5 exciting, offbeat places to travel to, in the USA this year
There is so much more to the United State of America than just The Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas and Hollywood. On your next visit to the country, discover these lesser-known places of one of the largest countries in the world
By Team Ivorystation
Rhode Island. Photo Credit Visit the USA
1. Rhode Island: explore the stunning beauty of the US’ smallest state
The vast golden beaches and grand historic mansions, fresh seafood and boutique wineries make Rhode Island a top pick for 2023. Just an hour from Boston via Amtrak, Newport is home to summer cottages perched atop pretty cliffs, once owned by famous US families such as the Astors, Rockerfellers and Vanderbilts. Visitors here can experience the scenic Cliff Walk, which explores the natural beauty of the shoreline with the architectural heritage of The Gilded Age and gives you a glimpse of the mansions that have served as backdrops for films like The Great Gatsby and HBO Max’s new series The Gilded Age. After leaving Newport, head to South County for a tour of Rhode Island’s stunning coastline and explore the quaint, quintessential village of Watch Hill. Look out for Taylor Swift’s coastal retreat, overseeing the Little Narragansett Bay or stop for a champagne cocktail on the veranda of the historic beachfront hotel, Ocean House.
Cincinnati; Photo Credit Steve Zeinner and VisitCincy
2. Cincinnati, Ohio: a collection of charming neighbourhoods
Winding along the Ohio River, Cincinnati has a collection of charming neighbourhoods from Over-the-Rhine (OTR) to the Riverfront and from Downtown to Mount Adams which have a rich architectural, cultural and culinary heritage. The eclectic OTR is a foodie’s paradise with a selection of local restaurants, bars, breweries and markets, including Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest farmers’ market and one of the top 10 food markets in the world.
Downtown is for art lovers and is home to some of the best cultural centres and galleries as well as over 50 murals including the one celebrating astronaut Neil Armstrong, an Ohio Native, and the Cincinnati Toy Heritage Mural showcasing some of the most popular toys made by Kenner Toys including the Care Bears and C3PO.
Sports enthusiasts should head straight to the regenerated Riverfront, home to celebrated NFL team, the Cincinnati Bengals and the MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds. It is also worth checking out the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a forerunner to the famed Brooklyn Bridge, NYC) for the best sunsets over the Ohio River.
Fort Worth; Photo Credit Travel Texas
3. Fort Worth, Texas: saddle up for a true western experience
Fort Worth blends cowboy charm and rich Western history with a dedication to urban renewal. Home to the world’s only cattle drive, the world’s largest honky-tonk and year-round rodeo, the city serves as the backdrop for TV hits 1883 and Yellowstone, starring Oscar and Emmy winner, Kevin Costner. There are plenty of familiar sights that will delight fans of the Wild West epic as they explore the famed Stockyards Historic District, the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, sip a cold brew in a saloon, and shop for a pair of personalised cowboy boots downtown in the charming 35-block Sundance Square. Just 30 minutes south of Fort Worth, experience an authentic guest ranch in Beaumont. The ranch offers almost endless outdoor sports like horseback trail rides, clay shooting, archery, extreme ATV tours, zip-lining, and cattle drives. Make sure to keep an eye out for local longhorns, wild horses and llamas.
Bodega Bay
4. Sonoma County, California: reconnect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors
Sonoma County in Northern California is well known as an award-winning wine region. It’s also home to more than 80 kilometres of dramatic Pacific Ocean coastline on the County’s western edge, inviting travellers to explore the great outdoors. Hikers can enjoy the five-kilometre Bluff Top Trail that winds from Gualala Point all the way to the beach. From November to March migrating whales can be seen from the shore. Visitors looking for a more casual beach amble can enjoy beachcombing or tide pooling at Shell Beach in Sonoma Coast State Park.
Further inland, Lake Sonoma beckons with opportunities to fish, swim, canoe or paddle board. Beyond the beach, Sonoma County is home to over 40 spas and wellness centres. Soak in a healing alchemy of a cedar enzyme bath, get the skin to refresh bespoke to the region with a Crushed Cabernet scrub, enjoy an al fresco massage or visit Sonoma Roots for a vitamin boost with B-12 shots.
Castle Rocks; Photo Credit Visit Idaho
5. Charleston, South Carolina: enjoy the beautiful blooms in hidden gardens
Charleston’s greatest attraction is unarguably the breathtaking garden blooms. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is the oldest public garden in America and the only plantation on the Ashley River that survived both the American Revolution and the Civil War.
Today, it is home to the last large-scale Romantic Gardens in the U.S., designed to transport you from the normality of everyday life to a tranquil escape. Every year in March and April, the historic Charleston Foundation invites botany enthusiasts to some of Charleston’s most exclusive private gardens, showcasing intricately designed and well-manicured ‘secret gardens’ that are usually off-limits to visitors.
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