Looking for something different on your staycation? Tired of hitting the beaches or Disney World? Then travel off the beaten path on one of the USA’s country roads, experience obscure national landmarks, camp under the stars, or take part in annual hunting and fishing seasons. The USA has endless opportunities for you to experience something you’ve rarely tried before. This year we have some ideas for vacations you may not have considered. In this guide, you’ll find plenty of secret getaways, including week-long family trips, honeymoons, and long weekend destinations that might have you wanting to contact your mortgage broker to facilitate a permanent move!
America’s best hidden getaways are worthy of packing in a disposable camera with flash, from secluded beaches and small towns to secret state parks tucked away in nature. With these unique, exciting and affordable vacation ideas, you can turn this summer vacation into a vacation you’ll enjoy for years to come.
National Parks
Explore your state’s forests and national parks, which you’ll find are some of your state’s hidden gems. Look up trails or camping sites you could hit and bring plenty of water and trail mix snacks. Some ideas for a trip to a national park include Custer State Parks in Black Mountain, Lake Sylvan, Mount Rushmore, and Durango, Colorado. Leavenworth is also a popular destination for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. These are perfect for a week-long trip and stay in a lakeside cabin or townhouse in Rapid City. Staying in a cabin or townhouse will allow you to truly relax and admire the beautiful surroundings of these enchanting places. Remote and gorgeous, this is one of the most secluded types of summer getaways you’ll find out there.
The Great Lakes
Sip some wine while admiring the great lakes and you’ll see why they are one of the best vacation spots in the United States. There are also many pristine and unspoiled beaches here, plenty of boating opportunities, and even plenty of fish to catch. The great lakes are incredibly vast so it’s easy to find a spot that isn’t crowded. Even simple walks around the lakefronts offer incredible views.
Hunting Tours
If you’re a sharpshooter and are tired of shooting clay pigeons then you can easily book a big game hunting tour. These operate in many different states from the snowy Swan Lake in Montana to Star Valley in Arizona. You can bring your own guns or get outfitted by the tour operator. But make sure you know which to pick as gun laws differ between the states. And you can use a bow and arrow if guns aren’t your fancy.
Unusual Vacation Spots
Heard of the mystical ice caves of Wisconsin? The hidden islands of Michigan? They are some of the best under-the-radar destinations in the midwest. Others include isolated wine country in Virginia, windswept New England island, and the vineyards of Texas (yes! Texas has vineyards!). And you can find even more.