Beyond the Tourist Trail: Uncovering the Secret Gems of America’s Iconic Destinations

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When traveling to iconic destinations and landmarks, visitors often stick to the well-known tourist-friendly guides and attractions. But if you tread off the beaten path, you might discover some hidden gems that are quietly waiting for your curiosity and exploration. Let's take a look at some of these secret finds:

Grand Central Terminal's Tennis Court, New York City

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This iconic commuter hub in NYC, built in the iconic style of Beaux-Arts architecture, is awe-striking enough to capture any visitor's attention. If you can elbow your way through the hardened commuters and camera-ready tourists and make your way up to the fourth floor of Grand Central Terminal, a hidden, public-access, and world-class tennis court awaits you. Operated by the Vanderbilt Tennis Club and in operation since 2011, the sprawling space sits behind one of the famous semi-oval windows that make up the building's striking facade. It once was home to a recording studio, an art gallery, and even a 65-foot ski slope made of astroturf. The tennis court offers continuous programming of adult and junior classes, private lessons, and open court times. The court also features slow-motion video analysis, making it a technologically advanced gem in this otherwise historic building. And while access to the space is public for anyone curious to go looking for it, if you're serious about playing a game with friends, you'll need to reserve a court time and pay a fee ranging from $90 - $365 depending on the day and time. 

The Empire State Building's Secret Observation Deck, New York City

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If you're still exploring NYC and making the rounds to the most iconic landmarks, a stop at The Empire State Building has another hidden gem waiting for you to find. While most locals or tourists know of the famous observation deck on the 86th floor of this iconic building, if you keep going up the elevator 17 floors to the 103rd floor, you'll find the well-kept secret of a secondary observation deck devoid of large crowds. Encircling the bottom of the building's majestic spire, this exclusive space is more for the thrill-seeking explorer, as the only barrier to the world below is a knee-high stone barrier. Still, it offers an entirely unobstructed view as far as your eye can see, a true marvel. The top-floor observation deck was actually intended for something other than this purpose; it was a docking station for airships. However, the only time it was used as such occurred in 1931. Want to make your way to the 103rd floor? Here's the catch: it's reserved only for building employees and for VIP visits, celebrities, and dignitaries. Maybe you know someone who could get you in? 

Mount Rushmore's Hall of Records, South Dakota

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Known as America's 'Shrine of Democracy,' Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the southeastern face of the mountain. Most visitors to this national landmark will marvel from afar, appreciating the impressive scale of the profiles, but few know of the 'secret shrine' hidden within them. The monument's sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, also conceived of a hall of records and a place to hold treasured American artifacts such as the Declaration of Independence. The proposed room was 80 by 100 feet and reachable by a massive 800-ft granite staircase. The unfinished Hall of Records is concealed and located just beyond view behind Lincoln's brow, and the 18-foot-tall doorway resembles an ancient Egyptian tomb. Beyond, the carved-out room features 16 porcelain panels containing the text of the Declaration of Independence, biographies of the sculptor and his presidential subjects, and histories of the memorial's construction and the United States. These panels were added to the un-completed site in 1998 when four generations of the sculptor's family set out to memorialize the work. You can read about the full architectural wonder within a wonder here. 

Disneyland's Club 33, Anaheim, California

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Say you happen to visit Disneyland in California, and your kids are taking a turn on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride; if you have a keen eye, you might notice a tucked-away, secretive, and highly coveted Club 33. Hidden in plain sight at 33 Royal Street in New Orleans Square, the legendary private membership club was founded by Walt Disney himself. It first opened in 1967 and has grown in such popularity (albeit quietly) that it has amassed a 10-year waiting list with a hefty initiation fee ranging from $25K to $50K and holds only 500 active members. From what we know, Club 33 boasts a five-star restaurant and lounge with a mandatory dress code. It offers a hidden retreat for those who may be crowd and camera-weary (i.e., celebrities and well-known public figures). But if you want to visit Club 33 without spending a small fortune (and waiting a decade), start asking around. Members can make lunch and dinner reservations for non-members, which makes it more accessible to us 'plebeians.'

The Greenbrier's Underground Bunker, West Virginia

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The Greenbrier, located in West Virginia amongst the Allegheny Mountains, is a world-class luxury resort and a national historic landmark dating back to 1778. But hidden below the glitz and glamor of the main complex lies a vast underground facility that was once built amid fears of a nuclear apocalypse during the Cold War. ‘Project Greek Island' was constructed in 1958 amongst widespread nuclear panic and built as a fallout shelter hidden 720 feet underground.  The project was so secretive that it remained unknown to the general public until a revealing story was published in the Washington Post in 1992 that exposed its purpose. The 'bunker' can accommodate an astounding 1,100 people and was intended to house all of Congress in the event of a nuclear disaster. It contains a hospital clinic, 14,000-gallon diesel fuel tanks, and a power plant. Its other features are lesser known, making it one of the safest secrets in the country. The Greenbrier resort now offers tours of this historic location.