The World’s Best Kept Secrets, Revealed!

There are only so many tourist attractions you can visit before the crowds and the cameras and the tacky Hawaiian-print t-shirts start to get to you. Tourist attractions are great, but they may not be offering a genuine experience of the place you’re visiting. Rather, why not visit spots that are off-the-beaten-path and explore local favorites?

We asked readers from around the world to tell us their favorite spots in their own cities, so if you’re ever in town, check out these best-kept-secrets!

Los Angeles, California - in the eyes of Yoshie Manaka

The Last Bookstore

This is the best place in the world for lovers of literature, or just for people who want to take awesome Instagram pictures. It is a second-hand bookstore, but unlike one you’ve ever seen before. The second floor of the shop has a few artist studios, so you can wander around and look at local artwork. But my favorite part of the store is the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth has a whole tunnel that you can walk through made out of books. It is also is full of books on sale for just a dollar, so it’s basically Disneyland for people who like to read.

Malibu Seafood

This fresh fish market and patio café is a hidden gem. It’s located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. It’s a local favorite because of the freshly-made food, the outdoor seating, the sea breeze, and the view of the ocean.

Missions

There are a total of 21 missions in California, established by Catholic priests to spread Christianity among Native Americans. Visiting them is a chance to see history, and an attempt to grasp the cultural clash among the Spanish settlers and Native Americans. Although there are 21 in the state of California, the closest to Los Angeles is Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.

Hiking Eaton Canyon

This is a favorite hiking spot among many locals. If you follow the trail, it’ll take you straight to a hidden waterfall and pond area, where you can dip your feet, or just dive in. Beware of climbing beyond the first waterfall, however. The climb gets dangerous, and has claimed a few lives in the past five years.

626 Night Market

The San Gabriel Valley is home to a very large community of Southeast Asian immigrants. As their Asian American children are becoming adults, a sort of inter-cultural renaissance has been taking place. Wong Fu Productions hails from the 626 area code, and there is a growing sense of community pride associated with the food and entertainment in the area.

The 626 Night Market takes place in the parking lot of the Santa Anita Racetrack three times each summer. It claims to be the “original and largest Asian-themed night market in the US.” It features more than 250 food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music and entertainment vendors. Their website says that you should plan to spend about $20 (bring cash), for a variety of different foods, and wear comfy shoes! Just be weary of the “stinky tofu smell” ...it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Half & Half Tea House

Speaking of Asian culture, Half & Half is a chain of Boba houses that will NOT disappoint. If it’s a local favorite in the San Gabriel Valley, you know the quality must be good. Again, this place is cash-only, but so worth it for the quality of boba that you receive.

Bolsa Chica Beach

You can’t spend time in Los Angeles without attending a bonfire at the beach, and Bolsa Chica has pits! You have to arrive early to reserve a bonfire pit, but the beach itself is pretty empty, and the sand is perfect. Great for a swim, and great for watching the sunset over the water.

Dublin, Ireland - in the eyes of Joy Kennedy

The Quays

Sitting anywhere along the river here is a perfect way to spend the evening. It’s a beautiful city and also very peaceful. Just make sure you go further down the quays closer to Sir John Rogersons Quay!

The Science Gallery, Trinity College

This gallery changes exhibitions every few months. There are always very interactive exhibitions and there’s a café at the back with delicious food and coffee.

Makeshop

This is literally a shop where you can make things. It is in conjunction with the Science Gallery. There are daily workshops where people can learn how to assemble things like mini robots and clocks. They are fairly cheap as well. You can also find cool gadgets and gifts in here.

Cobalt Café

This café is on the first floor of a Georgian house. It serves lovely home made soups and sandwiches, and doubles up as a gallery space and sometimes holds little gigs and poetry nights.

Kimchi/Hop House

An old Irish bar was turned into an authentic Korean restaurant and Korean bar. Most of the staff are Korean, which adds to the experience.

Pho Viet Vietnamese Restaurant

This new Vietnamese restaurant is run by a Vietnamese family. The food is nice and for a country that is just starting to get on the foodie train, this is one of the restaurants adding to the movement.

Accent’s café

This lovely café has comfy sofas and shelves with books to read and board games to borrow. They have events such as comedy nights, poetry nights, live lounge and tarot card reading. This place is also one of the only late-night cafes open until about 11pm. It’s aimed at the group of people looking for something other than a pub or club.

Milk and Cookies

At this free event, where people volunteer to tell stories while they provide free cookies, tea and coffee.

Seattle, Washington - in the eyes of Mina Zomorod

North Bend

The number one thing I tell people to do when they visit Seattle is to go hiking. The main spot to go is North Bend, where you can hike up Rattlesnake Ledge for a spectacular view of the forest.

Fremont Coffee House

If you’re looking for things to do in the city, I would recommend exploring the many little cafés that are in any main neighborhood. I personally like Fremont Coffee House.

Ballard Avenue

For restaurants, I always love exploring around the main street in Ballard. A really good barbecue house there is called Bitterroot, which you can follow by a nice trip to Hotcakes for dessert (you MUST order the Dark Decadence). Ballard also has a street market every week in that area.

Burke Gilman

There are a ton of nice trails within the city that you can take a nice stroll through or bike ride. The most popular is the Burke Gilman that takes you around the entire city.

Lake Washington

If you do find yourself by Lake Washington, I would also suggest taking a kayaking trip across the water. There are usually good deals in the area and some great views. If you ever find yourself tired of the city, you can always head downtown and take a ferry to one of the neighboring islands.

Paris, France - in the eyes of Shuntoku Sasada

Montmartre

This is the best place I can think of to feel the Parisian atmosphere. It is located in North part of Paris on top of hill where many famous painters used to develop their skills. There is a big church on top of hill with great view of Paris. If the weather is good it’s the place I recommend people to visit.

São Paulo, Brazil - in the eyes of Sarah Leppelletier

Paranapiacaba

This charming little town located in the mountains, about an hour from São Paulo city. You can get there by regular bus and train fee. The place was established as a Company town for the employees of São Paulo Railway, and its architecture still preserves the same old town atmosphere, with wooden houses, old locomotives and a pretty impressive clock tower modeled after Big Ben. You can spend some good time taking a walk around the city enjoying the view of the mountains around and also check out the local museum located in an old Victorian style house. You can also find some nice cafés and restaurants with traditional Brazilian homemade pastries and food.

Liberdade Grill

If you want to get good tasty Brazilian meat, Liberdade Grill is the right place. It’s tiny, but they have good variety of meat and fair prices, and the best part is that you can just get the right amount you want instead of spending more in a buffet.

Doceria Alteza

It might be a small place, but the pastries are delicious and cheaper than other main touristy shops. It’s not exactly a place to sit down, so you can just take out after you order. These pastries have just the right amount of sugar and are made with good quality ingredients.

MAC (São Paulo University Contemporary Art Museum)

This is still new and not so well-known, but is located in a huge building right next to the biggest park in São Paulo (Ibirapuera). If you go there, you can enjoy 8 floors of an impressive collection of works of art, including famous Brazilian and international artists. The entrance fee is free, and you even get a great view of São Paulo if you go up to the roof. It’s a nice, quiet place, definitely worth it, if you enjoy art and you don’t want a lot of people around.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - in the eyes of Laurel Nakai

The Rodin Museum

The Rodin museum is right near the more touristy Philadelphia Museum of Art; it’s beautiful and quiet and you can get in by donation.

The Reading Terminal Market

The Reading Terminal Market is a huge farmers market with everything from Amish produce and baked goods to Gourmet chocolate. They often have events there too.

New York City - in the eyes of Jeanne Caron

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Located in Queens, this huge, beautiful park is comparable to Central Park, but less crowded and more family- and sports-oriented. I always come here to toss a frisbee and buy ice cream from one of the cart vendors. There are also baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts and basketball courts, a zoo, gardens and fountains, and the coolest spot in my opinion is the Unisphere: a giant globe structure and fountain. The planes landing at the nearby LaGuardia Airport sometimes appear as though they are “flying around the world” behind it. The park also has a Sci-fi theme to it: it was where they filmed scenes for Men in Black and there is a Science Museum there.

The High Line

This place is becoming more popular, but it’s always worth the visit. It is a landscaped trail along an old, elevated railroad track, running from 34th street and 12th avenue downtown to Chelsea Market, where you can find the best ice cream in the city at L’Arte del Gelato. The modern art and apartment architecture along the way are cool to see, too.

Artists & Fleas

On some weekends I like to go to Brooklyn after church and check out this artists’ flea market, located in a big warehouse. There are so many unique items, from clothes and jewelry to wall art to clocks, and the artists are right there selling their own work.

These are just a handful of many hidden treasures around the world. What are your favorite spots in YOUR town? Share your own local insiders in the comments below!