By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large

and wacky, while others are tasty or tempting, but all of them are 100% authentic. Just how can we be sure? Because you told us! Straight from the locals' mouths, this is citizen journalism at its best. We asked for your suggestions, and our team of editors investigated and voted on the nominations to create our final list. No matter where you're going, we have a hidden gem for you to explore.

Peruse my Editor's Favorites for a quick sampling, but don't stop here! Discover these finds state by state to decide where you should go next.

Amy ZiffTravelocity and IgoUgo turned the typical tourist attraction on its head, creating a cache of very unique, very fun, and very local discoveries that can't be found in any other guidebook. We call this exclusive collection Local Secrets, Big Finds. It's a list of places and events that locals cherish and frequent. After all, who wants to hang out with hoards of tourists from far off places when you can go where the locals go?

Some of these insider favorites are wild

Local Secrets, Big Finds - Hawaii: Puka Dog

Editor's Choice Awards

Puka Dog

Kauai, Hawaii - Revolutionizing the standby Mainlander hot dog and adding an Aloha twist, a puka dog is "something out of the ordinary." Owners Rick and Dominique started out with a "small hut in Kekaha at the base of Waimea Canyon in Kauai." They put a hole ("puka" in Hawaiian) through a bun-sized loaf of bread... Learn more about Hawaii.

  • Bigfoot Lodge

    Los Angeles, California - As if "Smokey the Bear opened a bar," but "hid the sign," this unmarked, local watering hole adds a dose of Adirondack's cabin style to the "design-happy neighborhood" of Los Feliz. Stacked log walls, mid-century camp furniture, and a stone fireplace with faux fire draw regulars like Drew Carrey and "everyone else at the bar." Learn more about Los Angeles.

  • Burgdorf's Winery

    Haslet, Michigan - You, too, can be a vintner at this "delightful surprise" of a winery that has been offering a terrific selection for 29 years, while also letting you "make your own." Close to the Michigan capital, the "friendly and savvy" owners are more than willing to "introduce the inexperienced to the secrets of wine." Learn more about Michigan.

  • Chapel in the Hills

    Rapid City, South Dakota - Lots of weddings take place here for its "picture-perfect scenic beauty" and because it's as close to an international destination wedding as you can get in South Dakota. If you feel like you've been transported to Scandinavia, you won't be the only one. This Lutheran church is a replica of the 850-year-old Borgund Stave Church in Laerdal, Norway. Learn more about South Dakota.

  • Lily's

    Stonington, Maine - Owned by a quilter and native Mainer, Lily's offers "great organic food," including fresh crab cakes, broiled halibut sandwiches, and homemade pies. Located in a "cute old cottage with a sign in the parking lot urging visitors to please park pretty, this "delightful" spot with great service attracts those wanting to find "a true taste of Maine." Learn more about Maine.

  • Mariachi Mass at San Jose Mission

    San Antonio, Texas - Once a week, Mexico makes its way across the border when the San Jose Mission holds "Mariachi Mass." Loud and celebratory, the chapel service is "musical, historical, and loved by visitors." The building itself is a "unique offering..." Learn more about Texas.

  • Monday Night Jam Sessions at the Jazz Corner

    Hilton Head, South Carolina - Most nights, this "hard-to-find gem" serves "wonderful, American-style meals" set to live jazz played by "well-known musicians," but Monday nights, in particular, are "always fun and always a surprise." Learn more about South Carolina.

Purple People Bridge

Newport, Kentucky - Cross this bridge and end up in an entirely different state. Connecting Cincinnati, OH to Newport, KY, the 2,670 foot Purple People Bridge is the longest pedestrian-only bridge in the country. Built in 1872, this bridge closed to cars and pedestrians in 2001. Learn more about Kentucky.

  • International Camel Races

    Virginia City, Nevada - What began as a practical joke is today a somewhat "unusual festival" that brings in camel riders from around the world. The family-friendly events take place in various venues in Virginia City. In addition to the fiercely competitive camel races, highlights include the camel parade and camel hump ball. Learn more about Nevada.

  • Red Rooster Drive-In

    Brewster, New York - Cockadoodle-doo! Wake up and smell the "soft-serve ice cream" at this "throwback to the 1950s," about 60 miles north of Manhattan in the Hudson Valley. The fact that you can't just drive through is merely a technicality--simply step inside and "you won't find a better milkshake anywhere." Learn more about New York.

  • Santa Fe Farmer's Market

    Santa Fe, New Mexico Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in Santa Fe you'' witness a bustle of local farmers and Hispanic families selling their produce at the lively farmers' market. Local musicians keep spirits high while you can peruse the wares offered by lavender growers, goat cheese-makers, and herb salve-makers. Learn more about New Mexico.

  • 7 Tubs Nature Area Trail

    Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania - Cavort with chipmunks and hummingbirds in this "wooded area that has a large reservoir running through the mountainside." Maintained by the Audubon Society, the trailhead has parking and easy access from several highways. Learn more about Pennsylvania.

  • Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters

    Cannon Beach, Oregon - The misty north Oregon coast town of Cannon Beach is the perfect backdrop for slugging back cups of steaming coffee on the porch at Sleepy Monk. Taking advantage of this beach town's year-round activities, ranging from beachcombing and surfing to wine tasting and storm watching, can work up a need for some piping-hot java. Learn more about Oregon.

  • Tartine Bakery

    San Francisco, California - - In the heart of what's being dubbed "the new, gourmet ghetto," Tartine is acclaimed as "the best bakery in the city." Locals gushed to us about the exquisitely-made, "to-die-for morning buns," the "flaky, almond croissants," and the "cheesy croquet monsieur." Learn more about San Francisco.

Venetian Pool

Coral Gables, Florida - The Venetian Pool is "most likely the only swimming pool to be on the National Register of Historic Places." Formed from a coral rock quarry in 1923, it represents the history of Miami's development. The pool is centrally located in the Coral Gables neighborhood, and as cliched as it may sound, it's "fun for the whole family." Learn more about Florida.

  • Christian's Bar

    St. John's, NL - Among the bars lining George Street, cozy Christian's stands out for two equally prestigious reasons: because it is the area's oldest establishment, and because it hosts the "best screech-in in town." In a ceremony that "you cannot beat," visitors become honorary Newfoundlanders by kissing a cod, repeating special phrases, and downing a shot of local Screech rum. Learn more about Atlantic Canada.

  • Riverdale Farm

    Toronto, ON - "Toronto's best-kept secret" offers a welcome "sanctuary from the big city." Housing pigs, goats, rabbits, and more four-legged residents "in the heart of town," Riverdale gives city-dwellers and visitors a chance to learn about the workings of a functional farm. Indeed, visiting the farmstead is "like visiting the country," complete with a century-old barn, "ponds of ducks and geese, the smell of hay, and the sound of baby lambs." Learn more about Central North Canada.

  • Yoga on Parliament Hill

    Ottawa, ON - "Even if you've never tried yoga before," you can practice under the Gothic revival architecture on the banks of the Ottawa River. These ?guerilla yoga? classes, sponsored by yogawear designer Lululemon Athletica, ?celebrates this ancient tradition? and ?spreads the benefits of yoga culture? in a beautiful setting: Ottawa?s Parliament Hill. Learn more about Central North Canada.

  • Slurp & Swirl Wine and Oyster Celebration

    Vancouver, BC - More than just a wine tasting and oyster sampling, Joe Forte's Slurp & Swirl is a celebration of the shellfish for which the Pacific Northwest is famed. Shuckers from across the continent compete while people pare wines and oysters and try to win raffle prizes. Tickets can run you $100, but the event is a charitable one. Learn more about Western Canada.

The Berry Barn

Saskatoon, SK - Whether you prefer your berries ripe for the taking on a bush, pre-picked and sorted in a barrel, or baked between two crusts, The Berry Barn serves the morsels to your liking. The "riverbank restaurant" offers local Saskatoon berry dishes in its "parklike setting" while inviting visitors to pick their own snacks. Learn more about Western Canada.