Who doesn't like to travel? Well guys, it's summer time, it's the time to travel. Every state has an iconic tourist attraction, possibly more than one. But there are so many places that fly under the radar, that no one has ever been to or heard of. Everyone knows about the Empire State Building in New York, The Grand Canyon in Arizona, Alcatraz in California, Disney World in Florida, Wrigley Field in Illinois, Bourbon Street/The French Quarter in Louisiana, Glacier National Park in Montana, Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey, Crater Lake in Oregon, Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Temple Square in Utah, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Now these are just a few of the tourist attractions in a few of the states. There are so many, but this article isn't about the well known attractions, this is about the hidden gems here in The United States.
1. ESTES PARK, COLORADO
Estes Park is breathtaking, not many out-of-staters know about this place, there are so many things to do, and sites to see. There is rafting, climbing, hiking, biking, jeep tours, horse rides, fishing, camping, there is a spa, four-wheeler rentals, the list goes on and on and on. The history behind Estes is so vast. In 1849 gold was discovered in the valley, which of course brought settlers. Most of the gold was south, but one man wandered into the area, Joel Estes, the village was named after him. He was a Kentucky-born adventurer who had struck gold in California a decade earlier. In 1860 he moved his wife and 13 kids into what is now know as the Estes Valley, where they lived from 1860 to 1866. So that was the start of this beautiful gem.
2. FREDERICK, TEXAS 
A small town with big charm. It is one of the largest growing art hubs in the United states. This small town was established in 1846. It was founded by a man named Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, new Commissioner General of the "Society for the Protection of German immigrants in Texas" (also known as the "Noblemen's Society"). The small town vibe makes you feel right at home, and the culture and history behind the town is something worth looking into. It is a beautiful place to visit.
3. SEASIDE, OREGON
On January 1806 a group of men from the Lewis and Clark Expedition built a salt-making crane at the present site of Seaside. The beaches are vast and the water is usually always nice. There are hidden caves all over the beaches along the Oregon coast. Seaside is a beautiful little town with a gorgeous view out to the ocean.
4. VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, NEVADA
Valley of Fire State park is about an hour drive from Las Vegas. It gets the name Valley of Fire from the red sandstone formations. It is 42,000 acres of beautiful land. It has 150-million-year-old sandstone formations and 3,000 year old petroglyphs. But if you stay there for camping, bring your water bottles and lots of them. Temperatures can usually exceed 120 degrees. It would be best for you to go in the spring or fall for a more comfortable experience. Valley of Fire state park is Nevada's oldest and largest park. It was dedicated in 1935. Some popular things you can do here are camping, hiking, star gazing, and photography. The park is open year round.
5. RUSSELL CAVE, ALABAMA
Now these caves are one of the best kept secrets in America. They've been providing shelter for almost 10,000 years. There are tours that you can take lead by the rangers. The cave is huge. 210 feet long by 107 feet wide by 26 feet high. It also has its own freshwater spring. The cave is gorgeous, inside and out.
Now these are just some of the many hidden gems in America. There are so many out there, maybe even some that no one has ever written about. Isn't that a crazy thought? That there is places out there that have never been discovered by humans? There are ghost towns, there are abandoned buildings, there are so many things out there, tune in next week to read my articles about the spookiest, yet most breathtaking abandoned places in the world.
