Go Here, Not There
To help travellers chart their travel course, the experts at Cheapflights.ca have gone on the hunt for alternatives to popular sites that may make some reconsider their bucket lists.
Cheapflights.ca’s list of “Go here, not there: 10 alternative destinations” encourages travellers to discover some hidden gems they may not know about.
The following are five recommended alternatives to top attractions.
!!! Avebury, England, instead of Stonehenge, England. In Wiltshire, England, Avebury is home to the largest stone circle in Europe and is an important site for modern Pagan and New Age worship. Built around 2600 BC, the massive monument circles the town, crossing roads and farmland. The place has a strange, magical feel to it and attracts spiritual visitors and tourists alike. Unlike Stonehenge, you can actually get right up next to, and touch, the stones.
!!! Burano, Italy, instead of Venice, Italy. Part of Venetian lagoon, the island of Burano is like a miniature, colourful version of Venice and just a 40-minute water taxi ride from Venice proper. The brightly painted houses, boat-lined watery streets and bridges are a photographer’s and artist’s dream and, compared to Venice and the nearby island of Murano (famous for the glass), you’ll find it much less overrun with tourists. It even has its very own “leaning tower” — the bell tower of the 15th century San Martino Church.
!!! Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, instead of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Known to many as the home of land-speed racing, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah are a mesmerizing natural wonder. The Salt Flats are a massive 30,000-acre wide open space on the edge of Utah’s Great Salt Lake basin and are largely made up of the same salt you put on your dinner table. Though Bonneville is dwarfed by the massive Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia in size, it is equal in beauty. Plus, as an added bonus, you could always time your trip to coincide with the racing and head to the Bonneville Speedway.
!!! Waimea Canyon, Hawaii, instead of the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Waimea Canyon is the Pacific’s very own Grand Canyon on the Hawaiian Island of Kauaʻi. At 23 km long, 1.5 km wide and more than 1,000 metres deep, the canyon was formed by a combination of the usual erosion and the collapse of a volcano. Clouds can sometimes interrupt the view, but if you visit on a sunny day the sight is spectacular. Though smaller and younger than the Grand Canyon, it’s a lot closer to the beach.
!!! The Golden Mile, British Columbia, instead of Napa Valley, California. With 25 vineyards right on their doorstep, the 4,000 people of Oliver in British Columbia, should be a happy bunch. Sitting in the only desert area of Canada about 25 km north of the US, Oliver is at the heart of BC’s South Okanagan wine region. The Golden Mile (well, more like 12 miles or 20 km) is perfectly suited for producing Merlot, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Cabernet Sauvignon. Notable vineyards include Burrowing Owl Winery, Gehringer Brothers, Blasted Church and Nk’Mip Cellars — North America’s first Aboriginal-owned and operated winery. Aside from vineyards, the region’s mild climate makes it just right for outdoor activities and growing crops of cherries, peaches, apple trees, tomatoes, pumpkins and peppers.
Rounding out our list of cool alternatives to popular destinations are: Korčula, Croatia, instead of Dubrovnik, Croatia; Mývatn Nature Baths, Iceland, instead of the Blue Lagoon, Iceland; Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, instead of Prague, Czech Republic; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, instead of Istanbul, Turkey; and Bagan, Myanmar, instead of Angkor Wat, Cambodia. To read more about these spots, visit http://www.cheapflights.ca/travel/go-here-not-there-10-alternative-destinations .
