Or if you wanted a lively location and find yourself in a quiet, off-the-beaten track place?

BBC: Your holiday questions tackled

Here, four things to do in the off-the-beaten-track Red River valley, due south of the province's capital, Kunming.

WSJ: Only in...Yunnan

The expenses so far include 220 delivery vehicles, eight warehouses and 40 shops - opened in off-the-beaten-track spaces to give a retail face to the company.

CNN: Groceries to go

Bourdain's tasty excursions may not be something we can all do for a living, but from the coastal piers of New Jersey to the mountainous terrains of Northern Africa, you've experienced amazing off-the-beaten-track meals, too.

CNN: Travel, order, eat: 15 best dishes abroad

Here lies Rome's loveliest, yet off-the-beaten-track church, the simple, majestic Santa Sabina (Piazza Pietro d'Illiria 1).

BBC: A perfect day in Rome

And while some are busy commuter lines, others are off-the-beaten-track gems that are well-worth connecting to.

BBC: Majestic Canada, coast to coast

Because Dundee is seen as being well off the beaten track, raising money for start-up companies is much harder than in the south-east, says Kevin Bazely, Scottish Enterprise Tayside's development manager.

ECONOMIST: Biotechnology in Scotland

From scavenger hunts and detour suggestions to outdoor multi-player games, these free apps are encouraging tourists to get off the beaten track, stumble upon unique experiences and see the world with new eyes.

BBC: Four apps encourage smarter detours

It's easy to overload on non-stop Derby concerts and parties but other pleasures await those who venture off the beaten horse track.

WSJ: Where to Go When the Horses Aren't Running