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No. The list the OP provided is extensive and would likely take years, maybe decades, to visit each one with sufficient time to have any experience there. It might be interesting to pick a few favorites and revisit to see how they have changed.
I noticed that Tulsa was not on the list. The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa is worth a visit.
The OP listed 8 places they were interested in visiting. The extensive list were places the OP has already been.
Are you saying the places the OP has listed in contention for visiting new are not worth it? I specifically think Louisville, Burlington, and Grand Rapids are cities the OP should visit. I’m a Grand Rapids homer I do my best not to over boost. But it’s still a metro growing faster than places like Albuquerque, and Tucson. It’s got a red-hot economy, and has had an explosion of development over the last 20 years. It hosts one of the nations foremost craft brewing scenes. It sits 25 miles from the East side of Lake Michigan, which is among the most picturesque areas of the Midwest (if not the US), and unlike the flatter areas around Detroit the topography is more rolling and becomes even more hilly to the North.
Unfortunately Grand Rapids is a bit off the grid. The vast majority of posters on here have never been to GR since it’s not a place you pass through. Most people think of it as a Michigan Fort Wayne, or Cedar Rapids and pay it no more attention. We need more people on here to visit and give their thoughts so that I’m not being homer guy lol.
I have family near Grand Rapids and visit every year or so. I find it to be a very pleasant place and very much under-rated. The Ford Presidential Museum is worth a look for a glimpse at an under-appreciated president. And if you have kids, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is also worth the price of admission. Meijer Gardens is a pretty place to take a stroll on a nice day.
OP, when you visited Hawaii, it's too bad you missed Hilo. That's my favorite spot in the entire state. It's very much "old Hawaii" and is one of the few places there that haven't been overrun by mass tourism.
Like the rest, I'll be a total Chamber of Commerce homer and tout my city. Birmingham has popped up on the radar of a lot of travel writers lately, in particular for its food scene. Zagat calls it the #1 emerging food city in America, Food and Wine Magazine just moved here, Highlands Bar and Grill was just named best restaurant in America by the Beard Awards, and restaurants keep getting fawning mentions in the NYT, WSJ, and others. Conde Nast saw fit to write a nice article about us, too. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the...ingham-alabama
By the way, you really need a theme song. Johnny Cash wrote this little ditty just for you:
Grand Rapids is too colllllld! And nothing unique like bourbon distilleries. That said..... Louisville and Grand Rapids are both underrated! In some ways they are similar in that regard and their offerings and hispter, growing vibe.
Not too cold in the summer. The West Coast of Michigan is breathtaking - beaches and sand dunes. You would have to drink a lot of bourbon to discount the region's beauty. Day trips to Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven, and Muskegon would be worthwhile.
Asheville, NC. The Blue Ridge Pkwy./Pisgah National Forest, that whole region is one of the most beautiful in the nation.
Add to this suggestion Knoxville TN, Chattanooga TN and the Smoky mountain national park. There are a lot of places in Southern Appalachia worth the time.
Given what you mentioned as bonuses and that they weren’t on the list, A Rochester and Syracuse trip with stops to Finger Lakes wineries and historical sites in between would be worth it. I’d say to come during the late summer to early fall, as that is arguably the best time of the year in terms of weather, foliage and events.
A small city/area in between the 2 that actually would fit what you mentioned is Auburn: Auburn Downtown BID
Rochester and Syracuse themselves offer historical and art museums, with wineries minutes away from both as well. Rochester to Syracuse is only about an hour and 15-30 minutes away from each other. Auburn is about 30–35 minutes west of Syracuse and about 50-55 minutes east of Rochester.
Places such as Canandaigua and Geneva, also in between the 2 bigger cities, are worth visiting as well.
Should come back to Kentucky and check out western Ky., the forgotten part of the state. A lot of people are like your stops here, Lexington and Covington (and Louisville) but there's plenty more to see. Bowling Green is where Corvette car is made. They have an awesome museum there. https://www.corvettemuseum.org/
If you go further west on US68/Ky 80 about 50 miles you'll find the 351 ft. Jefferson Davis Monument, erected at the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, only president of the Confederacy. Awesome view from the top. https://www.corvettemuseum.org/
The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, along with Kentucky Lake, the largest man made lake, by acreage, east of the Mississippi River, and Lake Barkley. This is 170,000 acres without homes, businesses, anything but nature. I know that's not what you're looking for but there is a working farm the way it was in 1850 you can walk through and see how people lived then. https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/
Paducah, Ky is known for, among other things, quilting. The National Quilt Museum is located here. They have a quilting "convention" for lack of another name for it, twice a year, drawing tens of thousands of quilters from around the world. You'll see some awesome quilts on this site. https://quiltmuseum.org/
Paducah also has a Lowertown Arts area where artists and antique shops set up. They have the Lowertown Arts and Music Festival every spring. https://www.paducah.travel/
If you want to take an interesting side trip, cross the Ohio River and visit Metropolis, Illinois. Besides being home to Harrah's Casino, Metropolis holds the claim of the Home of Superman. Superman (as Clark Kent, lol) lived in the small town of Metropolis. Since this is the only "Metropolis" in the US, DC Comics and the Illinois legislature declared this town as the home of Superman. There is a huge statue of him on the court square and a bronze statue of Lois Lane a few blocks away. There was talk of a Jimmy Olsen statue but think something happened with funding. Even the city newspaper changed it's name to the Daily Planet. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11594
Might enjoy the Bardstown area with all the distilleries (Jim Beam, Makers Mark, Heaven Hill, Very Old Barton and several others. We don't drink but took a couple of the tours and enjoyed some ice cold lemonade instead of the bourbon samples. https://www.visitbardstown.com/bourb.../distilleries/
There's plenty to see in all parts of Kentucky. Come back and check things out.
Time for a dartboard. Attach your map to it and see where the dart lands. But seriously, you need to consider the time of year you're traveling. Asheville is a nice weekend destination, but better to go in Spring or Fall, or during the Christas season as the Biltmore decorates for the holiday.
Wisconsin/Minnesota are great in July. Have you considered a tour of the upper Midwest in summer? Start at St. Paul, MN and head down the Mississippi to LaCrosse, then follow through as far south as you want. There are some great cruises... https://www.americancruiselines.com/...i-river-cruise
You might also consider a football tour of either the Midwest or Southeast in the fall. Hit Knoxville, Athens, Gainesville, Oxford, Auburn, Baton Rouge, etc. All great college towns in their own right.
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Day trips to Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven, and Muskegon would be worthwhile.
