There are times when we are traveling when we want to stay on the beaten path, and times when we want to get off the trail. I often find interesting local restaurants off the beaten path, there are times when I want the Michelin starred restaurant, and times I want the place the locals go everyday. At times I set the GPS to take me on the back roads only. I live just of US highway 1, this road runs from Maine to Key West. When it was built, it was the beaten track, the main road, any more it is off the beaten track. Lots of local towns and traffic, but no longer the main road. Some of the most amazing adventures have been on back roads, away from the main trail.
Off the beaten path is often far more intresting. It's why I opt for secondary towns and villages over a big city. For example Paris. The little towns will give far more true French feeling, exposure and culture then being in the city itself, where a horse and pony show goes on the impress the tourist. Friends of mine said the people were far more friendly towards Americans then in Paris itself.
ReplyDeleteThe fallacy of the guided tours of anyplace, you see the edited version for the tourists, Paris is a wonderful city, but the French countryside, the small villages are France. Kind of like, New York is not typical of the United State, it is an amazing city, but it does not show the real country
DeleteOff the beaten path is my preference... even in cities.
ReplyDeleteA couple of blocks away, where the real people live.
DeleteVery true! There's some fascinating stuff off the beaten path!
ReplyDeleteTake the road less traveled.
DeleteI love traveling back roads!
ReplyDeleteI wonder about just driving around the big country some day
DeleteSomeone and I are opposites in this philosophy: he wants the stay on the familiar paths (food, places, etc.) and I want the 'new and adventuresome' option.
ReplyDeleteIceland one day?
Deletewhen we travelled to a big city, we ate where the locals ate (read: not a chain).
ReplyDeleteI always try to
DeleteThese days, as long as off the beaten trail doesn't lead to a beating, I'm in! Or as Balder Half once asked while visiting a friend in West Virginia, "Are these hanging trees?"
ReplyDeleteMy humor is a little darker than usual today.
Always stay safe,
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