Gadling

We've recently been covering the World Heritage Site "Tentative List" of places in the US under consideration for inclusion as official World Heritage Sites, which has helped to shed a little light on historically and culturally important places to visit. To add some more destinations to your travel list that offer a little more than flashy bars and hotels, and instead some good ole educational value, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has come out with its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

The annual list features 12 American cities that stand out for their cultural and recreational experiences different from standard vacation destinations.

And this year's winners are: Aiken, SC, Apalachicola, FL, Columbus, MS, Crested Butte, CO, Fort Davis, TX, Friday Harbor, WA, Portland, OR, Portsmouth, NH, Red Wing, MN, Ste. Genevieve, MO, San Juan Bautista, CA, and Wilmington, NC.

Coming up with a list every year since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has a total of 108 distinctive destinations, you can check them all out here, or browse through our photo essay below:

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, North America