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TRAVEL: Tell Us Where to Go!
 
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*Scroll over each of the question marks to see which spots made the top six!
We went!
We asked you to tell us where to go, and you did, divulging dozens of ideas for roads less trammeled. From the more than 100 suggestions you sent us, we whittled the list to the 12 most intriguing spots. Using your feedback, we chose the six spots that looked most promising. Then we sent reporters to check out these places. Our scribes drove through precarious parts of the Sierra. They pampered bunnies in Utah. They roamed a military base in Northern California. And more. When all was said and done, they found six close-to-home destinations that help you put your cares aside for a time--and isn't that what a vacation's all about?
Your six secret spots
Here's the cream of the crop from your suggestions. Marvelous or mundane? You be the judge. Weigh in on our discussion board and take our poll.
Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah Recommended by: Michele Johnson What she said: "It's in a beautiful remote canyon with stunning views. If you want you an volunteer to work with the animals there or just take the tour." Photos |
Lopez Lake
Arroyo Grande, Calif. Recommended by: Crystal Robbins What she said: "Lake Lopez in gorgeous San Luis Obispo environs gives you miles of water frontage, large sites, hiking, boating, swimming, sunbathing and other great California summer family-bonding moments. We can't wait to go back." Photos |
Doryman's Inn
Newport Beach Recommended by: Caitlin Tusher What she said: "It's nice to know there are still some quaint and out-of-the-way places, even in O.C. . . . good access to lots of iconic SoCal sites." Photos |
El Morro National Monument
Ramah, N.M. Recommended by: Laura LaCour-Johnson What she said: "This popular campsite of old bears the signatures of hundreds and petroglyphs of visitors over the years, dating back as many as 13 centuries. These have been carved into soft sandstone. You can see what's being done to preserve these. Photos |
Ft. Hunter Liggett
Recommended by: Lloyd Van Horsen What he said: "You enter the area on a two-lane road that winds through rolling hills, curving past vineyards and passing the communities of Lockwood and Jolon. The mission has an interesting history and has a huge, spectacular quadrangle filled with roses, statues and fountains. The 165,000-acre reservation is near King City." Photos |
Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway
Starting point: Two miles north of the town of North Fork on Forest Road 81. Recommended by: Susanne Waite What she said: "People overlook this beautiful drive through this gorgeous route just south of Yosemite. The entire stretch from North Fork to the exit point on Highway 41, past Nelder Grove, takes about five hours. It's typically uncrowded, but during winter parts of the road can be blocked by snow." Photos |
In June, we asked you to tell us where to go. To your credit, none of you forgot your manners. But you did come up with some interesting vacation spots, from which we chose 12. Here are the six runners-up that didn't make the final list because of geography, proximity to Southern California or recent coverage.
The Miner's Cottage
Jerome, Ariz. Recommended by: Cheryle Morgan
What she said: "A delightful place to stay while visiting Jerome, the best revived Ghost Town of the West. Lots of art, wine tasting, entertainment and shopping. Friendly people live and work here. Also, you can park your car when you arrive and not have to drive anywhere for the whole weekend."
Imnaha, Ore.
Eastern Oregon Recommended by: Jane Touhey
What she said: "It is spectacularly beautiful. I am not sure I want everybody to know about it, but I guess if you bother to go to this corner, you deserve thrill of it. Wikipedia says it has a population of 12, so I guess we met them all. Highly recommend the Imnaha River Inn."
Mill Valley, Calif.
Marin County Recommended by: Tony Wasserman
What he said: "It's a bit off the beaten tourist path, but very cute and convenient to lots of interesting sites. One can stay downtown near the town square at the Mill Valley Inn. It's an easy drive to Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, Muir and Stinson beaches, and Bolinas. It's the archetype of what people think of when they refer to Marin County."
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A secret box canyon
Somewhere in Texas Recommended by: Robert Danforth
What he said: "The most amazing place I have ever seen. A small box canyon a couple of hundred feet deep and as wide. There is no mark or note that it exists, and I have missed it several times even though I looked, but it remains the most remarkable place I have seen."
Lava Beds National Monument
Tulelake, Calif. Recommended by: Michael Everett
What he said: "Lava Beds National Monument is fascinating. Lava Beds is riddled with lava tubes. When it's 90 degrees you still need a jacket for walking in the lava tubes. Some of them actually have year-round ice. One of them has a fern garden growing beneath a hole in the tube's ceiling. The walls inside are lined with pictographs. The whole thing has a feel of remoteness."
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Bishop, Calif. (near Big Pine) Recommended by: Anne Marie Novinger
What she said: "The rangers are very knowledgeable and interesting, knowing all about the trees, the science of dendrochronology (tree-ring science) and the area. There is a fine video of 18 minutes, just right for those who cannot hike or those who want an introduction to the area before hiking. The hikes are from a mile to 1 1/4 miles and re well worth the effort."
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Questions? E-mail: telluswheretogo@latimes.com
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Discussion Did we get it right? Where should we have gone?
1. My Daughter and I just returned from Best Friends. We took two of my grandsons with us. What a wonderful trip. I can hardly wait until we can retun. From the moment we left Highway 89 to enter the sanctuary, we felt the love, bouncing off the many red rocks and floating on the breeze. It is a different world.We volunteered at Cat World and Old Friends in Dogtown. The tour was wonderful. There is just no place on earth closer to heaven than Best Friends
Submitted by: Nora Brockhaus 6:58 AM PDT, Aug 22, 2008 Submitted by: Maria Mejia 1:12 PM PDT, Aug 19, 2008 Submitted by: gayle powers 9:00 PM PDT, Aug 18, 2008 |
