Escape the Crowds at These Detour Destinations
Escape the Crowds at These Detour Destinations
Popular places are popular for a reason. Paris, Barcelona, Rome, New York, Tokyo, London and other star destinations have been well-traveled for centuries, sometimes even millennia, because the whole world knows all about the exciting things you can do, see and eat there. You can certainly enjoy a vacation to those cities, but depending on the time of year, you may be elbow to elbow with other visitors trying to grab that last croissant from the café or vying for a prime position to snap a pic of the Sistine Chapel.
Which leads us to detour destinations — places near the main event where you can still absorb and enjoy the same culture. Here are a few to consider for your next vacation
Instead of Rome or Venice, visit Verona
Located about an hour west of Venice, Verona is well-known as the setting for Romeo and Juliet. Today, the entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from around the world for its stunning medieval and Renaissance architecture. Built in the first century, Verona’s open-air amphitheater, the Arena di Verona, is one of the town’s largest draws, especially during the summer when the Arena Opera Festival wows crowds of opera lovers with world-class productions. It’s the perfect place to take an evening stroll, known locally as “la passeggiata,” down cobblestone streets framed by pink-hued medieval buildings, breathing in the culture and history of Italy with each step.
Instead of Cancun, visit Playa del Carmen
While Cancun’s reputation for relaxing days at all-inclusive resorts and electric nights at downtown clubs is well deserved, it’s easy to slip farther down south on the Riviera Maya and experience Mexican culture in its purest form. The friendly people of Playa, as Playa del Carmen is locally known, think their sun-drenched coastal city is more sophisticated than Cancun due to its chic style and European ambiance. And while you’re snorkeling over massive coral reefs mere steps away from the beach, being amazed and inspired at the Frida Kahlo Museum, enjoying one of the 50 attractions at the nearby Xcaret Eco Park or strolling along the 20 blocks of shops and restaurants on pedestrian-only Quinta Avenida, you may agree.
Instead of Tokyo, visit Kyoto
Even without tourists, Tokyo — with its neon signs and ever-punctual trains — is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. That’s why Kyoto, just a few hours away by shinkansen bullet train, is a worthwhile alternative. Much like gazing at Mt. Fuji, modern Kyoto creates the impression of a centuries-old painting come to life. More than 2,000 temples and shrines can be found within its borders, along with transcendent gardens and ancient districts where geishas still walk on thick wooden sandals. Every moment here can be filled with wonder, from standing in awe at the ancient Silver Pavilion or the gold-leaf covered Golden Pavilion to appreciating the famed Zen rock garden at the temple of Ryoan-ji or the towering Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama.
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