An Unexpected Pleasure

How many of us are guilty of sticking to the details and the itinerary when it comes to travel. The Clark Griswold in most of us divulges itself every time we venture out to explore the world. We spend countless hours, months before our trip, creating or selecting the perfect route and sites to fulfill our travel desires. My wife and I have traveled the world and learned very quickly that we love to venture out on our own as much as possible when part of a tour group or make an unexpected exit from the interstate on a never before used by us off-ramp while on our own. We have found numerous places we have come to call "unexpected pleasures" these 5 included.

photo courtesy unsplash.com

Lava Hot Springs in Idaho lies just east of Pocatello and is a charming little town with a population of nearly 400 people. Downtown you will find several buildings dating back to the 1800s which are still occupied by various merchants. The big draw is the hot spring pools wherefore a modest price you can use the facility throughout the day soaking in the mineral-laden 100-degree water. The local bar/diner is a bargain although nothing fancy, this pool table filled joint is a great place to refresh, requench, and refill after a day of fun tubing the river through town. Our waitress suggested the locals favorite a huge basket of fried everything: chicken, rings, fries, and mozzarella.

Tomintoul, Scotland is a gem when it comes to quaint Scottish villages. This idyllic hamlet is located in the northern region of the Scottish Highlands. We discovered it en route to Inverness to visit "Nessie" or the Loch Ness monster. Once occupied by 1800 people the town has dwindled to 321 who call it home. Tomintoul has the distinction of being the highest elevated town in the Highlands and is considered the gateway to the infamous Whisky Trail. Famous Scotch whiskey producers such as Glenlivet can be found nearby. We had a huge room at the Gordon Arms Hotel complete with an old stone fireplace. The local pub is also a friendly must visit.

Eze is a majestic medieval-like village that is located on a towering cliff that rises 1400 feet up for the Mediterranean Sea. We found the "eagles nest" on our trek from Nice to Monaco. The site has quite a turbulent past going back to the late 1300s. Things have quieted down quite a bit when in 1860 Eze became a part of France. Eze is a very small fortified town and can be thoroughly explored in 3-4 hours. The beauty and charm of its shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels are without equal. The Chateau Eze is one of the world's most glamorous hotels, Walt Disney frequented it regularly. A stay here along with a 5-star meal at the hotel is on my bucket list.

Chateau Eze dining balcony

Avila Beach in California was literally a jump off the highway and see what's here venture. You can't see it from the highway as it is tucked back a few short miles from the main route. Once in town, you are rewarded with a beautiful little beach village that has a variety of things to do whether your a couple or a family. Avila Beach was reconstructed by Unocal in the 1900s and they did a fabulous job. A great beach, lined with restaurants, markets, merchants, and hotels makes a great place to spend the day which we did the first time, staying 5 nights on our next visit. After chilling on the beach take a bike ride or a hike to the San Luis lighthouse. Book well in advance.

Cesky Krumlov is located in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. We discovered our favorite unexpected pleasure during an overnight stay between Prague and Vienna. Immediately one cannot help but notice the castle which seems enormous for a town of Cesky's size. Bult in the 1300s by order of the Rosenberg family to help promote trade throughout the region. The town is situated on a horseshoe bend along the Vltava River and has become quite popular with kayakers and river rafters. A stroll along the medieval streets will allow one to take in craftsmen, artists, magicians, merchants, and of course, some great Pilsner beers.

The most important thing I learned when traveling is to always keep an open mind. Many of us get locked in while traveling and refuse to bend when it comes to being just a tiny bit flexible. When leading tour groups I always make it a point to let our guide know that I am always open to some detours when it comes to our "on paper" schedule. Sure, I have encountered a few stalemates and found the best solution is to break the group in half, one with the guide and one with me. Recently, on a trip to Scotland, we were able to explore Inverness and discovered a culture that really loved my favorite type of music the swingin' big band sound. A truly unexpected pleasure.