriage Trail, an easy nature stroll under a mile-and-a-half, and our walk across the Kanawha River Bridge. The city’s scenery was such a pleasant surprise.

Cleveland, Ohio

I’ve honestly become kind of annoying about Cleveland. I just think it rocks so hard, and I want everyone to give this place its due. We’ve been three times now and it’s still not enough. It will never be enough.

My Cleveland guide is pretty detailed as far as what you shouldn’t miss while you’re here. Highlights for me have to be the pierogi scene, the Tremont neighborhood, easy access to Cuyahoga Valley, and A Christmas Story House.

Yep. Cleveland is home to the house used in the filming of my favorite Christmas movie of all time. If you want to see goofy photos of us during our tour of the house, check out my guide to the holiday wonder.

This is a city that’s great no matter when you’re here, too. We’ve visited in the winter and thanks to our Midwestern upbringings, the snow didn’t stop us from having a great time. That’s what all of the museums are for, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fargo, North Dakota

A woman stands in front of a Fargo sign.

“But why” was a common refrain from folks confused about why we’d want to spend a full week in Fargo. Part of it was finding enough to do in North Dakota to tick the state off our list. Starting with the state’s largest city seemed to make the most sense.

Once we got there, we were surprised by the mix of culture, entertainment, and dining options in a city known for a fictional woodchipper.

My guide to the best of Fargo details all of our favorite stops from our trip there. Highlights included the free Fargo Plains Art Museum and Drekker Brewing Company for their smoothie-style beers. I’m easy to please.

I’m also easily impressed by public art, and Fargo is full of it. The #FargoMarioWall, Fargo Art Alley, and the Bob Dylan Mural across from Zandbroz Variety are all great representations of that.

Fort Collins, Colorado

A woman and her pup pose at a waterfall in Fort Collins.

If we had to choose a place to live in Colorado, it’d be Fort Collins, no contest. It’s even on our short list of places we’d live in after driving around the country for two years.

It made a huge impression on us, and only partially because we were in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a month.

Cheyenne was NOT one of our favorite places, but I have our stay there to thank for our numerous trips to Fort Collins to escape the town.

Once you get to Fort Collins, it’s easy to fall in love with it. As a gateway to the Rockies, outdoor enthusiasts will have plenty to do in the way of hiking, biking, and fishing. We loved the trails at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space enough to visit the park twice.

Downtown Fort Collins is so charming that some of the buildings were used to inspire Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. This town is a fairytale is what I’m saying.

My guide gets into more things to do in Fort Collins, including the best breweries. There is A LOT of good beer here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

I have quite a bit of loyalty for the Midwest already, but Michigan holds a special place in my heart as a place of lots of good childhood memories and where we got engaged. Pure Michigan is alive within me!

While lakefront towns like Saugatuck are undeniably charming, we loved the vibes of Grand Rapids over anywhere else on our tour of the state.

The craft breweries and easy access to the lake helped, but there was something about Grand Rapids that just felt cooler. We felt like cool kids while we were there, and that’s not super easy to do when you’re just not that cool.

If you only have limited time in Grand Rapids, spend it at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. If you’re here on a sunny day just at the onset of fall, you’ll be treated to changing leaves and pumpkins on top of the impressive art.

The city has excellent eating, too. The Old Goat was our favorite, and not only because I love goats. Order anything with their tomato jam and you’ll see what I mean.

Houston, Texas

San Antonio often appears on these lists, but considering how thick it was with tourists on my last trip, that one has definitely arrived. It’s your turn, Houston.

Houston has a reputation for having some horrendous traffic. Since I’m from Chicago, that bit didn’t scare me off of a week-long stay there. My hometown is known for its legendary traffic jams, so I can navigate them with style and minimal cursing.

Once you get over the aggressive driving, you’ll uncover a delicious city that should be on more foodies’ radars. Our favorite afternoon was at the Houston Barbecue Festival where we sampled the absolute best of the best. We ate a lot of meat, maybe too much.

Houston is also a great city for couples. I was so inspired by places like the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace and The Menil Collection, a free art museum, that I put together a guide to Houston date ideas.

If you’re traveling solo, fret not. Everything we loved about Houston works well no matter how you’re traveling. If you’re a space nerd, for example, you’ll have to prioritize the Space Center Houston, naturally.

We are general nerds, so you better believe we made that one happen.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thanks to a pair of dear friends in South Milwaukee, we’ve been to Milwaukee A LOT. My list of favorite things to do in Milwaukee is long, but it all starts downtown.

That’s where you’ll find the Milwaukee Art Museum, impressive inside and out, and the Milwaukee Public Market.

Lakeshore State Park and Veterans Park are right there for waterfront strolls before you pose with the Bronze Fonz along the Milwaukee Riverwalk District.

If you want a complete taste of what Milwaukee is about, you’ll have to try the beer. Lakefront Brewery is a popular one for their beer and curds.

For a bit of history with your pint, tour the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery to understand why beermaking is so legendary here. Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block to keep the education going.

If I wasn’t from Chicago, I’d feel a real pull to give Milwaukee a shot long-term. It’s delicious, scenic, with a solid museum scene that offers plenty to do. Despite all we’ve done there already, we’re still not done with this one.

Mobile, Alabama

If you love New Orleans but can feel a little overwhelmed by all that goes on there, you may want to try Mobile on for size. We were lucky enough to spend a full week here to enjoy some of their Southern hospitality and eat our way through the city.

Fun fact: Mobile, not New Orleans, is known as the birthplace of America’s Mardi Gras.

I wouldn’t say Mobile embraces a constant party atmosphere like New Orleans, and that’s a good thing. Things move at a slower pace here best enjoyed by the water. Mobile is surrounded by water as it sits on the Mobile River at Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast.

To learn more about Mobile’s seat in history, visit the Mobile Carnival Museum or Colonial Fort Condé. To learn more about whether you’re lactose intolerant, visit The Cheese Cottage, quite possibly my favorite spot in the city.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A brewery inside of a church in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh looks like it’s seen some sh*t over the years. I mean that in the best way. It feels like a resilient city, much like my hometown Chicago. Dig in underneath and you’ll find a history rooted in its rise an industrial powerhouse. This is “Steel City.”

While it may be known for its role in America’s industrialization, we weren’t here for all of that. We were here for its museum scene. The Senator John Heinz History Center and The Andy Warhol Museum are two that you should prioritize on trips there.

Pittsburgh also has some impressive quirk. Dine and drink inside a deconsecrated church at The Church Brew Works. Tour the Trundle Manor to see the strangest, most macabre collection of what I’ll call “stuff” in the country. This city is weird and wonderful.

Salt Lake City, Utah

A man poses with his dog in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City is probably on the cusp of underrated cities. If you’re at all interested in skiing, this one is definitely either on your radar or in the rotation already. I’d still say it’s not at the top of the list for most travelers, even those visiting Utah.

Utah is home to what’s known as the Mighty 5. These five national parks — Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef — are some of the best in the country. That’s why they’re typically where most road trippers prioritize on trips to Utah.

You have to start somewhere, though. If you’re flying in, that’s probably Salt Lake City. Don’t breeze through this one. The parks are incredible, but the city offers quite a bit of outdoor adventure and great dining with easy access to the Wasatch Mountains.

We spent a full month there on a second trip and know we’ll be back. We’d even consider living there if it wasn’t for some political matters I don’t need to get into here. Read more about why we love Salt Lake City.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa was another budget-friendly option for a month-long stay during our time on the road. Admittedly, expectations were pretty low. I knew little about the place other than it sat inside a state along Route 66 that we’d often drive through on the way elsewhere.

That was a pretty close-minded view. Tulsa is great, and I totally get why young people have been taking the city’s money and moving there. (Tulsa Remote offers a $10,000 grant to eligible remote workers who move to and work from Tulsa.)

The Art Deco history is impressive but best enjoyed underground with Jeffrey and his crew over at Tulsa Tours. The music scene is rich as evidenced by the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie archives here.

The most impactful experience, though, was the Real Black Wall Street Tour. If you don’t know much about the Greenwood District and the Tulsa Race Massacre, I can’t blame you. It’s not taught consistently (or at all) across the country.

Tours, led by Chief Egunwale Amusan, a descendant of three survivors of that event, run long but necessarily so.

You’ll learn about historic markers around town, the context around what happened, and what could have been along the once-thriving Black Wall Street. I get into all of that and more in my detailed guide to Tulsa.

A Few More Honorable Mentions

I honestly love talking about my favorite this and that because someone will always get all wound up about it. A list of 15 is only so long. It’s literally only 15 spots.

Had I made this one longer, here are a few more places we’ve enjoyed visiting over the years that might be considered underrated:

Buffalo, New York
Charlotte, North Carolina
Columbus, Ohio
Kansas City, Missouri
Little Rock, Arkansas
Madison, Wisconsin
Montpelier, Vermont
Omaha, Nebraska
Providence, Rhode Island
Reno, Nevada

What’s your favorite underrated city?

I hope this list has sparked a little something in you to take that day trip next time you’re in New York City or San Francisco. Heck, take a full weekend away in one of the cities I’ve highlighted for a really good time.

Sometimes the less-traveled just haven’t been discovered yet, although I’m not sure I want some of these spots to get any trendier.

If you’ve had a good time here, there’s always more where that came from.

Popular isn’t bad. Here are a few guides for popular U.S. cities:

Here are a few underrated national parks while we’re at it:

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15 Underrated U.S. Cities (That We’ve Actually Visited!)