Underrated Attractions in Every State You Should Be Visiting

Social media sites, and the people that post to them, often popularize certain locations, attractions, and activities throughout the world. Areas like Santorini, Greece, the Maldives, and Barcelona, or attractions like the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and Machu Picchu, have all received an influx of visitors hoping to capture the same excitement seen online. This has typically led to overcrowding in many areas. Yet, other spots that might be equally, if not more, travel-worthy have received little attention. Especially right in your own home country.

There are captivating and beautiful areas and attractions in the United States that may not be as well-known as other areas, like perhaps Central Park in New York, or Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, but they are every bit as worthy of visiting. There are fascinating histories behind many of these underrated attractions, like the Valley of the Moon, or natural creations like the Lost Sea (both listed below) that warrant some investigating.

To compile a list of the underrated attractions in every state you should be visiting, 24/7 Tempo consulted multiple travel guide websites, including Atlas Obscura. Whether you like roadside attractions, historical landmarks, or strange museums, the United States has an abundance of fascinating, beautiful, and sometimes strangely captivating sites to visit. (Visit these places before they become like these iconic world attractions that no longer exist.)

• State: Alabama
• City: Monroeville

The Old Courthouse Museum inspired Harper Lee's book "To Kill a Mockingbird," who, as a child, would sit in the courtroom and watch her father practice law. Before filming the book, a set was designed to look exactly like this courtroom. After "To Kill a Mockingbird" came out in the '60s, the courtroom was preserved as a museum, and visitors can enjoy exploring the entirety of the courtroom, along with two exhibits called "Truman Capote: A Childhood in Monroeville" and "Harper Lee: In Her Own Words."

• State: Alaska
• City: Nome

You will see plenty of wildlife at Serpentine Hot Spring, and you can also enjoy the spring's natural relaxing capabilities. This hot spring has been important for geological and cultural reasons for thousands of years. Additionally, the granite tors, created by volcanic magma and erosion, are striking natural wonders.

• State: Arizona
• City: Tuscon

Valley of the Moon was George Phar Legler's vision during the 1920s. He aimed to develop a fairytale-like place that emphasized kindness and imagination. Caves, pools, gardens, and statues contribute to this magical place. While alive, Mr. Legler would give tours woven together with magical stories, but now, the park has remained open only for private access and on specific days of the month.

• State: Arkansas
• City: Fort Smith

Fort Chaffee Barbershop is where Elvis swapped his trademark hair for the G.I. buzz cut when he enlisted in the army and put his music career on hold. Many fans admired his actions, and today, tourists can visit where Elvis sat that day. (Although it's currently closed, you can still visit the exterior of the building and Fort Chaffee itself).

• State: California
• City: Lee Vining

There are so many beautiful and interesting natural wonders in the world, some of which are in danger of disappearing. Mono Lake Tufa State National Reserve aims to protect one of those many wonders so that generations can enjoy it for years to come.

The Tufa towers are made of calcium-carbonate spires and knobs, features that began forming when the freshwater springs and alkaline lake water interacted with one another. While visiting the Mono Lake Tufa, tourists may witness the abundance of birds who choose the lake for a rest.

• State: Colorado
• City: St. Elmo

According to legend, "St. Elmo's population rode the last train out of town and never returned." Over a hundred years ago, in 1922, the train stopped running. Only a couple of decades later, the last family found their way out of the town, yet the town's history and pull remain for visitors.

Ghost towns are unique because they are filled with history, intrigue, and questions. Tourists can explore the Town Hall, Stark family residences, the Home Comfort Hotel, and more.

• State: Connecticut
• City: Cheshire

Gloria and Herbert Barker spent over forty years collecting childhood items to preserve memory and nostalgia. Today, the museum houses nearly 80,000 items that take adults back and pique young children's curiosity. This museum has so much nostalgia to delight anyone, from comic strips to the original Mickey Mouse watch.

• State: Delaware
• City: Wilmington

Fans of architecture and history will love strolling through the Nemours Estate Mansion which sits at 47,000 square feet and contains 77 rooms. Tourists can explore art, furniture, gardens, and a vintage automobile collection throughout the mansion and grounds. All while listening to fascinating historical stories.

• State: Florida
• City: Delray Beach

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens were started in the early 1900s by Jo Sakai and a group of pioneering farmers. Their goal was to experiment with a farming colony but the experiment failed in the 1930s, and the families left the community. All that remains are beautiful gardens and a unique museum full of incredible history.

The original building was Yamato-kan and includes an open-air courtyard, garden, and exhibition rooms. Along with over 7,000 Japanese artifacts, guests can take in the Japanese culture and history of the place.

• State: Georgia
• City: Greensboro

This old jail was constructed in 1807, with stone walls and a castle roof resembling a fortress, but it was far from a haven for those imprisoned there. You can still see the trap door above the threshold, where prisoners who were convicted to death were hung.

• State: Hawaii
• City: Hilo

When Mauna Loa Volcano erupted in November 1880, its lava flowed down the mountain near Hilo, Hawaii, resulting in the underground Kaumana Lava Tubes. The tunnels have a skylight hole resulting from a collapse that allows visitors to explore the tube. Of course, if you plan on going, bring your flashlight.

• State: Idaho
• City: Wallace

In 1910, drought, lightning, and train sparks contributed to the devasting forest fire in Wallace, Idaho, which burned three million acres of forest. Ranger Ed Pulaski saved most of the men on his crew when he led them to an inactive mine tunnel. To keep the men from leaving, he threatened to shoot them; his actions led to the survival of all but six of the 45 men with him that day.

• State: Illinois
• City: Vandalia

Visitors can pull off the highway in Vandalia, Illinois, and visit the 35-foot-long Kaskaskia Dragon, a metal statue that started as a fun project for Walt Barenfanger. If you insert a token, the Kaskaskia Dragon will shoot a flame and roar, and its eyes will glow red for ten seconds.

• State: Indiana
• City: Crawfordsville

In 1882, the first rotary jail was built, with around 18 jails. The purpose of a rotary jail was to minimize the contact security had to have with the prisoners. The cells could move on a central axis using a crank, bringing each cell to the enclosure opening. Rotary jails were discontinued because the limbs of inmates would become crushed during operation.

• State: Iowa
• City: Madison County

Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood made The Bridges of Madison County a tourist hotspot with the 1995 movie of the same name. Long before the movie and book came out, the bridges were incredible sites, surrounded by seclusion and peaceful nature. While there were initially 20 covered bridges in Madison County, there are now six bridges remaining.

• State: Kansas
• City: Meade

Between 1890 and 1892, an infamous gang of brothers, the Dalton Gang, stirred up trouble in Kansas. The brothers had a sister named Eva, and while the truth will never be known, many people believed she was hiding her brothers from the law. The story goes that when she left the house she had resided at for five years, the new owners discovered an underground tunnel that led from the house to the barn.

No one will ever know if this was where she hid her brothers but it makes for a fun story and an amusing pit stop while traveling. Tourists can walk through the underground tunnel, once dirt now made of stone, and learn more about the Wild, Wild, West.

• State: Kentucky
• City: Morehead

The Star Theater at Morehead State University is a state-of-the-art digital planetarium that seats around 100. The dome is 40 feet long and offers an incredible immersive experience. From traveling through space to deep down in the ocean, the Star Theater is an astonishing place to have a 3D adventure.

• State: Louisiana
• City: Monroe

The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens is a collection of all the things that the previous owner, Joseph A. Biedenhard loved. The museum was the residence of Biederharn, the first person to bottle the Coca-Cola drink. Later, his daughter owned the residence. She began allowing tourists to explore, and it is still going strong today.

• State: Maine
• City: Deer Isle

Deer Isle is a quaint Maine town that offers slow seaside living. Visitors enjoy many activities in the quaint town, including hiking, eating lobster, and taking guided boat tours.

• State: Maryland
• City: Oldtown

Oldtown's history is rich and fascinating. If you love learning about the past, this town is a great place to visit. It played a notable role during the Civil War and is steeped in history beyond that.

• State: Massachusetts
• City: Rockport

Houses are typically built from brick, concrete, stone, and wood but you don't see one built with paper very often. The fire risk alone would make you rethink your home-building plans. However, in Massachusetts, this is exactly what Elis P. Stenman did. Around 100,000 varnished newspapers make up this house and furniture. For over 80 years, this paper house has stood the test of time.

• State: Michigan
• City: Detroit

When his neighborhood began declining, Tyree Guyton chose to take action. During the '80s, Guyton began helping his grandfather clean up the vacant lots and areas. In response to the city's decline, they created artwork from deserted materials, including houses, sidewalks, trees, and more, known as the Heidelberg Project.

It was met with resistance, destruction, and fire throughout the following decades. Two projects are still viewable: the Dotty-Wotty House and the Numbers House. However, in 2017, a new project called Heidelberg 3.0 was started. Though it has faced backlash, Guyton's vision has persisted through the years.

• State: Minnesota
• City: Shafer

Franconia Sculpture Park was created in 1996 as an outdoor art space for the community and artists. It hosts a 50-acre outdoor museum that the community enjoys and supports several types of artists. Additionally, Franconia Sculpture Park has an artist residency program. Visitors can take in the ingenious and enterprising work of many artists.

• State: Mississippi
• City: Oxford

In 1930, William Faulkner purchased "The Baily Place" and renamed it "Rowan Oak." In 1949, the famed author won a Nobel Prize for Literature, and his book "A Fable" won the National Book Award in 1959. You can take a glimpse into his private world while exploring Rowan Oak.

• State: Missouri
• City: St. Joseph

Jesse James was a notorious killer and brazen outlaw. It is said that he committed crimes because of the terrible treatment he and other Southern supporters received from Union Soldiers. By 1881, after 16 years, his crimes had him wanted dead or alive. It was a member of his gang, Robert Ford, who, for $10,000, shot and killed Jessie James in his home.

It is said that James was standing on a chair fixing a picture when Ford shot him in the back of the head. Tourists can still explore the home of Jesse James today, where he hid out with an alias and was eventually killed.

• State: Montana
• City: Whitehall

Near Butte, Montana, there is a cluster of boulders nestled together that don't look like anything rather special but they have a unique quality – if you hit them with a hammer, they sound like a bell. Although not every rock sounds like a bell when hit, many do. The boulders also give off different tones depending on where they are tapped.

• State: Nebraska
• City: Harvard

In 1943, a 16-year-old boy named Robert Pinckney was looking for a piece of land. When he noticed the jailhouse was listed, he immediately brought it to the city council's attention. However, the city was not willing to own their mistake. So, Pinckney bought it for $1.50. A legal battle ensued between the boy and the city, which refused to stop using the jailhouse.

The nation got wind of the legal battle, piquing many people's interest. When Pickney tried to sell the jailhouse back to the city of Harvard, he couldn't because he was only 16. So, he put the jailhouse up for sale during a war bonds auction. The ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's dummy, Charlie McCarthy, bought the jailhouse and, after some time, gave it back to the city of Harvard. Tourists can still visit this little jailhouse.

• State: Nevada
• City: Dayton

The Republic of Molassia has been an independent, sovereign nation in the state of Nevada, for over 40 years. This area is over six acres and is the smallest territory of Molossia. This province is home to a population of 30 humans and four dogs. When visiting, tourists must go through customs, and they can bring their passports to get stamped.

• State: New Hampshire
• City: Woodstock

Ice Castles in New Hampshire was the vision of Brent Christensen, who would build beautiful ice castles for his children and the neighborhood children to engage them on a cold, wintry day. Today, Ice Castles have grown in size, yet they still maintain their wonder. Visitors can encounter the ice caverns and tunnels and even glide down an ice slide.

• State: New Jersey
• City: Ogdensburg

If you've never encountered fluorescent minerals, then the Fluorescent Rocks of Sterling Hill Mine are a sight. The rather plain rocks illuminate orange, green, and pink in the dark with black lights on. The brainchild of Richard and Robert Hauck, this museum began in 1990.

• State: New Mexico
• City: Los Cerrillos

If you are familiar with origami, you know how delicate the paper art is. Kevin and Jennifer Box aimed to capture the beauty of Japanese origami art in a more sturdy form with Origami in the Garden. Visitors can admire the beauty of origami shapes like airplanes and animals in the form of metal sculptures.

• State: New York
• City: New York City

Among the concrete jungle of New York City sits the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, the oldest surviving Dutch Colonial-style house in the city. The farmhouse was built in 1784 and earned landmark status in 1967.

• State: North Carolina
• City: Asheville

Those who love old-school games will enjoy a visit to the Asheville Pinball Museum. Once visitors pay the flat rate $15 fee, they can walk around the museum and play the vintage games with no coins or tokens needed.

• State: North Dakota
• City: Jamestown

In the 1700s and earlier, bison were free-range animals enjoying the earth's bounty. However, they started dying off due to extensive hunting, bringing them close to extinction. There are currently around 20,000 free-ranging American bison in North America today, but this is nowhere close to what their numbers once were.

In Jamestown, North Dakota, the largest concrete buffalo was erected in 1959 to honor these mighty mammals. It stands at 26 feet tall and weighs 60 tons. Visitors to Jamestown can also see three legendary albino bison.

• State: Ohio
• City: Kelleys Island

North of Kellys Island, you can explore the largest glacial grooves on earth. These grooves, which developed during the ice age, are now 35 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and 400 feet long.

• State: Oklahoma
• City: Oklahoma City

Several skywalks and tunnels connect buildings and parking garages in downtown Oklahoma City. Underground, visitors can explore galleries, learn a little history at various stops, or enjoy artwork. These underground tunnels are also an alternative way to get to where you need to go in downtown Oklahoma City.

• State: Oregon
• City: Gold Beach

The steamboat Mary D. Hume was built at Gold Beach in 1881, later becoming a whaling vessel, and then a tug boat until her retirement after 97 years of active service. The vessel now sits at Gold Beach, very close to where she was built in 188. Visitors can take in the now-decaying boat that sits close to where it was built, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

• State: Pennsylvania
• City: Philadelphia

On the side of a hill, with a stone entrance, there's a cave that is thought to be the home of America's first cult of mystics. Known as "Hermits of Wissahickon," tradition holds that this group lived here awaiting the looming end of the world.

• State: Rhode Island
• City: Newport

Opened in 1673, the White Horse Tavern is the oldest operating restaurant in America and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. This tavern was a meeting place for those on the colony's general assembly and city council. There are even rumors of the tavern being haunted; perhaps you will see a ghost in colonial clothing during your visit.

• State: South Carolina
• City: Edisto

Big Talbot Island State Park is perfect for visitors who are looking for a relaxing and non-crowded place to enjoy fishing, camping, and more. Among the attractions on this island is Boneyard Beach, a strip of beach that houses the bleached skeletons of old oak trees.

• State: South Dakota
• City: Rapid City

If you like spooky and old, visiting the Hotel Alex Johnson may be right up your alley. This 1927 hotel has a rich history. Presidents such as Calvin Coolidge, Ronald Reagan, and Alfred Hitchcock stayed at this hotel. The hotel even offers a Ghost Adventure Package for its guests.

• State: Tennessee
• City: Sweetwater

As America's largest underground lake, the Lost Sea is a sight to behold. The sea is at the bottom of a cave system in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Guests can take a boat ride or even stay the night inside the cave.

• State: Texas
• City: Wimberley

While Jacob's Well is dangerous, it has enticed swimmers and daredevils for years. With a 30-foot-deep pond, the jump is tempting to those who dare swim here. The hole consists of several dangerous caves, and due to its peril, Jacob's Well is now closed to swimming. However intriguing it may be, looking around or just snapping a simple picture may be the safest bet.

• State: Utah
• City: Herriman

The real-life "Up" house was built by Bangerter Homes, with permission from Disney, and is an identical replica of the cartoon house. From the furniture to the mailbox, fans of the Disney movie can get a real taste of what it would be like to step inside the flying house (it should be noted that this is a private residence and not open for tours).

• State: Vermont
• City: Waterbury

Where do Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors go when they pass on? To the Flavor Graveyard, of course. In 1997, The Graveyard was created online to say goodbye to beloved flavors that no longer exist. The graveyard now sits behind the factory and has 34 flavors currently placed in it. Visitors can visit these retired flavors and even take a factory tour.

• State: Virginia
• City: Richmond

If you're a fan of Victorian-era design and history, visiting the Byrd Theater may make you feel like you stepped right into the past. It opened in 1928 and has remained virtually unchanged in design. There have been modern updates, however, including an air conditioner.

• State: Washington
• City: Tacoma

Thornewood Castle was built in 1911 at the request of Mr. Chester Thorne and featured in the Stephen King movie "Rose Red." After the movie came out, rumors began spreading that this mansion was indeed haunted, thrilling paranormal hunters. However, the new owners refute those rumors and insist Thorne built the house out of love.

Regardless of whether or not the house is haunted, it is still considered a fun and beautiful place to stay (only guests can stay, it is not open to the public).

• State: West Virginia
• City: Hillsboro

The first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature was Pearl S. Buck. Visitors can explore her birthplace and the museum that houses the first editions of her books.

• State: Wisconsin
• City: Woodruff

In 1953, a group of children in Wisconsin gathered over a million pennies and, with those pennies, built a hospital. The world's largest penny, over 15 feet tall and 12 inches thick, is in memory of Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb and the students who paved the way for the hospital to be built. It is a reminder that when we work together, change can come in the simplest of ways.

• State: Wyoming
• City: Woodruff

The Intermittent Spring is a phenomenal rhythmic wonder that flows for 18 minutes and then stops for 18 minutes, which may vary from time to time. While the cause of this wonder is not precisely known, the siphoning effect may play a part. Although it's not exactly a one-of-a-kind, the Intermittent Spring is still rare and is one of three known springs with the same rhythmic patterns. (Take a look at experiences that should be on every American's bucket list.)