Crowd-free Vacation Ideas

Small Group Tours in New Zealand

If you're not a big fan of crowds, a trip to New Zealand might make a wonderful vacation.  Sure it has its cities--what country doesn't?--but there's tons of beautiful backcountry that you can go out and explore.  If you don't mind just renting a car and taking off, that's an option, but if you like the idea of a little guidance, a tour can be the way to go.

When you think of tours and tour buses, you might think of a bunch of people crammed together, seeing the sights en mass.  There are outfits that specialize in small group tours though. 

For instance, First Light Travel has several New Zealand adventures that sounds promising.  Their site says they book a maximum of 16 people for each tour, so if that's not too much of a crowd for you, check them out.

RV Camping in the Off Season

Since RV camping is more affordable than staying in a hotel (assuming you own or can borrow an RV), RV parks tend to be popular destinations for families with kids.  Kids can mean a lot of noise, so if you're looking for a peaceful crowd-free camping vacation, you might steer clear.  However, you can find the peace you seek by RV camping in the off season.  You might not want to sleep out in a tent in March or October (at least in cooler climates), but RVs have heaters, so there's no reason you can't handle cooler nights.  And by camping in spring or fall, you can avoid parks full of kids on summer vacation.  The days are often still nice this time of year too, so you can have a great vacation.

Whether you're single or retired, if you can travel in the off-season you can take advantage of camping spots that are free of crowds.  As a bonus, you can often find lower rates during the off-season too.  So before summer gets into full swing, maybe it's time to take the RV out for a spin... (try to hit the RV campgrounds before Memorial Day weekend or after Labor Day for the best results).

Scuba Diving in the Puget Sound

If you're a fan of Scuba diving but you're tired of the crowded waters near the popular tropical resorts, you might take a trip to colder waters to explore.  The Emerald Waters of the Pacific Northwest offer some of the best diving in the world.  Cold water flowing down from Alaska and BC bring plenty of nutrients so all manner of sea creatures can thrive.  You can find octopus and sharks right beneath the Seattle piers. 

So if you fancy a Scuba vacation, and you're not opposed to throwing on some extra gear to swim in cold waters, head up to the Seattle area.  You can stay in the city or find a cozy vacation rental somewhere less crowded (there are underwater parks in smaller towns such as Gig Harbor, Edmonds, and the San Juan Islands).

Here are some links to check out:

http://www.discountdivers.com/instruction/ow.html (Scuba lessons in Seattle)

http://www.banditocharters.com/bandito/ (boat charters for divers)

Scuba Diving on the Kitsap Peninsula 

Las Vegas Without the Casinos

When you think of Las Vegas, you doubtlessly think of casinos and gambling (and if you're not a big fan of crowds, you probably think of the masses of shoving, elbowing, alcohol-swilling people pressing in from all sides...).  Las Vegas has a lot to offer that doesn't involve being cooped up inside with crowds though.  With some 300 days of sun a year, there are plenty of things to do outdoors.  Here's a list of places you can check out:

1. Redrock Canyon

Visit this spot for a scenic drive and some hiking in a canyon formed more than 65 million years ago.  There are picnic spots if you want to take a lunch.  Redrock Canyon is about 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas.

2. Buckskin Gulch

A wonderful hike through impressive rock formations, some of them squeezing so close together that you'll have to turn sideways and take off your backpack to negotiate them.  The hike changes from year to year (floods come through and change the landscape), and you can expect to negotiate some boulder drops and challenging climbing spots if you go far.

3. Trail Rides

If you'd like to let someone else doing the walking (in particular, a horse), you can find several local outfits offering trail rides through the surrounding canyons and desert.  Go for the hour or go for the whole day (meals too).  Whatever your backside can handle.

4. Mountain Biking

Sign up for a guided tour or go off on your own.  There are lots of trails to choose from.  Try an outing in Redrock Canyon or head over to the Grand Canyon for a multi-day biking trip.

5. Valley of Fire State Park

Located about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, the Valley of Fire park features 150-million-year-old dunes and formations made from eroded sandstone.  Under the sun's rays, these stone monoliths often appear to be on fire.  The park has campsites if you'd prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of Vegas hotels.

Molokai = Hawaii Without the Crowds

Sure, there are lots of tropical beaches in the world, but getting to them can involve a long plane flight with multiple layovers.  It's hard to beat Hawaii for pure convenience, especially if you live on the West Coast of the United States.  Hawaii is packed with crowds all year around though, right?

Not... necessarily.

Most people think of Oahu and Honolulu when they think of Hawaii, and it is pretty crowded there, but there are several other islands you can visit. 

If you're looking for pristine beaches without the crowds, you might try the island of Molokai.  Known as the quietest and least commercial of the Hawaiian islands, Molokai features long white beaches and lush green valleys inland.  You can hike through uninhabited stretches of wilderness, go kayaking or fishing, or try riding a mule down some of the highest cliffs in the world (not for the faint of heart).

It's true that it'll take you a little longer to get to Molokai (you can't get a flight straight to the island from the mainland), but it might be worth it to truly relax in a setting with no traffic lights, no McDonald's, and no buildings "higher than a palm tree." 

Horseback Riding "Dude Ranch" Trips

For some people the idea of spending a week on horseback sounds like absolute torture.  Others are intrigued by the idea, enthused at the prospect of traveling mountain trails where you hardly meet any other human beings (aside from the handful of folks accompanying you on your trip).  Maybe it's because I haven't spent a lot of time on a horse, but this sort of vacation sounds appealing to me.  It's just the kind of thing you can sign up for a Dude Ranch.

Dude ranch vacations can run the range from camping trips on horseback to helping ranchers work the range to more luxurious spa get aways.  This picture is from Broken Arrow Lodge, a Dude Ranch in Montana.  Though you can find ranches all over the western part of the United States (and Canada too), I figure you've got a really good chance of getting away from it all and avoiding crowds in Montana.

At the Broken Arrow, you can sign up for trips ranging from 3 days to 6 days with prices starting at $450 for adults (discounted prices for young-uns).  And if you're afraid your backside will get awfully sore with all that riding, it looks like these Dude ranch adventures include lots of none riding activities as well.  They mention fishing, hiking, and "float trips" to name a few.

http://brokenarrowlodge.com

Yoga Vacations Take You to Unique, Peaceful Destinations

There was a time when yoga was only popular with certain types of people, but thanks to places like 24 Hour Fitness, with their affordable and convenient classes, more and more people enjoy the activity.  I know it's something I've started doing in the last year.  I'm not huge on the meditation aspect, but I just love the way my body feels after all that stretching; it's better than a massage if you ask me.

But what does this have to do with vacations, you ask (okay, I'm asking it for you).  Well, there are lots of yoga-themed vacations all over the world that you can sign up for.  If what you're looking for in a vacation is a chance to really get away from it all and come home feeling far more relaxed and de-stressed than when you left, this might be the kind of vacation for you. 

There are vacations for beginners as well as experienced yoga practitioners, so you can find something out there even if you've never taken a class (though you may find the classes a little more relaxing if you have some experience and you're not twisting yourself in a knot (unintentionally), trying to follow what the instructor is doing).

One neat looking yoga resort vacation I found that I'd love to try is the India retreat offered by Yossum.  Their combination meditation and yoga vacation takes you to a peaceful retreat in the Himalayas.  It's not as expensive as you might think either, for a very exotic sounding vacation (at least it sounds exotic to my western ears).  $2195 gets you 13 days, which includes meals, lodging, meditation instruction, and 4-5 hours a day of yoga instruction. 

http://www.yossum.com