Unearthing Travel Treasures: Hidden Gems Shared by Travelers
Embark on a journey to uncover the world’s best-kept travel secrets, from hidden lemon groves on the Amalfi Coast to serene waterfalls in Spain. This article reveals lesser-known destinations and experiences, curated with insights from seasoned travelers and local experts. Discover how to transform your next adventure by exploring off-the-beaten-path locations and connecting with local communities.
- Discover Hidden Lemon Grove on Amalfi Coast
- Uncover Ski Treasures in Italy’s Aosta Valley
- Explore Lund Coastal Village’s Untouched Beauty
- Unveil Monastery of Piedra’s Serene Waterfalls
- Seek Unusual Attractions Through Online Research
- Connect with Locals to Find Secret Spots
- Rural Vermont’s Artisan Cooperative Transforms Community
Discover Hidden Lemon Grove on Amalfi Coast
Last fall, as I was preparing a custom villa retreat along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, I discovered a centuries-old lemon grove hidden in a steep ravine outside the town of Maiori. It started over breakfast with the villa’s caretaker, whose family had been cultivating Amalfi lemons for generations but rarely invited outsiders inside their weathered gates. Curious, I requested to visit in the morning before the group arrived, and I was escorted through a series of sun-dappled terraces to a cool, shaded courtyard where the air filled with the scent of citrus blossoms and the sea reflected the filtered foliage.
What made this secret grove more interesting wasn’t just the amazing location, but the tale behind all the fruit. We plucked lemons warm from the sun, saw the caretaker crush them into a fragrant cordial, then returned to the villa, where that same juice was used in a private cooking demonstration with a regional chef. Guests would shift from gaping at postcard-perfect vistas to squeezing their own lemons, mastering age-old recipes transmitted down generations of families and sampling aperitivos that embodied the spirit of the Amalfi Coast itself.
This revelation turned a lavish stay into a shared, cultural experience where even the smallest of details, including room decor and cuisine, have been taken to a new level. By focusing on authentic relationships and enabling local experts to tell their stories, I help each traveler to experience more than just a pretty scene—they take part in narratives that last long after they all return home.
Kristina Bronitsky
Director of Consumer Marketing, RedAwning
Uncover Ski Treasures in Italy’s Aosta Valley
As a keen skier in Europe, the chances are you’ll normally head towards the big, well-known resorts in France. These resorts offer extensive skiing and extensive pistes, but unfortunately, they also come with crowds. While this doesn’t make them undesirable, everyone seeks ski areas that are unspoiled and off the beaten track. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to head to an obscure country, as many secluded destinations are hiding in plain sight.
Many years ago, while skiing in Chamonix, someone suggested heading through the Mont Blanc tunnel into Italy’s Aosta Valley. Having never been before, there was nothing stopping me, so I drove the 12km through the tunnel and shortly arrived in Courmayeur – what a resort! The views of Mont Blanc were indescribably amazing, and the skiing itself was perfect. There was barely a queue, a modern lift system, and quiet pistes. I couldn’t believe the stark difference after traveling just a few miles.
Encouraged by what I’d found, I returned the following year. This time, I went beyond Courmayeur, working my way down the Valley in the direction of Turin, stopping at every ski resort I passed: La Thuile, Pila, Gressoney, and Cervinia. None of them disappointed. I was taken aback by how a region could offer so many ski resorts of such quality that didn’t seem to be attracting skiers in huge numbers.
The Aosta Valley isn’t a hidden gem; it’s more of a hidden treasure chest full of gems.
Robert McIntosh
Managing Director, Interski
Explore Lund Coastal Village’s Untouched Beauty
I stumbled upon Lund while exploring British Columbia. It’s a tiny coastal village at the end of Highway 101, also known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. I hadn’t planned to go there at all—it was mentioned in a casual conversation with a couple at a cafe in Powell River who called it “the beginning of the end of the road.”
I followed their advice and drove up the winding coastal road. When I arrived, Lund felt like a secret carved out of the forest. There was a quiet harbour with fishing boats floating gently, an old hotel, and a bakery that made the best blackberry cinnamon buns I’ve ever had. What made it so special wasn’t the beauty—it was the sense of isolation, like the rest of the world had stopped.
I took a short water taxi to Savary Island nearby, and the white sand beaches looked like the Caribbean, only without the crowds. The water was warm enough to swim, and the views of the Coastal Mountains in the distance were stunning.
What stuck with me was how unpretentious it all was—no big resorts, no glossy marketing—just raw natural beauty and nice people. Lund reminded me that some of the best travel experiences happen when you go off the beaten path and let curiosity lead the way.
Sovic Chakrabarti
Director, Icy Tales
Unveil Monastery of Piedra’s Serene Waterfalls
While traveling in Spain, I stumbled upon a hidden gem called the Monastery of Piedra, tucked away in a small town near Zaragoza. I discovered it through a local guidebook, which had just a brief mention of the place. Curious, I decided to visit, and I was blown away by its beauty. The monastery is surrounded by a lush, serene park with stunning waterfalls, which most tourists don’t know about because it’s off the typical tourist route. What made it so special was how peaceful and untouched it felt—there were hardly any other visitors. Walking through the forest paths, hearing the waterfalls, and exploring the centuries-old monastery gave me a rare sense of solitude and connection to history. It was an unexpected find, and it ended up being one of my favorite experiences from that trip.
Nikita Sherbina
Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
Seek Unusual Attractions Through Online Research
I am what most people might call eclectic. So, finding weird or off-the-beaten-path things while traveling is literally my whole travel plan. Some of the coolest places I have found doing this are the abandoned smallpox hospital in NYC, the hungry tree in Dublin, and the insectarium in Montreal. My process for finding any of the niche places that make my travel lists all starts with turning to our Lord and Savior, Google. Specifically, the search phrase ‘weird things to do in [insert city]’. From there, I scour through Reddit posts, articles, wherever the rabbit hole takes me. Like any research, you should always cross-reference and find additional sources. An untapped and underutilized travel research bank I use to accomplish this is Pinterest. Yeah, that’s right, Pinterest. There is an entire world on there other than recipes and DIY projects. Searching for travel information or ideas on Pinterest can be somewhat precarious, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never travel anywhere without researching it on Pinterest first. What makes the places I have found and visited so special is that feeling of knowing something others don’t, and most of the time, there is also not a crowd because it’s not your typical tourist attraction, so it reaffirms that ‘special’ feeling.
Katie Thomas
Operations Assistant, Argon Agency
Connect with Locals to Find Secret Spots
Whenever I travel, I try to get to know people who live there or are also traveling there. I strike up conversations with people at restaurants, art exhibits, resorts, or really anywhere I go. It’s one of my favorite aspects of traveling – getting to know people you otherwise would never meet. Learning about hidden gem spots to check out is just an added bonus. I learned about a hidden beach once, for example, and it was the most beautiful, serene spot. Not a single tourist was there except for me, and I had an excellent time.
Steve Schwab
CEO, Casago
Rural Vermont’s Artisan Cooperative Transforms Community
While researching community development projects in rural Vermont, I stumbled upon a tiny nonprofit-run artisan cooperative tucked behind a weathered barn. Local residents had quietly transformed abandoned farm buildings into studios where they taught traditional crafts to at-risk youth, funded entirely through grassroots efforts and small foundation grants. What made it extraordinary wasn’t just the beautiful handwoven textiles and pottery, but witnessing how strategic grant writing had sustained this hidden gem for over a decade. The founders understood that compelling storytelling about community impact attracts funders who value authentic, measurable outcomes over flashy presentations. Their success reminded me that the most powerful projects often emerge from genuine need rather than trendy initiatives, much like how effective grant proposals focus on real solutions rather than buzzwords. That’s how impactful grants fuel mission success.
Ydette Macaraeg
Part-Time Marketing Coordinator, ERI Grants
