Epic travel is all about maximizing novelty. We wanted to find a list of destinations that break the mold and provide a brand new experience for our readers. In this post, we’ll outline some of the most significant travel destinations this country has to offer. Hopefully, we’ll help get your gears turning on your next big adventure. Let’s dive in.
7. Campus No. 805
If you’re not into having fun, stay away from Campus 805 in Huntsville, Alabama. This is a place where your inner delinquent can come out and play. The building is a brick middle school built in the 50’s that was in operation until 2009.
After that, the building was purchased and turned into a campus full of craft breweries, pinball arcades, pool tables, ax throwing, and even a hidden speakeasy that the staff stays surprisingly tight-lipped on the whereabouts of. There’s just nothing quite like wandering through halls of lockers with a slight buzz and an intent to chuck axes at stuff. Worth checking out if you’re in the area.
6. Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Narrow Gauge railroad in Durango, Colorado is 45 miles of unbeatable beauty. Spend an entire day, meandering through the jaw-dropping beauty that is the San Juan mountain range in southwestern Colorado.
The train will take you from Durango, up to the sleepy mining camp of Silverton, Colorado. There, you can grab a beer and some food, or wander around the untouched historic town. We recommend checking out the cemetery, it is extremely unique and not at all lacking in the creepy department. Time this right and you can see the abundance of aspen trees in the area turn from green to a vibrant gold in the fall. Truly a sight to behold.
If trains are your thing, then few train rides get more epic than the California Zephyr. This historic railway has been servicing the 2,438 miles between San Francisco and Chicago since 1949. The incredible ride heads west from Chicago and starts slow, then highlights some of the country’s widest varieties in terrain.
From Chicago to Denver, passengers enjoy a meditatively endless supply of corn and soy farms. However, once the train passes through Denver, things begin to change. The train lumbers up the Rocky Mountains, over the Continental Divide, through the Book Cliffs of Utah, and into the California Central Valley. A trip on the Zephyr is not an experience you will soon forget.
4. Heceta Head Lighthouse
A visit to the Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon coast is like a visit to another point in time. At the time of its construction, a couple of large houses and barns were constructed to house the families that kept the lighthouse shining.
Today, the building that remains operates as a bed and breakfast. Surrounding the compound is scenery that is difficult to match regarding beauty. Mountainous forests run straight into the Pacific Ocean, with wildlife and untouched wilderness abound. If you’re looking for a secluded getaway for a reset in life, Heceta Head is the place to be.
3. Deception Pass, Washington
Deception Pass is a place that feels charged with some ancient magic. The area has been home to multiple native tribes for thousands of years, creating a foundation of mystery for the site’s history. When it was first discovered in 1792 by George Vancouver, he named the pass “Deception Pass” due to the complicated nature of the pass and surrounding terrain. Later, the pass was used as a staging ground for the trafficking of Chinese migrant workers. The area’s stunning beauty contrasts heavily with its tragic past, making it feel like a coastal dreamscape.
2. Pacific Coast Highway 1
The California State Route 1 is the only way to see the Golden Coast. As in, the entire Golden Coast… all of it. The highway runs almost 700 miles from South of L.A. to Mendocino County, in the northern part of the state. Along this drive, you’ll pass through Los Angeles, Big Sur, The Golden Gate Bridge, and even the Redwood Forest. There are few places more scenic than the California coast, and this national treasure of a highway will show you the entire thing.
If you like the coast, you might also want to try fishing in Alaska. One good example is the halibut charters in Seward Alaska. The state is home to some of the best fishing charter options around, and home to some of the biggest fish, to. Halibut are a perfect example of this. In 2013, the world record Halibut was caught and weighed in at 515 pounds. The fish itself was 8.6 feet long. Can you imagine telling all of your friends back home about catching a fish even half that size?
1. Colorado Rockies RV Tour
Epic travel is all about maximizing novelty. That’s why an RV tour through the Colorado Rockies takes the top of the list this year. After you fly into Denver International Airport, swing by the best, locally-owned Colorado RV Dealer and pick up your rental rig. From here, head west into the great expanse that is the Colorado Rocky Mountains. You can head up I-70 and check out some of the historic mining towns along the way including Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Keep heading west, and you’ll strike hot-spring gold in the area around Glenwood Springs.
For a diamond in the rough getaway, stop by Avalanche Ranch in Redstone, Colorado and soak up the hot mineral water under a brightly-lit milky way at night. If you head south to the San Juans you can finish the trip in a big loop by heading back to Denver along Highway 285. With fishing, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, horseback riding and more along the way, a Colorado RV trip is an experience that is truly epic.
We hope this list helped you spot your next fantastic getaway. When it comes to travel, it’s always best to think outside the box. Visit new, unfamiliar places and get out of your comfort zone. It’s only here that unforgettable experiences are made.
Kyle Rutten
About the Guest Author Kyle Rutten is a Georgetown, CO local. He enjoys discovering new hiking trails, spotting wild life and venturing around the small mountain towns that Colorado has to offer. Kyle creates content for B&B RV, a locally-owned Colorado RV Dealer.
