A woman who has been to all 50 states has shared the popular destinations across the US that she believes are overrated, and the hidden gems you should visit instead.
While Emily Hart, 40, from Boulder, Colorado, always enjoyed exploring, she didn’t start traveling until her 30s.
She was feeling ‘burnt out’ from her job as a middle school math teacher and decided to take a road trip to the Grand Canyon.
She spent a week driving from her home in Colorado to Arizona, stopping at a few national parks along the way, and immediately, she fell in love.
‘I realized pretty quickly that it was something that had been missing in my life,’ she explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.
‘From that point on, I started traveling solo to more states and national parks, eventually setting the goal of visiting all 50 states and all 63 US National Parks by 2025.’
Nine years after she hit the road for the first time, she has completed her goal.
Over the course of her travels, Hart said she uncovered a slew of secret spots that are often overlooked but she thinks everyone should visit.
A woman who has been to all 50 states has shared the popular destinations across the US that she believes are overrated, and the hidden gems you should visit instead
Over the course of her travels, Emily Hart (seen in Arches National Park Utah) said she has uncovered a slew of secret spots that are often overlooked
First on her list was Santa Fe in New Mexico, which she described as ‘otherworldly.’ Next, she recommended Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
‘This was one of the first national parks I ever visited, and even now, after visiting all 63 parks, it remains my favorite,’ she shared.
‘There is something magical about the jagged peaks here that I haven’t found anywhere else.’
Hart also couldn’t stop gushing about the coast of Maine, as she revealed, ‘Driving the coast of Maine is something everyone should do at least once, from Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor to Lubec.
‘The coastline is dramatic, and the towns are quaint. And the lobster rolls [are amazing].’
She also said everyone should visit New Orleans in Louisiana, which she described as ‘unlike anywhere else in the country.’
‘It has a soul of its own and something new to find on every trip,’ explained Hart.
Another hidden gem in the US, according to Hart, is Cumberland Island off the coast Georgia, which she said ‘stole her heart.’
First on her list was Santa Fe in New Mexico, which she described as ‘otherworldly.’ She’s seen in New Mexico
Next, she recommended Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming (seen), gushing, ‘There is something magical about the jagged peaks here that I haven’t found anywhere else’
Hart also couldn’t stop gushing about the coast of Maine, as she said, ‘Driving the coast of Maine is something everyone should do.’ She’s seen in Acadia National Park in Maine
But unfortunately, Hart explained that there were a few popular spots that didn’t impress her.
‘They all have something to offer depending on your travel style and values, but there are some places I am OK with visiting just once or twice, or for a short period, because I prefer to spend more time in areas outside the city,’ she admitted.
Those places include beloved destinations like Los Angeles in California, Miami in Florida, and Las Vegas in Nevada.
‘Las Vegas is fun for a short time or for a specific event. Otherwise, I’d rather explore the beautiful nature surrounding it, like Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock Canyon and even farther to Death Valley National Park or Grand Canyon National Park,’ she said of the latter.
In addition, she listed Boston, Massachusetts, as a place she wasn’t too fond of, explaining that there’s so many ‘quaint towns’ in the area that she prefers.
Also on her list was Phoenix, Arizona, as she admitted that she likes the ‘areas around the city much more, like Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff.’
After discovering her passion for travel, Hart ultimately quit her job as a teacher and transitioned to full-time freelance content creation and writing.
She often documents her endeavors and shares travel tips on her Instagram, where she has racked up more than 185,000 followers.
She also said everyone should visit New Orleans in Louisiana, which she described as ‘unlike anywhere else in the country.’ She’s seen in New Orleans
Another hidden gem, according to Hart, is Cumberland Island off the coast Georgia (seen), which she said ‘stole her heart’
After discovering her passion for travel, Hart quit her job as a teacher and transitioned to full-time freelance content creation and writing. She’s seen in Zion National Park Utah
Over the course of her adventures, she’s uncovered a slew of hacks to save money while traveling.
She explained to the Daily Mail that ‘booking well in advance and traveling during the off-season’ are his biggest pieces of advice.
‘Planning and research have saved me the most throughout the years. If you are left to find last-minute lodging or a rental car, you will ultimately pay a premium,’ she dished.
She also recommended ‘deciding on a daily budget in advance’ so you know before you leave what’s worth spending on and what’s not, making decisions in the moment much easier.
‘If I want to take myself out to a nicer dinner, then the rest of the day will have to be cheaper,’ she said.
She also takes advantage of credit card points, hotel reward programs and airline miles, which she described as a ‘game changer.’
