We asked our staff “What’s a destination that you found surprising?” Check out the hidden gems we discovered while traveling, in this month’s Staff Sound-Off.
I was surprised by Wadi Rum in Jordan. I knew I’d be amazed by Petra and I was familiar with the Dead Sea and Jordan River from an earlier trip, but I was surprised by how mesmerizing the desert in Wadi Rum was. The landscape was more mountainous that I expected, and the camps were like oases in an otherworldly environment. I want to spend a couple of nights there.
— Mac Lacy, Publisher
Costa Rica, with its black sand beaches and hot springs.
— Telisa Rech, Advertising Sales Manager
Helen, Georgia, known for vineyards, Christmas events and Bavarian-style buildings. I went there with my sisters on a whim during the pandemic, and none of us knew what to expect. We had a blast there — great Airbnb with views, quaint town, fun atmosphere, great food and tons of shopping.
— Sarah Sechrist, Controller
I was pleasantly surprised by Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Everyone I met there was so friendly and cool, and there’s also an element of Native American culture there that I had no idea about. I got to experience my first powwow, which was so incredible.
— Rachel Crick, Staff Writer
Wamego, Kansas, was a surprisingly wonderful stop-over on a road trip to Colorado when my kids were small. We visited the Oz Museum and walked around the adorable town. It was a perfect stop for my daughter, who was obsessed with the Wizard of Oz. Don’t forget to grab a bite at Toto’s TacOz!
— Donia Simmons, Creative Director
Honestly, I would say Fargo, North Dakota. I didn’t expect much but it was a cool town!
— Kyle Anderson, VP, Sales & Marketing
Columbus, Ohio. I was surprised by how big the international community is and how many amazing restaurants they have!
— Ashley Ricks, Graphic Designer & Circulation Manager
I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but it’s an absolute treasure. You can take boat cruises to see gorgeous vacation homes that wealthy Chicago families built along the lakeshore, and there are some excellent resorts as fantastic restaurants as well.
