There are only so many times you can hike the Great Wall of China, take in the lights of Times Square, or steady the Leaning Tower of Pisa before these typical tourist rituals lose their thrill.
Inspired by this Quora list asking about the best travel destinations most people never knew existed, we put together our own list of the 35 hidden gems around the world that are worth the trek.
Additional reporting by Megan Willett.
The Stairway to Heaven, also known as the Haiku Stairs, provides the most stunning views of Oahu, Hawaii. The US military built the 3,922-step hike during World War II so soldiers could access a radio antennae 2,000 feet up.
Norway's Lofoten Islands are best explored as a local. Rent a fisherman's cozy cottage, try your luck at catching cod, and take in the beauty of the midnight sun and northern lights from the islands' pebble beaches.
A small fishing village, 300 kilometers removed from Brazil's capital, Jericoacoara is the kind of place where the streets are paved with sand, beaches stretch for miles in every direction, and electricity arrived just 20 years ago. The sleepy beach town attracts kite-surfers and windsurfers from around the world.
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