Ever visit a town that you were surprised how nice it was?
 

Have you ever visited a town, on business or for pleasure, that you were excepting the worse but it turned out to be wonderful?

I am looking for advice on towns to visit on a planned cross country road trip. I have been to all the major "tourist towns" On this cross country trip I want to visit "real towns" where the average tourist would not make an effort to stop in---- but in reality-- are very nice and may seem like a nice place to live and have a nice feel to them. Towns that I could get the feel for the best America has to offer!

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Not a town but I was surprised by the scenic beauty of Northwest Arkansas. Prior to visting Bentoville for the first time, I had fairly low expectations. But the area has nice rolling hills and some really picturesque rivers.

I'd also say the downtown area of Delray Beach Florida was much nicer than I expected.

I was surprised at how nice Phoenix was. It's a city that I look forward to going back to!

Also I really liked Memphis and didn't think I would. Talk about kick a-s fun!!!

Here is a off the wall idea:

Dubuque Iowa. Really nice river town that has done some great things in recent years. Make sure and check out the National Mississippi River Museum. Really nice riverfront and a homey downtown area. No traffic.

Bristol, RI. And I ended up living there for 3 years.

Didn't have much expectation when visiting Natchitoches, LA; but it's much prettier than I've thought.

I went to visit a friend in Milwaukee a few years ago, and was shocked at what a great city it was. Clean, nice parks, friendly people, fantastic restaurants...and wow, I didn't even bring my camera. I was there for Summerfest and 4th of July and had a blast.

People often say that about my home city, Austin Texas. Everyone thinks Texas is all a dry, dusty desert and they are pleasantly surprised that Austin is so green and hilly. As for me, I was also surprised by how much I liked Memphis. Great city!!

Kansas City, Missouri (the town of fountains I think) and Pittsburgh are 2 that come to mind as very pleasant surprises. It's been a while since I was in both, but KC was lovely (and I loved the Raphael Hotel) and Pittsburgh had such great architecture and history. I did get lost driving in Pittsburgh though.

I traveled to Missoula, Montana a few years ago. I thought I would find a sleepy little town. Instead it was like a smaller version of counter-culture San Fransico! I loved it. Hippies everywhere, hundreds of people accually peddling on two wheels, an alternative life style festival in the park by the river downtown, bars jamed with people all night. Wow.

Nashville. I had it all in my mind that this was going to be a backward town with nothing to offer if you weren't into country music-boy was I pleasantly surprised. Nice downtown, beautiful areas, Vanderbilt-well worth a stop.

Here are two out in the West that might be of interest:

Boise, ID
Bozeman, MT
(www.bozemanonline.com) is a decent site.

<):)

Sorry, it's over the border, but Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario. I put off going to the Shaw festival for ages because I thought the area would be ultra tacky, like the Falls area. What a surprise. NOTL (as they call it) is one of the cleanest, most charming towns around, and now I keep wanting to go back for the Festival every year.

I found so many little towns in Montana friendly and welcoming. Loved Bozeman and Three Forks. Virginia City was also a site. A little touristy but cute just the same.

The outlying scenery of Las Vegas. They always show the lights of Vegas but never those pretty mountains in the background.

Parts of New Jersey. Didn't realize there are such pretty areas in Northern Jersey.

We just drove from Orange County CA to St. Louis and back via New Orleans. The biggest surprise was Memphis. I had been before as a child but really enjoyed it upon my return. It felt clean, quirky, up-and-coming, great music scene, interesting musical history, fun bars on Beale Street, fantastic food, racially diverse, AAA Cardinals team playing in a nearby stadium and packing them in. A terrific experience. Plus Graceland!

Pittsburg, PA
Columbus, Ohio

I also have to agree with Pittsburgh again. It was the largest of the US cities I have not visited, so decided to spend a weekend there. It's wonderful - all the bridges and interesting buildings. Fundiculars to Mt. Washington, the new stadiums/ballparks, and everything is pretty close by. Positively surprised!

Well, this is a great trolling effort! And it is travel-related, so kudos!

And while we're at it:

San Luis Obispo, CA. Went there for a classic car show (guest of a restorer/reseller), wasn't expecting much. Lovely little town, with a lively downtown area. And the drive up from Long Beach was beautiful (once we got above Santa Monica on PCH). And Ojai too! Love that town as well.

Ithaca, NY -- Even though I visit often, I always forget how pretty and eclectic the town is. The towns in the Finger Lakes are really nice in general.

New Hope, PA / Lambertville, NJ - -quaint with lots of cute little shops and restaurants

Pittsburgh, PA -- I travel there for business and dreaded going, but now I like hanging out in the city, lots of fun.

The two that surprised me the most were Kansas City, MO and Cincinnatti, OH. There are many towns I like better than either but none that were as surpisingly nice as these two.