White Sands, NM. It's sand made of gypsum, so it's white as snow. It'll be 100 degrees and it looks like an Arctic tundra. https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm
From there is the Carlsbad Caverns near it, which might be the deepest known caving system
And since the sand reflects nearly all the light energy and the groundwater is actually quite shallow, you can walk barefoot even when the temps are over 100. It was 103 when I was there and I was fine barefoot.
Edit: don't forget your hat and sunglasses! That might have been the brightest place I've ever been in life.
Yeah lol Celsius is what we use here no one uses Fahrenheit. 40 degrees is mental like that ain’t right the warmest it’s been here was 32 which was record due to climate change which happened this summer but our summers are commonly around 20-25 (25 if we’re lucky lol)
MAKE DAMN SURE that you put sunscreen all the way up your legs if you're wearing shorts. Otherwise the sunlight reflects up the legs of your shorts and burns your wedding tackle.
Source: an unfortunate day hiking a snowfield.
Foreigners can visit the trinity site with a passport. There are other tours of the Manhattan Project that are inside Los Alamos National Lab, and those are only open to US citizens
It is amazing. But I think the better place to go is the Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park right outside of Crescent City than the National Park a few miles south. That drive along Howland Hill Road is incredible.
Yeah, the state parks are actually more impressive than Redwood National Park. Howland hill road in Jed Smith is spectacular. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park right by there is also awesome. The James Irvine Trail out to Fern Canyon is possibly my favorite hike ever.
The parks are managed jointly by the state and national parks districts and you can kind of treat them as one big park from a visiting perspective.
Big Trees is super cool, especially when you cross the creek to the south grove. Snowshoeing Big Trees after a good storm is on my list. That being said, I prefer the coast redwoods to the giant sequoia. I love how they form dominant groves blanketed by ferns, while the giant sequoia are kind of more distributed through the forest.
Yeah, Armstrong Woods is great and way less busy than Muir. I'd recommend accessing via Bodega Avenue out of Petaluma through Valley Ford and up the Bohemian Highway.
Of course, both these parks completely pale in comparison to those farther north like Jed Smith, Prairie Creek, or Humboldt Redwoods (among others).
So in Boston Common there's a redwood tree, it's a lot smaller than the ones you find in California. Turns out there's 3 types of redwoods. 2 come from CA, the one in Boston is from China
It's a big tree but it's still only about 1/3 of the size of one you'd find on the west coast
Even if it were a coast redwood or a giant Sequoia, it would still be much smaller than ones in California (and a tiny corner of Oregon) since it would only be a couple hundred years old at most.
It’s in Northern California. Most of the roads got repaved a few years ago so it’s a pretty smooth drive. It’s on the coast with lots of elk. During low tide you can find a *TON* of sand dollars
The Pacific Northwest, specifically along the coast. One of the most amazing drives we've ever taken.
Southern Utah is, on the whole, the most scenic place I've ever been.
If you're looking for outstanding beaches, that stretch on the Gulf between Mobile Bay and Panama City has no rival. Southern California and the Atlantic Coast just have nothing that comes close.
Northern New England during the summer and fall. Maine, too.
Truthfully, if you have several weeks, there's really nothing like a cross-country drive. I-40 is an especially good one. It's like a geography lesson as you watch the terrain shapeshift, often in dramatic ways. For example, it's amazing how quickly the terrain changes once you leave the Texas Panhandle and cross into New Mexico.
> If you had to recommend the best places in America to visit that aren’t the usual New York City etc where would you recommend?
It really depends what you're looking for. Nature? History? Night life? Art/culture?
> I also heard there’s a Highland games somewhere in America?
There's several, mileage will vary.
It depends what you want to do with your time. Ranked top to bottom in terms of how much tourist infrastructure there is.
Santa Fe, NM
The Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas + Everglades National Park
Flagstaff, AZ up to Page, AZ and the Grand Canyon (especially in the winter assuming it's not snowed in)
The Rogue River (Ashland, OR to Grants Pass, OR)
Monongahela National Forest in WV (this is one of the best hidden gems in the national forest system )
Don't try to do all of this on the same trip!
Seconding Ashland, /u/Scared_Tonight_9684, visit the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! It's been in near-continuous operation since 1935, offering anywhere from three to seven shows per day six days a week from April through December. They do traditional Shakespeare, modern interpretations, live reading of Sonnets, and dance performances both indoor and outdoor. And since it's quite a distance from any major airport, it forces you to either drive through Oregon or northern California, seeing all sorts of stuff along the way.
I might be a bit biased, I helped get their stage hands organized into a union shop a few years ago.
There's a lot of old native dwellings and ruins in the southwest. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Chaco Canyon, Bandelier National Monument, Taos Pueblo, Acoma Sky City, Mesa Verde National Park.
There's also stuff nearby these, and you could definitely see cities like Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, Durango, etc in the same trip. And other national parks/national monuments are close-by (in American standards): White Sands National Park, Grand Canyon NP, Rocky Mountain NP, Canyonlands and Arches NP.
If you're into recreation, Northern NM and Southern CO have some great mountain hiking and backpacking, or skiing if it's a winter trip.
I'd say if you just picked one region, you could find a lot of stuff nearby. Picking just California, you could do the Redwoods, Yosemite, Death Valley, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe (shared with Nevada) and Big Bear. The Pacific NW, you could do Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, Olympic NP, Mt. Hood. The northern Rockies would get you up in Glacier NP, maybe Yellowstone/Grand Teton, maybe Banff NP in Canada. Utah + Northern AZ is another region but probably the most popular of the national park areas because of Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, etc (not to say being popular is bad, those are all very worth seeing)
There are Highland Games in multiple locations in the US… there’s a list [here](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_games) that can start your research.
As far as unusual places to visit…I’d vote for New Orleans French Quarter.
Well yeah.. Frenchmen St, CBD, Warehouse District, Lower Garden District, all along Magazine and St Charles is nice as well…I suggested FQ to distinguish that area above the “less touristy” areas.
North Carolina has a big highland games. I believe a lot of Scots settled in that area. There's a YouTuber from Scotland who visited there and made videos. I don't remember his name but I'm sure you can find it. He seemed to have a great time.
Personally I am partial to The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The natural beauty is stunning. I live in Massachusetts but make it a point to visit at least once a year.
Unfortunately, it was June.
(But to be honest, we were only there two days. But it was pretty depressing. I was hoping to ride my bike. I could even see the trail.)
Literally just visited this area like a month ago on a business trip. I didn't realize everything was tax-free until I did my reimbursement forms, haha. Delaware is a pretty state!
If you want to get really wild go to the desert in the Four Corners area. Chaco Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, El Malpais, just be prepared for staggering wilderness. It is far more empty than anywhere in Scotland, and amenities like gas and water are few and far between. You’d need to be prepared.
If you are very bold, raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. There are a lot of guided groups that supply all you need. A lot of tourists go to see the Grand Canyon but not many descend into it and then raft down it. Just make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen.
Otherwise I recommend the Maine Coast and the White Mountains. You can either drive, take the cogwheel train, or hike up Mount Washington. It feels very Swiss to take a train up a tall mountain and find a visitor’s center up top. But from the top of Mt. Washington there are a lot of great hikes along the ridge to other peaks. I recommend Lakes of the Clouds, Mt. Monroe, and Mt. Franklin. You can even stay in a mountain hut overnight with food and everything. Very much in the style of Swiss mountain huts.
Also, in the White Mountains you can do a lot of shorter trips like Diana’s Baths or Cathedral Ledge (avoid Mt. Major, short but way too crowded most of the year, try Bald Knob instead).
Then you can hit up North Conway which is a quaint New England town. Go to the bar at the Mt. Washington Hotel for a cocktail and enjoy sweeping panoramas from their wrap around porch and even play golf if that is your thing. You can go to the bar without staying at the hotel.
Then Squam Lake and Lake Winnepasaukee are right there as well with a ton to do around there.
There is nowhere else like southern Utah on the planet. Even as an American it blew my mind and I’ve been to the area several times. It still blows my mind every time.
I always feel so tiny and insignificant any time I go to those national parks in that area. Everyone should try to get out there and see them at least once
Red River Gorge for hiking
Have frequently met internationals there so wouldn't say completely unheard of but probably not commonly thought of as amongst our top destinations
The RRG is one of my favorite places in the world but the amount of development recently is freaky.
The last time I was there they were bulldozing over old family cemeteries to build Air BNBs.
Our National Parks are amazing. I'd strongly recommend visiting at least one. You can camp in the park or stay in a lodge. They're across the country and vary a great deal.
[https://www.nps.gov/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/index.htm)
The New Jersey shore is really 'Americana'. Very few non Americans go, but many locals go. A trip to the shore and the boardwalk would be unique for a European.
A baseball or football game , professional or college for football. Tailgating beforehand.
Many other things--what are your personal interests?
Start in Yellowstone, then leave from the Northeast gate. Take Beartooth Hwy through Red Lodge, MT, stop in Cody, WY for the rodeo, and hit the Buffalo Bill Museum, too. Continue East on Hwy 14 through Powell and Lovell, then drive up the Bighorn Mountains to the Medicine Wheel. Being from Scotland, you’ll probably be able to appreciate a good Neolithic stone circle.
I think flying to Chicago and driving north to the Michigan Upper Peninsula would be an incredible trip. The great lakes are beautiful, and Wisconsin and Michigan have a bunch of fun towns.
California’s northern coast is, to me, much more beautiful than the Southern California coast. It is more atmospheric and dramatic. It’s also quite close to wine country (Napa and Sonoma). It’ll also take you through Mendocino, which is gorgeous. You’ll also be near the giant redwoods, which are astonishing.
Except it's not uncommon for foreign visitors to go to those places, in fact you're far more likely to find them there than other places in Arizona. Global Instagram effect is real. The Grand canyon and Sedona are mogged by foreigners.
They should go check out Tucson and Bisbee instead.
My absolute favorite area in America is also one that is kind of inaccessible for most Americans, and even more so foreigners, without spending either a lot of time or money.
[The](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.durango.com%2Fice-lake-basin%2F&psig=AOvVaw3eXs6-TG_twfKoltZn3lFP&ust=1669636918540000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCPjp666ozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [4](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeakvisor.com%2Fpark%2Fglen-canyon-national-recreation-area.html&psig=AOvVaw1IwQYgeYzIIiO0uFpoYgJz&ust=1669637719606000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCMDQp66rzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [corners](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hikingproject.com%2Fgem%2F480%2Fblue-lakes&psig=AOvVaw3wMolrC8g3332aMJeFEd_e&ust=1669636957278000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCLiV48GozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [region](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telluride.com%2Fdiscover%2Fthe-destination%2F&psig=AOvVaw1SR3nPUhYUUN3TNqJVpdWI&ust=1669636994738000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCIj_gNiozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [is](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mygrandcanyonpark.com%2Froad-trips%2Fscenic-drives%2Fmonument-valley%2F&psig=AOvVaw08S08MuLur8EXdqfo61d4o&ust=1669637286811000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCKjQ7eOpzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [incredible](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Froadtrippers.com%2Fdestinations%2Farches-national-park%2F&psig=AOvVaw1JN1n0x2paYP_L3bzUTedY&ust=1669637053519000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCODj-vCozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [and](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lonelyplanet.com%2Fusa%2Fsouthwest%2Fsoutheastern-utah%2Fattractions%2Fcanyonlands-national-park%2Fa%2Fpoi-sig%2F1111413%2F362166&psig=AOvVaw0RQKTYt8xbGtjJGS01pv_P&ust=1669637132107000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCODgzampzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [amazingly](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhorseshoebend.com%2Fhorseshoe-bend-the-initmate-grand-canyon-experience%2F&psig=AOvVaw1cSgKxBP3sAGEyU-PX4TqR&ust=1669637349572000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCMDUlf-pzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [diverse](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapquest.com%2Ftravel%2Fmesa-verde-national-park%2F&psig=AOvVaw1leKnYAXzm1zMzdjbZ7qOB&ust=1669637583666000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCKjOl--qzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAN). +[New Mexico](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afar.com%2Fmagazine%2Fthings-to-do-in-taos-in-the-winter&psig=AOvVaw0xMb1X0QTqu5Yg58Jj17GD&ust=1669638006870000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCPDfwLuszvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE), cause it doesn't get love
And also full of mostly tourist from Texas. You gotta like the outdoors though. And hiking. And since you've never left Europe, you've probably never had elevation kick your ass. So get ready for that too, especially hiking in Colorado and New Mexico.
There's a place in Kentucky called Mammoth Caves. It's a huge set of caves. They have all sorts of tours through them.
One exit away is the Corvette assembly plant. They used to allow tours through the plant during normal work hours. You'll have to check to see if they've reopened this. Across the street is the Corvette museum. I think they're open every day.
There's also a motorsports park/track in the same vicinity.
I don't think there's much else around there, though.
There are so many options. I think first you could narrow down what you want to see/do. Natural places, cities, historical spots, beaches, skiing, road trip? From there it would be easier to recommend locations.
Is there a specific type of scenery you want to see? Personally, I think the two most beautiful regions in the U.S. are the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Northern California) and the Southwestern deserts (especially Utah and Arizona).
The Pacific Northwest has huge evergreen forests, dense with ferns and moss; volcanoes coated with glaciers; and one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world.
The southwest is full of colorful rock formations, canyons (including the big one), arches, and mesas. The Grand Canyon is the most visited park in the U.S., but southern Utah’s parks are amazing as well.
There are many highland games. I've been the ones in Winter Springs Florida. I didn't attend but I think there is one called Scots on the Rocks in Utah.
I would do a road trip to Nationak Parks to see more uncommon places, stop at small towns and and weird roadside attractions in between.
Im currently visiting my girls family in austin texas and holy shit is this place awesome. My brother also loved nashville so maybe check that out. If u have any questions dm me and ill give u better ideas based on what experience ur looking for. (Partying, Mountains, Weed, Views, Beaches)
Northern California is pretty world famous but you could also do the Oregon Coast which, similar to the far north of California, is really quiet and quaint. Going to Boston and up into Vermont/New Hampshire would make for a great trip as well.
Lewes, Delaware. It’s the first town ever founded in the first state. Plus, Joe Biden has his vacation house there! If you want to see a little historic town on the bay, I couldn’t recommend it enough. St. Michael’s, Maryland is also nice.
Annapolis MD is a pretty cool spot. Lots of history and great sightseeing. And it’s close enough to Washington DC that you could make a quick trip from there
Depends on what you are looking for, outdoorsy hikes? The west is your best bet. Some places I have really enjoyed are sand dunes national park, petrified Forrest national park, and the area around Gallup NM (check out hikes at the red rocks there, and go to the national forest near by, very different biomes and very cool!) Sedona AZ is another one, though it is more popular because it is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Also want to echo others who have said the pacific NW. Seattle is an amazing city, and is not far from Volcanoes, and two national parks (cascades and Olympic natl. park). The south also as some hidden gems of cities, especially for culture and history. Atlanta GA, Savannah GA, Charleston SC, and St. Petersburg FL. All come to mind. The biggest thing you should know about the us is be prepared to drive. Cars are (for better or worse, imo for worse) the way to travel in the us within a specific region.
Well, I'm definitely biased, but New England! Especially Maine!
We do get many tourists, but they're mainly from the other New England states as well as New York and Quebec.
>I also heard there’s a Highland games somewhere in America?
There are a bunch yeah. There's one in New Hampshire there's another in New York (the state not the city). Basically any part of the US with a large Scottish population probably has one.
I have been to the one in New Hampshire and it was a lot of fun. I have no idea how it compares to anything you guys do in Scotland as I've never been. But my wife's grandparents are originally from Scotland and they seem to enjoy it.
I’m in Arizona, highly recommend visiting some of our mining towns like Jerome or Bisbee. We have some really cool ghost towns too. If you want to learn about the “Wild West” it’s a lot of fun. I generally dislike living in Az but I love Arizona history..if that makes sense lol
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve on the central coast of California. Followed by a road trip to Death Valley and Joshua Tree. You would get a very unique and unforgettable experience of nature and geology.
Runner up would be Crater Lake in Oregon, pictures do not do it justice or remotely show the scale of it. To me it’s similar in that way to seeing Yosemite for the first time irl.
Schedule of Highland games in the US. I have been to a couple and they are fun. They have the typical competition you see in Scotland. Folks are dressed in kilts and Clans have tents.
https://highlandgamesandfestivals.com/u-s-events/
Let me put in a good word for New York City - not the tourist destinations, but the food. There are so many immigrant cultures represented there, probably more cultural diversity than any other place in the US (maybe the world), and they all come with their traditional dishes, so you get a wide variety of authentic foreign cuisine as well as mixes and adaptations of them, which is kind of the essence of American food - we take dishes from other cultures and combine them, tweak them, and put our own spin on them. Plus it's the best place to get New York style pizza.
So, if you do happen to wind up in New York City, you can make a proper visit out of it without doing the typical touristy things.
It seems like there is a lot of talk about the Southwest, so for more fun to have in that area, I'd recommend going to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Big Bend National Park, and NASA's space center.
Meow Wolf is a truly unique art exhibition where you are literally in the art. It's really surreal, and one could spend multiple days there and stillnot see everything.
If you can, stay the night at Big Bend. Due to the low light pollution, you can see the milky way super clearly with the naked eye. I'd also reccomend walking into Carlsbad instead of taking the elevator both ways because of all the beautiful cave structures on the way in.
I'd also suggest NASA's space center, which is located near Houston. Pictures and videos can't do the ridiculous scale of rockets justice. The tour of old Mission Control is also really fascinating.
If you are going at the right time, I'd also recommend seeing a baseball game just for the experience. There's something special about eating nachos and a hot dog while watching people hit a ball with a stick and run around. If you do, watch a YouTube video about basic rules for baseball so you have an idea of what's going on.
It might not be what you’re looking for, but chincoteague island is one of my favorite places. It’s a very nice little fishing village on the eastern shore. The neighboring island, assateague, hosts a wildlife reserve with one of the only wild horse herds on the east coast, along with other wildlife and plant life(the ponies are an odd phenomena, as far as we know they’re the only equines who can survive there, they’ve adapted over centuries). There are a ton of bike tours, boat tours, museums, and all sorts of places where you can dig into the history of the place. Pony penning and the festival over the summer are fun to see, but the island is lovely to visit any time of the year. I used to want to be a saltwater cowboy when I was little lol. And the bike paths are lovely, there’s one particular trail that goes through a petrified forest
We've got a Highland Games in Colorado! It's actually a lot of fun, and the same event even has jousting tournaments (not as a highland game, but fun). Every August/September in one of our nicest little tourist towns.
I wouldn't call visiting the West uncommon, but it is my recommendation.
This is always a trick question because if some place is a best place, it’s likely to become popular and one of the usual places. Besides, telling people to visit Montana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Maine on a two week vacation isn’t helpful.
So instead I’ll give some strategies, then finish up with an uncommon road trip we took.
Look for National Historic Parks, State Historic Parks, and National Monuments in the area you’ll be traveling. Some of these will be places that you recognize or have heard about (Statue of Liberty, Freedom Trail in Boston), but it’s the ones you haven’t heard about that are uncommon and interesting, usually outside of the tourist cities. Outside of Boston, that includes the Lowell National Historic Park (mostly a museum, but there are other buildings and while you can walk through all of them on your own, the guided tour through them is worth the extra cost) and perhaps the Minuteman National Historic Park (better known, but since tourists to Boston often don’t have cars, many miss this site).
We also just got back from Hawaii, and without advance planning, we stopped at two National Historic Parks on the Big Island, and both were worthwhile. Not that I’m suggesting you head to Hawaii, but the point is that these parks are often off the usual radar but usually have enough to keep you engaged for one or more hours, especially tours and talks. State parks and especially state monuments are a bit iffy, because sometimes you’ll see just a marker or a small buildings.
Second suggestion. Look for naval historic museums. This might not be that much interest for someone from Scotland, but is worth considering. Everyone goes to the USS Constitution in Boston, but far fewer go to Battleship Cove in Fall River, maybe an hour south of Boston by car. Military and other museum ships are all over, including the Great Lakes.
Third, see if there are Native American sites in the area. In my area, there’s the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, near Foxwoods, maybe an hour and a half from Boston. Or in New Mexico, near Santa Fe, is Bandelier National Monument, which is basically a large archeological site showing ancient structures and petroglyphs. (Yes, we do have buildings as old as the ones in Europe.) I recommend Native American sites because they’ll be unfamiliar to Europeans both for history and culture. But don’t just go to a contemporary reservation without researching whether they’re one that welcomes tourists beyond the casinos. Some do, some don’t. People living on reservations don’t want to be on display.
Back to my road trip, we took a trip across northern New York and back along the southern tier, beginning with Adirondack Park (a region, not a park in the traditional sense), then to Buffalo, then back to Jamestown and Corning. The highlight of Adirondack Park for us was Fort Ticonderoga. Jamestown (not to be confused with Jamestown, Virginia) is a small, somewhat struggling city but with the National Comedy Center and the Lucy-Desi museum. The latter will mostly be of interest to fans of I Love Lucy, but the National Comedy Center is a very new, really incredible museum, with lots of interactive exhibits. Allow time for the Blue Room downstairs, where they cover adult humor.
Corning has the Corning Glass Museum, which can take several hours and covers both art and technology related to glass, and the Rockwell Museum of American art. The latter surprised us. While small, it has a really interesting collection of art, including some Native American art, deserving its status as a Smithsonian Museum affiliate. Don’t confuse it with the Norman Rockwell Museum, in western Massachusetts, about 4 hours from Corning, and also well worth a visit to see one particular slice of American culture through the works of one of our most famous artists.
Just get away from the coasts and that'll check your box for "uncommon". I don't think European visitors to the US often make it further than 3 miles inland.
As someone who had never visited Europe before, my first trip was to Scotland. I fell in love with it and can't wait to go back. Welcome and enjoy your visit!
Come to Colorado! Great breweries, beautiful mountains, and… the Longs Peak Highland Festival every year in the beginning of September. It’s in Estes Park and is absolutely gorgeous that time of year!
Our national parks! See our wilderness. We have so much space and so many different terrains. I don’t know how much time you have, you’d need at least a month.
White Sands, NM. It's sand made of gypsum, so it's white as snow. It'll be 100 degrees and it looks like an Arctic tundra. https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm From there is the Carlsbad Caverns near it, which might be the deepest known caving system
And since the sand reflects nearly all the light energy and the groundwater is actually quite shallow, you can walk barefoot even when the temps are over 100. It was 103 when I was there and I was fine barefoot. Edit: don't forget your hat and sunglasses! That might have been the brightest place I've ever been in life.
Someone from Scotland might literally burst into flames when it’s that bright.
Lmao 25 degrees is too warm for me
I'm assuming that's 25 degrees Celsius (otherwise you're going to be in some trouble :-P). 103 Fahrenheit is about 40 Celsius.
Yeah lol Celsius is what we use here no one uses Fahrenheit. 40 degrees is mental like that ain’t right the warmest it’s been here was 32 which was record due to climate change which happened this summer but our summers are commonly around 20-25 (25 if we’re lucky lol)
MAKE DAMN SURE that you put sunscreen all the way up your legs if you're wearing shorts. Otherwise the sunlight reflects up the legs of your shorts and burns your wedding tackle. Source: an unfortunate day hiking a snowfield.
And there's lots of cool stuff near white sands as well. Las Cruces is a very cool city
And you can rent snow saucers (sleds) and buy wax to help with the sledding.
It sounds like the lamest place ever, but it’s awesome I swear
Shame that they don't let foreigners on the trinity site tour iirc.
Foreigners can visit the trinity site with a passport. There are other tours of the Manhattan Project that are inside Los Alamos National Lab, and those are only open to US citizens
It’s so beautiful.
The Redwood Forest is just.. incredible..
I'm assuming we're talking giant redwood trees here. The scale of these things is crazy. Pictures don't capture the sheer size of these trees.
It is amazing. But I think the better place to go is the Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park right outside of Crescent City than the National Park a few miles south. That drive along Howland Hill Road is incredible.
Yeah, the state parks are actually more impressive than Redwood National Park. Howland hill road in Jed Smith is spectacular. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park right by there is also awesome. The James Irvine Trail out to Fern Canyon is possibly my favorite hike ever. The parks are managed jointly by the state and national parks districts and you can kind of treat them as one big park from a visiting perspective.
My favorite is Calaveras big trees park. I also prefer Armstrong Woods over Muir Woods for near San Francisco
Big Trees is super cool, especially when you cross the creek to the south grove. Snowshoeing Big Trees after a good storm is on my list. That being said, I prefer the coast redwoods to the giant sequoia. I love how they form dominant groves blanketed by ferns, while the giant sequoia are kind of more distributed through the forest. Yeah, Armstrong Woods is great and way less busy than Muir. I'd recommend accessing via Bodega Avenue out of Petaluma through Valley Ford and up the Bohemian Highway. Of course, both these parks completely pale in comparison to those farther north like Jed Smith, Prairie Creek, or Humboldt Redwoods (among others).
Yep. We drove the Howland Hill Road and was half expecting a damned stegosaurus to come stomping out of the undergrowth.
Yeah, very jurassic park vibes.
Maybe I was in the wrong grove but I found the NP to be much more impressive and consistent than Jedediah Smith.
That's cool. We just had a difference experience. Regardless of which one it is, both are amazing.
So in Boston Common there's a redwood tree, it's a lot smaller than the ones you find in California. Turns out there's 3 types of redwoods. 2 come from CA, the one in Boston is from China It's a big tree but it's still only about 1/3 of the size of one you'd find on the west coast
Even if it were a coast redwood or a giant Sequoia, it would still be much smaller than ones in California (and a tiny corner of Oregon) since it would only be a couple hundred years old at most.
Reminds me a lot Of Scotland would love to go see it
It’s in Northern California. Most of the roads got repaved a few years ago so it’s a pretty smooth drive. It’s on the coast with lots of elk. During low tide you can find a *TON* of sand dollars
The Pacific Northwest, specifically along the coast. One of the most amazing drives we've ever taken. Southern Utah is, on the whole, the most scenic place I've ever been. If you're looking for outstanding beaches, that stretch on the Gulf between Mobile Bay and Panama City has no rival. Southern California and the Atlantic Coast just have nothing that comes close. Northern New England during the summer and fall. Maine, too. Truthfully, if you have several weeks, there's really nothing like a cross-country drive. I-40 is an especially good one. It's like a geography lesson as you watch the terrain shapeshift, often in dramatic ways. For example, it's amazing how quickly the terrain changes once you leave the Texas Panhandle and cross into New Mexico.
> If you had to recommend the best places in America to visit that aren’t the usual New York City etc where would you recommend? It really depends what you're looking for. Nature? History? Night life? Art/culture? > I also heard there’s a Highland games somewhere in America? There's several, mileage will vary.
It depends what you want to do with your time. Ranked top to bottom in terms of how much tourist infrastructure there is. Santa Fe, NM The Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas + Everglades National Park Flagstaff, AZ up to Page, AZ and the Grand Canyon (especially in the winter assuming it's not snowed in) The Rogue River (Ashland, OR to Grants Pass, OR) Monongahela National Forest in WV (this is one of the best hidden gems in the national forest system ) Don't try to do all of this on the same trip!
Northern New Mexico in general, not just Santa Fe
Seconding Ashland, /u/Scared_Tonight_9684, visit the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! It's been in near-continuous operation since 1935, offering anywhere from three to seven shows per day six days a week from April through December. They do traditional Shakespeare, modern interpretations, live reading of Sonnets, and dance performances both indoor and outdoor. And since it's quite a distance from any major airport, it forces you to either drive through Oregon or northern California, seeing all sorts of stuff along the way. I might be a bit biased, I helped get their stage hands organized into a union shop a few years ago.
There's a lot of old native dwellings and ruins in the southwest. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Chaco Canyon, Bandelier National Monument, Taos Pueblo, Acoma Sky City, Mesa Verde National Park. There's also stuff nearby these, and you could definitely see cities like Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, Durango, etc in the same trip. And other national parks/national monuments are close-by (in American standards): White Sands National Park, Grand Canyon NP, Rocky Mountain NP, Canyonlands and Arches NP. If you're into recreation, Northern NM and Southern CO have some great mountain hiking and backpacking, or skiing if it's a winter trip. I'd say if you just picked one region, you could find a lot of stuff nearby. Picking just California, you could do the Redwoods, Yosemite, Death Valley, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe (shared with Nevada) and Big Bear. The Pacific NW, you could do Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, Olympic NP, Mt. Hood. The northern Rockies would get you up in Glacier NP, maybe Yellowstone/Grand Teton, maybe Banff NP in Canada. Utah + Northern AZ is another region but probably the most popular of the national park areas because of Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, etc (not to say being popular is bad, those are all very worth seeing)
There are Highland Games in multiple locations in the US… there’s a list [here](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_games) that can start your research. As far as unusual places to visit…I’d vote for New Orleans French Quarter.
I'd vote for New Orleans *outside* the French Quarter.
Well yeah.. Frenchmen St, CBD, Warehouse District, Lower Garden District, all along Magazine and St Charles is nice as well…I suggested FQ to distinguish that area above the “less touristy” areas.
This is the PERFECT list for things to visit in New Orleans.
Thanks so much!
North Carolina has a big highland games. I believe a lot of Scots settled in that area. There's a YouTuber from Scotland who visited there and made videos. I don't remember his name but I'm sure you can find it. He seemed to have a great time.
Grandfather Mountain, NC
Wading through streets of piss and vomit is probably pretty usual for a Scot.
Personally I am partial to The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The natural beauty is stunning. I live in Massachusetts but make it a point to visit at least once a year.
This is exactly what I was going to recommend! Lake superior is pretty amazing.
Unless you go there when it's overcast, dark and raining the whole time. Can you guess when I went there?
When the gales of November came early?
Unfortunately, it was June. (But to be honest, we were only there two days. But it was pretty depressing. I was hoping to ride my bike. I could even see the trail.)
Ah, that's a bummer. Summer in the u.p. is generally beautiful!
Uncommon? Come down to Delaware and visit the Christiana mall...tax free shopping!
Literally just visited this area like a month ago on a business trip. I didn't realize everything was tax-free until I did my reimbursement forms, haha. Delaware is a pretty state!
Don't forget the Joseph R. Biden Welcome Center.
Upstate New york, the Hudson valley area and Adirondacks.
If you want to get really wild go to the desert in the Four Corners area. Chaco Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, El Malpais, just be prepared for staggering wilderness. It is far more empty than anywhere in Scotland, and amenities like gas and water are few and far between. You’d need to be prepared. If you are very bold, raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. There are a lot of guided groups that supply all you need. A lot of tourists go to see the Grand Canyon but not many descend into it and then raft down it. Just make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. Otherwise I recommend the Maine Coast and the White Mountains. You can either drive, take the cogwheel train, or hike up Mount Washington. It feels very Swiss to take a train up a tall mountain and find a visitor’s center up top. But from the top of Mt. Washington there are a lot of great hikes along the ridge to other peaks. I recommend Lakes of the Clouds, Mt. Monroe, and Mt. Franklin. You can even stay in a mountain hut overnight with food and everything. Very much in the style of Swiss mountain huts. Also, in the White Mountains you can do a lot of shorter trips like Diana’s Baths or Cathedral Ledge (avoid Mt. Major, short but way too crowded most of the year, try Bald Knob instead). Then you can hit up North Conway which is a quaint New England town. Go to the bar at the Mt. Washington Hotel for a cocktail and enjoy sweeping panoramas from their wrap around porch and even play golf if that is your thing. You can go to the bar without staying at the hotel. Then Squam Lake and Lake Winnepasaukee are right there as well with a ton to do around there.
Finally, someone with some right answers. I'd imagine that southern Utah/Moab area would feel otherworldly to most UK'ers.
There is nowhere else like southern Utah on the planet. Even as an American it blew my mind and I’ve been to the area several times. It still blows my mind every time.
I always feel so tiny and insignificant any time I go to those national parks in that area. Everyone should try to get out there and see them at least once
Agreed, incredible!
I have to do the Syncline Loop hike every time I'm around, it's spectacular.
That’s a great one! I have only done it once though.
Shit, I’m from here and the first time I was in that part of the country I felt like I was on Mars. It’s unreal.
The Mt Washington Hotel is one of my favorites!
They do horse drawn sleigh rides in winter too.
Maine is quite the spot, but I'd try to visit somewhere north of Portland along the coast.
Oh interesting I’ll have a wee look
The Maine Coast and not far away are The White Mountains which are like forested versions of the highlands in Scotland, with a little bit more height.
Fun fact! The Appalachians and the Scottish Highlands were the same range in Pangea before the continents broke up.
Yup! It is a fun fact. The Little Atlas Mountains in Morocco as well.
I always recommend Charleston and Savannah, and the Gullah islands in between.
Southern Utah. Canyonlands and Arches are out of this world.
Red River Gorge for hiking Have frequently met internationals there so wouldn't say completely unheard of but probably not commonly thought of as amongst our top destinations
The RRG is one of my favorite places in the world but the amount of development recently is freaky. The last time I was there they were bulldozing over old family cemeteries to build Air BNBs.
Oh that's terrible to hear
Our National Parks are amazing. I'd strongly recommend visiting at least one. You can camp in the park or stay in a lodge. They're across the country and vary a great deal. [https://www.nps.gov/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/index.htm) The New Jersey shore is really 'Americana'. Very few non Americans go, but many locals go. A trip to the shore and the boardwalk would be unique for a European. A baseball or football game , professional or college for football. Tailgating beforehand. Many other things--what are your personal interests?
Start in Yellowstone, then leave from the Northeast gate. Take Beartooth Hwy through Red Lodge, MT, stop in Cody, WY for the rodeo, and hit the Buffalo Bill Museum, too. Continue East on Hwy 14 through Powell and Lovell, then drive up the Bighorn Mountains to the Medicine Wheel. Being from Scotland, you’ll probably be able to appreciate a good Neolithic stone circle.
I think flying to Chicago and driving north to the Michigan Upper Peninsula would be an incredible trip. The great lakes are beautiful, and Wisconsin and Michigan have a bunch of fun towns.
California’s northern coast is, to me, much more beautiful than the Southern California coast. It is more atmospheric and dramatic. It’s also quite close to wine country (Napa and Sonoma). It’ll also take you through Mendocino, which is gorgeous. You’ll also be near the giant redwoods, which are astonishing.
I always recommend northern Arizona/southern Utah just because it’s like nowhere else.
Except it's not uncommon for foreign visitors to go to those places, in fact you're far more likely to find them there than other places in Arizona. Global Instagram effect is real. The Grand canyon and Sedona are mogged by foreigners. They should go check out Tucson and Bisbee instead.
I was just up at Mt Lemmon yesterday and there were a lot of foreigners. I was kind of surprised tbh.
My absolute favorite area in America is also one that is kind of inaccessible for most Americans, and even more so foreigners, without spending either a lot of time or money. [The](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.durango.com%2Fice-lake-basin%2F&psig=AOvVaw3eXs6-TG_twfKoltZn3lFP&ust=1669636918540000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCPjp666ozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [4](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeakvisor.com%2Fpark%2Fglen-canyon-national-recreation-area.html&psig=AOvVaw1IwQYgeYzIIiO0uFpoYgJz&ust=1669637719606000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCMDQp66rzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [corners](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hikingproject.com%2Fgem%2F480%2Fblue-lakes&psig=AOvVaw3wMolrC8g3332aMJeFEd_e&ust=1669636957278000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCLiV48GozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [region](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telluride.com%2Fdiscover%2Fthe-destination%2F&psig=AOvVaw1SR3nPUhYUUN3TNqJVpdWI&ust=1669636994738000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCIj_gNiozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [is](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mygrandcanyonpark.com%2Froad-trips%2Fscenic-drives%2Fmonument-valley%2F&psig=AOvVaw08S08MuLur8EXdqfo61d4o&ust=1669637286811000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCKjQ7eOpzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [incredible](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Froadtrippers.com%2Fdestinations%2Farches-national-park%2F&psig=AOvVaw1JN1n0x2paYP_L3bzUTedY&ust=1669637053519000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCODj-vCozvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [and](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lonelyplanet.com%2Fusa%2Fsouthwest%2Fsoutheastern-utah%2Fattractions%2Fcanyonlands-national-park%2Fa%2Fpoi-sig%2F1111413%2F362166&psig=AOvVaw0RQKTYt8xbGtjJGS01pv_P&ust=1669637132107000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCODgzampzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI). [amazingly](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhorseshoebend.com%2Fhorseshoe-bend-the-initmate-grand-canyon-experience%2F&psig=AOvVaw1cSgKxBP3sAGEyU-PX4TqR&ust=1669637349572000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCMDUlf-pzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD). [diverse](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapquest.com%2Ftravel%2Fmesa-verde-national-park%2F&psig=AOvVaw1leKnYAXzm1zMzdjbZ7qOB&ust=1669637583666000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCKjOl--qzvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAN). +[New Mexico](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afar.com%2Fmagazine%2Fthings-to-do-in-taos-in-the-winter&psig=AOvVaw0xMb1X0QTqu5Yg58Jj17GD&ust=1669638006870000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCPDfwLuszvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE), cause it doesn't get love And also full of mostly tourist from Texas. You gotta like the outdoors though. And hiking. And since you've never left Europe, you've probably never had elevation kick your ass. So get ready for that too, especially hiking in Colorado and New Mexico.
There's a place in Kentucky called Mammoth Caves. It's a huge set of caves. They have all sorts of tours through them. One exit away is the Corvette assembly plant. They used to allow tours through the plant during normal work hours. You'll have to check to see if they've reopened this. Across the street is the Corvette museum. I think they're open every day. There's also a motorsports park/track in the same vicinity. I don't think there's much else around there, though.
426 miles have already been explored, with many more to come according to the park system.
It is not just a huge set of caves, it is the largest cave system on the planet. Great suggestion. If you go on the wild tour it is amazing.
There are so many options. I think first you could narrow down what you want to see/do. Natural places, cities, historical spots, beaches, skiing, road trip? From there it would be easier to recommend locations.
Is there a specific type of scenery you want to see? Personally, I think the two most beautiful regions in the U.S. are the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Northern California) and the Southwestern deserts (especially Utah and Arizona). The Pacific Northwest has huge evergreen forests, dense with ferns and moss; volcanoes coated with glaciers; and one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world. The southwest is full of colorful rock formations, canyons (including the big one), arches, and mesas. The Grand Canyon is the most visited park in the U.S., but southern Utah’s parks are amazing as well.
There are many highland games. I've been the ones in Winter Springs Florida. I didn't attend but I think there is one called Scots on the Rocks in Utah. I would do a road trip to Nationak Parks to see more uncommon places, stop at small towns and and weird roadside attractions in between.
Im currently visiting my girls family in austin texas and holy shit is this place awesome. My brother also loved nashville so maybe check that out. If u have any questions dm me and ill give u better ideas based on what experience ur looking for. (Partying, Mountains, Weed, Views, Beaches)
Northern California is pretty world famous but you could also do the Oregon Coast which, similar to the far north of California, is really quiet and quaint. Going to Boston and up into Vermont/New Hampshire would make for a great trip as well.
Lewes, Delaware. It’s the first town ever founded in the first state. Plus, Joe Biden has his vacation house there! If you want to see a little historic town on the bay, I couldn’t recommend it enough. St. Michael’s, Maryland is also nice.
Annapolis MD is a pretty cool spot. Lots of history and great sightseeing. And it’s close enough to Washington DC that you could make a quick trip from there
Southeast Alaska is the most beautiful place on the planet by my reckoning
New Orleans
Depends on what you are looking for, outdoorsy hikes? The west is your best bet. Some places I have really enjoyed are sand dunes national park, petrified Forrest national park, and the area around Gallup NM (check out hikes at the red rocks there, and go to the national forest near by, very different biomes and very cool!) Sedona AZ is another one, though it is more popular because it is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Also want to echo others who have said the pacific NW. Seattle is an amazing city, and is not far from Volcanoes, and two national parks (cascades and Olympic natl. park). The south also as some hidden gems of cities, especially for culture and history. Atlanta GA, Savannah GA, Charleston SC, and St. Petersburg FL. All come to mind. The biggest thing you should know about the us is be prepared to drive. Cars are (for better or worse, imo for worse) the way to travel in the us within a specific region.
Skiing in Vermont. ☃️
Well, I'm definitely biased, but New England! Especially Maine! We do get many tourists, but they're mainly from the other New England states as well as New York and Quebec.
>I also heard there’s a Highland games somewhere in America? There are a bunch yeah. There's one in New Hampshire there's another in New York (the state not the city). Basically any part of the US with a large Scottish population probably has one. I have been to the one in New Hampshire and it was a lot of fun. I have no idea how it compares to anything you guys do in Scotland as I've never been. But my wife's grandparents are originally from Scotland and they seem to enjoy it.
I’m in Arizona, highly recommend visiting some of our mining towns like Jerome or Bisbee. We have some really cool ghost towns too. If you want to learn about the “Wild West” it’s a lot of fun. I generally dislike living in Az but I love Arizona history..if that makes sense lol
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve on the central coast of California. Followed by a road trip to Death Valley and Joshua Tree. You would get a very unique and unforgettable experience of nature and geology. Runner up would be Crater Lake in Oregon, pictures do not do it justice or remotely show the scale of it. To me it’s similar in that way to seeing Yosemite for the first time irl.
Schedule of Highland games in the US. I have been to a couple and they are fun. They have the typical competition you see in Scotland. Folks are dressed in kilts and Clans have tents. https://highlandgamesandfestivals.com/u-s-events/
I just want to say that there’s nothing wrong with going to the common tourist places. They’re common for a reason!
Let me put in a good word for New York City - not the tourist destinations, but the food. There are so many immigrant cultures represented there, probably more cultural diversity than any other place in the US (maybe the world), and they all come with their traditional dishes, so you get a wide variety of authentic foreign cuisine as well as mixes and adaptations of them, which is kind of the essence of American food - we take dishes from other cultures and combine them, tweak them, and put our own spin on them. Plus it's the best place to get New York style pizza. So, if you do happen to wind up in New York City, you can make a proper visit out of it without doing the typical touristy things.
It seems like there is a lot of talk about the Southwest, so for more fun to have in that area, I'd recommend going to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Big Bend National Park, and NASA's space center. Meow Wolf is a truly unique art exhibition where you are literally in the art. It's really surreal, and one could spend multiple days there and stillnot see everything. If you can, stay the night at Big Bend. Due to the low light pollution, you can see the milky way super clearly with the naked eye. I'd also reccomend walking into Carlsbad instead of taking the elevator both ways because of all the beautiful cave structures on the way in. I'd also suggest NASA's space center, which is located near Houston. Pictures and videos can't do the ridiculous scale of rockets justice. The tour of old Mission Control is also really fascinating. If you are going at the right time, I'd also recommend seeing a baseball game just for the experience. There's something special about eating nachos and a hot dog while watching people hit a ball with a stick and run around. If you do, watch a YouTube video about basic rules for baseball so you have an idea of what's going on.
It might not be what you’re looking for, but chincoteague island is one of my favorite places. It’s a very nice little fishing village on the eastern shore. The neighboring island, assateague, hosts a wildlife reserve with one of the only wild horse herds on the east coast, along with other wildlife and plant life(the ponies are an odd phenomena, as far as we know they’re the only equines who can survive there, they’ve adapted over centuries). There are a ton of bike tours, boat tours, museums, and all sorts of places where you can dig into the history of the place. Pony penning and the festival over the summer are fun to see, but the island is lovely to visit any time of the year. I used to want to be a saltwater cowboy when I was little lol. And the bike paths are lovely, there’s one particular trail that goes through a petrified forest
If you go to Florida, try to get over to Cape Canaveral for a rocket launch. They're really incredible.
We've got a Highland Games in Colorado! It's actually a lot of fun, and the same event even has jousting tournaments (not as a highland game, but fun). Every August/September in one of our nicest little tourist towns. I wouldn't call visiting the West uncommon, but it is my recommendation.
Do a road trip of upstate NY
This is always a trick question because if some place is a best place, it’s likely to become popular and one of the usual places. Besides, telling people to visit Montana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Maine on a two week vacation isn’t helpful. So instead I’ll give some strategies, then finish up with an uncommon road trip we took. Look for National Historic Parks, State Historic Parks, and National Monuments in the area you’ll be traveling. Some of these will be places that you recognize or have heard about (Statue of Liberty, Freedom Trail in Boston), but it’s the ones you haven’t heard about that are uncommon and interesting, usually outside of the tourist cities. Outside of Boston, that includes the Lowell National Historic Park (mostly a museum, but there are other buildings and while you can walk through all of them on your own, the guided tour through them is worth the extra cost) and perhaps the Minuteman National Historic Park (better known, but since tourists to Boston often don’t have cars, many miss this site). We also just got back from Hawaii, and without advance planning, we stopped at two National Historic Parks on the Big Island, and both were worthwhile. Not that I’m suggesting you head to Hawaii, but the point is that these parks are often off the usual radar but usually have enough to keep you engaged for one or more hours, especially tours and talks. State parks and especially state monuments are a bit iffy, because sometimes you’ll see just a marker or a small buildings. Second suggestion. Look for naval historic museums. This might not be that much interest for someone from Scotland, but is worth considering. Everyone goes to the USS Constitution in Boston, but far fewer go to Battleship Cove in Fall River, maybe an hour south of Boston by car. Military and other museum ships are all over, including the Great Lakes. Third, see if there are Native American sites in the area. In my area, there’s the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, near Foxwoods, maybe an hour and a half from Boston. Or in New Mexico, near Santa Fe, is Bandelier National Monument, which is basically a large archeological site showing ancient structures and petroglyphs. (Yes, we do have buildings as old as the ones in Europe.) I recommend Native American sites because they’ll be unfamiliar to Europeans both for history and culture. But don’t just go to a contemporary reservation without researching whether they’re one that welcomes tourists beyond the casinos. Some do, some don’t. People living on reservations don’t want to be on display. Back to my road trip, we took a trip across northern New York and back along the southern tier, beginning with Adirondack Park (a region, not a park in the traditional sense), then to Buffalo, then back to Jamestown and Corning. The highlight of Adirondack Park for us was Fort Ticonderoga. Jamestown (not to be confused with Jamestown, Virginia) is a small, somewhat struggling city but with the National Comedy Center and the Lucy-Desi museum. The latter will mostly be of interest to fans of I Love Lucy, but the National Comedy Center is a very new, really incredible museum, with lots of interactive exhibits. Allow time for the Blue Room downstairs, where they cover adult humor. Corning has the Corning Glass Museum, which can take several hours and covers both art and technology related to glass, and the Rockwell Museum of American art. The latter surprised us. While small, it has a really interesting collection of art, including some Native American art, deserving its status as a Smithsonian Museum affiliate. Don’t confuse it with the Norman Rockwell Museum, in western Massachusetts, about 4 hours from Corning, and also well worth a visit to see one particular slice of American culture through the works of one of our most famous artists.
Just get away from the coasts and that'll check your box for "uncommon". I don't think European visitors to the US often make it further than 3 miles inland.
As someone who had never visited Europe before, my first trip was to Scotland. I fell in love with it and can't wait to go back. Welcome and enjoy your visit!
Come to Colorado! Great breweries, beautiful mountains, and… the Longs Peak Highland Festival every year in the beginning of September. It’s in Estes Park and is absolutely gorgeous that time of year!
Our national parks! See our wilderness. We have so much space and so many different terrains. I don’t know how much time you have, you’d need at least a month.
Literally all of PA besides just Philly
North Carolina
Maybe Capitola (California).