11 Underrated and Unique Vacation Ideas in the U.S.

Do you plan to go on a vacation once the ongoing pandemic comes to an end?

Regardless of where you are, know that you have lots of unique summer vacation ideas around. But without a lot of travel experience, you won’t know the best places around the United States. You might end up choosing the wrong locations and not enjoying your time.

Don’t feel hopeless yet.

With this guide, you’ll learn various unique vacation ideas. That way, you’ll discover some of the less-traveled sights in the United States. Read on and find out more:

1. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Kenai Fjords Nationa Park is nippy, located in southern Alaska. It’s home to almost 40 glaciers and numerous fjords, harboring one of the biggest icefields in the United States, the Harding Icefield. The name comes from the former United States President Warren G. Harding, in honor of his visit in the 1920s.

Also, the park has sea lions, black bears, and humpback whales. Look out for them while you visit this national park.

2. Molokai, Hawaii

Molokai is a pleasant oddity in the Hawaiian islands. It’s still tropical and welcoming, but it remains rustic since it has a smaller crowd compared to other islands. Instead of resorts, you’ll see untouched nature and well-preserved culture.

This is the best place to visit if you’re looking to see what Hawaii looked like a century ago. Hurry while this hidden gem remains untouched by commercialization.

3. Big Sur, California

Driving along the Big Sur is a wonderful experience. Highway 1 has windy, serpentine roads that make you feel daunted sometimes. But the staggering views will make the trip worth your time since you’ll encounter cliffs, beaches, state parks, and bridges.

This rugged coastline encompasses Carmel to San Simeon in Central California. With these wonderful areas, Big Sur is one of the most wonderful places in the United States.

4. Mount Rainier, Washington

This enormous mountain is beautiful, even if it’s one of the tallest mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle skyline is more beautiful with the mountain as its majestic backdrop. Regardless, it’s an active volcano camouflaged by glaciated peaks.

5. Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

You need not go to the Alps with Lake Tahoe around. While not as majestic as the former, the latter is something worthy of your time. It’s in the Sierra Nevada region, situated between California and Nevada.

Lake Tahoe is the biggest alpine lake in the United States. It has rocky mountains and verdant forests, which makes it one of the most unique vacation ideas for couples. The best part is that this travel destination is great all year round.

6. The Palouse, Washington and Idaho

The Palouse is a collection of both rolling hills and prairies. The Palouse formed because of wind-blown sediments, making it a spectacular sight. This scenery undulates through both Idaho and Washington.

Because the Palouse has no continuous valleys or ridges, experts conclude that wind-blown silt formed its hills instead of rivers. Regardless, it has an agricultural landscape akin to Tuscany. The only difference is that instead of vineyards, it has wheat fields.

7. Yosemite National Park, California

Even though California has nine national parks, Yosemite is one of its best. It’s four hours away from San Francisco, to the east. This long travel time is rewarding since Yosemite is home to a lot of great landscapes, from deep valleys and granite cliffs to gushing waterfalls and titanic sequoia trees.

Regardless, Yosemite Valley is the star of the park. It’s a gigantic glacial valley surrounded by granite mountains. If you travel its depths, you’ll see lots of pine trees and streams.

8. Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Are you fond of chasing waterfalls on a cool hiking trail? If so, Multnomah Falls is your destination if you’re near the Pacific Northwest.

Multnomah Falls’ water comes from underground springs from a nearby mountain. It flows all year, dropping water from 611 feet above the ground. With its unique sights, this travel destination is one of the natural treasures of the United States.

To get to Multnomah Falls, you can use two hiking trails. A pretty bridge adjoins these trails. The best part is that you need only drive for half an hour from Portland to get to Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge.

9. Sequoia National Park, California

Another famous Californian national park, the Sequoia National Park has gigantic sequoia trees, as well as canyons and lakes. The world’s biggest tree, General Sherman Tree, is in this park.

This park has 14 campsites, making it an ideal place for an outdoor retreat. It’s also one of the most beautiful places in the United States, making it a must-visit destination. The best part is that it’s within reach of San Francisco, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

10. Thor’s Well, Oregon

When visiting Oregon, always choose wisely when visiting beaches. It’s because, along its coastline, you see a majestic natural vortex swallowing the sea. Named Thor’s Well, powerful ocean tides drive this sinkhole.

This natural landmark is about a two-hour drive away from Eugene city. The great news is that you can visit Thor’s Well as part of your itinerary within the Siuslaw National Forest. It looks like a bottomless pit, but the truth is that it’s only about 20 feet deep.

11. Pigeon Key, Florida

The Pigeon Key historic district is a five-acre island, home to eight buildings. What’s special is that they’re on the National Register of Historic Places. These structures are work camps for the Florida East Coast Railway, well-preserved on its earliest incarnation.

These buildings now serve more purposes. This ranges from educational group housing to administrative offices manned by the Pigeon Key Foundation, a non-profit organization. Also, the house of the former Assistant Bridge Tender now houses a small museum, featuring relics and other images from Pigeon Key’s glorious past.

Get More Unique Vacation Ideas Today!

These are some of the most unique vacation ideas in the United States. No matter where you’re from, visit these places when you have the time.

Did you discover a grand new place to explore and visit? Are you looking for even more travel ideas? We’ve got your back so simply check out the rest of our travel lists and guides today!