3 Destinations You Never Knew You Were Missing
The world is a beautiful place. It is also a very large place. If you’re an avid traveler like me, you dream of visiting every country, seeing every culture, learning to say hello in every language, filling your kitchen cupboard with unique pottery from each place and adding handmade rugs and throw pillows from different countries to your living space. You crave discovering the unknown and venturing off the beaten path.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE places like Rome, Paris, and Venice. They are stunning cities with so much energy, amazing food, and incredible people. Some of my favorite trips have been to these places! Many of our Mystery Trips have visited these cities and had the time of their life. I will continue to visit them time after time because I love them so much. However, it is easy to get stuck on well-known destinations. There are SO many countries out there to discover, which is why we are going to break down the top 3 destinations you never knew you were missing. Keep reading if you’re ready to venture off the beaten track and open your eyes to the lesser-known!
#3 Piran, Slovenia
Piran, the picturesque town of salt, is a medieval city located on the coast of Slovenia. It is known for its Venetian influence, and is filled with narrow alleys, fresh seafood, to die for olive oil, stunning and therapeutic healing remedies.
If you are so lucky to visit in August, be sure to visit the Salt festival in the town square. Every August, the town celebrates the Saltern Festival, which resembles when the Saltern families would return from the Sečovlje saltpans, a place where they would spend their summers until the final salt harvest.
While you’re at it, you won’t want to leave the town without a day in the healing salt baths, rejuvenating your body after a full week exploring everything Piran has to offer.
Piran is filled with history, delicious cuisine, beautiful architecture, stunning beaches, and friendly locals ready to share their love of quality salt with everyone who passes through.
#2 Tallin, Estonia
We recently had a Mystery Trip travel to Estonia, and let me tell you, all of us who didn’t go were totally jealous! This stunning country is situated in Eastern Europe, bordering the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia. With almost 50% forest, and over 2,000 islands, Estonia brings tourists from everywhere, with the capital city, Tallinn, holding the title of the best preserved medieval city in Europe.
The streets of Tallinn are filled with medieval houses and alleyways, and stunning architecture. It’s easy to lose the day exploring, shopping, and eating your way through Tallinn’s old town.
Feeling like heading out to explore the rest of Estonia and neighboring countries? On the 2,000+ islands, you can find unique coastal cultures with traditional singing, dancing and food. Perhaps you spend a day exploring the forests, stunning nature and wildlife, or even hop a short boat ride over to Finland for the day. The options are endless in Estonia, and we can tell you from experience, this destination is a must.
#1 Ischia, Italy
Of course, Italy is filled with so many stunning cities. Too many to count. But it’s so often that people visit Italy and only see the main, most common cities, like Rome, Milan, and Venice. Ischia, Italy is meant to be the best kept island secret in Europe. Ischia is a volcanic island easily accessed by boat from Naples.
Ischia is full of glorious beaches, charming and quaint villages, natural hot springs, castles, and incredible wine and food. It has everything and more that you’re looking for in a summer getaway. Oh, and did I mention that it was Audrey Hepburns’s holiday vacation spot?
This hidden island gem is affordable, authentic, and less crowded than other popular destinations like Capri or the Amalfi coast. It’s a place where you can truly live the Italian island life.
Venture into the Unknown
While many of us dream of visiting the most common “top” destinations in the world, there is so much beauty in getting off the beaten track and discovering the places lesser known. Breathe in the coastal air, walk the streets of the quaint villages, and eat the local cuisine as you quickly realize why you have been missing these places all along.
And who knows, maybe your next Mystery Trip will take you somewhere you never knew you wanted to go! For those of you dreaming of an off the beaten track vacation, fill out our questionnaire and get ready for the trip of your life!