PLACES UNDERRATED / FROM OUR READERS

A museum in Istanbul. A pleasant (and Nice) California town. Caves and rice terraces in the Philippines. And a Nevada park irresistibly named ‘Valley of Fire.’ Readers have gone global and found adventure, history and, often, peace. Here are some of their discoveries.

Mountain province, Philippines

Many travelers have heard of Banaue in Ifugao province, the Philippines, home of the rice terraces often dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world.” Few have heard of Mountain province, Ifugao’s northern neighbor. The people of Bontoc were the friendliest and most hospitable in the Philippines, a country noted for hospitality. Sagada was home to the noted photographer Eduardo Masferre. Be sure to visit Sagada Weaving and the caves. One cave has a pool that’s completely dark, yet safe for swimming. Another cave has a unique entrance -- hundreds of caskets line the walls.

Info: www.mountainprovince.net

Scott Ingram

Camarillo

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South Korea

South Korea is often overlooked as a travel destination. I visited for the first time last year and fell in love with the country. Like other big cities in Asia, Seoul is exciting and beautiful, with things to do, see and eat around every corner. Trying all the different foods (like spicy kimchi and octopus) is an adventure in itself. There are plenty of great places to explore throughout the country, especially for college-age people like me. With the exchange rate almost double what it was a year ago, I can’t wait to go back.

Info: www.visitkorea.or.kr or www.korea.net

Jennifer Goger

Los Angeles

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Nice, Calif.

Nice is about two hours northwest of Sacramento on Clear Lake. It is scenic and relaxing, and close enough for Southern Californians to enjoy without spending a fortune getting there. There are pleasant local restaurants, antique shops, wineries and the Lake County Museum in Lakeport, about 15 minutes from Nice. Nice also has beautiful orchards and dozens of bike paths.

Info: www.lakecounty.com

Hannah Kuhn

Simi Valley

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Valley of Fire

State Park, Nev.

Valley of Fire has spectacular sandstone formations, pastel rock formations, a hiking trail to an old outlaw hide-out and Native American petroglyphs. It’s a wonderful loop day trip from Las Vegas. You reach the park by way of Henderson, up the west side of Lake Mead. Take the winding road through the park back to Interstate 15. Don’t go in the summer heat; the park is appropriately named.

Info: www.parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

Robert Woodhouse

Anaheim

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Santa Rosa Creek Road, Calif.

Though most people visit the mission in San Luis Obispo and a certain pink inn while on their way to Morro Bay, Hearst Castle and Big Sur, only a few have discovered the beauty of Santa Rosa Creek Road. Mostly just one lane wide, the road meanders through hills and meadows of blue lupine, sunset orange California poppies, waist-high wild mustard flowers and green pasture land. And, of course, there is the creek and blue sky. (You might want to skip the drive when the hills are wearing their coats of summer brown.)

Santa Rosa Creek Road intersects with Main Street in Cambria, or California Highway 46, south of Cambria. Watch carefully. Turn left from 46 onto Santa Rosa Creek Road.

Info: www.sanluisobispocounty.com

Julie Kirby

Glendale

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Santander region, Colombia

The Santander region may not be well known to Americans, but it is full of hidden gems, particularly its many wonderful national parks and towns. Bucaramanga, the capital of Santander, is a great place to shop for jewelry and shoes. The Dann Carlton Hotel is a great place to stay downtown. The crown jewel is Parque Nacional del Chicamocha (with its new gondola). Visitors have a panoramic view of Chicamocha Canyon. At this park, kids can go for pony rides and ride on a Chiva bus. Adventurous folks can go parasailing, take a zip line down the canyon, hike down a waterfall or take a buggy through the mud. There are many rafting trips in the area. The region is known for its wonderful tropical fruit and its delicious ants (that’s right . . . ants). The pineapple is supposed to be the sweetest in the world; the coffee is fantastic too.

Info: www.bucaramangacity.com

Michael McDonald

Vienna, Va.

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Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires

The Recoleta Cemetery, one of the oldest in Buenos Aires, is filled with opulent, ornate private mausoleums, with each wealthy family trying to outdo the others. It is the final resting place of Eva Peron and many other famous Argentines.

Info: www.recoletacemetery.com

Richard Proctor

San Clemente

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Borneo

Borneo is not much visited and not expensive. We saw orangutans up close and free. We traveled to Sipadan and swam with turtles right next to us. We also sat and watched a herd of elephants eating at the water’s edge completely unafraid, although we were sitting a few feet from them. This island is still unspoiled by tourism.

Info: www.borneo.org

Sharon Pearson

San Juan Capistrano

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Harpswell, Maine

You have to see a map to appreciate how Harpswell, population about 6,000, is situated on one of the Maine coast’s “finger” peninsulas jutting into the Atlantic. The feel of the place is a mixture of coastal Great Britain and old Americana. I was struck by the haunting fog and cool, salty air. It’s surreal. Most homes have yellow lights on their porches because of the frequent summer fog. The Harpswell Inn ( www.harpswellinn.com) is lovely. There is also the Harpswell Historical Society for history buffs. Notable Mainers who resided there include Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Peary and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Info: www.harpswell.main.gov

Elizabeth Lane

Claremont

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Chacala, Mexico

On a small, beachfront harbor, Chacala is a less hectic and unassuming alternative to Puerto Vallarta, one hour away. Besides the beach, there is a nearby yoga-wellness center. Its American founders are credited with awakening this sleepy, untouched fishing village. It’s a perfect destination to recharge one’s batteries.

Info: www.playachacala.com

Michael Ambrose

San Diego

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Green Lake, Wis.

Green Lake is a beautiful community in south-central Wisconsin. The town is a throwback to an earlier, simpler, friendlier time. There is no congestion or pollution. The people are generous and open. The town is picturesque, with quaint shops overlooking beautiful Green Lake. All my stress evaporated there. I could relax and refocus my thoughts on how to simplify my life to improve my family’s quality of life.

Info: www.visitgreenlake.com

Casey McHugh-O’Brien

Fullerton

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Bruges, Belgium

Perhaps “underrated” doesn’t apply to Bruges, but it’s one of the most pleasant places we’ve visited. It exceeded our expectations. We found a small hotel in Bruges that was delightful -- nice room; excellent plumbing; good elevator though small; wonderful breakfasts with meats, cheeses and sweet rolls; and free computer use. We walked the town from top to bottom, peeked into stores and restaurants, watched women weave lace, observed boats on the canals loaded with tourists, visited ancient churches, ate frites and Belgian waffles. When we were there, there was a parade, which included men dressed in armor on horseback and a princess served by a serf.

Info: www.brugge.be

George Carlyle

Newport Beach

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Boracay Island, Philippines

The main beach on Boracay Island is pretty with crystal clear water, relaxing palm shades and white sand. The beauty comes alive underwater with breathtaking coral reefs and sea life. The snorkeling is superb.

Info: www.boracayisland.org or www.boracayonline.com

Blia Xiong

Eau Claire, Wis.

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Kariye Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is long known as a city endowed with layer upon layer of cultural riches dating from ancient times. But beyond the obvious sites in the Old City, there is a jewel that’s rarely seen: the Kariye Museum. It’s not easy to visit, but it is well worth the effort. The interior walls are covered with exquisite Byzantine religious art that has no equal anywhere in the world. Despite earthquake damage in 1894, many spectacular mosaics remain, awesome in their fine detail, displaying subtle shadings and rich colors that are lacking in earlier Byzantine mosaics.

Info: 011-90-212-631-9241

Elizabeth Mitchell Munisoglu

Los Angeles

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Santo Antao, Cape Verde

The island of Santo Antao is one of nine islands that make up the archipelago nation of Cape Verde, a Portuguese-speaking country off the coast of West Africa. The Valley of Paul is particularly breathtaking, combining an extinct volcano crater, a deep valley terraced with small-scale farm plots and high, rugged rocky landscapes that tumble into the sea. Food and lodging are inexpensive, and the people are friendly.

Info: www.lonelyplanet.com/cape-verde

Adam Choppin

Albany, Ohio

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Redwood National Park, Calif.

The towering trees of Redwood National Park bring life into perspective. Walking among these ancient giants on the pleasant Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail can be romantic, inspirational and refreshing. Moss, huge ferns and brown pine needles decorate the path. My husband and I stayed at Turtle Rocks Oceanfront Inn in Trinidad. At night, we heard sea lions barking. During the day, we explored the wild, beautiful redwoods. It was a trip I’ll never forget.

Info: www.nps.gov/redw

Sara Kras

Glendale --

Lithuania

Lithuania has a great mix of modern and ancient history and is dirt-cheap with good food.

Info: www.visitlithuania.net

Liz deForest

Los Angeles

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Mt. Whitney

If you liked the scenery in “The Lord of the Rings” movies, you’ll love the hikes to the top of California.

Info: www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150227/mount-whitney.html

M.J. Love

Rocklin, Calif.