Best Destinations for Travelers Who Hate People
Best Destinations for Travelers Who Hate People
Travel is about experiencing the culture and the locals. Unless you want to avoid people at all costs.
Not every traveler is outgoing. Not every tourist is an extrovert. For those who like to see the world but are anxious about interacting with others, several domestic destinations will allow them to explore relatively unimpeded.
Here are the top destinations for travelers looking to avoid dealing with large crowds.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
For those looking at a low-profile vacation on the east coast, Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland is a 37-mile-long barrier island known for its beautiful beaches, birdwatching and camping locations.
Whether on the ocean or bay side of the island, the summer season brings many travelers to the beaches—Ocean City a short distance away—but visitors looking for serenity can enjoy hiking trails and witness the estimated 300 wild horses that roam the national park.
Montserrat, Caribbean
Many of the islands in the Caribbean are full of tourists when you arrive, but British Overseas Territory Montserrat offers beautiful turquoise waters and natural landscapes without a high number of visitors.
The island was devastated by catastrophic volcanic eruptions in 1995, and the population has been dramatically reduced as a result. Montserrat is only accessible by flights or ferries from Antigua, but offers water sports and other leisure activities without the crowds once there.
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
While there are many popular places to visit in New Mexico, Santa Rosa offers a throwback feel to a simpler time. As the home to the Route 66 Auto Museum, as well as retro motels, gas stations and diners, it’s the perfect spot to slow down.
Along with the Route 66-inspired locations, Santa Rosa’s bountiful natural lakes make it the “Scuba Diving Capital of the Southwest,” something most visitors to the region don’t expect, but will thoroughly enjoy.
Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania
Nestled deep in the heart of Northeast Pennsylvania, Ricketts Glen State Park offers incredible views, miles of hiking trails and a series of waterfalls unparalleled in the region, all without the massive crowds associated with other national and state parks.
Officials warn that travelers on the seven-mile Falls Trail should be in good physical condition, wear sturdy boots and use caution due to slippery and wet conditions and steep sections. With no admission fee required, a trip to Ricketts Glen is as cheap as it is reclusive.
Sheridan, Wyoming
As the least populated state in the country, Wyoming offers fewer people per square mile, which is excellent news for the traveler getting off the grid. In the daytime, the natural sites and local festivals of Sheridan are something to behold, but the lack of light pollution at night makes it possible to see the Aurora Borealis.
The town is halfway between Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore and a short distance from Montana. With ample off-the-beaten-path attractions throughout the area, a visit to the Wyoming town will give travelers plenty of time alone.
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park is one of the largest parks in the United States, giving travelers plenty of places to visit where there won’t be crowds. Visitors can drive independently through portions of the park, but others are only accessible via boats or walking.
With the perfect combination of unique wildlife and fauna only found in Florida, travelers can enjoy boat tours to view dolphins, airboat rides to areas filled with alligators and manatees and kayaking experiences to remote locations untouched by most tourists.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
The Southwest United States has a plethora of national parks, but the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is a hidden gem that includes one of the world’s largest concentrations of petrified wood, historic structures, archeological sites and fossils.
While other travelers wade through the crowds at the Zion or Grand Teton parks, visitors arrive via historic Route 66 to witness the splendor of vibrant badlands and rolling hills for just $20 per vehicle for a seven-day entry pass.
Pico Island, Portugal
For travelers who love Europe but hate people, Pico Island—part of the Azores—offers no direct flights from Portugal, forcing people to visit Faial and board a connecting flight to the nearby island.
Pico is the home to an impressive wine scene, the country’s highest mountain and spectacular views, all nestled in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Travelers can enjoy the solitude of Gruta das Torres Lava Tunnel, Pico Lakes and the Ponta da Ilha Lighthouse.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania
One of the most secluded places in the world is a prison, and Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is one of the oldest in the United States. The property provides visitors with an mp3 player and headphones that allow them to explore the facility without a guide.
Using the voice of famed actor Steve Buscemi, travelers can walk through the penitentiary complex and listen to the prison’s history via audio tour, eliminating the need to converse with other people at any point in the experience.
Isla Holbox, Mexico
Traveling to the top destinations in Mexico typically includes packed airports and even busier beaches, but there is one island that offers a taste of tranquility in the popular region; Isla Holbox.
With no cars on an island that measures 26 miles long and only one mile wide, the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and the green water of the Gulf of Mexico meet the sandy shores of the island off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Add in buildings bathed in Caribbean colors, and Isla Holbox is the perfect destination for people getting off the grid.