Discover Summer Sleeper Hits on Your Next Adventure

When it comes to quintessential summer destinations, the big names get all the headlines: Yellowstone, Lake George, Acadia, the Olympic Peninsula. And for good reason! These destinations come tailor-made for summer fun. But they can also come at a price. Depending on when you arrive, they can feel crowded and overly touristy, not to mention impossible to get a people-free photograph or a table at a restaurant. If it’s the quiet side of quintessential that you’re after, try these summertime sleeper hits instead. They check all the boxes when it comes to outdoor adventures, incredible sights, and compelling culture, but without the fuss of their higher-profile compatriots.

Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

A few hours east of Yellowstone National Park, this stunning forest preserve is equally awe-inspiring but far less congested. Boasting 10,000-foot peaks, plunging canyons, incredible wildlife, and more, you’ll find it easy to indulge any and all outdoors fantasies you can come up with. Take Bighorn National Forest’s Shell and Devil canyons, for example. These superlative natural wonders took millions of years to form, but are easily accessible via interpretive trails and overlooks. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, and even bands of wild horses that call the area home.

Hiking is another must here, with some 1,500 miles of trails to explore. Expert outdoorsmen will enjoy the high peaks of the Cloud Peak Summit Trail, while more moderate hikers should try the Medicine Wheel Passage, which passes sacred Native American sites and stunning wildflower meadows. Luckily, multiple campgrounds within a short drive of the park make it easy to explore this incredible landscape at your leisure.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Considering it was recently voted the “#1 Best Places to Visit for Summer and Fall” in USA Today, it might be something of an exaggeration to call this one a sleeper hit. But Mackinac Island has been car-free for over 100 years, making it one of the more unique summer destinations around. Located between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas, the island is accessible only by ferry and features horse-drawn carriages as the preferred mode of transportation.

Hiking and biking are also popular here, with plenty of paved routes crisscrossing the picturesque island, so it’s easy to explore the forests, caves, and rocky outcroppings that highlight the landscape. Perhaps, though, Mackinac’s timeless charm is best understood through its favorite sweet treat: fudge. Between the dozens of shops downtown, the island produces more than ten thousand pounds of fudge each day throughout the summer season! For perfect weather and a timeless quality, set up shop at one of the nearby campgrounds on the mainland and book yourself a ferry ride.

Ocean Shores, Washington

While parks on the Olympic Peninsula fill up to capacity, vacationers in the know slip quietly over to Ocean Shores, a family-friendly haven on Washington’s Pacific Coast that boasts miles of wide, sandy beaches, a coastal rainforest, twenty-three miles of waterways to explore, and plenty of seafood-forward dining. Many of the local campgrounds here feature oceanside views, making for spectacular sunsets, and easy access to the waterways that are the prime draw.

Kayak and paddleboard tours are popular, as is fishing for rainbow trout in picturesque Duck Lake. Top off your stay with some fresh fish and chips or a bowl of clam chowder as you peer off into the distance in hopes of catching sight of one of the many breaching whales that ply the waters. Having this kind of view all to yourself is truly a rarity.

Flagstaff Lake, Maine

For most campers, summer in Maine is synonymous with Acadia National Park and the nearby town of Bar Harbor. But while both are absolutely worth a visit, the inland Flagstaff Lake, which sits only a few miles from the Canadian border, possesses its own kind of allure. Manmade in the 1950’s when a dam was constructed on the nearby Dead River, this summer sleeper hit is now home to a thriving outdoors scene that is decidedly Mainer in all its glory. Fishing for trout, salmon, and bass is an especially popular pastime, while the nearby hiking and wildlife viewing — read: Moose! Moose! Moose! — is also world-class.

Roadtrippers won’t want to miss the 47-mile Scenic Route 27, which passes historic towns, beloved ice cream shops, Sugarloaf Mountain (Maine’s premier ski resort), the stunning 200-year-old stand of towering Cathedral Pines, and a near-endless chain of waterfalls and ponds. This one may not have the cache of its Acadian neighbor, but when it comes to natural beauty and pure wonder, it’s truly on another level.

Peter Lougheed (Kananaskis) Provincial Park, Alberta

Considered Banff’s so-called “little brother,” you might think that this provincial park is somehow lacking. But if so, you’re in for a truly stunning surprise. Situated about 85 miles west of Calgary, the park is home to endless miles of both front- and backcountry hiking opportunities.

For starters, head to Rawson Lake, an incredible alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered peaks. The hike to the shoreline is about five miles round-trip, making it accessible to most hikers with a knack for stretching their legs. Other popular hikes include the Sarrail Ridge trail and the Blackshale Suspension Bridge, both of which are ideal for wildlife viewing and nature photography. If the trails in Banff are a little too busy for your liking, this summer sleeper is a local favorite you won’t want to miss.