Not too long ago, I won a gift certificate for a last-minute weekend getaway. Problem is, the dollar amount that I won stretches about as far as…Pittsburgh, PA. Or, if I go during off season, I may be able to swing exotic Topeka, KS!

As I started researching my options, I was reminded of an acquaintance’s ongoing tour of America’s underappreciated cities. Once a year, he meets his buddies in a second- or third-tier city that tourists may not clamor to visit: think Bangor, Cleveland, Raleigh. Kansas City was apparently a big hit.

Cleveland photo courtesy of IgoUgo member RoBoNC

Why is it that the rest of us don’t seek out these hidden gems more often? Underrated cities are generally cheaper and less crowded, but often offer world-class art and cuisine. They also seem particularly suited for last-minute travel, seeing as how there's bound to be one near you. I’m partial to Manchester, NH, and Athens, GA, and all you doubters would agree after one look at Manchester during campaign season or one stop in Athens for a football game. I’m also always telling people to visit Providence and Salt Lake City (as far as I know, nobody has followed this advice).

By capitalizing on tourists fed up with, well, capitals, smaller markets are getting smart about courting visitors. Locally, some tourism offices are helping bloggers get the word out by subsidizing their costs; USA Today points to the Milwaukee-centric Play in the City blog as a recent example of this win-win deal.

On the national level, NBC’s Today Show joins the trend of promoting unusual hotspots this fall with its four-part What’s Great About…? series. First up: Houston and Minneapolis. Judging by the segments, it looks like exploring Houston’s Museum District or biking Minneapolis’ lakeside paths would be great ways to spend weekends. I’d also like to browse the unique boutiques of Columbus, OH, a city that seems to have undergone a “transformation” dramatic enough to catch the attention of the glossy New York Times T Magazine.

But what’s your favorite underappreciated US city? I have a free ticket, and I’d like to know!