By Ki – Travel Made Personal
Some travelers chase the big attractions — the ones with lines out the door and souvenirs in every gas station for fifty miles.
But me? Give me the strange, the sacred, the tucked-away corners you won’t find on a billboards.
Dusty and I call these hidden gems — places that surprise you, slow you down, and stick with you long after the GPS has moved on.
But what exactly counts as a hidden gem? Well, that’s the fun part.
For us, the list is a little quirky, a little historic, and sometimes a little haunted.
Here’s our ever-growing collection — a list we’ll keep adding to as the road winds on.
Springs – The Clear, Cool Heart of the South
Springs are nature’s open secrets. Some draw crowds with glass-bottom boats and swimming docks, others hide behind dirt roads and locals-only knowledge. Either way, they’re always worth the stop — even if Murph does try to convince you it’s “too cold to swim.”
Example stop: Juliette Ghost Town & Rainbow Springs – where history whispers under Spanish moss and the water sparkles like nowhere else.
Waterfalls – Where Time Slows to a Drip
You can hear them before you see them — that low, steady roar that calls you down the trail. Whether they’re roadside wonders or deep in the woods, waterfalls have a way of making even Murph hush for a minute.
Example stop: Coming soon!
Caves – The World Beneath Our Feet
Caves aren’t just cool (literally) — they’re a trip back in time, carved out drop by drop. Bring a jacket, a flashlight, and maybe a friend who’s okay with ducking through tight spaces.
Example stop: Florida Caverns State Park – glowing formations and a park full of above-ground surprises.
Ruins – Ghosts in Stone and Steel
Old chimneys in the woods. Crumbling brick walls along a riverbank. The remains of what was — and what’s been forgotten. Ruins have a way of making you imagine the people who once stood there.
Example stop: Coming soon!
Ghost Towns – Whole Histories, Standing Still
Once-busy streets, now empty. Weathered buildings that still have stories to tell. These towns aren’t abandoned to us — they’re invitations to step back into someone else’s yesterday.
Example stop: Juliette Ghost Town – history, legend, and a dash of Southern gothic charm.
The World’s Largest / Smallest – Roadside Oddities Worth a U-Turn
From towering statues to pint-sized curiosities, these are the stops that make you say, “Wait… pull over!”
Example stop: World’s Smallest City Block – a quirky slice of Americana right in the middle of Dothan, Alabama.
Historic Places – Markers, Memories, and Milestones
Sometimes the best stops are the ones with stories carved into bronze plaques. They’re easy to miss, but if you pull over and read, you’ll find whole histories waiting.
Example stop: Coming soon!
Why Hidden Gems Matter
Hidden gems aren’t just “off the beaten path” — they’re the soul of the road.
They’re the places where you linger a little longer, take one more picture, or promise yourself you’ll come back someday.
This list will grow as we travel, so bookmark it, check back, and maybe even share a few of your own favorite finds.
(If Murph hasn’t already beaten you to them.)
Start Exploring
📍 Juliette Ghost Town
📍 World’s Smallest City Block
📍 Florida Caverns State Park
P.S. Got a hidden gem we should see? Drop it in the comments — Dusty’s already got the cooler packed.