ot all travel destinations tourists now. Often being one
are packed full of myself, I have nothing against
tourists. In fact, not all tourists. But when the crowd gets
of them are even on the map. I too thick I prefer the more
have had an interest in these secret places. Here are some
"secret" places since I first examples of a few of these travel
discovered two little lakes high destinations that are still
in the hills and cliffs north of undiscovered.
Ishpeming, Michigan. No trails
Storm Lake
even lead to these, and there was
Anaconda, Montana is a fun
a trout on the line ten seconds destination by itself. You can
after the cast. rent a room above the Harp and
Other travel destinations are not Thistle Pub for $140 for the week
so isolated, but they are still (as of August 2007) and be within
generally overlooked by most walking distance of at least ten
tourists. This was true of casinos with nickel slot
Yelapa, Mexico when I went there machines, as well as a new brew
in 1981. The beaches were pub and restaurant (Rocky
uncrowded, you could buy fresh Mountain Brewing). Two blocks
fish for dinner from the away, the Washoe Theater,
fishermen in the afternoon, and a considered one of the most
palapa (thatched-roof house) beautiful in the country by the
rented for about $100 per month. Smithsonian Institute, charges
The surrounding jungle had just $4 for a movie, and 90 cents
waterfalls you could swim under. for a small popcorn. A Jack
No roads lead there, but there Nicholas-designed golf course
was a daily boat from nearby (The Old Works Golf Course) is
Puerto Vallarta.
just at the edge of this small
Yelapa, alas, has been town.
discovered and overrun with
If you really want to escape,
though, drive 14 miles west on tourists lists, which is good for
Highway 1. When you see the sign those of us that like our travel
that says "Storm Lake," turn destinations to be uncrowded. It
there. It's nine miles to the is a great little town, however,
lake (stay left when the road and a great base from which to
splits), but you may need high explore the surrounding area. It
clearance for the last mile is also a nice place to escape
(although we used to make it the winter, since it rarely snows
there in our Ford Escort). There or gets too cold here.
will usually be a few locals at
You can check out the little
the lake, but you'll always find zoo right in town for a relaxing
a place to park.
afternoon. There is also an Imax
The lake sits at about 8,000 Theater on the north side of town
feet, and is known locally for (watch for the signs), and you
its cutthroat trout. Hike the probably won't have any long
trail along the right side and on lines to wait in. On Saturdays
the other side you'll find the from June to October you can
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area. visit the Farmers market at the
Less than hour up the trail county fairgrounds.
you'll reach Storm Lake Pass, at
If you want to get up above
the tree line. From here you can the desert, drive the thirty
continue into the tundra minutes or so up to Cloudcroft in
environment of Goat Meadows, or the nearby mountains, or go a
into a seemingly endless little further the observatory at
wilderness of mountains and Sunspot, or to the Casino in
lakes. You'll rarely have any Ruidoso. If you time it right,
company other than bears, birds you can bask in the sun one day
and mountain goats.
in Alamogordo and be skiing the
Alamogordo, New Mexico
next day at the Cloudcroft Ski
This is not at the top of most Area.
For an unusual destination,
town is the White Sands National align="center">
Monument, with its truly amazing
dunes of white sand.
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Article Tags: ten, town, travel
