Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Someone ranked the most underrated U.S. tourist attractions — here are the top 20

Under-the-radar places to visit that are totally worth your time

BethAnn Mayer
By

Spring break is around the corner. If you can’t get away on a moment’s notice, there’s always summer vacation. The list of places to visit is endless and perhaps a bit overwhelming.

Some of the country’s most notable tourist attractions may be on your bucket list: The White House, Disney World (it’s not just for kids), and the Walk of Fame. However, maybe you’ve already been to these year-round hot spots numerous times. You may also not want to deal with crowds, lines, and traffic during your summer vacation.

Recommended Videos

One travel blog is helping vacationers narrow down the list of places to visit by spotlighting the most underrated tourist attractions in the U.S. Consider these under-the-radar tourist attractions for your adventuring bucket list.

Related
washington dc cherry blossoms

About the list of underrated (and overrated) tourist attractions

The folks at Hawaiian Islands, a luxury beach rental company, poured through more than 17,000 TripAdvisor reviews for places to visit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They analyzed the reviews and ranked them based on the number of reviews that tabbed the destination as “overrated” or “underrated.”

It sounds like a ton of work, but the folks at Hawaiian Islands did it — and you, and your vacation plans, can benefit from it.

A busy airport with people getting in line at check in.
Phil Mosley/Unsplash

The 20 most underrated tourist attractions in the U.S.

Hawaiian Island notes that nearly 25 million people visited Washington, D.C., in 2019. The usual suspects got a ton of foot traffic: The White House, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Monument. There are reasons these tourist attractions are so popular — they represent history and history in the making. However, the Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens earned the top spot on Hawaiian Islands’ list.

The former home of socialite, philanthropist, and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post has a notable collection of decorative arts, including Fabergé eggs (jeweled eggs). Outside, the orchids are considered some of the most gorgeous you’ll ever see. Here’s the complete list of underrated spots:

  1. Hillwood Estate, Museums & Gardens, Washington, D.C.
  2. National Postal Museum, Washington, D.C.
  3. Richard H. Driehaus Museum, Chicago, Ill.
  4. Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
  5. Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, N.J.
  6. The Morgan Library & Museum, NYC
  7. Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  8. Japanese Tea Gardens, San Antonio, Texas
  9. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, N.D.
  10. Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco, Calif.
  11. Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, Fla.
  12. National Museum of World War II Aviation, El Paso County, Colo.
  13. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, Fla.
  14. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Philadelphia
  15. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Broward County, Fla.
  16. Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, Las Vegas, Nev.
  17. Tohono Chul, Tuscan, Ariz.
  18. Lion Habitat Ranch, Henderson, Nev.
  19. The Met Cloisters, NYC
  20. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Seattle, Wash.

You can also check out their list of overrated attractions. Where will your travels take you next?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
BethAnn Mayer
BethAnn Mayer
Contributor
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
All 23 Six Flags theme parks in the U.S., ranked
Which Six Flags theme park is your favorite in the whole United States?
A view of the Riddler Revenge ride at Six Flags New England

Six Flags is one of the most famous names in the theme park game in the U.S. (if not the world), thanks to its catchy commercial song. Every Six Flags park offers a multitude of exhilarating rides and attractions that put these destinations at the top of the list for thrill-seekers and families everywhere.

Here, we’ve ranked all 23 of the Six Flags parks in America and explained why. Ranking them wasn't an easy task, but hopefully, this list will guide you to the best destinations for all the thrill and excitement you're seeking. Let's ride!
17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
In late 2018, Six Flags announced that it would take over the operations of Magic Waters, which had been operating since 1984. The long-lived water park, while well-loved by the surrounding community, is pretty small, and it wasn't originally built as a Six Flags park. Now it's officially a Hurricane Harbor, and we can hardly wait to see what Six Flags has in store for Rockford in 2023.
Book Now

Read more
Here’s yet another reason to avoid Florida beaches this year
You'll want to skip Florida beaches for your vacation this year when you hear about this
The beach with waves in the background and a bunch of seaweed all over the beach.

It's always Florida, isn't it? Anytime someone makes the headlines for the wrong reason, it happens in Florida. This time, the bad news has to do with Florida beaches. No, it's not hurricanes or shark attacks — you have to worry about something else ruining your beach vacation this year. It's called the Atlantic sargassum belt, and when it reaches our shores, it has been known to wreak havoc on local ecosystems and local tourism — and it doesn't smell pretty.

What the stink's about
This isn't the first time Florida (and other beachy tourist destinations ) have had to deal with sargassum but, according to NPR, Florida's looking at a massive problem this year. The blooms of seaweed have been tracked since 2011, with areas like Guadeloupe, the Yucatan Peninsula, and various Caribbean Islands being affected.

Read more
There’s a new list of best airports, and this is the only U.S. airport on it
The best - and only - U.S. airport to make the world's top 20 list is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
seattle tacoma international airport is best in the us seatac

Everyone has their whole set of rules and preferences when flying. Some of us just want to get on that plane and get the heck to our destination. Others prefer to fly through airports that offer other things to do before they board their flight. If you are one of those who love to fly out of the top airports because you make a whole experience of it, book your next flight through one of these top airports in the world.

The top 3 best airports in the world
The rankings were recently released by aviation rankings organization Skytrax. Rankings are always a little subjective, as everyone has different qualities they want an airport to have, but these top airports were crowned at the World Airport Awards.
Singapore Changi Airport
The Singapore Changi Airport has been named the best airport for the 12th time, so it's safe to say they know what the public wants. Not only do they stay one of the top airports in the world, but they also took home top honors for World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities and World’s Best Airport Dining.
Hamad International Airport
The Hamad International Airport might feel a little wounded coming in second this year, as they won top honors the last two years. But they did take home other number-one spots for Best Airport in the Middle East, Cleanest Airport in the Middle East, and World’s Best Airport Shopping.
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
The Tokyo International Airport rounds out the top three, but it also won World’s Best Domestic Airport, Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities, and maybe the most important (to the public) award, World’s Cleanest Airport.

Read more