16 Hidden Vacation Gems the Locals Don’t Want You to Know About

Travelversed Editors July 27, 2015

If you want a relaxing vacation away from the crowds and an authentic experience without all the holiday-goer cheese, here are 16 places where you can blend in with the locals on your next vacation.

La Pagode, France

Instead of gawking at the Eiffel tower like all the other tourists, feel like a real Parisian and take in some French cinema on a rainy afternoon at La Pagode. This pagoda-style art-house cinema was built in 1896 and features breathtaking architecture and an ornate Japanese-inspired garden.

Victoria Beach, California

Everyone knows about Laguna Beach, so why not escape the MTV crowd and pay a visit to the nearby Victoria Beach? This secluded stretch is where the residents go to escape the crowds and catch a glimpse of the so-called “Pirate Tower,” a stone turret built into the side of a cliff that watches over the cove.

The High Line, New York

The High Line is a little slice of rural heaven in the middle of a concrete jungle. This converted rail track is now an elevated park and promenade where New Yorkers go to take in the greenery and participate in one of the many activities happening there, including dancing, star-gazing, meditation and more.

Lakeside Beach, Prince Edward Island

The entire picturesque Canadian isle already feels like a special secret that you wish you’d known about sooner. Discover an even more beautiful side to P.E.I. and take in the rolling dunes of Lakeside Beach. Better hurry though; the nearby golf course is getting trendy, so this beach might not stay a secret for long.

Peng Chau Island, Hong Kong

While everyone else takes in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, take a ferry over to the rustic and historic Peng Chau Island instead. This quaint isle was once an industrial hub but has since returned to its quaint roots and is known for its beautiful temples and fresh seafood.

Piazza Navona, Rome

If you don’t feel like braving the crowds at the Trevi fountain check out the lesser-known but equally fascinating Piazza Navona in Rome. It doesn’t just have a fountain, it has three — and it’s also home to many buskers, painters and festivals.

Old Phuket Town, Thailand

When you visit the historical district of Old Phuket Town in Phuket, Thailand, you’ll not only feel like you traveled across the world, but that you traveled through time too. This area is rich with authentic Thai history and culture and is home to many local markets, shops, temples and restaurants that are sure to make for a memorable visit.

Secret Cove, Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is famous for its stunning natural beauty, but you can’t get anymore natural than the nearby nude beach called Secret Cove. This gorgeous spot is tucked away on the eastern shore of the lake and is a great place to catch an eyeful… of the beautiful lake views, of course.

Bamboo Forest, Maui

In Hawaii, paradise is everywhere you turn, but for an extra special experience, check out the Bamboo Forest on the island of Maui. Hike the winding Pipiwai Trails under the bamboo canopy and stop to dip your toes in the secluded lagoon that’s fed by a tropical waterfall. Swimmers beware, though; the area sometimes sees flash flooding which could carry you away in a second if you’re not careful.

Lenzerheide, Switzerland

If you love to ski but hate crowded slopes, check out the lesser-known Lenzerhide resort in Switzerland. It’s a nice change from the mega-popular Davos resort and has plenty to offer including mountain biking, hiking, sledge ridging and of course, lots of skiing!

Kythira, Greece

Vacation like the Greeks do and stop by sunny Kythira on the Peloponnese peninsula, a holiday spot that’s a little less crowded and a little further away from the other famed Greek isles. In addition to the gorgeous beaches, there are a number of monasteries and abandoned towns waiting to be explored by a daring traveler such as yourself.

Weaverville, California

When visiting California comes up in conversation, Chinese temples aren’t usually the topic of conversation; however, Weaverville, California is a city that can boast just that. This city is an old gold mining town that was flocked by Chinese immigrants when they were run out of San Francisco. Joss House State Historic Park is home to Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds, which was built in 1874 and is still used today. Weaverville preserves its history and many of the old town businesses are now cafes or hotels with claw foot tubs and four-post beds.

Porto Santo Island, Portugal

If it’s a classy resort without all of the hustle and bustle you’re looking for, Porto Santo is just the place to satisfy your need. With only a handful of resorts, this island with over five miles of white sandy beaches is considered to be one of the undiscovered areas of Europe. Just because you are looking for a little less crowded, doesn’t mean you have to forego the fun. There are plenty of activities to keep busy in Porto Santo, such as hiking, horseback riding, and golfing at its tournament course.

Cape Krusenstern, Alaska

Lying on the northwestern coast of Alaska is Cape Krusenstern, which is full of radiant beauty. Cape Krusenstern is enveloped by the Chukchi Sea on the west and Kotzebue Sound on the south, making it reachable only by boat, snowmobile, or airplane. Although it’s not the most popular choice, those that dare to visit will be in awe with its endless landscape of wild flowers, trees, and pristine beaches. The great outdoors person will enjoy hours of bird watching, kayaking the lagoons, fishing, or camping. Visitors must be aware that there are not developed facilities in this area.

Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia

Are you looking for the ultimate tropical destination less traveled? The Tuamotu Islands could be exactly what you are looking for. These islands are part of the French Polynesia and are a snorkelers dream. The pure beaches, waters, and many atolls are home to tropical fish, manta rays, and even sharks for snorkelers to revel in. The calming indigo blue waters can be enjoyed during the day, while the starry skies will entrance you at night. The most remote islands among the Tuamotu’s are Ahe and Mataiva.

Green Bowl Beach, Bali

Green Bowl Beach, named after its algae covered rocks, just escaped becoming an over-populated tropical paradise. With the demise of Bali Cliff Resort, this beautiful beach became a remote destination only known by a few. This isn’t going to be the easiest beach to find, as there are several tiny, winding roads that need to be traveled — and that’s the effortless part. Make sure you’ve stretched, as there are hundreds of steps to go down to get to the beach. Remember…what goes down, must go back up.

Kurt Cobain’s Los Angeles Apartment

Kurt Cobain’s Los Angeles Apartment

by Raul on August 10, 2010 in Kurt Cobain, Location, Nirvana

In 1992, at the height of his Nirvana fame, Kurt Cobain moved to an apartment in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district.
Kurt put down his guitar, picked up a paintbrush and contemplated a life without music.
For several months he painted using acrylics and oils, but at times he mixed his own blood, semen, cigarette ash and fecal matter into his art.
Here’s a few photo’s of Kurt inside the apartment…

After some research and some help from Kurt Cobain fan Keith Kuramoto we have found the building where Kurt and Courtney lived. It is a four-plex older building located at:
448 North Spaulding Avenue
Los Angeles, Ca 90036
Here are some feelnumb.com exclusive photos of the Cobain’s downstairs apartment…

Apparently, the Cobains moved out when they came home from a tour to find that the bathtub had a major leak that had flooded most of the apartment. Coincidently, that same bathroom is where Kurt wrote the song “Heart Shaped Box.”

Kurt Cobain Looked Grungy But By All Accounts He Smelled Amazing

Kurt Cobain smoked cigarettes, wore old ratty clothes, his hair looked dirty and his shoes were filthy but according to two different sources Cobain smelled great.

EXAMPLE #1 – The song title “Smells Like Teen Spirit” came about when Kathleen Hanna, at the time the lead singer of Bikini Kill, spray painted “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s wall. Since Cobain and Hanna had been discussing anarchism and punk rock, Cobain interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning. What Hanna actually meant, was that Cobain smelled like the deodorant “Teen Spirit”, used by his then-girlfriend Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail.

EXAMPLE #2 - On September 21, 2011 (a few days before the 20 year anniversary of Nevermind) Cobain’s ex-girlfirnd Mary Lou Lord posted this photo on her Facebook page that she took of Kurt Cobain on stage when Nirvana played the Astoria Theatre, London, United Kingdom on November 5, 1991.

When asked by a Cobain fan what he smelled like she gave an exact detail of his scent.  Here is the post…

She then clarified that it was hair product and not aftershave.

The product is called Confixor by Aveda.

So if you want to smell like Kurt, pick up some Teen Spirit deodorant and Aveda Confixor hair product.  Sadly, Kurt Cobain broke up with Mary Lou  for Courtney Love live on TV.  Check it out…

His last L.A. days
At the peak of his fame, Kurt Cobain hid from the rock scene and tried to lose himself in a world of paint.
March 28, 2004|Charles R. Cross | Special to The Times

Seattle — The magnolia trees are in bloom again in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood. In this hillside enclave of timber-baron mansions and waterfront estates, wealthy homeowners employ a phalanx of gardeners to keep the blossoms fine-tuned. But amid the Martha Stewart-like affluence is another more somber spring ritual. During the first week of April, a public park becomes ground zero for a steady stream of mourners paying homage to the memory of Kurt Cobain. It was in Denny-Blaine, while living in a three-story mansion next to Viretta Park, that Cobain committed suicide in April 1994.

The faithful come daily to this quiet community, many from faraway states or nations, all touched in some way by the music of Cobain and his band, Nirvana. The 10th anniversary of Cobain's death will bring even more fans, media and curiosity-seekers to Viretta Park, where every square inch of each park bench is covered with messages. "This is Kurt's Park now," one person has written in black marker on a slat. "I miss you," says another, echoing the sentiment of many. They've become message boards of mourning.

Cobain's shadow over music remains remarkably large, considering that Nirvana enjoyed only three years in the national spotlight. When the album "Nevermind" came out in 1991, Nirvana became a superstar band almost overnight, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became the ultimate teen anthem.

By the time Cobain died, he seemed permanently linked to the Seattle music scene and the phenomenon of grunge. Yet when the band -- Cobain, longtime bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl -- released "Nevermind," none of the members even lived in Seattle. ("We couldn't afford it," Novoselic jokes.) Cobain wrote most of his songs while living in Olympia, Wash., and Seattle was his home for only the last year and a half of his life.

He spent most of 1992 in Los Angeles, a time much less is known about. In an apartment on Spaulding Avenue, at the height of his fame, he put down his guitar, picked up a paint brush and contemplated a life without music. For several months he was ensconced in a mad world of creation. He painted using acrylics and oils, but at times he mixed his own blood, semen, cigarette ash and fecal matter into his medium. It was astonishing work. Most of it has only been seen by his closest friends.

Cobain died at 27. The music he created in the last year of his life was some of his best, which leaves critics and fans to forever wonder about what might have been. But none of the Cobain "what-ifs" are as fascinating as the one that imagines his quitting the spotlight of the music business and retreating to the world of art. It was an option he talked about frequently with his closest friends and the turn that might have saved his life.

Artistic talent recognized

When he was growing up in Aberdeen, a town of 19,000 in southwestern Washington, drawing was Cobain's first love. His family quickly noticed his skill. "Even when he was a little kid, he could draw a picture of Mickey Mouse that looked perfect," remembers grandfather Leland Cobain.

In high school, he won an art contest, the first recognition of his artistic talent. "He had both the ability to draw, and a great imagination," his art teacher Bob Hunter observes. Some of Cobain's classwork was controversial, including an illustration of Michael Jackson holding his crotch.

At 20, Cobain moved to Olympia. He lived with girlfriend Tracy Marander in a $137-a-month apartment, unsuccessfully tried to get illustration work and spent his days painting on board games he bought in thrift stores. "I gave him his first and probably only commission," his friend Amy Moon recalls. "I had a dream, and I wanted him to paint it. He told me to buy a canvas for him, since he couldn't afford the $10 it would cost. The painting was amazing -- exactly as I had described the dream."

When he wasn't painting, he was practicing guitar or writing songs for his other great love -- Nirvana, which he and Novoselic had formed in 1987. His song-craft improved, and Nirvana began to tour extensively, eventually signing a $287,000 deal with Geffen Records' DGC label. In April 1991, the band spent six weeks cutting "Nevermind" at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys.

During that L.A. stay, Cobain ran into Courtney Love, and romance ensued. On a late-night walk, they discovered a dead bird. He pulled three feathers off its wing. "This one is for you, this is for me, and this is for our baby we're gonna have." They both laughed at his melodrama, Love remembers. Ten months later, she was pregnant.

They married in Hawaii in February 1992 and moved to Los Angeles. By then "Nevermind" was the biggest album of the year -- it would go on to sell more than 10 million copies. They didn't move to L.A. for fame -- by then Cobain was the foremost star in rock -- but instead they sought a level of anonymity they couldn't find in the Northwest.

Frances Bean Cobain, One of L.A.'s Newest Luxury Home Owners

BY LINDSAY WILLIAM-ROSS IN NEWS ON OCT 3, 2011 1:20 PM

Her estranged mom may be penning a set-the-record-straight memoir, and her late dad's legacy is in a renewed spotlight, but now 19-year-old artist and celebrikid Frances Bean Cobain is making herself right at home in Los Angeles. Cobain has just purchased a 4-bedroom home, costing her $1,825,000 of her massive trust fund, says The Real Estalker.

Cobain's new L.A. pied-a-terre is in the hills above Hollywood, and is described as a "vintage Spanish style casa tucked into a quiet canyon in the foothills." The deal reportedly took place in July. Here are a few more details:

Listing information for Miss Cobain's new crib shows it measures a grown up but far from excessive 3,350 square feet with a total of 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The two-story house, built in 1930, was designed by architect Carl Jules Weyl and retains many original architectural and decorative details such as hand-forged iron work, colorful decorative tiles, numerous stained and leaded glass windows, hand-stenciled wood beams, and vintage light fixtures and hardware.

It seems pretty likely that Cobain will do some serious redecorating to tailor the home's interior to match her goth-y, glam-y personal style. As The Real Estalker points out, just how much time young Miss Cobain will devote to L.A. is uncertain, since "she reportedly attends private, pricey and proudly arty-farty Bard College in upstate New York." Cobain debuted her artwork here in L.A.at La Luz de Jesus Gallery under the alias "Fiddle Tim."

You Can Rent Kurt And Courtney's Old Apartment On Airbnb

Photos: You Can Rent Kurt And Courtney's Old Apartment On Airbnb

BY CARMAN TSE IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON APR 23, 2015 11:11 AM


Ever wanted to bathe in the tub where Kurt Cobain (supposedly) wrote "Heart-Shaped Box"?

Starting around $150 per night, you can stay in the Fairfax District apartment where Cobain and Courtney Love shacked up in just before the birth of their daughter Frances. "
The place is the perfect combination of comfort, style, location and...rock n' roll history," says the Airbnb listing for the apartment on the 400 block of North Spaulding Avenue.

Although the apartment's history isn't exactly a secret now, the landlord originally tried to keep it on the down-low before the current occupant.
"He kept it a secret because he wasn't getting great tenants when he advertised the apartment's backstory.
He went on to tell me about what it was like having Kurt Cobain live here, and what to watch for," Brandon Kleinman, the apartment's current tenant, told Vulture.
"Once every 60 days or so, I'll get a weird, older gentleman, a rocker-type dude, sort of a burnout, knocking on the door, saying, 'Do you know what used to happen here?'"

According to biographer Charles R. Cross in the L.A. Times, Cobain eschewed touring after getting married to Love and spent most of his time holed up in the apartment doing drugs painting with a mix of cigarette ashes and his bodily fluids and excretions.
FeelNumb has photos of Cobain hanging out in the messy space, including some of the tagging he left on the walls (with nods to Matador Records exec Gerard Cosloy and D.C. punk band Nation of Ulysses).
"I know there's tons of art painted on the actual mantel of the fireplace. I want to see if there's a way to get under the layered paint, to see what he painted under there," says Kleinman.

Cobain and Love moved out in late 1992 when Love was 8-months pregnant—because of faulty plumbing in the tub that flooded the space—to Hollywood Heights, near the famed Long Goodbye apartment.
That same tub was, according to legend, where Cobain wrote "Heart-Shaped Box."
Photos of what they left behind were published last year, showing supposed drug paraphernalia, but mostly clutter including a letter from Senator Congressman Henry Waxman and a VHS of the "Come As You Are" music video. The place is much nicer now.
"It gets rented out about four or five times a year," says Kleinman.
"I think Airbnb buried the listing for some reason. I don't get a lot of interest in it."
Visitors to the space can enjoy all the modern amenities, along with a short walk to Canter's on Fairfax—just like Kurt.

Pretty Little Liars

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The “Pretty Little Liars” Guide to Warner Bros. Studio

Feb 25th, 2015 | By Lindsay | Category: TV Locations

Read article HERE

Pretty Little Liars is set in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania.
The pilot episode was shot in Vancouver, but once the series got picked up, production moved to L.A.
Though the show has made use of pretty much every square inch of the Warner Bros. backlot, I will only be covering the main locations that have appeared onscreen during the first two and a half seasons, as that is the point I am up to in the series.
An aerial view of Warner Bros. Studio with coordinating numbers denoting each PLL locale is pictured below.

1. The Marin House – Used repeatedly throughout the series, the house where Hannah Marin (Ashley Benson) lives is a large Colonial-style estate located at the southern end of Warner Village. It is denoted as building 187 on the Warner Bros. Studio map. Only the exterior is used on the series. As is the case with all of the Liar’s residences, the interior of Hannah’s house is a set located inside of a soundstage. In real life, the inside of the structure serves as a production office.

2. The Fields House – The residence where Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell) lives also pops up regularly on Pretty Little Liars. It is the northernmost house located on Midwest Street. The same home was also used as Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica Geller’s (Courteney Cox) parents’ house on Friends. It is a practical set, meaning both the interior and exterior can be utilized for filming. While the inside was used on Friends (Season 2′s “The One with the Prom Video”), it does not appear on PLL.

3. The DiLaurentis House – This abode has had quite a few different residents throughout the series. Formerly occupied by Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) and then Maya St. Germain (Bianca Lawson), it is currently where Jason DiLaurentis (major cutie Drew Van Acker) lives. The structure is actually just a façade located on the shores of the Jungle and, as you can see in the photograph below, not even a full one at that. Yes, it is missing a roof, which is actually apparent sometimes onscreen.

4. The Hastings House – The façade that serves as the stately home where Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario, daughter of NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario) lives is actually the rear side of the residence located next door to Emily’s house on Midwest Street. The same façade was used as Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore’s (Alexis Bledel) house on Gilmore Girls.

5. Spencer’s Barn – The barn that Spencer painstakingly redecorated and that her sister, Melissa (Torrey DeVitto), then promptly moved into is located directly across from the Hastings residence, in what is actually the front yard of the property.

6. The Hastings Gate – The large gated entrance to Spencer’s estate is not a permanent façade – it is a piece that is set up in the Jungle, across from the DiLaurentis house, when needed. Because it is only put into place during an actual shoot, you will not catch a glimpse of it while on the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour. A photograph of the Jungle in its normal state, without Spencer’s gate, is pictured below.

7. Toby and Jenna’s House – The house where step-siblings Toby Cavanaugh (Keegan Allen) and Jenna Marshall (Tammin Sursok) live is located on Midwest Street, two doors down from Emily’s house.

8. Rosewood High School – The Liar’s high school is located on Midwest Street, near where it intersects with French Street. The structure appears regularly on the series, but, again, only the exterior is utilized. The hallways and classrooms are sets located inside of a soundstage.

9. Rosewood City Hall – City Hall is located adjacent to Rosewood High School.

10. Apple Rose Grille – The restaurant where the girls regularly hang out is located on the corner of Midwest Street and French Street. The same spot masked as Luke’s Diner on Gilmore Girls.

11. Rosewood’s Local Church – The Midwest Street church, located across the road from Emily’s house, has appeared countless times on the series. It was where Ian Thomas (Ryan Merriman) tried to kill Spencer in Season 1’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” where Ian’s funeral was held in Season 2’s “The Devil You Know,” and where Hannah tried to sabotage her dad’s wedding in Season 2’s “Over My Dead Body,” just to name a few of its appearances.

12. Anne Sullivan’s Office – Throughout Season 2, the Liars regularly visited therapist Anne Sullivan (Annabeth Gish) at her office, which was situated on Midwest Street across from the northern side of the church

13. Ezra Fitz’s Apartment Building – The exterior of the apartment building where Ezra Fitz (Ian Harding) lives is located in between French Street and Embassy Courtyard, across from New York Park. The edifice was featured in Season 1’s “If at First You Don’t Succeed, Lie, Lie Again . . .” and is denoted as Building 60 on the studio map.

14. Philadelphia City Museum – The Warner Bros. Courthouse masked as the Philadelphia City Museum, the site of Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale) and Ezra’s first real date, in “If at First You Don’t Succeed, Lie, Lie Again . . .” The Courthouse, which was featured regularly on the 1966 Batman television series, is located at the western end of Embassy Courtyard and is denoted as Building 61 on the studio map.

15. Noel Kahn’s Cabin/Lost Woods Resort – In the Season 1 episode of Pretty Little Liars titled “To Kill a Mocking Girl,” the Liars attend a party thrown at a cabin belonging to Noel Kahn’s (Brant Daugherty) parents. The building used in the episode is located in the Jungle and is known as the Practical House.