Surprisingly beautiful to just cheesy: 10 US hotspots Aussies have never heard of

There’s the US where we go, and the US where Americans go – and it turns out they’re very different.

There’s the America we see – the great cities, the eye-popping national parks of the west, the California and Florida road trips – and then there’s the America that Americans see. The US is dotted with heavingly popular holiday towns that don’t cross the radar of overseas visitors. Some are cheesy, some surprisingly beautiful – but these American holiday hotspots offer something a bit different.

Destin, Florida

Destin is far away from the hotspots of Miami and Orlando.Credit: iStock

For most overseas visitors, Destin is simply in the wrong bit of Florida. The white sand beaches are admirable – particularly the one in Henderson Beach State Park – and there are enough dolphin boat trips and sunset tiki cruises to keep visitors entertained. But Destin is on the Florida Panhandle, far away from traditional hotspots Miami and Orlando, so you’ll rarely encounter overseas accents in the restaurants around the boardwalk. See destinflorida.com

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Once you’ve done your stint on the beach, the real appeal here is kicking back in the bars.Credit: Getty

Keep going west along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline, and you’ll eventually hit Gulf Shores. It’s a nominally family-friendly place, with kid-occupying favourites such as a water park, mini golf, a zoo and an amusement park. But once you’ve done your stint on the beach, the real appeal here is kicking back in the bars. More often than not, there will be live music to go with the sugary cocktails. See gulfshores.com.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge… unashamedly hokey.Credit: iStock

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the US, and the unashamedly hokey town of Pigeon Forge lies on the edge of it. Mountain hiking and jeep tours are a considerable part of the appeal, but this is no chilled-out mountain town. Attractions include Dollywood – Dolly Parton’s theme park – and a Titanic Museum. Evenings, meanwhile, are chock-full of tribute act and lumberjack feud shows. See mypigeonforge.com

Branson, Missouri

There are a terrifying number of country music shows in Branson.

There’s a similar vibe in Branson, buried away in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. The town is lined with theatres, hosting a frankly terrifying number of country music shows. The slide guitar-averse have magic, comedy, Motown and gospel shows to keep them happy.

Branson’s appeal comes in the full commitment to throwing everything into the pot, however. Visitors can flit from a mountain coaster to giant dinosaur statues, then the World’s Largest Toy Museum and a ‘palace’ filled with butterflies. See explorebranson.com

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is lined with restaurants and amusement arcades.Credit: Alamy

If you had to run down a list of American states for a beach break, chances are that Delaware would probably be near the bottom. However, Rehoboth Beach on the Atlantic Coast is hardly a secret spot for the residents of Washington DC, who pile on in over the summer months. The city’s centrepiece is the 1.6 kilometre Boardwalk, which is lined with restaurants and amusement arcades. But there are also plenty of watersports on offer – kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis are common sights. See cityofrehoboth.com

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Dells has an abundance of waterparks, such as Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park (pictured).Credit: Alamy

Given that Wisconsin Dells isn’t exactly at the warmest latitude, attempting to brand itself as the water park capital of the world shows extraordinary chutzpah. Nonetheless, Wisconsin Dells has several of them, with the Noah’s Ark Waterpark proudly boasting that it’s the biggest in the country. For those not wanting to get wet, there are more traditional amusement parks, ropes courses, zip lines and jetboat tours on the Wisconsin River. See wisdells.com

Hot Springs, Arkansas

‘Bathhouse Row’ is lined with historic bathhouses that give the full immersion spa town experience.

Hot Springs in the Ouachita Mountains is, as the name suggests, based around a series of thermal springs. There are several pools where you can dip your hand in within the Hot Springs National Park, and a series of fountains you can fill a water bottle from. But it’s the historic bathhouses that give the full immersion spa town experience.

Around the springs, however, all manner of activities and attractions have sprung up. Ziplines, a Gangster Museum, water slides and a casino resort are all part of an eclectic mix. See hotsprings.org

Sandusky, Ohio

Cedar Point has the greatest collection of theme parks on Earth.Credit: Alamy

Rollercoaster aficionados need no introduction to Sandusky. It is home to Cedar Point, a theme park with arguably the greatest collection of thrill rides on earth.

But Sandusky isn’t just about one theme park. The city has a handful of historic buildings open to visitors, plus a solid maritime museum. The smart move, however, is to make the most of the location on Lake Erie and head out to the small islands. Kelleys Island is best set up, with galleries, hiking trails, beaches and a winery. See shoresandislands.com

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

This is a place of gated communities, golf courses and plush resorts in former plantations.

On the coast between the much better-known Charleston and Savannah, Hilton Head Island started morphing into a resort in the 1950s. The white sand beaches are the primary attraction on this barrier island, but there are also mazy waterways for wildlife cruises and kayaking.

Unlike many of the lesser-known US holiday spots, the vibe at Hilton Head is defiantly upmarket. This is a place of gated communities, golf courses and plush resorts in former plantations. See hiltonheadisland.org

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor is delightfully wholesome.Credit: iStock

On Mt Desert Island near the Canadian border, Bar Harbor is delightfully wholesome. Surrounded by the walking and biking trails of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is sprinkled with historic buildings turned into holiday cottages.

Boat tours are practically obligatory here, with cruises taking in lighthouses, seals and puffins. But a key part of the charm is that the waterfront isn’t entirely given over to tourism – fishing boats still head out in search of lobsters. See visitbarharbor.com