Travel site Lonely Planet released its 2015 list of the destinations in the US that travelers need to make top priority to visit this year. From offbeat small towns to mountain regions and cities vibrant with culture and life, this roundup will have you reaching for your suitcase before you can even get to the end.
New York's largest borough is still its best-kept secret from tourists but has plenty to offer for visitors to the area. Queens is known for its diversity and is home to unique restaurants, an amazing art scene, and craft breweries like SingleCut Beersmiths and Finback Brewery — notorious for its highly creative brews.
Rockaway Beach is a summertime attraction that offers sand and surf without the trek all the way to the Hamptons, and you'll pay way cheaper hotel rates than you will if you stay in the city. Visit newly renovated museums like the Museum of the Moving Image and learn about the history of film, television, and video. The options are endless!
For lovers of small-town charm and natural beauty, Western South Dakota is the perfect place to visit. With sprawling grasslands where buffalo and wild horses roam, the area is an idyllic representation of America. Mount Rushmore attracts millions annually, and Custer and Badlands State Parks can't be missed.
Western South Dakota is loaded with American history, so visit Indian reservations, battle sites, and memorials, like the famous Crazy Horse mountain carving. For machine-loving travelers, plan your trip to fall during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and join 500,000 bikers for the ride of a lifetime.
The vibrant Southern city is unlike any other in America. With a rich history, an unparalleled music scene, extensive nightlife, and famous food, it's a place that has everything tourists could want and more.
For people looking for lots of action, Mardi Gras is the time of year to make your trip to the Big Easy. Otherwise, explore the city when it's in a more normal groove, and venture in to the historical French Quarter or take in the city's unique art scene. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, so zydeco, jazz, and blues clubs can't be missed.
The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, then winds its way through Utah and Arizona, where it famously cuts between the Grand Canyon.
Rafting down the river is a bucket list must-do, and different parts of the region show off snaking turns, snow-capped Rockies, the desert, and miles of nature untainted by man. Horseshoe Bend, pictured above, is one of the area's most notable spots to see.
North Conway is a town tucked away from big-city life, and it holds endless outdoor adventures. It is quintessentially New England in all ways, with breathtaking Fall foliage and fresh air, optimal skiing options, and endless Summer activities on the water of the Saco River.
Bretton Woods offers winding hiking trails, and the Conway Scenic Railroad gives rides on old-fashioned trains between North Conway and the neighboring towns of Conway and Bartlett. Travelers can stop on the ride to feast on cider donuts at White Mountain Cider Company or enjoy a meal on the train itself.
The city is known for the incredible Indianapolis Motor Speedway and affinity for all things car-related, and it is also home to a thriving sports scene.
Literature-lovers will want to head straight to the Vonnegut Memorial Library, which pays homage to the famed author who was born and raised in the city. Indianapolis is also home to the country's largest children's museum, so if your travels involve little ones, this is a perfect family destination.
With Reedy River rushing through the town and the Blue Ridge Mountains close by, Greenville is definitely one of the hidden gems of the South. Falls Park is located downtown in the city's historic West End, and people gather there to work, play, and celebrate the city.
The area boasts of six state parks, and if you ever wanted to find out what moonshine tastes like, you can sip it at Dark Corner Distillery in town. Don't miss the countless museums, restaurants, and independently owned shops that line the picturesque streets of Greenville.
The culture of San Francisco has spilled over into neighboring Oakland and taken on a life of its own. "Brooklyn by the Bay," as it's known by some, has an amazing food scene, along with can't-miss Art Murmur events and art showcases on Telegraph Avenue each first Friday of the month.
The weather in Oakland is typically warmer and sunnier than in San Francisco, so farmers markets and days by Lake Merritt are almost always an option for travelers and residents alike to enjoy. The diverse city is packed with amazing food trucks and reasonably priced restaurants, and the local history is surprisingly rich.
Hikers, bikers, skiers, kayakers, and lovers of the great outdoors need to hop on a plane to Duluth, which is set between Lake Superior and the mountains.
More than 150 Olympians hail from the area, and with a 296-mile hiking trail and beautiful scenery no matter which way you turn, it's no wonder people want to spend all of their time outdoors here. The city itself has good eats and great breweries popping up all over the place.
Mount Shasta, or "white mountain," is a snow-capped volcano that lies at the end of the Cascade mountain range in California. A spiritual place for many, including naturalist John Muir, it's also a popular attraction for climbers and hikers. The peak is surrounded by beautiful lakes — Lake Siskiyou, Lake Shastina, and Castle Lake among them. Several small towns are nearby, where visitors can enjoy the comforts of charming bed and breakfasts and California cuisine.
