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