The Top 5 ‘off-the-beaten-track’ States in the US

Travel is a very fickle business, because what was a popular vacation spot yesterday may not be in vogue today. However, there are benefits for vacationing in less known state attractions. You will save a good chunk of money, and you will probably have the place pretty much to yourself. In other words, if you want an inexpensive vacation without the crowds then you should consider the following vacation spots to stay in.

From the 1940’s to the 1980’s Fort Lauderdale was the place to go during college spring break. However, during the mid-1980’s the town started cracking down on beachside drinking forcing many students to travel to Cancún, Mexico, and South Padre Island, Texas, instead. Since then, Fort Lauderdale has undergone a major face lift and is filled with 5 star restaurants and hotels. Instead of students, more refined vacationers are now starting to travel there, and the town is now a family friendly beach destination.

Lake Placid, New York, sits in the valleys of the Adirondack Mountains. The 1980 Lake placid Olympic Games became famous when the United States hockey team upset the highly favored Soviet Union hockey team 4 to 3. Yet, eventually the attraction and buzz of the 1980 games faded into memory and Lake placid lost its appeal. Today, the town has not changed much and is still filled with family restaurants, shops and romantic ski lodges. If skiing is your passion you can enjoy an abundance of it here, without the crowds.

Reno, Nevada, saw tremendous economic growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. The legalization of casino gambling in 1931 put Reno on the map. Reno also became popular because you could get a quickie divorce there. However, Reno started to lose its shine as Las Vegas and California Indian casinos became popular. Today, the town has suffered from the current economic downturn; however, efforts are being made to bring Reno back to glory. Today, you can travel to Reno and gamble just like in the good old days.

Approximately 100 miles north of Philadelphia stands a mountainous region known as the Poconos. The region went largely undiscovered until right after World War Two, when young lovers started to make their way to the small and cozy towns. During the 1960’s and 70’s the Poconos became known as the honeymoon capitol of the world, thanks in large part to heart shaped bath tubs which filled most hotels. Despite having their own skiing industry, the Poconos lost favor to larger ski resorts further west.  Today, you can still have a wonderful time skiing, fishing, and boating.

Pismo Beach, California, sits 200 miles north of Los Angeles. During the 1920’s when Prohibition was in full swing, Pismo Beach was a safe haven, and the town’s saloons and brothels became popular. Today, the saloons and brothels are gone and have been replaced with wineries, and new resorts. The town offers a first-rate beach, lush golf courses, surfing, boating, and fishing and makes for a quiet family vacation.

While the listed destinations may have lost some of their popular zeal, they are still worth considering when planning a vacation. These days, vacations are expensive. Yet, these vacation areas will save you money, and having fewer crowds makes them perfect vacation destinations, and they are family friendly.