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If you were going to recommend one place for your fellow HumbleDollar readers to visit—a city, a town, a park, a museum, a church, you name it—what would it be and why? No, the place doesn’t have to be outside the U.S. and, no, there are no points for picking something nobody’s ever heard of.
I’ll go first. But contrary to what I just wrote, it is a place outside the U.S. and it’s not well known.
When my maternal grandparents retired in the 1960s, they moved to a hamlet roughly half a mile from England’s Devon coast. On the coast itself is an old fishing and smuggling village called Hope Cove. To my mind, there’s no more beautiful place in the world, with spectacular walks along breathtaking cliffs, lush green fields, and charming country lanes bordered by high hedges teeming with life and often offering wild blackberries. My family has been visiting the area regularly for almost six decades, and my parents for a few years owned a holiday house in Hope.
Today, there isn’t much fishing in Hope Cove, though a few old timers still head out regularly to check their lobster traps. Instead, tourism is the village’s stock in trade and, indeed, most of the homes are second residences. But I can still recall when Hope Cove was less discovered and harkened back to an earlier way of life, with a cast of characters worthy of a 19th century novel. For instance, as a child, I remember meeting Sean, with his thick Irish brogue, who could often be found drinking a pint at the Hope & Anchor. My grandfather told me Sean took work wherever he could find it, and each night would make his bed in some friendly farmer’s hay loft. That, of course, sounds charming, but I imagine it was a hard life and that Sean had mental health issues beyond the grasp of my younger self.
If my health allows, I’d love to get back to Hope Cove one last time. It’s not an easy trip. From London’s Paddington Station, you need to take a train to Totnes, and then get a taxi for the 19-mile drive to Hope. That drive can take close to an hour, with narrow winding roads. A final stretch involves a single-lane road where cars have to pull into passing places to let ongoing traffic get by. More than once, I’ve spent five minutes stuck on that road, while a sea of sheep are driven up the lane to their next grazing spot.
Now, it’s your turn: What place would you suggest to readers—and why?
I’ll add one that recently came to mind. Go to the Skellig Chocolate Factory on the Skellig Ring road on the western edge of the Ring of Kerry. The ride down into the small village is similar to what Jonathan described above. We had to wait for the sheep to meander across the road.
I was going to say Maui but see that others have beaten me to it, so I’ll say something closer to home for me: The Northern California coast, specifically Highway 1 heading north through Sonoma County toward the town of Mendocino. I’d put that stretch of road up against any place in the world for just jaw-dropping beauty.
Oh, P.S.: I’ve only done this once, but it was memorable—the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand. Stunning.
Been to lots of beautiful places but my fav remains close to home….Amish farmland in the fall. Gazing over a field on a crisp, sunny day, crimson maples as a backdrop, with horses and farmers working. It is just a very peaceful and pretty comfortable setting. Reminds me of home.
Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Angels Landing in Zion NP is really quite a site. In early June, on a clear day, I drove into Yellowstone NP from the east on Hwy 14. Once in the park there is a scenic overlook, Lake Butte Overlook, that provides a panoramic view of Lake Yellowstone, and to the southwest, the Grand Tetons. It’s just a spectacular place, so if you drive into the park from Cody, or exit on Hwy 14, you gotta stop there.
Without hesitation the Tintern Abbey part of the Wye River Valley in Wales. Visited it in summer of 2010. Absolutely beautiful.
My suggestion would be the southern coast of Maine. It is beautiful anytime, but especially in the off-season. The rugged coastline is gorgeous, the little towns make for great walking, and then there’s the lobster rolls.
Please make the trip if you can Jonathan. It is hard to choose a favorite, but Lake Louise in Canada was so spectacular when my parents took me as a child, I just had to take my wife, LOUISE! It is so beautiful and peaceful, and glaciers nearby. Lake Louise is a hamlet in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks and overlooked by a stately chateau. Hiking trails wind up to the Lake Agnes Tea House for bird’s-eye views. There’s a canoe dock in summer, and a skating rink on the frozen lake in winter. The Lake Louise Ski Resort features a wildlife interpretive center at the top of a gondola. For us it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth, we choose to visit in summer and loved every minute. I hope you all get to visit one day, to this spectacular location.
Just got back from Banff National Park and Lake Louise. Bonus: Yoho National Park in British Columbia is 30 minutes west of Lake Louise, Jasper National Park is just north of Lake Louise. So you get a 3-fer if you stay in Lake Louise.
The Flint Hills region, including the Konza Prairie in Kansas. If you can go on a windy day with lots of sun and scattered clouds, that’s ideal, because you can pull off at one of the roadside overlooks and watch the interplay of light and shadow on the plains. But there’s a quiet beauty year round, wonderful for slow drives and long walks.
I hope you can spend as much time there is possible!
I find it sad that so many people have special places that are so far removed from their daily life. Bucket list visits will most likely have an insignificant impact on your life.
My favorite place is Engineering Mountain which is an hour drive from my home and I visit it often every year. The peace and serenity of the mountains is awesome.
Jonathan, it sounds like the journey to Hope Cove is part of the draw. Sounds amazing.
My recommendation would be, Jerusalem.
We finally made it to Israel 5 years ago and the tour was awesome. The highlight was visiting Jerusalem for several days. Being immersed in this city where so many religions call their sacred past was a unique experience. Seeing where these sites coexist you can feel the history all around you. Seeing the diversity of tourists and pilgrims who come to visit and pray adds to the emotional reaction most have when visiting.
I happened to be there on the anniversary of my father’s death (34 years earlier) and said the mourners Kaddish prayer at the Western wall (wailing wall) of the temple among strangers I had never met but made me feel like part of a community. Just an amazing moving experience!
Thanks Jonathan – Hope Cove has been added to the list. I agree with many of the locations recommended by others. I’ll throw in one personal one. If you get a chance to tour Kennedy Space Center and witness a launch, take it. I’ve seen 5 launches, they never get old.
I’ve been there but never for a launch. I would love to take my 5 year old grandson someday…we would both love it! We watch videos of space rocket launches all the time together.
Bryce Canyon is surreal … The Ring of Kerry in Ireland also
There is something extra special about the five National Parks in Utah, but Bryce Canyon is so intricate and still majestic.
I will add Monument Valley to the list.
Great topic, one that really highlights the diversity of geographies and cultures we enjoy in the United States. My absolute favorite would be Hawaii, specifically Maui, but Kona (big Island) or Oahu are pretty close. Why? I just fell in love with the non-humid, fresh air, surf and greenery. If you’ve never been, it will take your breath away first time you go. The smell of orchids in the air, the Kona coffee, the fresh fruit and seafood. Best thing is to rent a car and drive your self around – the beaches are obvious for snorkeling and surfing, but the road to Hana in Maui is very much part of the experience. My family and I have been multiple times and even toyed with the idea of retiring there, but realized it can be isolating.
I get another choice. Kapalua beach on Maui!
We are in our timeshare on Ka’anapali Beach as we speak—heading to Kapalua tonight for dinner and sunset. Maui is very special.
I remember one evening when a tour guide took us to a hilltop outside of Custer, South Dakota (near Mount Rushmore). There was minimal light pollution and this afforded us the most spectacular view of the Milky Way I had ever seen (and have not seen again since).
We even observed tiny specs of light gliding across our field of vision—satellites orbiting above the earth.
Never have I felt so small.
You don’t have to explicitly visit Custer to behold such a sight. Any place with minimal light pollution will do. In addition to beautiful places on earth, an unobstructed view of the heavens can also provide a memorable experience.
The night sky is one of the big draws at Joshua Tree National Park. We didn’t stay until dark cause the girls had to get to Palm Springs for their cocktails.
I will admit that I have not travelled much (although I hope to change that now that I have retired from work), but one place I would recommend would be to attend a concert at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA. For those of you who enjoy live music, this has been my favorite place to see a concert. There are great views of the Bay Area, especially once the sun goes down. The anticipation before the main act begins is always a great feeling. The experience is even better if you plan ahead and book a room within walking distance of the theater. My favorite is the Graduate Hotel on Durant Street. Thanks for the question Jonathan.
I have done some traveling in Europe and the U.S., and Chris and I have been to various spots in the Caribbean dozens of times. But I can’t add value beyond the comments below. I do however, have some new destinations for my bucket list. Thanks all.
The hike to Surprise Lake in Grand Teton National Park from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead with my two youngest children about twenty years ago was a trip that brings me great happiness just thinking about.
Crater Lake in Oregon. It is severely underrated. Probably the most beautiful place on Continental U.S. Literally breath-taking views. How it was created and how it continues today is a fascinating story. Clearest water (again literally) in the world due to its unique drainage features.
Honorable mention: Napali coast on island of Kuaui, Hawaii.
It was always my dream to see Crater Lake. Several years ago I was in Oregon on business, but after we rented a car and drove several hours to Crater Lake. It was late August. When we got to the entrance it was closed because of snow, but we were told if we drove to the south entrance we could go up so off we went another hour or more.
At that entrance the ranger said we could go up, but we probably wouldn’t see much because of fog and snow. I was determined so up we went the 7000 or so feet.
When we got to the top it was so foggy and snowing so hard we couldn’t see 100 feet. I know the lake was there in front of us, but we never saw a thing. We left before we were trapped.
That reads like a Greek tragedy. If you get the chance, go again! It does have strange weather, like snow in August. Oddly, we happened to be there in August in one of the hottest days there ever at about 80 degrees, which evidently is very rare there.
Amen to both of those, Ben. Two of our favorite places as well.
I found out while at Crater Lake, that some people would become so captivated by staring at the lake that they would develop a sort of lunacy. They would just sit and stare at the lake all day and lose all sense of themselves.
Hope Cove sounds gorgeous, I hope you make it. That train is on my list too, perhaps at night, but all the way to Penzance for the Scilly Isles. When I’m asked for my favorite place I always say I have too many to pick just one. It’s worse picking for someone else because tastes differ.
If we’re talking scenery it has to be anywhere you can see the Himalayas, but the best view is probably from the sightseeing flight out of Kathmandu that takes you past Everest. Closer to home the views from the California Zephyr through the Rockies are pretty good.
For man-made sights I rate the Roman and Byzantine mosaics, and Greek temples, on Sicily pretty highly. If you don’t want to go that far south in Italy, Ravenna’s Byzantine mosaics are fabulous. The Registan in Samarkand is a close competitor, and getting there is much easier these days.
But if I were making one more trip, to just one place, it would have to be London: there’s just so much to see and do. And if I’m picking one sight in London, given it might be raining, Kew Gardens would lose out to the V&A museum. I cannot imagine being bored in the V&A. And I would definitely savor a scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream (on top) in one of the beautiful tea rooms.
This one’s easy for me. Pistol River State Beach on the wild southern Oregon coast offers the most incredible sunsets I have ever seen anywhere.
This is a vast, windblown beach with massive, otherworldly rocks just offshore. Neap tides pull the ocean back a half mile or more, opening up spectacular flat sand walks around those huge rocks to inspect the humble life attached to them. (When we lived nearby, we’d check the tide tables months ahead for the lowest tide days.) And when the sun is dropping into the ocean between those pointed spires, it’s simply soul-changing.
I discovered Pistol River more than 40 years ago on the first of my many road trips up and down Highways 1 and 101 between Big Sur and the Columbia River. I have visited since with wives, girlfriends, pals, relatives and sometimes just me and a dog. Everybody is enchanted.
Yet somehow it remains undiscovered by the coastal tourists. The parking lots and turnouts are always empty. There’s nothing besides the natural beauty to attract visitors to this stretch of 101 — the closest towns, Gold Beach to the north and Brookings to the south, are probably the two ugliest beach towns on the entire West Coast — so people just floor the gas pedal and sail past this place.
The last line of my obituary reads, “Mike’s ashes have been illegally scattered on his favorite place in the world, Pistol River State Beach in southern Oregon. He invites everyone to come and walk all over him.”
Jonathan – I hope you and your family are able to return to Hope Cove. It sounds magical.
For my part, recent memories are the clearest. Go to Yosemite. Even if all you do is view the sites from the valley floor, the scenery is spectacular. If you can hike at all, you are rewarded with far better views throughout the valley. Internationally, I recommend Granada, Spain, and in particular Alhambra. Take a walking tour and immerse yourself in the grand, long-term history of the place.
for the budget conscious, nothing better than Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite Valley. Many happy memories of the beautiful Merced River reflecting Half Dome and the rest of the valley.
I could name quite a few places, but the one that stands out the most is Charleston, SC. It is a beautiful city with well maintained historic buildings, history, great restaurants, beautiful beaches, and most of all, it still has that distinctive Southern charm. BTW, our daughter lives there, so we have been there many times over the last 25 years.
I managed a project for a Bermuda client in the 80s and was there about 10 times over 3 years. Like Charleston, it is a historic island and is very hospitable to tourists. I ate at many restaurants there, and always had great meals. The beaches are beautiful, great shopping in Hamilton, and everything is so clean.
Others in no particular order are the national parks, especially in the Western US and Canada. The drive between Banff and Jasper, AB has to be the most scenic in North America. We visit the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC often and enjoy its beauty in all seasons, not just the Fall. When we are in NC mountains, we often have lunch at a lake front restaurant in Lake Lure, NC with its tranquil scenery. We love Camden, Maine with its beautiful harbor and the rugged Maine coastline and its light houses. We have been to Santa Fe several times and always enjoyed our visits to this old and historic city.
Acadia National Park. Bicycling the 45 miles of carriage trails built by JD Rockefeller because he was upset that they paved the main roads.
I agree with the sentiment to avoid naming places which could fall prey to the experience-craving hordes. That said, I suggest spending a day and night in the Sonoran Desert. At least a few hours! Could fit others’ suggestions in, like by making a visit to Saguaro National Park (East or West, no crowds in summer). Visit a sky island, too, whether Mount Lemmon or Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains (these two are overcrowded but there are many others.) Get out of the car and walk some. (I have a sticker on my fridge, it says “Hike while you can”.) Sit in a quiet space and reflect on the lives, man and beast, short and long, that have ever shared this spot for a sip of water after rain or a moment of shade from a pitiless sun.
Taking my own advice today, will arrive at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum when it opens at 7:30 am, walk the mile-long desert loop (twice), sit with locals for coffee on the veranda and return home well before noon. Maybe I’ll have a sociable late lunch at the nearest biker bar, a burger and a cool adult beverage before hunkering down through the heat of the afternoon like the creatures with whom I share my back yard. Then a quick walk with the family dog around our 55-plus community before it gets too dark to see and harder to avoid things I’d rather not run into.
My favorite book of the moment is A Field Guide to Desert Holes. I’ll ask a museum docent today what they think might have dug the new big hole under the prickly pear along the dog walk behind my immobile home. (Not that I’ll necessarily know who’s inside today, one digs, another borrows.)
It’s darn easy to “live in the moment” when the moment might include sighting a rattlesnake crossing the road a few yards ahead. (And the punchline is indeed “To get to the other side.”)
When I head north to the big family home
this fall, I’ll walk in wonder about how easy life is along my town’s tree-shaded avenues. And be grateful, while planning a speedy return to the desert.
Glacier National Park
We took our family there a decade ago.
The views were spectacular!
Watching the sunrise climb up the mountains was to me, an amazing once-in-a lifetime experience.
My daughter-in-law agrees. They got married there two years ago. Gorgeous. One caution: crowds. Time your visit or expect traffic jams on going-to-the-sun highway etc.
The Highline trail is probably my favorite place on earth.
I totally agree. That is the last really wild place in the US except for Alaska. We were there once and were truly amazed at its beauty.
I would ask that you hear me out before commencing the eye rolls because the general consensus of these places is playgrounds for the rich. But visit them off season and they are magical. There is a reason they became famous in the first place. All three are islands. The first is Nantucket Island. Go in April or early May or in late September. No crowds. All the Bostonians are back at work or school. Stay at the Boat Basin or get a VRBO within walking distance of Nantucket town. At dusk the ghosts of the old whalers come out and walk the cobblestone streets with you. The Whaling Museum’s is one of my favorite museums in America. The next island is St. Barths French West Indies. It is unlike any other island in the Caribbean. It is as if some god tore off a piece of Nice and plunked it into the Caribbean. Again off season. The food, wine, beaches, sailing are incredible. Finally my favorite. The island of Capri Italy. A short ferry ride from Naples. Again April, May late September or October. Not just for a day trip but to stay. You will quickly get into the rhythm of the place. Hiking up to the ruins of Tiberius’ palace, hiking down to the Faraglioni, eating pasta with seafood, reading on your terrace, walking through gardens. Renting an old fishing boat with its captain to circumnavigate the island and visiting the grottoes. Truly magical. The key to all three: off season, live like a local, spend a few days and not just a day trip.
Agree with you about Capri. I even found a cheap place to sleep. I would also recommend Anacapri: the Villa San Michele (great views) and the Chiesa San Michele (fabulous – all senses of the word – floor). I’m not much into tropical beaches – or any beaches – but I once rested up on island off the Malaysian coast right at the end of the season in an ocean-front cottage and snorkled for the first time – Perhentian Besar.
I felt the same about Cape Cod in the winter, when the tourists are gone and you’re lucky to find an open restaurant at dinnertime. The wild beauty of the beaches is more than worth the icy wind.
Local (ie New Englander) tip. If you want to go to the beach in Nantucket as mentioned above go after Labor Day as the ocean temperature is about as high as it will get (at the most, if your lucky 60 degrees). In May it will be in the low 50s at most, but probably still in the upper 40s.
For me, the “Grand Canyon of PA”, located on the Tioga-Potter county line is the prettiest little slice of heaven (with none of the crowds found at the “other” Grand Canyon). Serenity, nice people, small hamlets and some great fishing are to be had. Link (which includes a video of the canyon): https://www.visitpottertioga.com/activities/pennsylvania-grand-canyon
2nd. That was on my bucket list for 20 years. Finally hiked it (30 miles, 3 days) with my son a month ago. Great area. Views. Biking. Penn-Wells hotel in Wellsboro an interesting renovated hotel
If you haven’t been there, or even if you have, I suggest New Orleans. The history, the architecture, the food, the fun and much more are unique among all American cities. And it’s probably the most European city in the country. I lived there for 14 years and still very much miss it. I go there whenever I can.
We lived in Maryland for many years and I was always happy to take our family and friends to see the many places to visit. From the great memorials, to the Smithsonian and other museums, to our government buildings, it was all so wonderful and never got old. The changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery was always so moving. Chris
You forgot Annapolis, very quaint, and the best crab cakes I ever have eaten at the Boatyard Bar and Grill.
I won’t of course put the very best places in the world on the internet for the instagramming hordes to ruin 😉
But one place I’ve been in North America that has always remained with me is a little lake accessed by hiking from Moraine Lake near Lake Louise, AB. I think from looking at a map it’s called Lake Minnestimma (might have had a non First Nations name when I first hiked it). Just a little simple alpine lake among the towering peaks of the Rockies. No cost no fanciness, just pack a lunch and hike there, but sufficient of an effort that the great tour bus crowds don’t get there.
A mighty tough question. I could make a long list, but in the end it would be our national parks – Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or any of the others. They are magnificent because they are largely untouched by people.
I didn’t mind being stuck in traffic while a herd of buffalo crossed the road or getting my feet wet from Old Faithful or just staring at the magnificent views at many places across our country.
I suspect some readers would have guessed I would write about Cape Cod where I am at the moment and where I like to be, but the Cape is rapidly being destroyed by constant development with every previous open space being built on. What made Cape Cod special is destroying it.
I don’t know where you are located on the Cape, but I grew up going to my grandfather’s real cottage (at best 20×30) on a dirt road in Eastham. It’s still the same size, but a rental now. I’ve always felt your not on the cape until you get to Orleans, especially past the rotary.
Thanks to the National Seashore.
Chatham
Gotta move on further down the road then 😂
What a wonderful and difficult question Jonathan. So many thoughts swirl around my head but I’m going to go with Eremo Delle Carceri, the prison hermitage where St. Francis of Assisi would go to meditate, pray and get away from the hustle and bustle of the town he’s known for. I visited the hermitage once on a pilgrimage I took in 2012 to get to know St. Francis, St. Claire and Steve Jobs more deeply. (It’s a long story!). The hermitage is a 45-90 minute hike from Assisi, which is part of its appeal. When I visited the grotto where Francis stayed and the chapel where he and his brothers would mediate and pray I was deeply moved and imagined life 700+ years ago. As I sat in silence, in awe and gently cried, the sense of peace and spirit were overwhelming. I hope I get to return one day but one of the joys of an exercise like this is that we remember that we can go back to the place… at least in our minds time and time again. Thank you for the memories and for the reminder.
That’s lovely, Don. In 2018 my touring choir performed in the Basilica of St. Francis. Assisi was joyously magical, and most of the Catholics in the choir (I’m not) found it a profoundly uplifting experience.
Thanks Mike. What a wonderful experience. I’m not Catholic either but Francis’ life story, and the fact I was born & raised in San Francisco, made him impossible to ignore.
The most difficult part of this exercise is picking just one place out of many worthy candidates. I’ll give it go, though. My wife and I spent four days in Old Quebec City several years ago. Our accommodations were in an upscale hotel that had been a monastery. It was a fascinating place to stay and very centrally located. In a nod to the history of the building, the simple but delicious self-serve breakfasts were to be enjoyed in complete silence-no talking at all. The guests really did abide by this rule, and there was something refreshing about that. Prior to our trip, I read some things online that indicated folks from Quebec could be prickly to those who could not speak French. We found that was not the case at all; the people were invariably friendly and we didn’t have a single unpleasant interaction. In addition to the European feel of the city, which my wife really enjoyed, the eating options in Old Quebec are simply amazing. There were probably two hundred restaurants within walking distance of Monastere des Augustines. Every meal we had was incredible and memorable.
Spend time outside in nature. There are amazing things everywhere you look. It clears your mind. You meet people.
Last night I hiked five miles into an Appalachian trail shelter mostly for the exercise, 5 miles out after breakfast.
Im currently waiting for the sun to rise. An owl just started hooting. They do that near sunrise. The rhythm of life. I I ate my first wild pawpaw on the way in.
Enjoy what’s all all around you.
Some the beauty I’ve run across
https://outdoorfoo.wordpress.com/
Wow!
What a wonderful website.
Thanks for sharing!