Image via Complex Original
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are all great destinations for your next vacation, but why not try a town that might be a little less traveled? There are endless things to see in our great country and you’ll find gems in places you never thought to look. Great food, strong locally-made beers, hiking trails, and handsome hotels are just a few of the draws. So grab a plane ticket, fill up your tank, and head out to some of the best cities in the United States that transformed into must-visit destinations this year.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Grand Rapids is a small city, home to lots of young people who have opened galleries, restaurants, and bars. You’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from Lake Michigan, which, as we all know, isn’t an ocean. But if you’ve ever stood at its shores, it might as well be. And don’t forget to stop in at Marie Catribs for the “Larry David,” a wild rice and lentil burger topped with spicy tomato jam.
Terlingua, Texas
Now that Marfa, the small art community in the middle-of-nowhere southwest Texas, has their own Urban Outfitters shirt, it might be time to see another Trans Pecos attraction. Terlingua, the ghost town at the edge of Big Bend National Park, an hour drive south of Marfa, is home to art galleries, a desert farmer’s market, and one of the best breakfast burritos you’ll ever eat in your life (Espresso y Pocos Mas). This just might be the next big (or small) thing to hit the Lone Star State.
Oakland
San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the country, which has resulted in a lot folks moving across the Bay Bridge to Oakland. Many of young creatives have ended up in Temescal, a neighborhood with restaurants, bars, and great shopping. The Temescal Alley, a hidden alley right off of Telegraph Avenue, houses a barber shop, great clothing and jewelry, artisan donuts and more. It’s a neighborhood within a neighborhood and a meeting place for many of the local crowd. If you’re there for the day, make sure to skip the mile long lunch line at Bakesale Betty’s and save room for dinner at Pizzaiolo.
Barryville, N.Y.
If you’ve ever taken a day trip to Woodstock or Phoenicia, a mere 2.5 hour drive from New York, it’s likely that you’ll run into a lot of New Yorkers in Zipcars. If you want a new scene, with just as much beauty and a little less city, drive two hours in the other direction to Barryville, a small town in Sullivan County right on the majestic Delaware River. Relax by the water while watching a few bald eagles fly overhead, go on a hike, then hightail it up to Henning’s Local for dinner. When you’re done, stay at the Stickett Inn, a beautifully renovated building on the main drag.
Key West, Fla.
Key West has always been a tourist destination, but most people associate the tiny island with Hemingway’s cats and Jimmy Buffett. Those things are there, sure, but there’s a lot more to see and do. Flying to Miami from New York is always inexpensive, so grab a ticket, rent a car, and take the scenic drive down south for some sun when the cold of January and February start creeping in. Once you’re in Key West, you can ditch the car and rent a bike for all your transportation. There’s great seafood, lively bars (see the drag show at La Te Da), and wildly-picturesque beaches. Don’t go shopping or step foot on the main drag. Instead, spend your time wandering the European-looking streets with Key West green houses, contemplating how this tiny little community exists in the United States. Then hop on a jet ski and go crazy.
Elko, Nev.
Ever heard of Elko? No, we didn’t think so. Not many people have, but Elko is home to one of the best festivals our country has to offer, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. And that’s reason enough to fly to Salt Lake City and drive a few hours east. 2014 is the 30th anniversary of the gathering, which happens every January, attracting cowboy poets and musicians from around the country. It’s one of the craziest fashion shows you’ll ever lay eyes on, and it’ll get you out into a part of this country you’ve most likely never seen.
Astoria, Ore.
We all love Portland, but it seems as though that’s all we know of Oregon. Why not go and see some more of the Pacific Northwest state? Go east and you’ll hit desert, a major attraction to some; but if you go northwest, you’re bound to hit Astoria, a tiny town on the mouth of the Columbia River. Young people have been moving there for years, which means good food, bars, and since you’re in Oregon, lots of brewpubs. Take in some of the scenery, see a show at the Voodoo Room, then lay your head down at the Commodore Hotel.
North Conway, N.H.
Long trail hiking was in the spotlight last year with the release of Wild, Cheryl Stayd’s mega-popular account of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. For those of you on the East Coast, getting to the PCT isn’t easy, so take a pilgrimage to the United States’ original long distance trail, the Appalachian Trail. Considered by many to be the most beautiful part of the entire 2,000-plus miles, New Hampshire’s White Mountains are a perfect place to spend a weekend full of physical activity. North Conway is the outdoor hub of the whites, home to restaurants, brew pubs, and a lot more. After a dip into the basement of IME (International Mountain Equipment), home to one of the greatest outdoor-consignment shops in the world, and an afternoon huffing and puffing up the mountain, relax with a few beers at Moat Mountain Brewery. Live free or die, right?
Oklahoma City
When Oklahoma City was rated as one of the fattest cities in America a few years ago, the city took action. It’s now a mecca for those looking for outdoor activity while traveling the country. There are 70 miles of trails, kayaking, Rocktown, a grain elevator turned rock climbing gym, and the nearby Wichita Mountains, one of the oldest ranges in the United States. And if getting your heart rate up isn’t your ideal activity while away from the office, then dive in and eat some of the country’s best beef and drink beers at the Coop Ale Works.
Asheville, N.C.
Asheville’s “cool factor” is nothing new, and you’ll rarely find a person who has visited the town who doesn't have a laundry list of good things to say. Asheville is deep in the hills, smack dab in the Blue Ridge Mountains to be exact, something you’ll notice immediately upon arrival. There are loads of young people in the town, which makes for endless amounts of good, innovative food, breweries galore, and outdoor activity. Try Plant, a nice dinner spot on Merrimon Avenue, just north of downtown for one of the best dinners in North Carolina. You won’t even notice it’s vegan.
