A survey of towns travelers consider as “Hidden Gems” includes Ellinwood.

America’s tourist hotspots seldom have to work hard to attract visitors.

But journey a little off the well-trodden paths, you will find under-the-radar towns with stunning scenery or fascinating histories, with independent businesses that are worth far more attention than they get.

Some sit in the shadow of a flashier neighbor, whereas others have become places you pass through.

However, if you give them the right investment, a bit of promotion, or just a shift in where people choose to stop, plenty of them could be the destinations everyone’s talking about a few years from now.

AI-powered business growth platform Hostinger surveyed 3,000 travelers to identify the towns they think have the most untapped tourism potential.

Beneath Ellinwood’s quiet downtown lies one of its most unusual attractions: a network of historic underground tunnels once connected to local businesses and the daily life of the early community. Above ground, rows of brick storefronts preserve the appearance of a traditional central Kansas town, while local museums and heritage sites add further context to its past.

Ellinwood is also well placed for trips into the wetlands and grasslands of the surrounding region, where birdwatching and wildlife viewing bring a very different kind of visitor experience. That combination of hidden history and open landscape gives the town a story few competing destinations can match.

Promoting the two more closely together could give road-trippers a memorable reason to stop.