Secret Bay

"With crystal-clear Caribbean views from its six modern tree-house-style love nests, Secret Bay Hotel – set on a lush hillside in rugged Dominica – is an unspoiled island secret that’s almost too good to share. Here, your days are spent lounging in a hammock in the private garden, swimming in caves and strolling the beach by moonlight… As if the setting alone isn't romance-inspiring enough, Villa guests can arrange for a private jazz performance on their terrace for a sexy serenade beneath the stars. Blanketed in lush jungle and diverse flora, marked by volcanic peaks and lava craters – including the second-largest thermally active lake in the world – and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, Dominica is a nature-lover's paradise. In fact, it’s known as ‘The Nature Island,’ making it a prime destination for hikers, birders, paddlers, and divers. Glide along the Indian River in a traditional Caribe boat like a true islander, or plunge into the colorful depths for some of the world's most pristine scuba diving. The concierge will arrange trips with local guides for every outdoor pursuit from horseback riding to remote hiking on the over 300 miles of trails, and from deep-sea fishing to sailing excursions." [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Secret Bay

Address: Ross Blvd., Portsmouth, Dominica

 

Sources: Hidden Beaches for Bookworms

Otres Beach

"It sounds "too good to be true", right? No big resorts... miles of remote beaches... turquoise water... no crowds. The coastline of Cambodia is truly a tropical paradise! There are signs that things are changing, but today Otres Beach, just outside the Cambodian town of Sihanoukville, is untouched by commercial tourism. The beaches are empty and clean. Decent marijuana can be purchased legally (although the law is gray in this area as it is only legal to consume and NOT smoke!) at a number of hip bungalow bars set up along the beach. Drinks are cheap and very easy to come by, and your toes never have to leave the sand. Everything is rustic here, but there is a lot of charm in the dozen establishments along this remote stretch of beach on the Gulf of Thailand. The roads are still dirt. It's off the beaten path. Air-conditioning is pretty much nonexistent here, and even electricity is hit or miss. Some describe the vibe here like Thailand 20 years ago before tourism was that country's biggest industry. It's what all of us beachcombers are looking for, and I found it at Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia!" [AFAR]

Beach

Address: Sangkat 4, Mittakpheap, Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

 

Sources: Hidden Beaches for Bookworms

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

"Many know the story of Lewis and Clark but are unaware that the tale involved so much more than these two pioneers. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which stretches across the north-central and northwestern part of the country toward the Pacific Ocean, beckons visitors to walk the path of many women and men alike, including servicemen, scientists, and Native Americans. The trail can be followed by car, bicycle, or boat, as many roads parallel the route and are marked accordingly." [Travel+Leisure]

National Park

Website: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Address: County Road 37, Stanton, ND 58571

 

Sources: Best National Park in Every State

Levante Brewing

"Meaning "to rise up" in Italian—referring to the sun rise—Levante comes from brewers with a Mediterranean heritage themselves. Founders Eric Santostefano and Tim Floros currently brew on a fifteen-barrel system—small, even by craft brewery standards. Inspired by the old world of brewing, Levante has a Belgian Trappist-inspired series, a German kölsch called Kolibri, and Bohemian-style pilsners like Birra Di Levante. They also make more modern, Americanized beers like Cloudy and Cumbersome, an IPA, and Going Guava!, a milkshake-style hop bomb. Their taproom is open Thursday through Sunday, with a different food truck on site each night." [foodandwine.com]

Brewery

Website: Levante Brewing

Address: 208 Carter Dr Suite 2, West Chester, PA 19382

 

Sources: Best Breweries in Pennsylvania

Al Brindisi

"This is considered by Guinness World Records to be the oldest enoteca in the world, believed to have been built in 1435. For a restaurant with a remarkable history and that can show off astronomer Copernicus, Titian, and Benvenuto Cellini as clients, the location is modest in its décor — bare wooden tables, dusty wine bottles and bench seating.

To be in good Renaissance company, drink a fine Port wine or sample the authentic Ferrarese fare, be sure to stop by this wine bar located just southeast of the Duomo." [VinePair]

Restaurant / Wine Bar

Website: Al Brindisi

Address: Via Adelardi, 11, 44100 Ferrara FE, Italy

 

Sources: World's Oldest Wine Bars 

Point of Sand Beach

"While the Cayman Islands may have tons of activities and beaches perfect for families and small children, there is one off-the-beaten-path beach on Little Cayman that is extremely romantic and secluded. Point of Sand, located on the eastern tip, is also known as Lover’s Beach as it is a fantastic, uncrowded place to unwind with a loved one. Bring a blanket and a bottle of wine and slowly let the light of the moon set the mood. The beach then becomes the perfect vantage point for stargazing, as hundreds of stars become visible thanks to the remote nature and lack of light on Little Cayman." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Point of Sand Beach

Address: Point of Sand, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands

 

Sources: Hidden Beaches for Bookworms

Pagudpud Beach

"Travel on the large island of Luzon, in the Philippines, can be rough, to say the least, due to traffic-congested roads and roadblocks, but if you can make your way to the farthest point north on the Philippine Archipelago you will be rewarded by a true paradise called Pagudpud Beach! The sand is white like sugar and the water crystal clear. The bay is filled with a plethora of wildlife and sea creatures, and the calm waters are perfect for snorkeling right from the sandy beach. Although Pagudpud is a well-known tourist destination, I have never seen the beaches packed with tourists (my family is from a nearby village called Bacarra) and it isn't hard to find a long stretch of beach to have all to yourself. The beaches here are truly remote. Spend the entire day snorkeling and eating fresh fruit and seafood that can easily be purchased roadside. I recommend staying for the sunsets, which are magnificent over the China Sea." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Pagudpud Beach

Address: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

 

Sources: Hidden Beaches for Bookworms

Cabo San Juan de Guia

"After climbing and hiking in the Colombian jungle for over 10 hours, I began to have second thoughts on my Parque Tyrona adventure. But the feeling quickly dissolved as I descended the final set of boulders. As the forest trees began to grow thin, replaced by palm trees, the view cleared, and this is what I saw: the most perfect, serene, and lovely isolated paradise I've come across in my life thus far. There's a campground (tents only), a lovely restaurant that serves up fresh blended mango, pineapple and papaya juice, as well as food to reenergize after a long hike. I could have stayed here for a week, at least." [AFAR]

Beach

Address: Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia

 

Sources: Hidden Beaches for Bookworms

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

"When we sing about America’s “amber waves of grain” and “beautiful for spacious skies,” we’re probably conjuring images of this swath of Kansas. A relatively new acquisition for the National Park Service, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is still under development and becoming more and more accessible to visitors. Currently, five hiking trails exist, allowing people to explore the remaining 4 percent of the original 170 million acres of prairie that once covered North America: and the few remaining bison. From the center of this impossibly quite, wide-open space, you’ll have a sense of the original America." [Travel+Leisure]

Nature Preserve / National Park

Website: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Address: 2480B Kansas 177, Strong City, KS 66869

 

Sources: Best National Park in Every State