Anderson said one of the most underrated trips they've ever taken was to South Dakota in the summer of 2022, where they spent the Fourth of July camping at Custer State Park.

"We were able to get a last-minute camping spot, and it wasn't crowded," she said. "You could spend a week there because it's so beautiful, and there's so much hiking."

It was a sunny 75 degrees Fahrenheit — perfect for hiking, Anderson said. During her hikes, Anderson appreciated the park's unique geographic features.

"Custer Park is known for having these rock spires. I've never seen anything like it," she said. "You get a really good reflection of the rock formations on Sylvan Lake."

The park is also full of grasslands and wildlife, from donkeys to bison, she added.

"You can drive from Custer to Badlands National Park, and you can also stop by Mount Rushmore," Anderson said. "So you can easily make a whole road trip there."

In July 2023, Anderson explored hidden gems in eastern Idaho.

"Grand Teton National Park is really popular, but on the other side of the Tetons, the Idaho Teton Valley isn't very popular," Anderson said. "They have amazing wildflower hikes, mountains, and waterfalls."

Anderson said she also explored sand dunes nearby.

"No one was there when we went except for a few people on ATVs," she said. "But for sunset, we had the sand dunes completely to ourselves."

"Sedona, Arizona, is obviously a really popular destination, but a lot of people don't visit during the summer because it's really hot," Anderson said. But when she went in late August 2024, temperatures had cooled down a bit, and there were still no crowds.

"It would be a good destination for people who don't mind getting up early to hike and or like hiking at sunset," she said. "We hiked at sunrise and sunset to beat the heat, and we had a lot of the trails to ourselves."

Anderson recommends staying at Ambiente Sedona, an adults-only hotel, and spending the hottest hours of the day at the pool.

"In South Carolina, everybody goes to Charleston, but we went to this place called Carolina Heritage Outfitters in the Edisto River area of South Carolina," Anderson said.

Carolina Heritage Outfitters is a tour company that offers treehouse camping by canoe. Anderson told BI that her tour guide said it's a popular activity among locals.

"You canoe downstream a very easy 10 miles to a treehouse, stay overnight, and then canoe 10 miles back to the tour company," Anderson said. "That was one of the coolest things that we've done. We travel all the time, and we've never done anything like that."

Anderson said she's been to Wyoming many times.

"I think, in general, it's underrated as a state to visit for tourism. It is obviously popular because of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park," she said. "But you don't really hear about people going other than that."

South of the Tetons in Wyoming, the Wind River Range offers a similar experience and is far less crowded, Anderson said. For maximum privacy, Anderson recommends pitching a tent at the free campsites in the Green River Lakes area, as she did in July 2024.

"You do have to prepare because it is remote, there's no service, and we took a 20-mile dirt road to get there," she said. "But there's nobody else around. You can go swimming, and the landscapes are so beautiful."

Medicine Bow National Forest is another underrated destination in southern Wyoming.

"We went there in the summer of 2023, and they have amazing lakes and mountain peaks that made me surprised that it's not more popular," Anderson said.

"Mammoth Lakes in California is really popular during the winter because it has great skiing," Anderson said. "Fewer people go during the summer, but it's one of the best hiking destinations we've been to."

Anderson went in 2022 and hiked through mountains, swam and kayaked in the lakes, and marveled at waterfalls.

"It's like a quintessential summer experience," she said.

Thomas said she had the time of her life visiting Pakistan in June 2024.

"You would not believe the places I had all to myself," she said, recalling trekking glaciers and camping in solitude beneath mountains over 22,000 feet tall.

The country has many beautiful landscapes, and Thomas especially recommends hiking from Fairy Meadows to the base camp of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-tallest mountain on Earth.

She also suggests travelers head to Rakaposhi Base Camp and stay at Hapakun Campsite for glacier views. They can also drive the Karakoram Highway, one of the world's highest paved roads that's surrounded by mountain views.

If you're a thrill seeker, visit Skardu, where you can drive motorbikes, paraglide, ride horses, or go on desert safaris.

She also recommends spending a night in the mountain village of Karimabad, which offers boutique accommodations and local markets with handmade goods.

History buffs should also visit Lahore's iconic UNESCO sites, such as the Lahore Fort citadel and Badshahi Mosque.

Montenegro is Thomas's all-time favorite country. She's been to the small European country multiple times, most recently in June 2024.

"It has everything for an amazing summer vacation," she said, including "picturesque old towns and cobbled streets with alfresco dining, beautiful beaches, mountain backdrops, and underrated national parks."

Thomas said Montenegro's beaches, mountains, and architecture are similar to what you'd find in Italy, but without as many crowds. After all, the Balkan country typically receives millions fewer visitors a year.

While there, she recommends visiting the coastal town of Kotor to take a boat trip around the bay or a cable car to the alpine coaster that goes down a cliff overlooking the bay.

Travelers can also enjoy the historic architecture in the nearby town of Perast, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While in Montenegro, Thomas also suggests visiting Sveti Stefan for a beach day and Skadar Lake for kayaking.

Just south of Montenegro, Albania is an underrated spot for relaxing beach vacations and adventurous trips.

"Not only does it have a gorgeous coastline, but the mountains are incredible," she said.

Thomas visited the country in June 2023 and hiked to waterfalls, mountain passes, and alpine rivers. She said she didn't see many other tourists during her trip.

She recommends hiking in the Alps of Albania National Park and stopping at the Albanian Riviera, a coastline with turquoise water and white-sand beaches similar to what you'd find in more crowded spots in Europe.

The country's also home to Ksamil, which some have nicknamed the "Maldives of Europe," but Thomas recommends heading a little more north to Himarë instead. Both places have beautiful beaches, but the latter is usually far less crowded.