Are you planning on embarking on a family trip to somewhere in the United States? 

 

If so, you currently have no shortage of options. The United States is one of the largest countries in the world, with a vast array of different cities, geographical regions, and so on. 

 

If you were to ask most people what the top travel destinations in the United States are, most people would probably cite Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City as top options.

 

But if you’re looking for a city that is a bit more off-the-beaten-path, read on. Here are the top five most overlooked travel destinations in the United States:

 

 

St. Augustine is a city in northeastern Florida, and holds the distinction for being the oldest city in the United States, being founded all the way back in 1565. The city is also noted for its very distinctive Spanish architecture–it’s a visual feast. For example, the 17th century Castillo de San Marcos fortress is one of the oldest buildings still standing in the country.

 

Another notable feature about St. Augustine, and another big reason for its strong tourism industry, is the fact that it has a reputation for being one of the most haunted cities in the world, thanks to the St. John’s County Jail. There are legends that the jail, which is now defunct, is haunted by the former inmates. 

 

If you’re looking for a place in the southeastern United States that will be great to take your family for lodging, dining, shows, walks on the beach, and so on, you’ll want to strongly consider Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

 

Myrtle Beach truly is a tourist’s paradise. You can relax on the beach, visit the Ripley’s Aquarium, meander around Broadway on the Beach (an outdoor shopping and entertainment center), explore the Family Kingdom Amusement Park, eat at fantastic restaurants, or go for an evening walk on Boardwalk by the ocean. 

 

Albuquerque has plenty of fun things to dom from art galleries to cafes to breweries to fiestas…and so on. That’s also not to mention the numerous RV, camping sites, and hiking trails that surround the city virtually on all sides. 

 

Notable things to do in the city itself include the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (where over five hundred balloons are launched into the sky at once), visiting the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, hiking at the Petroglyph National Monument, or visiting Old Town, which is modeled off of an Old West style town with narrow streets and adobe houses that are more than a hundred years old each.

 

Another excellent city to visit in the southwestern United States is Sedona. Most people who go to Arizona go for one of two reasons: Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Both are great places to visit, but Sedona is too often overlooked. 

 

This is because crowds (and hotel prices) will be heavy at both Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Sedona, meanwhile, is a bit less crowded and cheaperm while still having lots to do. Not only is the scenery in Sedona absolutely beautiful, but you can also go hiking across numerous hiking trails in the area, visit the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross and Sedona Heritage Museums, or visit any of the various yoga festivals or highly reputable spiritual development workshops that are held in the area. Love music? Visit in early September for the world-renowned Red Rocks Music Festival.

 

If you decide to take your family to Texas, exploring San Antonio is a must. There’s just no city in Texas (or the entire country for that matter) that is so rich in history while also having plenty of trendy restaurants, shops, galleries, and so on. In San Antonio, you can check out the Alamo and UNESCO World Heritage Spanish missions, head down the San Antonio River Walk, attend the Six Flags Fiesta, or explore the Natural Bridge Caverns. 

 

 

Of course, there are many other incredible cities and travel destinations throughout the United States as well, so don’t think that you should be limited to only these five choices. What is your favorite destination in the US?