"Hidden Gem" vacation areas: the ones you never heard of

Parent Cafe
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<p>Just returned from a meeting/vacation in Slovenia and Croatia. We had a great time, but the purpose of this thread is to get suggestions of some “Hidden Gems” for places that many people have never heard of. We all know that Las Vegas is fun or the Grand Canyon is awesome, but have you ever stumbled on a spot that just took your breath away and you wonder why you hadn’t heard more about it?</p>

<p>My candidate is Plitvicka Jereza National Park in Croatia. I knew nothing about it (I just follow my wife’s directions on our travels). When we arrived, my jaw dropped. Hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of waterfalls, all seen from up-close and personal via a series of 18 kilometers of boardwalks.</p>

<p>But, this is tempered by the fact that this is in an area that experienced much of the “ethnic cleansing” in the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s. It is heartbreaking to see home after home burned out and abandoned, and in one case, an entire village of buildings in ruins. In addition, you see many roadside memorials for people who lost their lives in that war.</p>

<p>This one is far away, but I’d especially like to hear of ones in the USA.</p>

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<p>WELCOME HOME, DIG!!! :)</p>

<p>CC hasn’t been the same without ya! </p>

<p>I can only think of one hidden vacation gem…with our large family, we don’t get the opportunity to do much traveling.</p>

<p>The hidden gem is our house! :D</p>

<p>It has a not-so-hidden gym…our living room boasts a Precor elliptical trainer and a Bowflex, along with some dumbbells. There’s lots of wildlife with an emphasis on the WILD: six kids, assorted friends, four dogs, three cats, three guinea pigs, and a little bunny! Lots of wilderness to get lost in…we can’t find a THING in here, so we most certainly couldn’t find YOU either! :wink: And the varied and exquisitely prepared food is to die for! Best of all…it’s got a 5 star rating (at least if you don’t want TOO much luxury)!!! All of this at the low, low cost of NOTHING!! Nada. For friends, our place is ABSOLUTELY FREE! Wanna make a reservation? ;)</p>

<p>~b.</p>

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<p>Porcupine Mountains State Park in the far western corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 59,000 acres with some stands of virgin timber. Lake of the Clouds is fabulous. The park is criscrossed with hiking trails. The falls on the Presqu Isle River (?) near the Wisconsin border are fascinating.</p>

<p>And the best part - even at the height of the summer season, there are very few people there. You can only take autos into a very few areas and not very far into the interior of the park.</p>

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<p>digmedia, Plitvicka Jereza looks absolutely wonderful! Four years ago we went on a Mediterranean cruise and one of our stops was Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was so unique from the rest of the ports (Athens, Rome, Florence, etc) because the history of their war was so recent. Our kids were blown away when they saw actual bullet holes and we pointed our (had a guide book) houses that had been rebuilt after they had been partially destroyed from artillery. The waterfall park that you went to is quite a contrast to that but so beautiful. It’s wonderful that you got to visit.</p>

<p>We love vacationing out West. Several years ago we took three weeks and drove all around the west starting in Colorado (in-laws), up to Idaho (cousins), over to Portland (Aunt, Uncle and cousins), down to San Diego (friend) and then over to Arizona (SIL’s family). </p>

<p>Two of the spots that I can think of that were unknown to us was Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge area of Oregon and Arches National Park and the town it’s in, Moab, Utah. I knew from my research that we should stop at Multnomah falls but it just seemed so over the top beautiful and I had never heard of it except in a guide book. We all enjoyed the PNW and I hope we can go back sometime for a longer visit.</p>

<p>We’ve visited the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon, but Arches was smaller and somehow more accessible. The town of Moab seemed kind of cool and laid back. Right in the same area is Canyonlands National Park but we didn’t have time to see that. If you haven’t seen the canyons in the west, they are something that cannot be described by words or photos - you just have to visit.</p>

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<p>Just have to say that that photo is awesome, Dig! </p>

<p>The unexpected thrills are usually the best - don’t have any preconceived ideas, and can just be surprised. Therefore, sometimes following other peoples recommendations of places takes part of the thrill away. (However, a place like that looks like it has enough thrill to go around.)</p>

<p>Some of my best memories are things that others might not find as thrilling. We hit Jekyll Island (Georgia) over a Thanksgiving weekend when the place was deserted and we stayed in a Hilton for pennies on the dollar and walked the beaches, and climbed the lighthouse (on neighboring St. Simons Island) and played shuffleboard, and just had a grand ole time.</p>

<p>When my son attended a music camp at Brevard, NC, we explored the mountain trails nearby, and found lovely little waterfalls and wildlife, with a surprise around every corner. On the same trip we swung though Ashville and visited Biltmore, and then wandered through the quaint downtown area of Ashville with lots of little shops. On the way home, out of curiosity, we drove through the Furman campus - which is now - 6 or 7 years later, one of D’s top choices to attend next fall!</p>

<p>It’s the “pleasant surprise” aspect of these trips that really made them fun.</p>

<p>Hitting Chincoteague Islands at the time of the Firemen’s Fair was another surprise.</p>

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<p>Like UMDAD, I love the upper peninsula of Michigan. I haven’t been to the area he describes, but I have spent time on the Keweenaw Peninsula (Calumet, Copper Harbor, etc.) The area is beautiful and unspoiled, with spectacular Lake Superior beaches. There’s some interesting history from the copper mining days. Michigan Tech. U. in Houghton has the 2nd largest rock and mineral collection in the world, housed in a wonderful museum on campus.</p>

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<p>Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada - there is a beautiful bay (Le Baie de Bouctouche) which is great for kayaking or canoeing - we went in June and couldn’t believe how warm the water was. There is a protected eco-center that offers a long boardwalk through Le Dune de Bouctouche, there is an Acadian show in the downtown area, and I also went to a soap-making demonstration at a shop where I was the only English speaking person.</p>

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<p>Dig,
If you liked that part of the world, consider Bulgaria for your next trip. Europeans say, Bulgaria is the new Croatia :wink: It’s cheap, incredibly beautiful (check out the beaches of the Golden Sands) and culturally/architecturally fascinating.</p>

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<p>Less exotic, easier to get to, easier on the budget places we have been:</p>

<ul>
<li>Finger Lakes region of NY – rolling hills, vinyards, lake after lake-- each with its own small towns along it and completely different personality, bed and breakfasts, sailing, relaxing, affordable.</li>
</ul>

<p>– Niagara Falls – It sounds silly, but it really is fun and I know tons of people who don’t go because it sounds so touristy. Stay in Niagara-on-the Lake. If you can, visit the Shaw Festival and do the Falls as a day trip, go the pottery studios off on winding roads, have tea in the English shops. Close enough to incorporate into your wonderful Toronto and Georgian Bay Trip.</p>

<p>– Georgian Bay – north of Toronto, more and more small town and remote the further north you get… clear, turquoise waters with shear stone cliffs to hike, Native American food, beaches on the other side of the Penninsual…</p>

<p>– In Florida – we used to love the Keys, but lately to trafficky… we still love Ceder Key, north, west of Gainsevill, no good beaches, but lots and lots of water and sailing and island life.</p>

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<p>A place I’ve been to in Colorado reminds me of a mini version of the picture Digmedia posted of Plitvicka Jereza National Park (because of the amazing blue-green water). It is called Hanging Lake and it is off Hwy 70 near Glenwood Springs (in Glenwood Canyon). You have to go on a short, steep hike to get there, but it’s well worth it! Just a little further up from the lake, there is another big waterfall that you can stand under…not to be missed!</p>

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<p>silversenior,
I was revisiting this thread because I wanted to mention the Finger Lakes! We lived in upstate NY for four long winters (and four short summers) and I used to commute to a job by driving up and down Keuka Lake everyday. Hammondsport is cute little town at the bottom of Keuka Lake with wineries, cute shops, winding roads with beautiful views. </p>

<p>The next lake over to the east, Seneca Lake has Watkins Glen at the South end. Watkins Glen State Park <a href=“http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=105[/url]”>http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=105&lt;/a&gt; is just gorgeous. The finger lakes are why residents of the area always say they are from UPSTATE NY.</p>

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<p>Mount Shasta, California. So gorgeous, with incredible hiking, views, swimming in the rivers and waterfalls, but way less crowded and cooler weather than Yosemite even in the height of summer.</p>

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<p>My mother was from Michigan’s UP. Somewhere between Manistique and Escanaba is a deep spring with a sort of a floating dock you pull yourself over via a rope…(how’s that for obscure? I have no idea what its name is!)</p>

<p>I’ve visited London many times, but during our last trip we had tea at the Orangerie at Kensington Palace and then walked in the park. We encountered a wonderful elderly British lady (walking a Cavalier King James spaniel…couldn’t have been more perfect really) who shared her fond memories of the late Princess of Wales. The unplanned-for moments are the best…</p>

<p>My sister, who has visited both, much prefers the Cook Islands over Tahiti. Husband is attending a family reunion in Mauritius in May…I’ll let y’all know what he thinks. The pictures of it on websites and in guidebooks are stunning.</p>

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<p>My inlaws used to keep a large boat in Florida and we would go down and hang out with them for a couple of weeks during the summers and do some island-hopping. I absolutely loved Captiva Island, Useppa Island and Cabbage Key. Captiva is fairly commercialized, but loads of fun. If you ever go, visit Barnacle Phil’s on North Captiva … they have the best black beans and rice I’ve ever eaten. Cabbage Key is relaxing, offers lots of beautiful vegetation, and has a restaurant that serves yummy cheeseburgers. Useppa Island was my favorite. It’s just gorgeous … no cars allowed on the island except one lone van owned by the inn that is used to carry catered food around the island. The banyan trees there are huge and beautiful, begging to be climbed. It’s been several years since we’ve been there and I understand Hurricane Charley did quite a bit of damage, so I don’t know what it’s like now, but it was absolutely gorgeous back when we went.</p>

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<p>Wow Dig! I was just telling someone about Plitvicka yesterday!!! I was on a big tour of Europe during a summer between teaching jobs and we had a spectacular visit to that park. It was way back in the day, when Yugoslavia was still one country. Absolutely breathtaking!!</p>

<p>And kathiep~we went to Dubrovnik on that same trip–loved it!</p>

<p>We hike in the Green Mountains of northern Vermont every summer, climbing to the top of Mt. Mansfield between Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe. It’s a beautiful area, and wonderful hiking paths all over. There are tons of other things to do, too!</p>

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<p>the Champlain Islands between Burlington VT and Canada in Lake Champlain are one of our family’s favorite “off the beaten path” getaways. We stay at a small inn looking east over the widest part of Lake Champlain towards the Green Mountains. Turn around in the evening and end the day with gorgeous Adirondack sunsets…</p>

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<p>For us, simple is better. For more than a decade we spend time at the potholes in WA state. We take our boat, tents and a bunch of coolers to hot eastern Wa and spend time doing nothing on a schedule. A radio with a station that plays 50’s-today’s hits, Sunshine (90’s-100+) and pretty much a 27,000 square resevoir to ourselves as the kids hate to fish. All the fishermen go up into the sandunes and leave the big open water to us. Skiing or tubing for a mile+ with no worries if you dump the kids. Nobody out there to run over them. We go from Sunday to Fridays to avoid the crowds. </p>

<p>We pack a cooler, load the boat and head out for the day. Find a sandy dune and have our own private island for the day. The water while a bit “green” is around 80degrees. Besides, they have showers back at camp. We eat wonderful fresh foods (why so many coolers) and read all the books we’ve wanted to but had no time for. Then we catch sunset and then we have a nice fire and watch the stars without city haze to blind them out. </p>

<p>A pretty inexpensive week around $100 a day in camp,gas and food costs. We’ve done the other travels for much more money, but we tend to like this eastern WA location because we do what we feel like vs. what we should on vacation. You know when you spend alot of money you should… try and see everything you can.</p>

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<p>irishforever - glad you’ve seen it and can confirm just how incredible it is. I think that Croatia is a bit of a bargain because it’s not yet in the EU. It’s got the Adriatic Coast and tourism is really increasing there. It is an easy country to navigate, even away from the coast. Seems like we could always find someone who spoke English to help us. Slovenia was even easier to get around.</p>

<p>HeliMom - make sure to give us a report.</p>

<p>IrishMomof2 - (Is this Irish Day?) - that sounds great as well. We’re always looking for kayaking places (we did some on the Gasp? Peninsula in Quebec on one trip).</p>

<p>binx - not my photo, just one I found on the internet, but it really is representative of the place.</p>

<p>berurah - LOL. Now that’s a hidden gym I’d like to visit.</p>

<p>kathiep - Our family LOVES Moab and we go there about twice a year for biking, kayaking and subjecting our poor Jeep to some of the more challenging roads (though tame by the standards of most of the off-roaders).</p>

<p>katliamom - I have actually been to the border of Bulgaria, but didn’t cross. We had plans to visit an area along the Black Sea coast, but somehow our plans changed in mid-trip and we never got out of Romania.</p>

<p>UMDAD and NYMomof2 - We’ve been to the UP only once and had a great time. It DOES seem more laid back than the average destination.</p>

<p>curiousmother - I’ve of course been to Hanging Lake, since I live here in Colorado. Now multiply the falls by about a thousand-fold and you’ll get the idea of Plitvicka.</p>

<p>SplashMom - We used to spend time in that area of Florida (great place to get up-close and personal with alligators), but I too am worried about the effects of the hurricane.</p>

<p>Hanna - I laughed when I read your post. We spent a memorable time at Shasta one year. Beautiful, but HOT HOT HOT - temperatures over 100F.</p>

<p>silversenior - I agree that Niagara Falls can be done the “right way,” especially on the Canadian side.</p>

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<p>dig,
Go to Bulgaria before it’s totally lost its character and inexpensive sites and goes the way of, say, the French riviera or, more recently, Dubrovnik…</p>

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<p>Dig, that is a gorgeous picture. I wish I was there right now! – or at Berurah’s house :slight_smile: .</p>