America's best-loved attractions are popular for a reason – but those seeking respite from the crowds can find their own space in some of the USA's quieter spots. There are plenty of alternatives to the country's biggest sights – from almost-as-grand canyons to underappreciated galleries and museums – and they're usually a little easier on the pocket too.
Click through this gallery to uncover America's most underrated spots – and the high-profile sights they could replace...
Yellowstone is one of the USA's largest national parks, but despite the ample space most visitors still gather around the preserve's most famous sights. Natural wonders like the kaleidoscopic Grand Prismatic Spring and the Old Faithful geyser, pictured here on a busy summer's day, hog the limelight, while equally impressive sites like Castle Geyser draw far fewer crowds.
Cone-shaped Castle Geyser (pictured) is actually larger and older than its famous sister, though eruptions are less frequent. But when Castle does put on a show, waters can shoot up to 90 feet (27m). In winter, when visitation is low, you might well have areas of the fizzing geyser basins all to yourself too.
Typically upward of two million tourists visit Mount Rushmore every year to take in the carvings of four formative American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. But crowds are almost guaranteed to be fewer at the Crazy Horse Memorial, less than 20 miles (32km) away.
This tribute to Crazy Horse (pictured), a Lakota warrior who famously led Native American fighters in the Great Sioux War of 1876–77, was begun in 1948. Upon completion, it's set to be the largest mountain carving in the world, peaking at a gargantuan 563 feet (163m), and far eclipsing Mount Rushmore's 60 feet (18m). The landmark generally receives around a million visitors a year (roughly half Mount Rushmore's).
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Central Park is touted as New York City's 'green lung' for a reason – its beautiful 843 acres are hard to match. But its unrivalled popularity means it attracts huge numbers of people and can be very busy at times. Fort Tryon Park, however, might be the perfect antidote to Central Park's maddening crowds.
At 67 acres Fort Tryon (pictured) is much smaller than Central Park – but what it lacks in size it makes up for in serenity, with eight miles (13km) of peaceful pathways and the Cloisters, a branch of the Met focusing on medieval works. The park is at its prettiest come fall, when its shady canopy is dyed red and ochre.
Glacier National Park in Montana often ranks in the top 10 most visited US national parks, but North Cascades, about 500 miles (805km) away in Washington state, remains blissfully under-the-radar. In terms of landscape, though, there's little between them: they each wow with blue lakes, snowy peaks, fir-covered hills and, of course, plenty of glaciers.
North Cascades actually boasts more than 300 glaciers (compared with the now 25 or so surviving ones in Glacier National Park), and breathtaking hiking trails wiggle out from the North Cascades Scenic Highway. Among the most striking natural wonders here is the North Klawatti Glacier, which is more than a mile (1.6km) in length.
There are few places on Earth quite like the Las Vegas strip, with its all-you-can-eat buffets, bustling casinos and glitzy hotels. But the notorious buzz of Sin City certainly isn't for everyone. Those visitors looking for something (slightly) tamer could set their sights on the East Coast instead.
Though hardly under the radar, the Boardwalk (pictured) in Atlantic City, New Jersey is usually eclipsed by Vegas's bright lights. It has the slots, hotels and bars that Sin City is famous for, but it's dialled down a notch or two, with a breath of sea air in place of that oppressive desert heat. It also typically has slightly fewer crowds than its western counterpart.
Arizona's Grand Canyon draws millions each year: in fact, its visitor numbers are usually second only to those of the Great Smoky Mountains. But crowds are much sparser at Palo Duro Canyon, on the outskirts of Amarillo. This lesser-known landscape may be second in size to the Grand Canyon, but it's certainly not second best.
Palo Duro (pictured) has the same rugged red rocks and epic sunsets and sunrises as the Grand Canyon, but a fraction of the visitors. Some 30 miles (48km) of trails beat through the craggy landscape too, so it shouldn't be difficult for hikers, bikers or horse-back riders to find their own quiet pocket of the park.
The Art Institute of Chicago is rightly lauded, with displays running the gamut from medieval masterpieces to contemporary works. But the museum's swarms of visitors are almost as famous as its stunning artworks. So if you fancy something more alternative that's lighter on crowds, the avant-garde Vertical Gallery might be up your street.
Chicago's Vertical Gallery (pictured) is quirkier than its straight-laced sister, showcasing new and established talent in street art, prints and illustrations. There's also usually work for sale if your walls are looking bare.
Disney California Adventure Park is one of the top attractions in the state, but those after a smaller scale adventure might set their sights on Knott's Berry Farm. A historic, family-owned spot, Knott's Berry Farm proudly touts itself as California's 'best theme park and amusement park' and is filled with Old West-themed attractions and fun thrill rides.
Knott's Berry Farm features a range of rides and attractions, as well as a calendar of fun events. In March and April, you can enjoy the Knott's Boysenberry Festival, which celebrates the prized local fruit along with music, activities and stage shows. At Halloween, meanwhile, there's the Scary Farm event, with plenty of hidden characters, mazes and seasonal shows.
There's little wonder Yosemite's Half Dome (pictured) draws the crowds: rising 5,000 feet (1,524m) over the Yosemite Valley it makes for a dizzying hike and offers fabulous views. The national park and its mighty peak are naturally a hotspot for visitors, so if you'd rather avoid it there are plenty of other unique bluffs to be found in America's West.
Northwest of the Yosemite monolith, in Wyoming, you'll find Devils Tower (pictured), a national monument that matches the well-loved Half Dome's height and is sacred to many groups of Native peoples. Several of the hiking trails with views of the tower remain little trodden, and the climbing here is world class.
Self-guided trails are a good way to take in the USA's sights on your own terms and the Freedom Trail, Boston's most popular attraction, is a firm favourite for those wishing to explore the historic city. But the powerful and poignant Black Heritage Trail also deserves your attention.
The Black Heritage Trail chronicles the history of Boston's African-American inhabitants, from the 400 enslaved people who were brought to the city in the 17th century to the first free black community here. Sights include the memorial to the Massachusetts 54th Regiment (one of the first official African-American units in the Civil War) and the African Meeting House.
Prime people-watching territory, South Beach attracts many a well-heeled visitor and is typically known for its glamorous nightlife and buzzing shores (as you can see from this busy summertime photo). But some visitors might prefer a quieter stretch of sand, and thankfully the Sunshine State has plenty.
A gorgeous south Florida city whose shores draw far fewer crowds is Deerfield, less than an hour's drive from South Beach. Deerfield's beach lends itself perfectly to an afternoon's basking, with its photogenic pier and its quiet, champagne-hued sands fringed with palms.
Travellers usually flock to San Diego Zoo, but the downside of that is that visitors might experience long wait times to enter (especially at the weekends and other busy periods). Yet it's not the only attraction for animal lovers in the Golden State, nor is it the only centre making strides when it comes to conservation.
Lions, Tigers and Bears is a mid-sized, not-for-profit, no-contact sanctuary outside Alpine, California, dedicated to rescuing and caring for abused and/or abandoned animals. As its name suggests, the site is home to big cats and grizzly and black bears, among other large species. Visits are only by advance reservation only – see the sanctuary's website for details.
The orange structures of the Natural Bridges monument are almost carbon copies of those at Arches (pictured). But while the latter typically heaves under the weight of ever-increasing visitor numbers (more than 1.5 million people per year), Natural Bridges' beauty remains more under the radar (it usually attracts around 100,000 people per year).
The quieter beauty spot (pictured) is named for its trio of natural bridges, carved out by rivers over millennia. This was also the first designated International Dark Sky Park in the world and its trails are open to visitors after nightfall, so you'll almost certainly find some star-studded solitude.
Any first-time traveller to New York will likely head to Grand Central Terminal, and while it's a memorable place to visit, it might be dampened for some by the hordes of crowds it usually contains. But a far quieter station awaits if you happen to be heading out west.
Dubbed 'Denver's living room', the airy atrium of the city's 100-year-old Union Station is dotted with comfy chairs, hooked up with free Wi-Fi and lined with indie shops and plenty of great places to get a quick bite.
Big Sur is a fabled stretch of California coastline along Highway 1, best loved for its windswept ocean and dramatic mountain views. But Big Sur's status as a hero route means it can get pretty busy, particularly during peak season (summer into early fall). Those looking for a quieter journey might set their sights farther north.
Oregon has an equally beautiful slice of America's shoreline – with jewels like Ecola State Park – but it doesn't attract quite the same amount of traffic as the famous stretch in California. Drivers will find the same rock-studded sands and dramatic bluffs, and may even spot a whale if they're lucky.
Denali is the tallest peak in North America and its namesake park is among the most popular and well-visited in the Last Frontier. Of course, with six million acres, it's not hard to spread out in Denali – but the overlooked wilderness of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is more remote and quieter still.
Lake Clark, home to the Chigmit and Neacola mountain ranges, remains one of the least-visited parks in Alaska and indeed in North America as a whole. Its relative quietness typically allows for unparalleled wildlife viewing, including of brown and black bears, dall sheep and caribou, who roam undisturbed in the park's four million acres. The beaches of Chinitna Bay are among the best places for bear spotting.
The nation's capital is renowned for its world-class museums – including the string of Smithsonian institutions that line the Mall and the revered National Gallery of Art. But these big hitters can get super busy too. Luckily, the sheer volume of cultural venues in DC means some inevitably shake off the crowds.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (pictured) is one of them. The only major museum of its kind, it highlights the work of female artists all over the globe from the 16th century onwards, and its core collection consists of 4,500 works.
Waikiki in Oahu is Hawaii's most famous beach resort, a busy, sandy playground with legendary surf. Yet the island has plenty of sandy strands, and those who venture to shores further afield will be rewarded with extra space and plenty of peace and quiet.
On Oahu's quieter North Shore, travellers will find Mokuleia Beach Park, home to a secluded arc of sand, and waters that lend themselves perfectly to wind and kite surfing. Amenities are limited here, so it's best to bring a picnic.
Most visitors to New York City will want to steal a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, and even visit the island to explore the museum or look out from the statue's pedestal or crown. But, for those seeking an alternative, there are some Big Apple islands that aren't quite so famous but are almost as enticing.
Lesser-known Governors Island is a military base-turned-public park that's home to sights like Fort Jay and Castle Williams. Fresh air and stellar views of Manhattan are the main draws here, though, with ample open space and plenty of trails for walking and biking.
Yellowstone is in America's top five national parks for visitor numbers, and the busiest bits of the incredible wilderness attract a glut of travellers. The Grand Prismatic Spring is the park's crowning jewel – and one of America's most-touristed natural wonders – so you'll probably share the surrounding boardwalks with a fair few others.
Few places in the world can match it for sheer wow factor, but sights like Bumpass Hell (pictured), a geothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park, do their best – and they'll likely be a lot less crowded too. Visitors can hike a three-mile (5km) trail here and take in the blue-and-yellow pools, the whistling steam vents and the simmering mud pots.
Pier 39 is a favourite tourist stop in the City by the Bay – visitors come in their droves to take in the basking sea lions, colourful amusements and wacky street performers. But those hoping for a quieter experience might make a beeline for Pier 7 instead.
You won't find any sea lions on Pier 7. Instead, visitors can take in ocean views from the bench-lined jetty and gape at the impressive, pyramid-shaped Transamerica building. The upscale Waterfront Restaurant, opened in 1969, is a classy way to soak in the stunning views. This is a quieter (and dare we say more sophisticated) alternative to the flurry at Pier 39.
Santa Monica is known for its kitsch pier, its humming promenade and its sands peppered with palm trees. Yet, for those wishing to escape the Ferris wheels (and the people), Thousand Steps Beach is a quieter option.
Around an hour away from Santa Monica, in the Orange County city of Laguna Beach, is Thousand Steps Beach. There's not actually a thousand steps – there's just a little over 200 – but it still requires some extra effort to reach these shores. Those who make the descent will land on a gorgeous sweep of soft, pale sand fringed by sandstone cliffs and waters favoured by surfers.
Reading Terminal Market is a Philadelphia institution – operating since the late 1800s, it's packed with merchants hawking everything from artisan ice cream and local cheeses to jewellery and artworks crafted by Philly locals. It's housed in a landmark building, and typically attracts upwards of six million people per year.
Reading Terminal Market's longstanding Italian counterpart is hardly quiet either, but it's enormous – spread across 20 city blocks and including almost 200 vendors. It's also alfresco – the oldest continuously operating outdoor market in the country, in fact. Both Pat's and Geno's – the city's two premier (and rival) vendors of its beloved cheesesteaks – can be found at the market too.
Niagara Falls draws the crowds from both sides of the US-Canada border and beyond: in fact, in the average year it's thought that the Niagara Region welcomes some 14 million visitors. The famous natural wonder is actually a trio of falls – American Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls – and this snap shows the numbers Niagara can bring in. But travellers don't have to venture too far to find some slightly quieter cascades.
While visitors crowd the vantage points at Niagara, you can typically expect a little more elbow room at Letchworth (pictured). Less than two hours' drive from Niagara Falls, Letchworth State Park boasts its own impressive set of cascades – at their highest, the waterfalls reach 600 feet (183m) and rush over craggy cliff faces cloaked by lush woodland. The site still gets pretty busy in summer, but come in late fall or even winter and you'll likely have pockets of the pretty park to yourself.
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is iconic for a reason. The views back over the bay and city are startlingly beautiful, the 'international orange' colouring dazzles in the California sun and the sight of the bridge from the shoreline echoes countless famous movie scenes. No American bridge can match it for star power, but the Golden Gate hasn't got all the bases covered...
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York is the longest suspension bridge in the US, snatching the American and world records from the Golden Gate Bridge by 60 feet (18m) when it opened in 1964 (it would later lose the world record to Britain's Humber Bridge in 1981). Its views out across New York are just as splendid as the San Francisco skyline, and you can be sure you're witnessing a genuine all-American record holder.
There was a time when the Empire State Building set the standard for observation decks across America and the world. The tallest building on Earth for four decades, the tower's viewing platform wowed visitors with cityscape views you couldn't enjoy anywhere else, and made iconic appearances in films like Sleepless In Seattle.
Now the historic skyscraper doesn't even make New York's tallest top five, and higher, more modern platforms have sprung up in several locations. The 1,100-foot-high (340m) open-air Edge observation deck, part of the still-fairly-new Hudson Yards development, is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, and offers windswept vistas from the west side of Midtown Manhattan. There's also one key part of the NYC skyline you can see from the Edge that's missing from the Empire State Building's panorama: the Empire State Building itself.
Most Americans know that the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, bringing the Pilgrim fathers to America to set up the Plymouth Colony prior to the first Thanksgiving. You can still see the rock today – a medium-sized hunk of granite that never fails to underwhelm. Worst of all, evidence for the rock's identity is sketchy at best – it was first identified 121 years after the Pilgrims landed, and they first set ashore at Cape Cod anyway.
For a more expansive piece of Pilgrim history, we suggest Mayflower II – a replica of the famous ship now anchored in Plymouth Harbor. A working ship and floating classroom, the ship was first built in the 1950s and makes no pretence at authenticity, but it did recreate the original Mayflower's famous voyage by sailing from the UK across the Atlantic in 1957. The journey took 54 days.
One of the most famous museums in the world, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art – typically referred to as 'the Met' – wows visitors with a mind-bogglingly large collection of artworks and artefacts, spanning ancient Egyptian mummies, renowned Impressionist masterpieces, ancient Greek sculptures and priceless Islamic manuscripts. But with fame comes crowds – seven million people a year, to be precise.
For a calmer museum experience and to learn about something a little different, swing by the Rubin Museum of Art in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The free-to-enter museum focuses on more recent works by contemporary and self-taught artists from the United States and beyond, resulting in an eclectic collection spanning traditional paintwork to elaborate textiles and a large array of wooden ducks.
Hollywood has long branded itself as the place where dreams come true, but in Hollywood Boulevard disappointment is a much more likely outcome. Visitors flock here to see the famous stars that line the sidewalk, but the street is overcrowded, over-commercialised and downright unpleasant during summer, and you may not be able to move for tourists taking selfies with the star of their favourite celebrity.
Instead, get out of the smoke and sweat by hiking to the Hollywood Sign – an arguably much more iconic piece of Hollywood history that also provides glorious views over Los Angeles and the valley beyond. Go with a guide to learn fascinating facts about Hollywood's past and present – a far more illuminating experience than seeing Steven Spielberg's name cast in concrete.
Instead, head a bit further north to Big Cypress National Preserve. Free to enter, it has plenty of wildlife of its own, and visitors often claim to spot more of it here than in the Everglades (especially in dry season, between October and May). You can also marvel at the dense cypress forests that give this pretty spot its name. Head to the Oasis Visitor Center, the first place you'll come to when entering from Miami, and take to the observation deck to see alligators beneath your feet.
Down in Georgia's capital of Atlanta, an elevated walkway, also on disused railroad tracks, will eventually boast 22 miles (35km) of stunning outdoor space. The BeltLine, which is due for total completion in 2030, will connect 45 neighbourhoods with green spaces, artwork, restaurants, bars and breweries and has already become a must-visit for tourists, with several trails and parks currently open. Thankfully, it offers more space to roam than its New York counterpart.
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