The USA is a big place. There are tons of cities, almost infinite numbers of small towns, and exceptional wild spaces, all in one big package. There's a lot to love. Have you ever thought about what your best of the US would be? Would it be the big, famous cities? Would it be the well known national parks? Whatever you may pick as your favorites, I think that we ought to take a step back, and reconsider what's great about all the un-famous places - a small towns like Dubuque, or a resort town, and even smaller, but still great, towns all over the US.
Two things got me thinking about this topic. First, I heard about one of Kelly's Australian friends taking Contiki's Best of the US tour...which consisted of Los Angeles, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York City. For me, this is by far NOT the best of the US. It's all too fake, too glitzy, and ignores too many great places. Secondly, Kelly went on her road trip and gave me a whole new view into some of the coolest cities in the West and Midwest, further solidifying the idea that some of the best places in the country to visit are the least famous ones. After all, it's not too often that you hear about Dubuque, Iowa in a movie or see a million dollar ad campaign for Sioux City in Conde Nast Traveler. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything worth finding in these smaller, lesser heralded places. You can discover great architecture, great food, and friendly people, all you have to do is go out and look for them.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be highlighting some great "un-famous" places that I think are worthy of a visit on your next trip. So, follow along with me, and then hop in the car and discover some of these great places for yourself.
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