Top Five Reasons to Choose an Offbeat Vacation Destination

When you think of going on vacation, where do you imagine yourself going? If you’re like many people, top vacation destinations come to mind. You might see yourself going to Disney World in Florida, shopping in New York City, or surfing the waves in California.

These can be great vacation destinations, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to go to a tried-and-true location in order to have a great vacation! There are actually some really great benefits of choosing a destination that’s off the beaten path.

You Have Many Surprising Options

The lure of popular vacation destinations is the fact that they are exciting. After all, there’s a reason why many people go on vacation to certain places in the world!

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of exciting places that are unpopular simply because they aren’t very well known. The United States is full of surprising destinations to visit!

People in some of the least populated states spend more time dreaming about going on vacation than actually doing it, but those outside the state travel there because those states have a lot to offer!

A few examples include:

  • Mississippi is home to historic sites and is situated on the Gulf Coast.
  • Montana is one of the least populated states in the country but is beautifully scenic.
  • Indiana features Lake Michigan to the north with Louisville, KY at its most southern tip.
  • New Mexico is a great way to learn about the Navajo and Pueblo Indians.

Avoid the Crowds

Popular vacation destinations are exciting, but they are also busy. That can make you feel like you’re part of the action, but it can also have negative consequences on your vacation.

For example, you could spend a good chunk of your afternoon waiting in line to ride a ride at Disney World, and you can expect to be pushed around a bit every time you step foot on the sidewalk in New York City.

There are many tips out there on how to avoid the crowds, but the very best is choosing a destination that simply doesn’t have them. You’ll be able to do things at your own pace and truly enjoy where you’re staying when you aren’t worried about the amount of people you have to contend with.

Lower Prices

Going on vacation isn’t cheap. Fortunately, there are many ways to make it cheaper, and one of those ways is to choose a less popular vacation destination.

Busy destinations can command top dollar because there are always people wanting to travel there. Hotels are more expensive, tickets to parks are more expensive, and even the stuff in stores is more expensive.

Quiet destinations don’t charge nearly as much. Hotel rooms are cheaper because there are fewer people competing for their rooms, and you can find better deals on souvenirs, clothing, and more.

It also means you can get more bang for your buck. A small, low-quality room may cost the same at a popular destination as a five-star resort in a less busy area!

Experience Something Brand-New

When you travel somewhere you’re familiar with, you know what to expect. You can expect slot machines in Las Vegas and plenty of high rise buildings in Chicago, but when you go somewhere completely new, you won’t know what to expect.

Going somewhere not very popular forces you to try new things—truly new things—which is great for your mind and body. Every day is an adventure when you go somewhere new, especially when you have no preconceived notions about what your options are when you get there.

More Time to Relax

Vacations can be great for stress relief. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. If you go somewhere busy and expensive, you might return home more tired and stressed than when you left!

Less popular vacation destinations are more conducive to relaxing. There are fewer crowds, but there are also fewer things to do. You can give yourself permission to spend the afternoon sitting by the pool when you’re vacationing in Minnesota, when you might normally push yourself to do and see everything in a bustling vacation town, like Orlando, Florida.

Busy vacation destinations can be a lot of fun, and they should definitely be part of your travel bucket list, but don’t forget to make time for less popular destinations. You may just discover a town that you will want to return to time and time again!

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