Image by brgfx on Freepik
Embarking across the United States unveils a treasure trove of destinations, each with its 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
Charleston, South Carolina – The Holy City
Central City, Colorado – Boom & Bust
Chicago, Illinois – The Route 66 Journey Begins
Chillicothe, Ohio – First Ohio Capital
Council Grove, Kansas – Supplying the Santa Fe Trail
Cripple Creek, Colorado – World’s Greatest Gold Camp
Deadwood, South Dakota – Rough & Tumble Mining Camp
Del Rio, Texas Depot by Kathy Alexander.
Del Rio, Texas – Rio Grande City
Denver, Colorado – Mile High City
Dodge City, Kansas – A Wicked Little Town
Durango, Colorado – Railroad Town of the Southwest
Elk City, Oklahoma – A Step Back In Time
El Reno, Oklahoma – Home of the Oklahoma Land Rush
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
Great Bend, Kansas – Booming on the Santa Fe Trail
Hermann, Missouri – Little Germany
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
Jackson, Michigan – The Other Detroit
Jamestown, Virginia – First Successful English Settlement
Joliet, Illinois – Route 66 in the Chicago Suburbs
Joplin, Missouri – Lead Mining Capital
Kansas City, Kansas – Heart of America
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
Lawrence, Kansas – From Ashes to Immortality
Leadville, Colorado – Cloud City, USA
Leavenworth, Kansas – First City
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
Miami, Florida – Coastal Playground
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
Overland Park, Kansas – Bustling in the KC Area
Pasadena, California – A Village Inside a City
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Independence Begins
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin – Fur Trading Mecca
Pioche, Nevada – Wildest Town in the Silver State
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 Bernardino, California – The Inland Empire
San Francisco, California – Golden Gate City
Santa Monica, California – End of the Mother Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico – The City Different
Seattle, Washington – At the Center of the Klondike Gold Rush
Silverton, Colorado – High in the San Juans
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. Joseph, Missouri – Jumping Off To the West
St Louis, Missouri – Gateway to the West
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri – Europeans West of the Mississippi River
Taos Pueblo and River, New Mexico by Kathy Alexander.
Taos, New Mexico – Art, Architecture & History
Topeka, Kansas – Free-State Capitol
Trinidad, Colorado – Coal Queen of Colorado
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Oil Capital of the World
Seattle, Washington – At the Center of the Klondike Gold Rush
Virginia City, Nevada and the Comstock Lode
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 June 2025.
Bucket List for each State. Click for 8.5 x 11 print version. Click HERE for mini-poster print.
Also See: