7 Offbeat Towns In The Northern United States To Visit In 2025
From the wooded trails of the northeast to the alpine peaks of the northwest, the Northern United States offers a diverse landscape full of history, quirks, and small-town charm. This region, stretching across mountains, plains, and Great Lakes shores, is dotted with offbeat towns that break the mold of the typical American getaway.
From coast to coast, the northern U.S. has plenty of offbeat towns to visit. Several have a fun Bavarian theme, complete with lederhosen, sausages, and of course, beer. One has an underground town, while another's entire town lives in one building. These towns span states from New York and New Jersey to Montana and South Dakota. Pick an offbeat destination, and you might be amazed at what you uncover.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Fondly known as "Little Bavaria," Frankenmuth exudes German charm and celebratory cheer to all who visit this Michigan town. The town was settled by German colonists in 1845, who brought their unique architecture, customs, and food. Celebrate with the locals every day, but especially during Oktoberfest, which begins in September, and the Bavarian Festival, June 12-15. Frankenmuth offers year-round surprises at every turn. One can also join in on the local Gnome Hunt by getting a gnome passport, counting the gnomes all over town, and returning the passport for a prize.
On a different note, one can visit the Frankenmuth Historical Museum to learn more about the town's German heritage and take a self-guided tour of noteworthy sites around town. In addition to familiar chain hotels, Frankenmuth has specialty hotels like Marv Herzog, with rooms bedecked in European appointments and a patio that overlooks the Cass River.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Step back into the Wild West in Deadwood, where saloons line the streets and even an old-time brothel. Instead of the old card games played in dark rooms, today's Deadwood has brightly lit casinos for playing day and night. The summer kicks off in late May with free concerts at 8 pm in Outlaw Square. The 2025 show is set to host Ned LeDoux and Night Ranger for a night of fun-filled music. If you are headed to the nearby Sturgis Rally, possibly the largest motorcycle rally in the world, stay and play in Deadwood while you are there.
Deadwood isn't all casinos and bars; locals and visitors alike enjoy getting out into the scenic Black Hills. Hike or bike the paved Mickelson Trail. There is also the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls in Spearfish Canyon, which beckons travelers with its cascading waters. After an outing, stay at The Lodge at Deadwood and treat yourself to a pool, hot tub, and casino.
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier is known as "the town under one roof" for a bizarre reason: Almost all its 270 residents live in one high-rise building, the Begich Towers. The towers and another building formerly housed military families when the U.S. Army chose Whittier as a deep-water, ice-free harbor alternative to the port of Seward during WWII and again during the Cold War. In 1972, the City of Whittier purchased the buildings. Access to the town is through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which is used by trains and vehicles at different times.
In spite of its low population and remote location (about 60 miles from Anchorage), do not expect to feel isolated in Whittier, for the town welcomes 700,000 visitors over the summer months. Take a glacier tour out into Prince William Sound, which has the world's densest concentration of tidewater glaciers. Or book a fishing charter to catch salmon, halibut, rockfish, or a combination of species.
Asbury Park, New Jersey
All beach towns have their distinctive vibes, but when you want a beach town that is also a haven for artists and musicians, and is a bit offbeat and irreverent, set off for Asbury Park. As surfers and surf frolickers know, Asbury Park has one of the state's best beaches, plus a revitalized boardwalk that takes you back to long-ago beach-and-boardwalk vacations and sets a new tone for today's adventures. Its musical roots set the town apart from other beach towns, however. The Stone Pony is famous worldwide as the place to hear local and regional bands, up-and-comers, and unannounced big-name shows. (Bruce Springsteen has been known to drop in.) It presents live performances throughout the summer.
Among the highlights of the season is the Sea Hear Now Festival on September 13-14, which combines live music and pro surfing right on the beach—a unique blend of coastal culture and big-name acts that attracts fans from all over. Another major draw is the North to Shore Festival, running June 14-29, which features a mix of stand-up comedy, musical performances, and film screenings, taking over venues like The Stone Pony and others throughout town.
Lily Dale, New York
Lily Dale may not be for everyone, but for those who believe in/seek out mediums and spiritualists who communicate with the spirit world, this unique town could be the answer to your searching. It was founded on the belief of a spiritual existence, to which everyone passes upon leaving their physical bodies. The summer season begins June 20 with weekend retreats and courses on topics such as spiritual insight and spiritual healing, as well as developing and retaining spiritual abilities. From June 21-24, there are sessions with Tibetan monks, including making a mandala. Book online sessions with mediums and practitioners for readings, massage, Reiki, reflexology, and more.
Stop into the one-room schoolhouse that now houses the Lily Dale Museum and trace the path of spiritualism from its founding in 1879 to the present. Lily Dale has several options for overnight stays: a campground for tent and RV camping; on-site hotels, Leolyn Inn and the Maplewood Hotel, both with simple, cozy accommodations, and guest houses where you can rent various room types.
Leavenworth, Washington
Here is a town that totally reinvented itself out of necessity. Once a hunting and fishing town, it prospered during the Gold Rush and, once the railroad came to town, Leavenworth became a renowned logging town. However, faced with becoming a ghost town when the railroad rerouted its lines, enterprising townsfolk had the idea to capitalize on the town's picturesque setting in the Cascade Mountains and rebuild it as another Bavaria in the United States. Today, along with the buildings' Bavarian facades with their balconies, overhangs, and colorful signs, people are drawn to their unique atmosphere and events.
Two of the most popular celebrations are Maifest in May, a springtime festival featuring live chainsaw carving, maypole dances, and Bavarian music in the streets, and Oktoberfest, which runs across three weekends in October and transforms the village into a lively hub of beer gardens, traditional foods, and alpine entertainment. To learn more about the area's transformation, visitors can stop by the Greater Leavenworth Museum, which offers exhibits on the town’s Native roots, logging history, and the dramatic shift into a Bavarian-themed destination.
Havre, Montana
When a fire destroyed most of the town of Havre in 1904, businesses were undeterred. They simply moved their shops underground while the town was rebuilt above them. Today, "Havre Beneath the Streets" is a realistic depiction of what businesses downtown looked like underground and how they operated. Book a tour of the underground city and see the saloon, bakery, laundromat, general store, and even a bordello.
Back above ground, Beaver Creek Park is one of the largest county parks in the country, at 17 miles long and one mile wide. Its two lakes offer year-round trout fishing. Bear Paw Ski Bowl is about 30 minutes south of town, on the Chippewa-Cree Recreation Area, and has 20+ ski runs for all levels of skiers.
Final Thoughts
Travel has a way of broadening one's horizons and outlook as you see places and people who are far different from what you are accustomed to seeing. Going to offbeat locales stretches your imagination even more as you see possibilities you may never have imagined. Watch out, though. While sometimes travel makes you appreciate home-sweet-home even more, at other times you may find yourself somewhere you just do not want to leave!
