Travel Trends 2023: 8 Up-and-Coming Must-see Places in The US

Tampa may be best known for its sports teams, nearby beaches, and Busch Gardens theme park, but this city is teeming with cultural attractions, particularly along the bustling Riverwalk. These include the Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, and Tampa Bay History Center. Downtown is evolving rapidly, and, of course, there are also plenty of opportunities to get on the water via paddle boards, kayaks, or canoes.

Destin is known for its gorgeous beaches, but for a slice of true tranquility, make a beeline for Henderson Beach State Park, where you can swim in emerald-colored water and lounge on white sugar sand beaches. Nature trails offer an up-close look at the rare coastal ecosystem, which includes 30-foot-high dunes ringed by lush vegetation.

Spring breakers flock to South Padre for the party scene, but did you know that the island has plenty of chill activities, too? The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is the picture-perfect place to observe migratory birds and other wildlife, with its show-stopping views of Laguna Madre, while Sea Turtle, Inc. is a nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured sea turtles.

A relatively untapped gem on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota has a slew of fun attractions and idyllic beaches, including Lido Key and Lido Beach, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the Celery Fields nature preserve. There’s also an abundance of outdoorsy activities to take advantage of here, from kayaking and swimming to biking and hiking.

Everyone knows about New York City’s iconic attractions and museums, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center. But the borough of Queens is well worth checking out. Wander through the second-biggest park in the city, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park; dive into the thriving Asian restaurant scene; and, spend time at museums like the Queens Museum and MoMA PS1.

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Baltimore. You can go to a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, walk around the city’s architecturally fascinating neighborhoods and scenic waterfront, and check out historic sites and museums like the Lexington Market (one of the oldest market in America) and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

As you might imagine, outdoor fun never stops in Pismo Beach. At the 880-acre Pismo Preserve, take part in popular local recreational opportunities like hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Chow down on California classics like tacos and fresh seafood at eateries around town and sample top-notch pinot noirs, cab francs, and sauvignon blancs at wineries strung along the coast.

Perhaps best known for its cowboy culture and proximity to flashier Dallas, Fort Worth is an arts-and-entertainment hub in its own right. A visit here isn’t complete without wandering through the Kimbell Art Museum or the Amon Carter Museum of American Art — just to name a couple of Fort Worth’s must-see cultural hotspots.