When visiting a city for the first time, of course you’re going to see the major must-see (and often crowded) attractions, but if you need an alternative to the throngs of tourists—or if you’re one of the many travelers revisiting a city for a deeper exploration—HawaiianIslands.com analyzed little-reviewed but highly-rated spots around the country to reveal the ultimate hidden gems to visit in each state and major city in the U.S.
The survey is eye-opening and will have you updating your U.S. travel bucket list. You might even find a spot in your own state that you haven’t heard of. So how did HawaiianIslands.com land on these gems? They found the highest-rated attractions in every state with 100 or fewer—but at least 25—Tripadvisor reviews. After finding the top hidden gems in each state, they broke it down into underrated museums, landmarks, parks and historic sites.
Some intriguing findings are revealed. The top-rated hidden gem in California is the Consulate of the “micronation” (on 11 acres of desert) of Slowjamistan in San Diego. The top underrated attraction in Hawaii is a Hamakua Chocolate Farm. Virginia’s top hidden gem is a pair of statues—Scotch and Soda—that flank the steps of a Norfolk mansion. Nevada’s top spot is a cigar outlet in Vegas.
The study’s analysis of major cities offers some surprises too. NYC’s top hidden attraction is Bill’s Place, a jazz club in Harlem. In Boston, Little Brewster Island and Lighthouse takes the top spot. When visiting Chicago, check out the Victory Gardens Theater; in Los Angeles, the Greenbar Distillery is the spot.
If you’re looking for alternatives to the major museums around the country, they have those numbers too. Underrated, hidden gem museums range from the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum in Oklahoma to the Appalachian Pinball Museum in North Carolina to Origami in the Garden in New Mexico.
Find all the amazing hidden gems at HawaiianIslands.com, and check out the interactive table to find hidden gems by state.