Little-visited American city that has a 'thriving' music scene and few tourists

Tucked away in Texas is a little city with a very cool cultural scene.

When you think of visiting America, you probably think about street pretzels in New York, staring out over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or maybe the bustling streets and trams of San Francisco.

But America has plenty to offer in its smaller centres, including great hospitality, safer streets and incredible entertainment options, all with fewer crowds. If you’re planning a trip to the US any time soon, then Irving in Texas should be on your list.

Recently ranked as the US’s third most hospitable city, Irving is nestled just 15 minutes away from the middle of Dallas and has plenty of things to offer any keen tourist.

This city is one of the most diverse in America, and once housed the Dallas Cowboys in the Texas Stadium - but it’s not just a city for sports fans.

Irving is also home to The Irving Arts Centre which houses 10 residential arts organisations, as well as four separate museums for those interested in history and culture. One of these, the Ruth Paine House Museum, is perfect for those with an interest in history.

Once home to President John F Kennedy’s killer Lee Harvey Oswald, this little suburban home is now a museum which offers an account of events related to the assassination. The curators have also reconstructed the lives of the people, even using holograms to tell their stories in their own words.

As well as its thriving art scene, Irving is also great for a night out or a gig. The city has multiple venues, including the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory - a multi-floored, multifaceted venue that hosts everything from international artists to local bands all under its gigantic roof.

This cutting-edge venue converts from a smaller intimate theatre of 2,500 seats to a 4,000-person capacity indoor theatre and, amazingly, even opens up to an 8,000-person capacity open-air pavilion.

For something a little more casual, try heading over to Gas Monkey Live - a unique and funky venue which features hip hop and Latino music as well as rock and country. You can even try out some delicious chicken fried steak and barbecue while enjoying the tunes.

Texas is known for its relatively hot weather. Even in December, the temperature in Irving averages around 15C. In summer, the heat gets sweltering with daily highs of 35C. These conditions mean there's never a bad season to visit, making it the perfect year round getaway.