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While many places get flashy publicity and social media likes, I’ve discovered that under-the-radar destinations often offer surprising and super-fun benefits. As a woman in my sixth decade, I’m aiming to see more of the less-discovered and alluring parts of our country.
Here are a few favorites:
Bald Head Island, North Carolina, offers ample beaches to stroll, diverse ecosystems to explore and multiple adventures to try. Taking the ferry to the island breezes you into a vacation mindset. Rent a golf cart to wind around miles of car-free paths. It’s an ideal destination for anyone who enjoys biking or rollerblading. One year, we took our kids and witnessed unforgettable baby loggerhead turtle hatches after dark in late August. We also kayaked through thriving tidal salt marshes, spotting great egrets and white ibis. Any bird lover — expert or newbie — will find plenty to spot with their binoculars.
The island is edged in sandy beaches, so load your umbrella, a cooler and a good book onto your golf cart and pick a different perch daily. The nonprofit Bald Head Island Conservancy researches coastal creatures and offers guided programs, including turtle nest walks in season (for members, starting at $125), as well as guided birding and kayaking excursions and wildlife tours that cover the maritime forest, salt marsh and beaches. All perfect for older women who have time to immerse themselves in nature’s wonders.
Telluride, Colorado, is — hands down — one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been in both summer and fall. This former mining town, nestled in a box canyon, is charming and lively. The best way to experience the spectacular 360-degree views is on the free gondola, which ascends to 10,500 feet. Up top, find amazing views and a vista from which to watch the sunset or stargaze, just yards away from the gondola station. Mountain Village, a later development, has beautiful resorts (think spa!), along with many shops and restaurants.
Telluride is festival central with celebrations ranging from the lauded Telluride Film Fest to plein air painting and yoga fests to shroom fests (both kinds). The Western vibe is authentic and fun, and the strollable streets have adorable, albeit pricey, homes.
You can start right from the town for a range of hikes, and the river walk is always a treat. In winter, the slopes offer a pleasing variety of green- and blue-level slopes, ideal for older women on the go. If you’re an experienced skier (at least blue), don’t miss the view from the See Forever summit, which sums it up. (The gondola shuts down for a month for maintenance between ski and summer seasons.)
Traverse City, Michigan, is a happening town with an artsy and foodie vibe on Grand Traverse Bay. The downtown main street has locally focused cafes and restaurants, along with impressive boutique shopping. Don’t miss the bookstores, including the inviting indie Horizon Books, which features a café inside, as well as the kid-focused Brilliant Books and Higher Self, which focuses on alternative spirituality and wellness. In July of 2026, the town celebrates the 100th annual National Cherry Festival. I’m impressed by the many ways local entrepreneurs, like Cherry Republic, showcase the state’s fruity jewel.
The lakeside area features white sandy beaches on the cool, blue waters and a long, waterside path perfect for recreation. The Traverse City harbor offers multiple sailing cruises, educational trips and other ways to get the breeze in your hair. Less than an hour’s drive away, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous spot overlooking Lake Michigan. The intrepid can trudge up the giant dunes, or you can take a scenic drive and stay on paved pathways to breathe in this naturally inspiring spot.
San Luis Obispo, California, sets a laidback tone at its regional airport, which has an outdoor bar and even live music. Known as SLO CAL, the county of San Luis Obispo features the Edna Valley vineyards, rolling mountains and small Pacific coastal towns to bop between. Immerse yourself in the foodie and wine-tasting scene with Taste of SLO tours. Or stroll and smell the flowers at the 150-acre SLO Botanical Garden that celebrates its Mediterranean-like climate. The SLO County Farm Trail has over 20 stops with everything from farm and livestock tours to pick-your-own fields to lots of delectable and healthy farm-fresh products to perk up women of any age.
Each coastal town has its own vibe, coffee café, and beach to explore. In Avila Beach, kayak out to a raft of otters and near noisy sea lions. Near a small, bird-filled island, you might also spot whiskered seal noses poking out of the water. On another beach, pull out your kayak, and hike up to one of many historic beacons overlooking the Pacific, the Point San Luis Lighthouse. The whole coastline also offers multiple magnificent hiking paths across the wildflower-speckled bluffs, or you can rent an e-bike in one of the towns to explore at your own pace. At the coastline, keep your eyes open for migrating whales. Birders will adore a guided wildlife-focused kayaking trip through Morro Bay. Over 200 species of birds—warblers, herons, grebes—make this estuary on the Pacific Flyway their home at some point in the year.
Anchorage, Alaska, makes an excellent jumping-off point for northern adventures in this stunning state. The city is walkable, and you can easily catch the Alaska Railroad, which offers multiple adventure excursions into the backcountry, up to quirky Talkeetna, or down to gorgeous Prince William Sound. The scenery is breathtaking, and you may even spy wildlife — from moose to eagles.
Overnight in Seward to hop aboard a whale-watching cruise or guided kayaking trip, many of which venture into a truly national treasure, the Kenai Fjords National Park, which is best seen from the water. Once aboard, you may see humpbacks, orcas or gray whales along the way. You might even spy adorable puffins and lovely calving glaciers on the full-day cruises.
In town, don’t miss the Anchorage Museum featuring Alaskan artists and the engrossing Living Our Cultures exhibit with 600 artifacts and works of art by native peoples on loan from the Smithsonian. Visiting the Alaskan Native Heritage Center is well worth your time to appreciate the life-sized native homes and watch the impressive Alaska Native Games demonstrations (during the summer season).
These lower-key destinations radiate a welcoming vibe, particularly for older women who seek slow and educational travel. I push my boundaries to experience something new and forge new connections wherever I visit. I’m pondering my next Alaska trip, and this winter I’ll swish down Telluride’s snowy slopes.
Have YOU been to any of the above? Let us know in the comments below.
December 4, 2025
