Editor’s note: Fifty Grande Underrated Issue
The Fifty Grande mission to inspire more people to see all parts of the U.S. has naturally pointed us toward lower-profile states more than ones at the top of most-visited lists. Which is the reason we’ve focused on the underrecognized, undervalued places across the country in our first Underrated issue. Here we opine on cities, states, parks and ideas that we think are worthy of your attention. Some were chosen due to low yearly visits, like the gorgeous state of Alaska and the remote Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. Others are cities that are in underrated regions (Midwest) and in a near-constant state of being undervalued, like St. Louis and Knoxville. Some spotlight offbeat ways to explore well-known places, like classic Los Angeles through a string of recent closings or foraging in Maine. If traveling still isn’t in the cards for you, there’s also an essay on the very underrated idea of exploring neighborhoods close to home with more reckless abandon. There’s more, of course, and we do hope you’ll find it entertaining, helpful and inspiring as you think about your travel plans in 2021 and beyond.
CONCIERGE
(INFO AND TIPS TO GUIDE YOUR TRAVEL PLANNING)
ONE QUESTION, 10 MUSICIANS
Where are you excited to go in 2021?
Reporting by Rob LeDonne
STUFF WE LOVE
New(ish) travel goods we can’t stop talking about.
by Chris M. Walsh
CHECK IN
The most anticipated hotels coming this year.
by Evan Malachosky
THE ‘GREAT DRIVING MUSIC’ PLAYLIST
Silversun Pickups bassist shares her fave road tunes
by Nikki Monninger
NEXT STOP
(INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP)
SOUTHERN CHARM
Charleston’s Black community pushes for change in local tourism.
by Anna Rahmanan
BADLANDS AND BEYOND
Five-day guide to South Dakota’s monuments, parks, caves and more.
by Amy Winderl
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: NEW YORK CITY
A just-moved resident wrestle with bodegas, puppy poop on sidewalks on other NYC oddities.
by Emily Carmichael
A LYRICAL TREK
Luminaries ranging from Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift guide through seven locales.
by Rob LeDonne
THE INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO BEGRUDGINGLY LOVING SAN DIEGO
A life-long New Yorker explores America’s Finest City.
by Mariel Concepcion
FEATURES
A great reason to visit Pittsburgh right now: pizza
The Underrated Art of Exploring Your Neighborhood
Best Park You’ve Never Been to: Northern Minnesota’s Voyageurs
The Underrated Way to See Underrated Alaska
A Chef’s Guide to Foraging in Maine
The Totally Biased and Unabashed Case for Knoxville
Sacramento is the most underrated street art scene in America
What We Lose When Restaurants Close