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Embarking on a journey across the United States unveils a treasure trove of destinations, each with its own distinct allure. While we haven’t concentrated on larger towns in the past, opting to explore the small, less traveled areas, here are what we find as some of the most fascinating cities in America, exploring their history, culture, and unique attractions. From coast to coast, these destinations beckon with promises of adventure, discovery, and the opportunity to experience the rich diversity that defines the American experience.
Abilene, Kansas – Queen of the Kansas Cowtowns
Albuquerque, New Mexico – 300-Year-Old Duke City
Amarillo, Texas – Texas Panhandle Cowtown
The United States Courthouse in Augusta, Georgia, by Carol Highsmith.
Augusta, Georgia – The Garden City
Baltimore, Maryland – The Monument City
Bisbee, Arizona – Queen of the Copper Camps
Boston, Massachusetts – The Revolution Begins
Branson, Missouri – From Hillbillies to State of the Art
San Bernardino, California – The Inland Empire
Charleston, South Carolina – The Holy City
Chicago, Illinois – The Route 66 Journey Begins
Chillicothe, Ohio – First Ohio Capital
Cripple Creek, Colorado – World’s Greatest Gold Camp
Del Rio, Texas Depot by Kathy Alexander.
Del Rio, Texas – Rio Grande City
Dodge City, Kansas – A Wicked Little Town
Durango, Colorado – Railroad Town of the Southwest
Elk City, Oklahoma – A Step Back In Time
Eureka Springs, Arkansas – Little Switzerland of the Ozarks
Flagstaff, Arizona – City of Seven Wonders
Gallup, New Mexico – Indian Center of the Southwest
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia – John Brown’s Raid
Hollywood, California – Home of the Stars
Buckstaff Bathhouse, Hot Springs, Arkansas, by Kathy Alexander.
Hot Springs, Arkansas – Home of Healing Waters
Independence, Missouri – Queen City of the Trails
Jamestown, Virginia – First Successful English Settlement
Joliet, Illinois – Route 66 in the Chicago Suburbs
Lawrence, Kansas – From Ashes to Immortality
Leavenworth, Kansas – First City
Kansas City, Missouri – Jumping on the Trails
Kingman, Arizona – Gateway to Hoover Dam
Las Vegas, Nevada – Sin City, USA
Las Vegas, New Mexico – More Wicked Than Dodge City
Harrison Avenue, Leadville, Colorado, Kathy Alexander.
Leadville, Colorado – Cloud City, USA
Los Angeles, California – City of Angels
New Orleans, Louisiana – The Big Easy
New York City, New York – The Big Apple
Newport, Rhode Island – National Historic District
Oklahoma City – An Overnight Success
Ouray, Colorado – Switzerland of America
Pasadena, California – A Village Inside a City
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin – Fur Trading Mecca
Sacramento, California – Walking on History
Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
Salem, Massachusetts – Witch Hunt City
Salt Lake City, Utah – City of the Saints
San Antonio, Texas – A Mecca For History Buffs
San Francisco, California – Golden Gate City
Santa Monica, California – End of the Mother Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico – The City Different
Skagway, Alaska – Jumping Off to the Klondike
Springfield, Illinois – Home of Honest Abe
Springfield, Missouri – Queen City of the Ozarks
St. Augustine, Florida – Oldest U.S. City
St Louis, Missouri – Gateway to the West
Taos Pueblo and River, New Mexico by Kathy Alexander.
Taos, New Mexico – Art, Architecture & History
Trinidad, Colorado – Coal Queen of Colorado
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Oil Capital of the World
Seattle, Washington – At the Center of the Klondike Gold Rush
Washington, D.C. – The Capitol City
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas – Declaring Independence
Wichita, Kansas – Largest City
Williamsburg, Virginia – Colonial Capitol
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated May 2024.
Bucket List for each State. Click for 8.5 x 11 print version. Click HERE for mini-poster print.
Also See:
Bucket List Attraction in Each State