It was sponsored by a travel company.
Travelers from all walks of life want to go to the U.S. to chase the American Dream. It's not easy to choose a cool place to visit in the US.
With a country that has 50 states, over 400 national parks, vibrant cities, charming small towns, and endless festivals, how do you narrow it down to just a few?
We come in that way.
There are hundreds of places that could have made this list, but we haven't traveled to many of them yet.
This list of cool places to visit in the US is based on our own travel experiences and recommendations so you can plan an itinerary that combines all the best parts of America.
You won't find typical tourist destinations such as Miami Florida and Universal Studios on this list. The focus has been on small town charm, cultural uniqueness, and stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures.
We've tried to keep it as authentic as possible, even though there will be some icons in the USA.
We collaborated with our sponsor, Allianz Travel, who wants you to have a great vacation and let them take care of your money.
New York and its Central Park and San Francisco and its Golden Gate Bridge are places that we want to steer away from.
Washington DC, the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument are not included in the list. We didn't go to the Grand Canyon National park.
What's the reason? They don't need to. We recommend all travelers to visit the US's epic bucket list attractions, but we wanted to highlight the hidden gems in this list.
You can easily add these places to your US road trip itineraries if you know where to look. It's perfect for weekend getaways or longer vacations.
The list will be organized by cities and small towns and then national parks. You can pick places based on what you like to do.
The small towns and cities will be the first to be listed. The places we felt gave an authentic American experience to travelers have interesting cultures.
One of America's hidden gems is what we're going to start with. I was a little concerned that it would be a kitschy tragedy.
I was surprised by it.
It is a tourist attraction with a lot of soul and a small taste of Germany. You are able to wear lederhosen while doing so with a few pretzels, bratwurst, and steins.
The village used to be a logging village. The community decided to turn it into a mini-Bavaria after it took a turn for the worse.
It has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Washington.
The town has restaurants, bars, breweries, cideries, and local stores.
It is located at the base of the Cascade Mountains and on the Wenatchee River, which makes it a great location for whitewater rafting, hiking, and tube floating.
When the village is transformed with over 500,000 Christmas lights, live music, Santa Claus visit, and usually a blanketing of snow, winter is supposed to be an unforgettable experience.
One of the best small towns in America is Gruene Texas, which is only a three-street town.
The Gruene dance hall was the center of community life when it was a cotton industry town.
Live music and dance gatherings have been held at Gruene Hall since the 19th century. Willie Nelson, Hal Ketchum, and George Strait are just a few of the legends who have played.
It's one of the best places to visit in the US because it's nothing fancy. Bring your copyboy hat and boots and have a good time.
You can even hang out in the beer garden. There is a lot of space for kids to play.
You should visit more of the Texas Hill Country while in Gruene.
There is a general store with a soda and ice cream bar on the street.
Watching the colors light up behind the water tower and sunset from your fire pit seat is a special experience. It's even better if there is live music in the background.
Raleigh has been included on a list of cool places to visit in the US for a long time.
Raleigh was the place we chose to live if you were a new reader. It's that cool.
The City of Oaks is an urban landscape filled with trees and parks.
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of growth, and with that, a cool influx of modern and local restaurants, bars, and retail stores.
Brewery Bhavana was named one of the world's most beautiful breweries and some of the best chefs in the country have moved here.
The best food I have eaten in the USA has to be at the Laotian restaurant next door.
The gateway to some of North Carolina's stunning nature sites is Raleigh. It is worth a stop on an east coast road trip.
With its streets and squares draped in Spanish Moss, its cobblestone riverfront walk, Southern fusion cuisine, elegant and refined homes, and dark haunted history, it would have to be one of the cool small cities in the US.
The title of the world's friendliest city has been given to it. The USA town is all about relaxing and enjoying art and culture.
Thanks to the city's open container policies, you'll find abandoned properties reborn into craft breweries and contemporary art museums, as well as cool local shops and restaurants.
Yes, that's right. Take your go-cup of booze and leave.
If you ever get tired of wandering its squares and streets, there is also Tybee island nearby.
Boston has a different experience to big cities like New York City and Los Angeles.
Boston has a fascinating history and is a great place to visit. The locals are friendly and have fun.
One of the best things to do in Boston and the US is to go to a baseball game. You will not forget that. You can catch some of the game for free at the Bleacher bar.
The Boston Freedom Trail walking tour was great. It is a great way to learn about the history of the country. Cannolis and coffee can be found in Little Italy.
We spent one day in Franklin, Tennessee.
It's so easy to do since it's only 30 minutes from our favorite city in the USA. We will extend our visit to the Franklin for at least an overnight stay next time we visit.
Main street has boutiques that look like they stepped out of the 1800s. The old Southern buildings are draped in couture.
One of the best-preserved downtowns in North America is it.
The small town of Leipers Fork is close to Franklin.
There are legendary music nights at this location. It is possible that one of the famous Country musicians will jump on stage for an open mic night.
I love this area.
We think this is the most well known place.
New Orleans is one of the cool bucket list places to visit in the US because of its laid-back spirit. It may be the most unique, lively and delicious city in the US.
New Orleans has a lot to offer, including culture and soul, incredible food and music, history, charm, festival after festival, and all-around great people.
The French Quarter and the Garden District are good places to start discovering it. You can go further out and see the elegant plantation homes.
If you're interested in learning more about black history in America, you can take a Plantation tour.
New Orleans' food is one of the reasons it is one of the best places to eat in the US. The food is influenced by French, creole, and cajun culture.
There are a lot of cool festivals in New Orleans. We proved that you can have fun with children. It is a great time of the year in New Orleans.
New Orleans is a great place to live in the US.
Chicago is one of the most amazing places to visit in the US for people who want to see big cities. Chicago is not like New York or Los Angeles in that it is not overwhelming.
The city of Chicago is known for its art, architecture, and design. On St Patrick's Day they turn the river green and it doesn't harm the environment.
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the examples of the city embracing the arts. The original The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai is held in the Museum and is one of the greatest paintings of all time.
There is a restaurant on the top floor of the Space Needle that gives you a panoramic view of the entire city.
A popular sculpture in Millennium Park is 'The Bean'.
Chicago is one of the best places to find unique experiences in the US.
The Golden Gate Bridge, steep roads, and colorful buildings are some of the highlights of San Francisco. It is also home to a unique attraction called The Rock.
2 km off the coast of San Francisco, is the maximum security federal prison known as Alcatraz. It would be difficult for prisoners to escape since they would need to swim a long distance through the storms.
The island is still a popular tourist destination despite the prison closing in 1963. There were more than 300 inmates in this location. No prisoner wants to be sent there and the conditions were bad.
You should book your ticket before you go to avoid long lines.
These are the best places to visit in the US if you like nature.
There is a place in the USA that I like the most. Only a few places in the world have the magnetism of it.
You feel alive when you see the majestic red rock formations rising up from the valley floor. Your mind won't bother you until you leave again.
One of the best ways to experience the area is by walking. The area can be explored on a Jeep tour.
Take on the challenge of climbing up some of the rock faces for amazing views and to bring in the spiritual power and energy from the sedona vostroes. The feel-good vibe is due to the fact that there are four main sites here.
You will feel like you have entered the gates of heaven, where everything fades away from existence.
The Valley of Fire State Park is a great place to stop for gas on your US road trip. It is an easy day trip from Vegas that will allow you to get away from it all.
The Valley of Fire is small and can be explored in a day with a few short walks and a scenic drive. There is a trail called the Fire Wave Trail.
We recommend a guided tour to Valley of Fire if you want to take a break from casinos while in Vegas.
It's a good idea to drive through the North in the Lake Mead recreational area. It is one of the best drives in the US.
The lake is surrounded by mountains and cliffs.
There are names like Buffalo Head and Sleeping lady in the distance.
It's old. The time has come for something that is timeless. It's connected.
After arriving, I feel like I have lived here many times.
Like the oars on my paddle board, it moves slowly and rhythmically.
Lake Lure in North Carolina is where I like to live. My dream is to one day own a lake home here and spend my summers swimming in it. It is the place that can stop me from traveling.
There is an annual Dirty Dancing festival there, as well as parts of the movie being filmed there.
You should grab your partner and try the lift in the lake. I carried a watermelon in a short race.
I love going to the state park.
Redfish Lake is my favorite lake in the United States. Lake Michigan is one of the five great lakes in the US but we promise you hidden gems.
You will be going to a true gem without it being spoiled by tourists if you haven't heard of it.
You can see the clear waters from the nearby glaciers from the Sawtooth range. The five-mile lake is a great place to relax on the beach, swim, or kayak. We took a tour of the lake to learn more about it.
You can catch the boat shuttle from the other end of Redfish Lake, where no cars are allowed. Horse riding through the Sawtooth Mountains is a good alternative to hiking.
On the main beach area of the lake, you can find Redfish Lodge, which offers full-service dining, or their Lakeside Grill, which offers burgers and beverages next to the lake.
There is a shuttle service to the popular trailheads at the far end of the lake.
Stanley is said to be the most cold place in the USA. Redfish Lake is a great place to go for a summer vacation.
On your Utah road trip, you are looking at the state's big 4. There are four amazing national parks in this state.
The Grand Staircase-Escalante is not a top-level national park, but it does offer a lot of competition. I don't know if it's a national monument or not.
44 scenic drives, hidden waterfalls, undulating waves of colorful rocks, and adventurous hikes through narrow slot canyons are welcome.
The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12 runs through this area.
Lower Creek Calf Falls and Peek-a-Boo slot canyon are two of my favorite hikes.
The Lower Creek Falls are hidden in a sandy canyon and the slot spooky canyons offer a thrilling adventure of climbing, crawling and inching through narrow spaces.
Okay, so a popular place to visit in the USA that can't be left off is the national park. It is one of the best places to visit in the world.
If you are a nature lover you will love exploring the most beautiful places in the US all within a short distance of each other.
The last place we visited on our USA road trip was this area and we felt like we finished our trip with the best experiences. They said to save the best for last.
I can't think of a word to describe the place.
There are hot mud pits, steaming sulfur holes, geysers shooting off randomly and perfectly timed, grand canyons filled with waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife roaming around this volatile yet spectacular landscape.
It wasn't enough to soak everything in. It's recommended that you spend at least 7 days in the park.
You will not understand how cool this supervolcano is until you experience it firsthand. There is nothing like it.
The cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome are some of the best rock climbing spots in the world.
The rock spires are the result of hardened ash, lava and debris rising above the river.
Smith Rock State Park is located in central Oregon.
It is a well-known location for rock climbing. The pros scale up the Monkey Face outcropping, which is frightening. The views here will affect you.
It was one of the prettiest views I have ever seen in America.
The Misery Ridge loop trail is one of the 12 official hiking trails at Smith Rock State Park. The first 30 minute climb up the Smith Rock Tuft could be described as miserable.
The views that you have will make it all okay.
Nearby Bend has a volcanic history, a river for tubing and whitewater surfing, and many outstanding beers.
I know Waikiki and the North Shore get a lot of Hawaii air time, but I prefer the Big Island of Hawaii.
It has volcanoes active with bubbling lava, beautiful waterfalls in the middle of the jungle, green colored beaches and the chance to swim in the night.
Is it cooler than that.
You won't find anything like this anywhere else in the world. There are lava caves and lava forests, as well as black sand beaches.
One of the most amazing places to visit in Hawaii is this island, which has been sculpted by volcanic activity.
There is a new state park in Utah called Sand Hollow.
It is racing up to the top of the cool places to visit in the US due to its stunning scenery and action adventures.
One of the best places in the country to ride a quad bike and ATV is here.
The scenery of red dirt, snow-covered peaks, and a brilliant blue lake is just as good as eating a slice of black forest mud cake. There is nothing to compare.
You can take a road trip to Zion National Park from Sand Hollow State Park.
If you want to visit somewhere off the beaten path, the Channel Islands are a great place to go.
The Channel Islands National Park is located about 70 miles north of Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast Highway.
In a state as popular as California, this is the least visited of the national parks.
Expect to find beautiful beaches, cliff faces, valleys and canyons for hiking, sea caves to explore on kayaks, plenty of sea lions popping their heads up, and small island mammals.
There are five islands in the Channel Islands National park.
Santa Cruz is the ideal island for a one-day trip. If you do the Island Packers Boat tour to Santa Cruz Island, we recommend you pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while you are there.
It isn't quite the rugged coastline you get of the Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea Beach, but it's peaceful. It's a side of California you don't know about.
This is a list of the best places to visit in the US with the most famous nature spot. You can't skip the mysteries of the Great Smoky Mountains for nature lovers.
Tennessee and North Carolina are part of the mountain range. The fog gives them their name.
The USA's largest salamander, the hellbender salamander, is found in this area, but their numbers are declining, so you would be very lucky to see them.
You can't describe the beauty of these mountains, they have to be seen to be believed.
You can find more than 150 official trails if you are a hiker. You can take a self-guided driving tour of the national park if you don't want to hike.
There are 21 of the best places to visit in the United States. There are a lot of hidden gems in the country that you might not know about.
I hope you find a few places that interest you and that this guide will help you plan your trip.
Before you embark on your American Dream adventure, be sure to check out the guides for more travel in the USA.
Do you need a car to get somewhere? Some car and RV rentals are recommended by us.
The post is sponsored by a travel company and we have received financial compensation as ambassadors.
What would you add to the list of cool places to visit in the US for 2020?
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