AARP - Segunda Juventud - 5 New Destinations: Getting on the Road Less Traveled

Five Destinations off the Beaten Track
Beyond Blackjack and Mickey Mouse

By Katharine A. Díaz
December 2007/January 2008

Spanish Harlem(junio/julio 2007)

Casinos and theme parks might draw Hispanics to their top five destinations—Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Laughlin, and Atlantic City, according to Scarborough Research. But it turns out these vacation spots offer much more than blackjack and Mickey Mouse.

Check the websites listed for hours, directions, and more information.

1. Las Vegas: Assorted Escapes

Some people never see beyond the glitz of Las Vegas, says Heidi Knapp Rinella, 51, author of Quick Escapes: Las Vegas. So she recommends Mount Charleston in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 40 miles from Vegas. In the summer, it's a delightful 20 to 30 degrees cooler, she says, and in the winter, you can ski the snow-covered peaks.

Go from nature to engineering marvel Hoover Dam. Take the Discovery Tour to view the dam's inner workings and learn how the waters were tamed.

2. Los Angeles: Tour and Learn

"Many travelers want to learn and expand their horizons," says Olga Garay, 54, executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. The way to do that is to venture beyond the beaches and Disneyland. Consider touring the Hollyhock House, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Los Angeles Conservancy offers city lovers a number of downtown walking tours, including free, self-guided podcast tours.

3. Orlando: Off the Mickey Track

Kelly Monaghan, 63, author of The Other Orlando: What to Do When You've Done Disney and Universal, recommends visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park, just 20 minutes north of Orlando. "You can canoe through rivers that have changed little since the Spanish settled the peninsula," he says. Or visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where you can strap in for a simulated launch that feels like the real deal—up to and including when the payload bay doors open to reveal a breathtaking view of Earth as seen from space. But you're still on the ground, just 45 minutes east of Orlando.

4. Laughlin, Nevada: Desert Oasis

Hector Reséndez, 53, often vacations in Laughlin. He and his family travel from their home outside Los Angeles to enjoy boating along the Colorado River and picnicking on its shores. Most spots offer camping and water sports. You can also saddle up your car for a daytrip to Oatman, Arizona, 30 miles southeast of Laughlin on historic Route 66. A Western ghost town with staged cowboy gunfights, Oatman is famous for the wild burros that cruise its streets.

5. Atlantic City: Leisurely Adventures

Get a glimpse of a bygone era visiting the town of Cape May, 50 miles southwest of Atlantic City. Climb to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse and tour magnificently restored Victorian homes and buildings. Let loose at Morey's Piers and Beachfront Waterparks in nearby Wildwood, with its seaside amusement piers jam-packed with rides and concessions.

These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services available on or throughout these sites.

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