It's easy to tire of the road most traveled: it's crowded, frenetic and -- oftentimes -- less interesting than off-the-beaten-path destinations. Whether you head to a serene, clear-as-glass lake, set out on an epic hike, or haul it up a mountain, exploring beyond-the-norm spots promises fabulous water cooler stories post-visit.
Here are a few spots that deserve props (and the time and effort it takes to reach them).
What: Hadrian's Wall, England
Website: www.hadrians-wall.org
Commissioned by emperor Hadrian in 122 AD, this UNESCO World Heritage Site in picturesque North England is a military fortification marking the northernmost portion of the Roman Britain Empire. Much of the remaining stone and turf block structure remains intact, spanning 73 modern miles through rural, sheep-dotted moorland, and it can be walked on foot or taken in by bicycle or bus. From the gateways to the milecastles, turrets, forts and garrisons, great use of local materials was made during the construction of the wall, which traverses from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. Consequently, inscriptions on cobbled stone detail the location of quarries where stone was sourced. Along the way, museums chronicle Roman life and remnants of residences -- including a bath-house and latrines -- allow visitors to peer into past private lives. One must-stop along the way is Housesteads, a well-preserved Roman fort (the most complete of its kind in Britain), complete with ruins perched on a breathtaking ridge.
What: The Königssee, Germany
Website: www.koenigssee.com
Located on Bavaria's southeast tip near Berchtesgaden in Schönau am Königsee, at 188 meters this is the deepest lake in Germany. Ringed by jagged, steep alpine peaks, its waters are shockingly clean, crystal-clear and incomparably shimmery. Proving more than a pretty face, however, Königssee is situated in the National Park Berchtesgaden. So, fishing opportunities abound, and hiking trails, the option to cruise on electric boats, and sights like St. Bartholomew church -- a one-time hunting lodge for Bavarian kings -- make day-tripping a worthwhile affair. While there, thrill-seekers should check out the bobsled and luge track, a heart-thumping, 120-kilometer-per-hour ride aboard a racebob-taxi.
What: The Citadelle La Ferriere, Haiti
Websites: Photos on Flickr.com; Wikipedia.com entry
Built by ruler Henri Christophe following Haiti's independence from France in the early 19th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site resides in the National History Park near Cap-Haïtien. Notably the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere, the imposing, angular stone structure -- perched high on a mountaintop with dizzying landscape views -- is surrounded by hundreds of cannons and countless cannonballs. (Just be sure to rent a horse to guide you up the impossibly steep ascent.) Offering views of the Atlantic Ocean and, on clear days, Cuba to the west, it's also home to the Palace of Sans Souci and the buildings at Ramiers.
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