We’ve been covering travel the past couple of months to help
you miss the crowds while on vacation. This month we’re going to list some of
our favorite underrated travel destinations that you can head to instead of the
more popular locations nearby.
Bruges, Belgium: A
lot of people making a stop in Belgium will head to the capital, which is not
only pricey but busy. The Old Town Square truly is beautiful, but if you’re
looking for more beautiful architecture Bruges is the place to go. Central
Bruges looks like a classic medieval town. But it’s not just the beauty of the
city that will draw you in, it’s the activities. Visit impressive art
galleries, beautiful churches, and sample delicious food.
Carcassonne, France: The
city of Carcassonne looks like it has been lifted from a movie set. This
fortified city looks like a classic medieval castle, surrounded by nearly 2
miles of walls, with dozens of towers, and has a fascinating history. Make sure
you don’t only visit the castle, though. The lower town is a small, sleepy
place with cute shops and cafes to enjoy.
Krakow, Poland: Krakow
is one of the oldest cities in Poland, and is well-known for its medieval core
and proximity to Auschwitz. Many people who want to stay in a larger city
during their visit to the famous camp stay here, but don’t take time to check
out the city itself. Here you can get a feel of medieval times as well as modern
times. Don’t miss Old Town if architecture is your thing. In the Southern Part
you can explore where the Jewish ghetto was located while it was occupied by
Germany. There’s tons here to see!
Upcountry/North Shore
Maui, Hawaii: These areas of Maui are far less developed than the more
touristy destinations in West and Southern Maui. In these areas you will find
large farms, amazing surfing, and much more. This is a large area to cover, so
we’ll just give you some top tips. Farther north is Paia, a historic town
filled with rustic, locally owned stores and cafes. Beaches in this area have
great windsurfing and surfing (but unless you are a pro, don’t try it yourself
in winter). Farther south you can take farm tours and find fantastic
farm-to-table restaurants. If you’re in Maui, take some time to explore this
area and escape the crowds.
Hiroshima, Japan: Many
people don’t realize that you are able to visit Hiroshima. It is not a large,
radioactive wasteland. The city may have been leveled during WWII, but it has
been rebuilt and is now home to over 1 million people. With the destruction of
the city almost completely vanished, you can almost forget this city was leveled
only about 70 years ago. The Atomic Bomb Dome is one of the only traces of that
destruction that is left, simply because it was too difficult to dismantle and
rebuild. You can visit the memorial at Ground Zero, but even that is just a
small statue on an otherwise normal street. The Children’s Street Monument is a
larger monument marking the bombing, and is very sobering. But not everything
has to do with the bombing, and there’s plenty of other things to do as well!
Taiwan: Taiwan is
still not on a lot of westerner’s radars, but it should be. With amazing food,
beautiful national parks, and hot spring resorts, this paradise is a great
destination. There’s four main areas to explore so we’ll give a bit of insight
into all of them. Taipei and the surrounding area is the busiest
part of Taiwan, so if you want to avoid crowds this isn’t the place for you. If
you can handle some crowds spend a couple days here because there’s tons to
see. Northern Taiwan is by contrast largely wild. There are beautiful scenic
areas, hot springs, and villages all waiting to be explored. Central Taiwan is
known for its mountains, but also houses busy cities with great nightlife. And
of course, the more tropical, south Taiwan is filled with pineapples and
beaches. There’s something for everyone in this country!
