With international travel being a tricky thing to plan right now, many people who want to travel are looking at domestic destinations and weekend road trips instead. One of the biggest concerns may be crowded touristy areas. Travel Pulse recently released a list of six off-the-beaten-path road trip ideas to get your wheels turning (no pun intended... ok maybe just little).
White Mountains of New Hampshire. If hiking, picnics, swimming holes, and waterfalls are your kind of thing, then this destination is perfect for you. This area is where Mount Washington is located. It's the highest peak in the Northeast and the views from the top are accessible by car or a cog railway (no intense hiking required). Consider taking a trip in the fall to see the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. Side note, did you know that there are more than 100 waterfalls throughout the state of New Hampshire?
Ohio Amish Country. We all know the Amish communities of Pennsylvania and Indiana, but very few of us know that there is a large concentration of Amish settlements in Ohio where it is much less crowded. If you're headed this way, make sure to stop by Sugar Creek aka Ohio's Little Switzerland aka the gateway to Amish Country. Here you can see one the world's largest cuckoo clocks in the town center and go on a shopping/eating spree of Amish-made goods.
Beaufort & the Lowcountry. Not only is the "Lowcountry" a geographic region along South Carolina's coast, it is also a cultural region. This area is comprised of 200 miles worth of peninsulas, channels, and subtropical sea islands and is accessible from Charleston and Hilton Head. Beaufort is one of the most charming towns here and is often referred to as a miniature Charleston. This town has been featured in movies including Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, and Prince of Tides. St. Helena Island is also another place to explore where you can learn about the first school in the South established for free slaves in 1862 as well as experience the unique Gullah heritage, the culture that gave us sweetgrass baskets and regional dishes like shrimp and grits.
Amelia Island, Florida. Most people know Florida for theme parks and the iconic beaches such as Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Miami Beach, and St. Pete/Clearwater. Amelia Island is the northernmost barrier island along Florida's Atlantic coast and one of the state's best-kept secrets. It is the perfect place for travelers who love wildlife (be ready to see some manatees, dolphins, and alligators!) along with kayaking, walking, and biking.
Shasta County, California. Let's begin this by saying "WOW". Seriously, there is so much to see and do in this area, and it's hard to believe many of us have never heard of this place in Northern California. Here is just a small list of things to see/do in Shasta County: Mount Shasta (crown jewel of the Cascades and is visible from 100 miles away), Lake Shasta (houseboat capital of the world), Shasta Caverns (a cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites and limestone curtains), Lassen Volcanic National Park, and McArthur-Burney Falls (referred to as the "eighth wonder of the world" by Former President Theodore Roosevelt).
Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Located in Pacific Northwest Washington, the Olympic Peninsula has "the longest undeveloped stretch of coastal wilderness in the contiguous United States" according to the Travel Pulse article. This area is the perfect place for travelers who love viewing wildlife and exploring forest ecosystems. Some common wildlife sightings include bald eagles and gray whales. Lake Crescent also offers activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking. You can also hike around the lake for some great views of cliffs along with distant Mount Olympus.
If you'd like to go on a road trip this year and need some assistance with the planning, send us a message here! We'd love to help you have an amazing travel experience even if it doesn't include
The full Travel Pulse article can be found here.