Sick and tired of vacationing to the same big cities over and over again? Why not try a trip to a smaller city? From the Capital of Silicon Valley to Hot Road City, USA – here’s our round up of ten smaller cities worth visiting in the U.S.
If you’re a tech geek, why not make a trip to the Capital of Silicon Valley – San Jose, California? San Jose generates more patents than any other place in the nation, and is home to over 6,000 tech companies, including Adobe, Cisco, Netflix, eBay and PayPal. You can peruse the places that made technology history. Visit the Steve Jobs’ garage, the birthplace of Apple, go learn the history of computers at the Computer History Museum, or eat at Buck’s Woodside, a watering hole for deal-making venture capitalists.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western San Jose Central City.
If you feel the need for speed, beeline towards Bowling Green, Kentucky, known as Hot Road City, USA or ‘Vette City. The city exclusively produces Corvettes and is home to the National Corvette Museum, NCM Motorsports Park, GM Corvette Plant and Beech Bend Raceway. At the NCM Motorsports Park, you can have a one-in-lifetime experience by spending a day with Pro Racer, Andy Pilgrim and driving a C8 Corvette.
Book your stay at SureStay Hotel by Best Western Bowling Green North.
Nestled in nature, Chattanooga, Tennessee charms visitors with Ruby Falls and the Tennessee River. Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the U.S. Do a lantern tour or take in the views at Lookout Tower, the majestic and beautiful views await you. At Lookout Mountain, go to the See Seven States site, the only place in the U.S. where you can view the most states at once. If you need a relaxing ride down the lazy Tennessee River, hop aboard a sunset cruise on the 1985 Southern Belle Riverboat. Grab a glass of wine as you literally, cruise into the sunset.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus by Best Western Chattanooga Hamilton Place.
Adventurous and exciting beach fun can be found at family-friendly Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. Get a new perspective of the coastline by parasailing with Express Watersports and going up and away. Or make a splash by speeding in a banana boat with your family on the Banana Boat Express. And if you’re a dolphin lover, jet skiing with dolphins will be right up your alley with Blue Wave Adventures.
Book your stay at SureStay Hotel by Best Western North Myrtle Beach.
If you’re looking for unique, picturesque spots, look no further than Reno, Nevada. The Reno-Tahoe area is filled with photo opportunities. The Donner Swing, found in Donner Memorial State Park, overlooks the alpine forests and Donner Lake as you swing thousands of feet high off the ground. Sand Harbor Beach’s pristine and crystal-clear waters will surely transport your photos, and Playa Art Park has a unique collection of sculptures from the Burning Man Festival.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Reno Airport.
Get your kicks on Route 66, and Tulsa, Oklahoma is the heart of it. Start at the East Gateway Arch, and be sure to visit the kitschy statues and signs, like the Golden Driller Statue, Meadow Gold Sign and Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios. End your tour at the Route 66 Historical Village, which was modeled after a 1920’s Phillips 66 gas station.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Owasso Tulsa North.
If you’re looking to find Zen in a surprising location, head over to Billings, Montana. Although Billings is most known for adrenaline adventures, why not try wellness activities instead? Check out halotherapy in a Himalayan Salt Room at Onyx Wellness, and afterwards, go to The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas to align and awaken inner positivity.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Billings.
Wine lovers will revel in Willcox Wine Country, located in Willcox, Arizona. This southeastern region of the state boasts the most highly rated Arizona wines, and the Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival is rated by Fodor’s Travel as one of the top ten wine festivals in North America. Drop into any of the wine tasting rooms in the area; the most notable one in the area is Pillsbury Wine Company, named “Best Local Winemaker” by Phoenix Magazine and “Best Arizona Winery” by Arizona Foothills Magazine.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Willcox.
San Antonio, Texas is home to the infamous 15-mile urban waterway, The River Walk, and of course, The Alamo. However, the food scene in San Antonio is also bustling and deserves to be recognized. As one of two U.S. cities designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, its drinks scene is bustling. Taste it all at the Tasting Texas, Wine + Food Festival in October, a four-day culinary festival hosted by the James Beard Foundation.
Book your stay at SureStay Hotel by Best Western San Antonio Riverwalk.
Are you a train-iac? Then there’s no better place than Cheyenne, Wyoming, America’s “Railroad Capital.” The Cheyenne Depot is designated a National Historic Landmark and is the last remaining railroad station on the transcontinental route. Learn more about railroad history at the Cheyenne Depot Museum. Afterwards, visit Number 4004 – the world’s largest steam locomotive in Holliday Park.
Book your stay at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Cheyenne.
