5 secluded destinations to unplug and unwind in America
1. Mooney Falls (Arizona)
Mike Tidd/Flickr
A traditional visit to the Grand Canyon is done by everyone. If you’re a nature lover, Mooney Falls is the perfect secluded destination. The falls are hidden within the Grand Canyon’s western edge and there rests a Havasupai tribal village. It is the most remote community in the United States. Mail is delivered by mule and that is the only transportation out, except for a helicopter. Mooney Falls is downstream from the village and is a 200-feet drop of beautiful blue-green waters.
2. Wildcat Beach (California)
Alexi Ueltzen/Flickr
If you like hiking, Wildcat Beach is the best destination for you. This secluded beach requires 5.5 mile hike or a 7-mile bike that keeps the average beach visitor from reaching this otherwise inaccessible shorefront. It is a part of the popular Point Reyes National Seashore. If you do make the trek, you will be rewarded with lush vegetation, unrivaled Pacific views and a gorgeous beachside waterfall. The best part is only those who can make the hike will be on the beach. No need to wrangle with other tourists for space.
3. U.S. Route 50 (Nevada)
Ken Lund/Flickr
This road is so remote that tourists were once warned against visiting by the American Automobile Association unless they were “confident of their survival skills.” But Nevada has since embraced U.S. Route 50’s remote reputation to attract tourists and visitors. While somewhat lonely, the road also offers some points of interest, including abandoned mining camps, ghost towns and former nuclear testing sites. The highway follows the old Pony Express route, winding around sand dunes, snowy mountains, and the Great Basin National Park on its eastern edge.
4. Little Diomede Island (Alaska)
NOAA Photo Library/Flickr
Alaska has the lowest population density out of any state in the union, but also offers plenty of beautiful views and wilderness. Little Diomede Island provides one of the best escapes from humanity. This is the smaller of the two Diomede Islands that are separated by the U.S.-Russian border. In the middle of the 50-mile expanse is a community of about 40 people. And if you want to take a peek at the Russian shore, you’ll have your chance.
5. A cruise (To anywhere)
If you want to get away, but aren’t really looking to escape civilization completely, a cruise is the best way to do it. Cruises are notorious for their terrible cell reception and expensive internet prices. You’ll be cut off from your pestering emails, annoying social media notifications and stressful phone calls. But you’ll also be able to meet new people, experience new places and maybe even gamble at sea.
