25 Must-See Hidden Gems Across the United States

From big cities to iconic national monuments to well-known tourist traps, there’s no shortage of popular vacation destinations in the United States. However, sometimes the most memorable trips happen when you seek out unexpected, under-the-radar places you’d never have heard of without doing some research.

For example, while the United States is home to 63 national parks, the most famous of these, like Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, tend to get the lion’s share of tourist attention. On your next excursion, why not try an underrated gem like White Sands National Park in New Mexico or Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona?

Even if nature isn't your thing, there are plenty of other underrated activities across the country that deserve to be on your bucket list, from the catacombs of Indianapolis' City Market to the interactive art of Santa Fe's Meow Wolf.

However, finding these little-known treasures can take a lot of work. So, to help you get started, Stacker compiled a list of 25 must-see hidden gems across the United States, using travel guides, news articles, national park and business websites, and more. Read on to find out where your next unexpected but awesome vacation could be. You can thank us later!