No Paris. No Tokyo. No New York. National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list — 25 global destinations across six continents — handed five slots to American places most travelers fly over rather than to. Madison, Wisconsin. The Southern Ozarks. Baltimore. The Pacific Coast Highway. And Catalina Island, which readers voted the list’s top pick worldwide.
The selections lean toward smaller communities, regional food traditions, and landscapes that reward effort over convenience. That’s the thread connecting all five.
Overlooked America, Finally Getting Its Due
These picks share a common logic: depth over scale, regional character over brand recognition.
Madison sits between Lakes Mendota and Monona — walkable, bike-friendly, and anchored by the Dane County Farmers’ Market on Capitol Square, where local producers sell seasonal produce and baked goods. Restaurants Fairchild, known for vegetable-driven cooking and homemade ravioli, and Ahan, focused on Laotian cuisine, represent what happens when a college town takes food seriously.
To the southwest, the Southern Ozarks spread across Missouri and Arkansas with bluffs, limestone valleys, and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park — a roughly 10,000-acre nature park with hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing. Bentonville, Arkansas, adds Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to the itinerary, while nearby Bella Vista offers the OZ Trails Bike Park, complete with chairlift access to an extensive trail network. Few regions make it this easy to follow a Winslow Homer exhibition with a serious mountain-bike session.
Here’s what earns each pick its place on a global list:
- Madison: Dane County Farmers’ Market, lakefront trails, and a farm-to-table dining scene anchored by Fairchild and Ahan
- Pacific Coast Highway: Big Sur sections reopened after prolonged mudslide closures; Laguna Beach is expected to mark its centennial in 2027
- Baltimore: Lexington Market, established in 1782, and steamed blue crabs that define Chesapeake food identity
- Southern Ozarks: Crystal Bridges Museum alongside Dogwood Canyon’s roughly 10,000 acres and the OZ Trails Bike Park in Bella Vista
- Catalina Island: Readers’ Choice winner; Trans-Catalina Trail, bison, and roughly 48,000 conservancy-protected acres
Crab Claws, Coastal Wine, and One Very Famous Island
From Baltimore’s railroad heritage to Catalina’s ridgelines, the final three picks each deliver a distinct travel personality.
Baltimore’s food identity runs through the Chesapeake. Steamed blue crabs, Lexington Market — established in 1782 and still drawing vendors and visitors alike — and the Baltimore Blueway kayaking network connect the city’s waterfront life into one coherent itinerary. Baltimore also carries deep railroad history: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered here in 1827, and a planned modernization of the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation ties directly to the 2027 bicentennial. Travelers should confirm that project’s timeline with the museum before building a visit around it.
The Pacific Coast Highway rewards patience over speed. Travelers who treat a road trip as the destination itself will find worthwhile stops in Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto, tiny Harmony’s small-batch ice cream shops, and the galleries of Mendocino County and Fort Bragg. Big Sur sections have reopened after prolonged mudslide closures, but road conditions along this stretch can change — check current Caltrans status before committing to the route.
Catalina Island is roughly an hour by ferry from Long Beach. Bison roam ridgelines managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy across approximately 48,000 acres, while the Garden to Sky Trail and Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden offer two very different ways to experience the island’s terrain. Confirm ferry schedules and lodging well in advance — the island operates on its own timeline, and that’s precisely the appeal.
As plans develop for 2027, verify ferry schedules, trail access, museum timelines, and road conditions with official sources before booking.
