Coolest off the beaten path place in the U.S.
Time for a non-Internet, non-journalism question. I'm taking a three month "follow the wind" trip across and around the U.S. next month. I'd love to hear your favorite off the beaten path spot that you've discovered in your wanderings. Here's one of mine -- the Otis Cafe in Oregon. http://incrementalupdates.blogspot.com/2007/11/otis-cafe.html
Please submit your suggests for my trip!
Thanks
Michelle
Good Answers (23)
I love the Little Bar in Goodland, Florida. Tucked away in ramshakle village (population 400 and no sidewalks), the Little Bar is a slice of old Florida heaven on the western edge of the Everglades. It's a great spot for live music and Florida stone crabs, my all-time favorite food. As the website sez, "Little Bar is open until at least midnight or until everyone is through singing."
Links:
Clarification added March 30, 2008:
er, that was supposed to be ramshaCKle
Mike S
Adjunct Professor of Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
When I lived in Arizona I made a few trips to the ultimate grand canyon hiking/camping spot... Havasupai Falls...
Links:
I would have to add Oatman, AZ. It's most definitely far off the beaten path on an old stretch of Route 66 that is rarely traveled now. The drive there wasn't for the faint of heart but it was well worth the trip.
Links:
If you find yourself cruising down the 395 along the Eastern Sierras, stop at Fossil Falls, one of my favorite places. Cinder cones dotting the landscape give the entire area a creepy "what is this place? what happened here" feel. The falls are beautiful any time of day, or any time of year.
Links:
Sheilah E
Owner, ★SME Management:.......... Business Management and Accounting Consultant
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I live in Alaska so pretty much everything here is off the beaten path. LOL But I would say the Thane Ore House in Juneau offers the best Salmon I have ever had.
Sheilah
We really enjoy traveling US 50, the most isolated highway in the US. Some of the towns in Nevada along the way appear to have stopped in the 60s or 70s.
Links:
Thomas R
Systems Analyst at Northwestern University
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The Dixie National Forest in Southern Utah is spectacular.
John ジョン S. R
APAC Business Development / Marketing Professional | Global Citizen | Photographer | Guest Lecturer
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Aloha Michelle,
From the summit at Mauna Kea (over 14,000 feet high) to walking on lava fields (at Kilauea) witnessing the earth birth itself – the Big Island (Hawaii) is pretty ‘off the beaten’ path.
Bon voyage,
John S. Rajeski
Links:
Still Life Cafe in Independence, CA - extraordinary French cuisine right on the edge of Death Valley. If you happen through LA before heading up there, please drop me a line - I have a couple of bottles of wine for you to deliver to Malika and Michel if you're up for it.
Brian M
Director Prorate Agency at International Air Transport Association
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Toke Point, Washington. Little restaurant at the end of the pier serves great clam chowder.
Phyllis R
President, The Loyalty Group, Inc. and seasoned talent management & training consultant
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Several years ago a colleague and I were working in Sacramento (CA) and had a free weekend. We went to a place called "Old Town" and picked up a gold rush map. We hopped in our car and followed it through the hills and redwood forests, on the old gold rush trails. We also stopped at a few makeshift cemetaries, where we found the headstones of those who perished on their way out west. Very interesting, historical, out of the way and beautiful.
Another favorite on the west coast is Pismo Beach. It's a tiny surfer town in San Luis Obisbo, about 30 minutes from central coast wineries (cozy ones). My husband and I got married in Pismo and held our "rehearsal dinner" at the Pismo bowling alley, which we rented!
Have fun on your trip!
Sam M
Management Psychologist at PRADCO
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Anywhere in and around Missoula, MT.
Jim H
Partner, Global Business Development at Kai Trade, LLC
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So Many to choose. Try going into Yosemite from the Nevada side. Amazing.
Drive the north shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to Grand Marais.
Molly M
Sustainable Business & Non-Profit Communications
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The Bear Tooth Pass is Montana, coming from the north end of Yellowstone National Park. I've lived in Alaska, Utah and Northern California, and I think that's still the most breaktaking place I've been. Be sure to stop in Red Lodge, and for a steak at Grizzly Bar in Rosco.
Michael S
General Manager at Tracks & Trails
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Our clients rave about Capital Reef National Park. I hate to give this one away since most people typically go to Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and/or Zion National Parks. The rock formations are unique to anywhere and the visitation is next to none. Also, lots of history to the area too! Bring your hiking shoes and camera!
Another great spot is Tombstone, AZ for a taste of the real old west. See Kartchner Caverns while you in the area, too! A great cavern system that has only been known to the public since 1998!
Links:
Clarification added March 31, 2008:
ooops 1988...
Mathew K
CTO, Seamless Development Inc
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Toobing the river in New Braunfels Texas. Also make sure to stop by canyon lake texas for the best BBQ in the world. Skull Creek BBQ.
And if you go towards october, you must experience Wurst Fest
The 10 day salute to sausage and beer.
Two places:
Prairie dog towns in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
Arcosanti, an attempt to build a city in a single building, north of Phoenix, AZ.
Casa Michaela restaurant on U.S. 395 in Bridgeport, Calif. Continue south on 395 and at the crest of a hill you'll have an unobstructed view of about 100 miles of the Sierra Nevada stretching out before you.
Links:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport,_California
- http://picasaweb.google.com/rbeam56/DeathValley/photo#5058231821206741346
- http://www.cityconcierge.com/mammoth-lakes/summer/hot-tubs.asp
Clarification added March 31, 2008:
Another spot that's way off the beaten path is Darwin Falls near Panamint Springs on the western edge of Death Valley National Park. The picture on Wikipedia doesn't do it justice. [BTW, if you go to Yosemite "from the Nevada side" you'll be making a right turn off 395 and onto Tioga Pass Road, across from Mono Lake. A beautiful drive through Touolumne Meadows. Road is closed in the winter, though.
Ooo! Ooo! Don't miss the Bit & Spur restaurant in Springdale, UT on the road into Zion National Park. (Oh, yeah, the park's pretty spectacular, but Bit & Spur's fresh Mexican food would be worth the trip even if the park weren't there.) Fodors called it the best Mexican restaurant in Utah, which in my view is faint praise; it's one of my favorite places of all time.
Links:
If you get Big Sur, try this: http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/ Near Mendicino, here’s a splurge for a meal and a room; it’s where “Same Time, Next Year” was filmed: http://www.heritagehouseinn.com/stay.html On the other coast, if you find yourself in Washington, D.C., take a spin out to Middleburg, Virginia, and have lunch at the Red Fox Inn. It’s been there since 1728: http://www.redfox.com/ On up the coast near Portland, Maine, is this gem on Prouts Neck, where Winslow Homer painted all those seascapes: http://www.blackpointinn.com/inn/ And as long as you’re in the neighborhood, drive a few miles north to the Disneyland of outdoor America, open 24 hours a day: http://portlandme.about.com/cs/shopping/a/LLBean.htm
Try the Boiling River hotspring north of Gardner and Mammoth Hot Springs in Paradise Valley. Just off the highway on the left, the hot spring runs along the surface before it pours over a ledge into a large pool where it mixes with the Gardner River.
After your soak stop at Chico hotsprings for a great dinner and maybe stay the the Mountain Sky Ranch and take a horseback ride into the mountains.
If you are there in winter, head over to Big Sky north of West Yellowstone. Ski the "Poop Shoot" on the night of the full moon from the bottom of the lowest ski lift at Big Sky down to Lone Mountain Ranch (about 6 miles). The trail is groomed for cross country and you are likely to see moose and deer along the way. The sparkle from the snow is amazing in that clear Montana sky and be sure to stop in for a warm drink at the bar at Lone Mountain Ranch at the end of the trail.
Carter S
Airline and Aviation Consultant
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I am a big fan of Durango, Colorado- and one of the quietest little botique hotels in the world..."The Nobody Inn". I love the pace of this little community, and used to visit it frequently when I just needed to get away.
Links:
Bruce N
Venture investment & international business development
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Ouray, CO. Beautiful little mountain town tucked in a valley with huge outdoor hot springs pool.
More Answers (2)
On the Amalfi coast you can get the best home made pasta overlooking Capri and the Sea., Ravello up the hill has a fabulous resort and roof top jacuzzi- Palazzo Sasso - call me to set it up-
Clarification added March 31, 2008:
100% beautiful people as well, warm & friendly.
William B
Christian Speaker and National Fatherhood Advocate
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You and your wife in your bedroom with NONE of the following amenities:
watches
clocks
television
cell phones
computers
beepers
radio
ipods
telephones
gps
kids
animals of any kind
light bulbs
hair blowers, staighteners or makeup bags
mirrors
newspapers, magazines and books
agendas, calendars and appointment books
reports, deadlines and follow-ups
friends and business associates
more than one set of clothes
time limit
"After 32 years of marriage and 16 children, we have discovered this to be the most "off the beaten path place in the U.S." :)
