Underrated US Cities

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Am I the only one on this board that doesn't give a rats rear about breweries when thinking of traveling somewhere?

I don't care about it either. Literally not even on the list. Golf absolutely yes. Sun and warm weather yes. Breweries, no.

 

[husky429]

People thought the small brewery/craft beer bubble would pop over a decade ago, it ain't going anywhere and will most likely only be stronger as people have largely been in their homes for over a year with limited socializing. People will be hitting breweries, restaurants, and traveling like crazy for the next couple of years. Craft beer is one of the best stories of America's economy, IMO. In a country that's run by Walmart and Amazon it feels like the one little guy business which has been kicking butt for years.

That's a fair point--never thought of it that way. The day we see AmaBrew (Bezos Brew?), I'll know to make my short.

 

[XLCenterFan]

People thought the small brewery/craft beer bubble would pop over a decade ago, it ain't going anywhere and will most likely only be stronger as people have largely been in their homes for over a year with limited socializing. People will be hitting breweries, restaurants, and traveling like crazy for the next couple of years. Craft beer is one of the best stories of America's economy, IMO. In a country that's run by Walmart and Amazon it feels like the one little guy business which has been kicking butt for years.

I haven't bought a Bud Light in 10 years and more and more people are doing the same. They still have room to grow. I talk to the package store owner at my spot for beer and he told me big beer is scrambling to make up the lost revenue. They are losing ground. Even if big beer made an IPA, I wouldn't buy it. They have tried...Goose Island is made by Anheuser...not fooling me.

 

[Northbound]

KC
Pittsburgh
Whitefish, MT
Glenwood Co
Portland, ME (mot really under rated)
Louisville
Richmond

 

[UCTitleTown]

A friend from high school moved there after college and absolutely loves Charlotte. It's on my list of "potential retirement places" to check out.

I almost moved there for work and regret not going to this day. Very cosmopolitan. Transplants from all over live there. Great restaurants.

 

[Hoophound]

Breweries are agrotourism with a buzz. I love visiting full service breweries that have beer and comfort food. Such a great way to spend a Saturday, or any day for that matter. The ones that have a fire pit, yard games and a bunch of TVs with sports on are nirvana.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Having multiple breweries to choose from is a must in my opinion. And don't forget, not every region does it well. You can't get a NEIPA in North Carolina or Arizona. I don't go to breweries outside of New England...they just are not the same. Call me a regional beer snob. And people have been predicting the bubble pop for awhile now...perhaps that's just what beer and consuming it has become. More people I know are into it every year it seems.

Mmmmm. You definitely sound like a regional beer snob. But you’re also kind of wrong. The NEIPA style is fairly ubiquitous now. You won’t find the volume of well-done examples nationally, but you will find the style in AZ and NC... pop a can from Arizona Wilderness or from Resident Culture (Charlotte) and you’d be pleasantly surprised. If you won’t go to breweries outside New England, you are seriously missing out on some good haze. Monkish says hello.

 

[Hoophound]

KC
Pittsburgh
Whitefish, MT
Glenwood Co
Portland, ME (mot really under rated)
Louisville
Richmond

Been on my must go list for years. What do you like about it? Seems like the perfect western/mountain village.

 

[hank970]

Grand Junction, Colorado and environs, including Fruita and Palisade. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. Equable climate and dark, transparent skies. Iconic western scenery. Vibrant downtown, with well-established Art-on-the-Corner displays. Home to rapidly-growing Colorado Mesa University. Unlimited outdoor recreation, with mountains immediately to the east and desert immediately to the west. Great network of trails for both mt. biking and road biking. 20,500-acre Colorado National Monument on the southwest side of town. Arches and Canyonlands NPs and Dinosaur NM are 90-minute drives. Powderhorn Ski Area a 45-minute drive. Numerous public golf courses. Wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities galore. Fishing on adjacent Grand Mesa, with its 200+ lakes and forests of aspen, fir, and spruce at up to 11,000 feet above sea level. Minor league baseball team. Palisade is famous for its peach and other fruit production. Lots of restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries. I-70 runs through the valley, and there's a regional airport and rail access (Including the California Zephyr). Superb medical facilities. Aspen, Vail, and Telluride all within three hours. Decent shopping, but if a person craves even greater variety, or access to professional sports, then Denver is only a four-hour drive east and Salt Lake City a five-hour drive west.

Ya'll come and visit, but don't stay.

 

[Johnny Mac]

Vancouver. Washington, not British Columbia.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Mmmmm. You definitely sound like a regional beer snob. But you’re also kind of wrong. The NEIPA style is fairly ubiquitous now. You won’t find the volume of well-done examples nationally, but you will find the style in AZ and NC... pop a can from Arizona Wilderness or from Resident Culture (Charlotte) and you’d be pleasantly surprised. If you won’t go to breweries outside New England, you are seriously missing out on some good haze. Monkish says hello.

You may be right but I just can't bring myself to do it. Whenever I am outside of New England and I see or hear "brewery," all I think about is how I live in beer country and they couldn't possibly do it better. It would be like living in Las Vegas and traveling to experience a casino...or living in Hawaii and traveling to experience the beach. Then the locals try to tell you “this is the best beach.” Right.

 

[8893]

I’ll also add Baltimore. Had never been there until our oldest daughter started looking at colleges. She ended up at Loyola Maryland and has had a great education and a great time, and we’ve had several excellent visits.

The Wire and Freddie Gray, among other things, have given it a bad rap; and no doubt there are places you absolutely should not go. But there are literally dozens of great neighborhoods with lots of interesting food, drink, history, culture, arts, etc. Tons of young people there, too.

 

[djct1999]

Manhattan beach, ca. It might not qualify as a city but it’s such a nice place, I don’t give a damn and putting it on the list anyway.

 

[uconnsouth]

Anna Maria Island, FL.

Quaint, no touristy high rises. White sand, and beautiful sunsets

 

[Pgh2Storrs]

My hometown of Pittsburgh is number one but I’ll throw Columbus into the mix...

As close as it is, I never really considered a trip to Columbus until a few years ago when we had a game at OSU. Since then I’m angry I waited so long to make the trip, as it’s a seriously fun spot. R Bar in the Arena District is truly the best sports bar I’ve ever been to. Tons of fun spots, great food, and very affordable. Can’t recommend it enough.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Grand Junction, Colorado and environs, including Fruita and Palisade. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. Equable climate and dark, transparent skies. Iconic western scenery. Vibrant downtown, with well-established Art-on-the-Corner displays. Home to rapidly-growing Colorado Mesa University. Unlimited outdoor recreation, with mountains immediately to the east and desert immediately to the west. Great network of trails for both mt. biking and road biking. 20,500-acre Colorado National Monument on the southwest side of town. Arches and Canyonlands NPs and Dinosaur NM are 90-minute drives. Powderhorn Ski Area a 45-minute drive. Numerous public golf courses. Wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities galore. Fishing on adjacent Grand Mesa, with its 200+ lakes and forests of aspen, fir, and spruce at up to 11,000 feet above sea level. Minor league baseball team. Palisade is famous for its peach and other fruit production. Lots of restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries. I-70 runs through the valley, and there's a regional airport and rail access (Including the California Zephyr). Superb medical facilities. Aspen, Vail, and Telluride all within three hours. Decent shopping, but if a person craves even greater variety, or access to professional sports, then Denver is only a four-hour drive east and Salt Lake City a five-hour drive west.

Ya'll come and visit, but don't stay.

GJ has fantastic mountain biking.sshh

 

[HooperScooper]

Am I the only one on this board that doesn't give a rats rear about breweries when thinking of traveling somewhere? Literally everywhere has craft breweries at this point. Any town with a semblance of tourist infrastructure is going to have 10+. If I could collectively shortsell all of craftbrew America I would--that bubble is bound to pop.

Boooooooo!!!!!!

 

[Chin Diesel]

The thing about microbrews and cool cities is you need a local population who is willing to support those types of businesses. Which lends itself to cool places to visit.
It's an indicator of local vibe.

 

[FairwayFlyer]

Madison, WI; Grand Rapids, MI; Columbus, IN; Greenville, SC; Sausalito, CA

 

[8893]

Sausalito, CA

Awesome? Absolutely!

Underrated? By whom?!?

 

[storrsroars]

Monkish says hello.

Most pretentious brewery I've ever set foot in. And I didn't like the beer. Had a better experience at Smog City.

 

[UofCT]

Am I the only one on this board that doesn't give a rats rear about breweries when thinking of traveling somewhere? Literally everywhere has craft breweries at this point. Any town with a semblance of tourist infrastructure is going to have 10+. If I could collectively shortsell all of craftbrew America I would--that bubble is bound to pop.

Bars > Breweries

 

[FairwayFlyer]

Awesome? Absolutely!

Underrated? By whom?!?

You're right - may not be underrated. I do feel like it sometimes gets lumped in with SF. I just don't hear people mention Sausalito as a stand alone place.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Most pretentious brewery I've ever set foot in. And I didn't like the beer. Had a better experience at Smog City.

No doubt it’s a pretentious vibe. Will definitely give you that. As for the beer, that might be your personal preference. But you can’t deny that they do a certain style really, magnificently well. Kind of like the bar pie at a certain joint in your old stomping grounds.

 

[UconnU]

I hate saying this but Providence.