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Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over
Nepenthe is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

1. Nepenthe

8.1
48510 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA
New American Restaurant · 126 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Nepenthe sits overlooking the Big Sur coast for the most incredible lunch view money can buy. The Ambrosia Burger is the coast's best and you won't forget your meal there. ($15-30pp)

Cambria Coffee is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

2. Cambria Coffee

8.2
761 Main St, Cambria, CA
Café · 27 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Cambria's best spot for coffee hands down. Friendly staff, good prices, better espresso, and some seriously solid quiches.

Hoppe's Bistro is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

3. Hoppe's Bistro

84 ocean avenue, Cayucos, CA
American Restaurant · 10 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Unbelievably nice place for dinner with unique local/organic dishes and a great wine list. Definitely worth the visit, provided you have some cash to burn. ($25-65pp)

4. Millennium

8.3
5912 College Ave, Oakland, CA
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant · Rockridge · 110 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Perhaps the best vegan restaurant on the western seaboard. The food is incredible from start to finish and a Foursquare check-in scores you a free dessert. ($40-70)

Royal Oak is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

5. Royal Oak

5.8
2201 Polk St, San Francisco, CA
Lounge · Polk Gulch · 31 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Royal Oak is both eclectic and inviting. The crowd is amiable and the drinks fairly priced. It's ambiance and medium-sized crowd outstrip the better known, but packed and fratty, Bullit, next store.

Pok Pok is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

6. Pok Pok

3226 SE Division St (at SE 32nd Ave), Portland, OR
Thai Restaurant · 310 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Quite literally some of the best Thai food you can buy outside of southeast Asia. There is nothing that isn't worth buying, twice (literally, we went back next day), and it is affordable. ($10-20pp)

The Fremont Troll is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

7. The Fremont Troll

8.8
Fremont Way N (under Aurora Bridge), Seattle, WA
Outdoor Sculpture · Fremont · 86 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: It's a fifteen feet troll eating a real VW Bug under a bridge. Enough said.

Rogue Ales Bayfront Public House is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

8. Rogue Ales Bayfront Public House

8.0
748 SW Bay Blvd, Newport, OR
Pub · 43 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: The original brew pub for Rogue brewery (the brewery is across the river). The food is good, the beer is better, and the swag cheap. Get a flight of tasters, join the Rogue Nation, and travel onwards.

9. Angle falls

Bass Lake, CA
Waterfall · 1 tip

Nick G.Nick Greif: A beautiful hike up to natural swimming holes and water/rock slides. Great place for a day trip. Take note, poison oak and nudists are both native to the area. But that's the wilderness for ya.

Library Bar is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

10. Library Bar

8.1
7000 Hollywood Blvd (at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel), Los Angeles, CA
Hotel Bar · Central Hollywood · 60 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Swanky bar in the corner of the Roosevelt hotel with elaborate cocktails made with fresh farmer's market ingredients bought daily. Each drink is an occasion in and of itself. ($10-15 per drink)

Brennan's Pub is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

11. Brennan's Pub

7.7
4089 Lincoln Blvd (at Berkeley Dr), Marina del Rey, CA
Pub · 48 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: A dive bar that is remarkable only on Thursday night when they hold their weekly turtle races. Definitely fun entertainment with no cover. But here's a hint, don't point at the turtles. It'll cost ya.

Flower Drum 萬壽宮 is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

12. Flower Drum 萬壽宮

7.8
17 Market Ln, Melbourne, VIC
Cantonese Restaurant · Melbourne CBD · 31 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Unbelievable Cantonese cuisine and the Chef likes to experiment so don't be afraid to ask for the day's off-menu options. Be prepared for a long, sumptuous, and expensive meal. #35 world ranked in '05

Vetri Cucina is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

13. Vetri Cucina

8.9
1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA
Italian Restaurant · Washington Square West · 39 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Decadent Italian food in the heart of an underrated city for food. Vetri takes the proverbial cake with some truly tasty, albeit heavy, Italian cuisine. Tasting menus and al la carte. ($40-100+pp)

Local 44 is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

14. Local 44

8.0
4333 Spruce St (at 44th St.), Philadelphia, PA
Bar · Spruce Hill · 75 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: A great out of the way bar / lunch spot with a well provisioned draft list. The black bean burger is superb. Though close to the UPenn campus, it's mostly a hipster spot. ($10-20pp)

Brauhaus Schmitz is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

15. Brauhaus Schmitz

8.6
718 South St (at 8th St), Philadelphia, PA
German Restaurant · Washington Square West · 134 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: If you want a German feel without flying Luftansa, here's the place. Excellent import brews, waitresses in "traditional" German attire, and long wood tables / benches give this place the right feel.

16. Strahov Monastery

(Strahovský klášter)
Strahovské nádvoří 132/1, Praha, Hlavní město Praha
Monastery · Hradčany · 53 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Yes, it's a monastery. It also has it's own brewery and restaurant. After a day touring the castle nearby, the monastic brews will send you straight to nirvana. And the view is great.

Sedlec Ossuary is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

17. Sedlec Ossuary

8.4
(Kostnice)
Zámecká 127, Sedlec, Středočeský
Museum · 94 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: An hour or so train from Prague, the bone church is worth the trek and one of the odder places you will visit. Be warned... there are lots of bones.

18. Little Creatures Brewery

9.2
40 Mews Rd, Fremantle, WA
Brewery · 198 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Awesome brewery and pub with solid nightly food specials and perhaps Australia's best Pale Ale.

19. Mount Sturgeon

Dunkeld, VIC
Hiking Trail · 1 tip

Nick G.Nick Greif: A picturesque set of rocky mounts rising eerily out of an otherwise flat landscape. These can be easily summited (2-4 hrs round trip) for great views and a tourist-free hike.

20. Sykes Hot Springs

46969-46977 Cabrillo Hwy (big sur station), Coastal, CA
Hot Spring · 3 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: A great couple day backpacking spot in the heart of Big Sur. Great camping spots on the way lead 11 miles in to several natural hot springs (up to 100F). Hang a left at the final river to find them.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

21. Plitvice Lakes National Park

9.3
(Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera)
Mala Kapela (Plješivica), Plitvička Jezera, Ličko-Senjska Županija
National Park · 237 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Several hours from Croatia's touristy coast or main city, Plitvice is still a must see. It's crowded, and touristy, but still worth it in every way. Nature doesn't get more majestic than this.

Eilat Mountains is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

22. Eilat Mountains

7.9
(הרי אילת)
Derech Harim, אילת, הדרום
Mountain · 1 tip

Nick G.Nick Greif: There are many trails up into these mountains, but trails around Mt. Yoash, surrounded by a dark/light 500 million year old fault line, are great and the steep climbs exhilarating. Plus, lots of Ibex.

Sea Lion Caves is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

23. Sea Lion Caves

6.8
91560 Highway 101, Florence, OR
Cave · 17 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Ever heard a hundred sea lions barking in an underground cave? Well, neither had I, until I came here. Smells bad but a cool spot nonetheless, and for a tourist attraction, fairly priced at $12.

Ape Cave is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

24. Ape Cave

6.8
Mount St. Helens National Monument, Cougar, WA
Hiking Trail · 9 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Unbelievable is the only way to describe this geological wonder. A mile of an underground lava tube is yours to explore, free, with no supervision. Be prepared to get dirty and bring a flashlight.

The Bridge to Nowhere is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

25. The Bridge to Nowhere

San Gabriel Mountains, Azusa, CA
Bridge · 8 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: A very good long day hike or easy overnight backpacking trip. The Bridge to Nowhere is five miles in and spans a river to nothing. The only legal CA bungee spot with a nice river past it to camp at.

Pinnacles Desert is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

26. Pinnacles Desert

8.9
Nambung National Park, Cervantes, WA
National Park · 14 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: I seriously do not understand how these things exist. As far as the eye can see, a flat desert with finger-like limestone pillars jutting out of the ground everywhere. UFOs are likely responsible.

Skyline Luge is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

27. Skyline Luge

9.1
Skyline, Queenstown, Otago
Amusement Park · 37 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Best value for money activity ever. The street luge beat out the bungee jump and the hydro boats for a fraction of the price. Plus there is a sweet view as it sits atop the gondola.

28. Caddyshack Indoor Mini Golf

6.8
Mini Golf Course · 2 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: The most elaborate mini golf course I've ever seen. Indoors, tons of holes, moving parts, and the most fun game of mini golf you've ever played awaits. Another value-for-money win.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

29. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

7.5
King St, Melbourne, VIC
Aquarium · Melbourne CBD · 70 tips and reviews
Queen Victoria Market is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

30. Queen Victoria Market

9.0
513 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC
Market · Melbourne CBD · 315 tips and reviews

31. Qifeng Park

8.0
(旗峰公园 Qifeng Park)
东城, 东莞市, 广东
Park · 4 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Dongguan is not a scenic place and mostly serves as a manufacturing hub. But if you find yourself there, seek this park out. Several temples and many trails will help relieve you of urban oppression.

The Tannery is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

32. The Tannery

39 Brattle St (btwn Church St. & Brattle Sq.), Cambridge, MA
Clothing Store · Harvard Square · 16 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Of the several Tannery locations in Boston, the Cambridge store has the best selection. If you (man or woman) are looking for boots, shoes, leather goods, or jeans, then this is your spot.

Crown Candy Kitchen is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

33. Crown Candy Kitchen

9.3
1401 Saint Louis Ave, St Louis, MO
Ice Cream Parlor · Old North St. Louis · 130 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: In a less-than-great neighborhood, crown candy is a shining star of milkshakes, snacks, and old-fashioned candy heaven. Worth the visit for the sugar high and the East St. Louis experience.

Lola's is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

34. Lola's

8.6
Costado norte del restaurante La Purruja, Playa Avellanas, Guanacaste
Restaurant · 68 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: A pristine beach with crazy good Watermelon shakes/smoothies, this spot is worth driving out of your way for. An incredible beach coupled with good food and drink is what it's all about.

The Friendly Toast is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

35. The Friendly Toast

1 Hampshire St (at Cardinal Medeiros Ave.), Cambridge, MA
Breakfast Spot · 240 tips and reviews
Auberge Du Pere Bise Hotel Talloires is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

36. Auberge Du Pere Bise Hotel Talloires

8.1
303 Route Du Port, Talloires, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Diner · 11 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Nestled on Lake Annecy, Pere Bise entails heavenly French food with an unbeatable view. Decadent (and pricey) prix fixe for dinner and great outdoor seating for lunch. And you can jump in the lake.

Wild Ginger is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

37. Wild Ginger

8.3
1401 3rd Ave (at Union St), Seattle, WA
Thai Restaurant · Seattle Central Business District · 154 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: One of the best restaurants in downtown and good value for the quality. Has its own vegan menu as well. Squash soup is incredible. Salads are good. Avoid Buddha Rolls. Chopper Red is best beer.

Black Bottle is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

38. Black Bottle

8.2
2600 1st Ave (at Vine St), Seattle, WA
Gastropub · Belltown · 103 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Blasted Broccoli lives up to the rave reviews. The menu is eclectic but all delicious, healthy beer/wine selection, pleasant ambiance in a cozy space. Great place for a date and reasonably priced too.

La Cuisine is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

39. La Cuisine

8.3
205 rue St-Vallier E (at Caron), Québec, QC
Gastropub · Saint-Jean-Baptiste · 18 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: La Cuisine is a unique homey gastropub. Nice selection of drinks with meals cooked in plain sight behind the bar in the kitchen. Food is very good and board games join old Atari sets to round it out.

Foufounes Électriques is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

40. Foufounes Électriques

8.1
87, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC
Bar · Ville-Marie · 69 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Great open-plan bar with amazing rock playlist, craft beers, lively crowd, pool/foosball, and plentiful sports TVs. Biggest plusses: cheap drafts, sweet decor, and fun atmosphere. Minus: cash only.

Jardin Nelson is one of Off the Beaten Path Places to Visit the World Over.

41. Jardin Nelson

8.3
407 Place Jacques-Cartier (coin St-Paul), Vieux-Montréal, QC
French Restaurant · 123 tips and reviews

Nick G.Nick Greif: Indoor/outdoor restaurant in Montreal's old district. Has live jazz every night and a very nice outdoor garden to eat in. Definitely a good place for dinner and the food isn't too pricey.