Great Places to Vacation That aren’t on Your Radar in 2020

When you are eager to travel to a place that is a little less known (read: fewer crowds), there are surprisingly many to choose from, especially in this new travel climate. These destinations celebrate wide open spaces, beauty, and incredible and exciting history.

Boothbay Harbor, ME

Nothing is more charming than the North Eastern Seaboard, and Maine holds a vast array of options. One of the gems is Boothbay Harbor, ME, and a local secret (but probably not for long). Stroll the town center, grab a delicious lobster roll, or dine in one of several oceanfront restaurants. Sit back and relax. Use this as your home base for exploring the area. Take a boat ride and explore Maine’s rocky coastline and historic lighthouses. Or join a boat excursion for whale, seal, and puffin viewing. Then take a ferry trip to Monhegan Island, NY, and hike the many trails. Or leave the water and take a scenic road trip to Ocean Point, and watch the sunset.

Letchworth State Park, NY

Letchworth State Park Rendered When you step into Letchworth State Park, NY, it will be like you are stepping into an intricate painting. This gigantic State Park (14,427 acres, to be exact) is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The Genesee River hosts three gorgeous waterfalls, and its twists and turns are responsible for the deep canyon walls that rise to 600 feet. Okay, not quite as deep as the real Grand Canyon, but still impressive.

Apostle Islands, WI

With Lake Superior being so large, there are 21 islands collectively called the Apostles Islands, WI National Lakeshore, located along the lake’s southern tip. Explore lighthouses, shipwrecks, and relaxing beaches, right in the middle of the land-locked Midwest. During the peak summer months, the best activities here are kayaking, diving, hiking, and exploring sea caves in crystal blue waters. In winter, a different crowd emerges – those who love to gawk at the incredible winter wonderland created by frozen-over rock formations.

Start in the city of Bayfield, WI, on the shores of Lake Superior. This little town itself is worthy of a day’s exploration, with gorgeous mansions and converted hotels. Take a ferry cruise between the islands and savor the nine lighthouses along the way. Birdwatchers will rejoice at the 240 species of feathered friends making their home here.

Glacier National Park, MT

Glacier National Park Rendered The simple fact that this National Park, located up near the Canadian border, is so remote, lends itself to its pristine beauty. Glacier National Park, Wy, with over 700 miles of hiking trails, it is one of the lessor-visited parks in America – more room for you to move. Instead of a crowd of hikers, your companions will be jaw-dropping glaciers, crystal lakes, and alpine meadows. If you love the outdoors and a fair amount of solace, this is the place to be.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

If you are a kid that never quite grew up, then this National Park is for you – because Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO is just like one giant sandbox! It’s the highest dunes in North America, with the tallest clocking in at 750 feet. That’s higher than the “Grand Canyon of the East.” What’s more, the park offers beautiful views of the neighboring Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

June Lake, CA

June Lake, CA is a cute little town nestled at the Eastern Sierra Nevada, which enchants visitors due to the numerous bodies of water, scenic vistas, and vigorous hiking trails. Given this gorgeous location, it draws few crowds, so you’ll have more space to savor it all. While the town of June Lake is tiny, with a few dining options, take comfort in the fact that there are other great places to dine in neighboring Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Enjoy the marina, where you can have fun kayaking, fishing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Hikers will love well-maintained trails such as The Reversed Peak Trail.

The Wallowas, OR

With another geological wonder rivaling the Grand Canyon, Hell’s Canyon, Oregon in the Wallowa Mountain Range, OR of eastern Oregon is deeper than its more well-known cousin. Nevertheless, it is one of Oregon’s best-kept secrets. Get to know your home base of Joseph, with its cafes, breweries and art galleries, then get some invigorating hiking in at Hell’s Canyon.
Not up for hiking? Take the Wallowa Lake Tramway, Mt. Howard, OR, ascending 3,700 feet to the summit of Mt. Howard, OR, then stroll an easy 2-mile loop at the top. For historians, don’t miss the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, with original artifacts that made the 2,000-mile journey to Oregon in the 1800s.

Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge, OR and WA

The Hood River, OR or WA and the Columbia River Gorge, OR are on the National Scenic Area list, so the federal government sinks a lot of money to keep this area protected and gorgeous. Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway, where there are so many places to pull off the road. Go on an epic hike and take in the panoramic views of the mighty Columbia River far below.
Roads straddle the edge of the river on both the Oregon and Washington side, with equal opportunities for attractions along the way.

Orcas Island, WA

If you want laid-back island life without going to Hawaii or the Caribbean, then Orcas Island, WA fits the bill, albeit with cooler temperatures. Located in the expansive Puget Sound of Washington State and part of the San Juan Island system, you can enjoy lush forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and quaint lighthouses. This island is one big photo op. And yes, the whale watching is pretty grand, too (hence the name) with the best viewing times between March and October.

Details: Written by Jeff Yelton; August 15, 2020

Travel Tips and Tricks

What Does Jet Lag Do To Your Body

Jet lag, also known as desynchronosis, is one of the unintended consequences of long-haul flights that every avid traveler is familiar with. It is a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when you cross multiple time zones within a short period of time. Our body is naturally equipped with an internal clock (circadian rhythm) that regulates when we sleep and when we wake up. When we are in a different time zone, our body’s clock is still synched to our old time zone and it expects to sleep and wake up as usual. For instance, if you traveled eastwards, at the end of the day, your brain can tell it’s late in the evening where you are, but your body knows it still midday where you just came from, and that mismatch can cause some confusion to your internal clock. Luckily, this is short-lived and most of us can live with it. So, how does jet lag feel? Travelers describe being jetlagged as an experience of not being able to fall asleep when you should be sleeping and not being able to wake up when you should be awake at your new destination. Basically, walking around in a daze as your body tries to operate at its usual rhythm but in a different space and time. Read More

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