Lake Garda — whereabout travel co.

Pretty much everyone agrees that when you're traveling, the best food and experiences are found in the places loved by locals. Avoid the tourist traps. Get off the beaten path. Go where the locals go. Somewhere along the way, I discovered this strategy also works in choosing your destination altogether. Vacation where the locals vacation. One shining example of this is Lake Garda -- the less crowded, less expensive, but no less magical neighbor to the celebrity-infused Lake Como. Lake Garda is every bit as charming, but a little more within reach. Think Clooney-adjacent, which is not such a bad place to be.

Set at the base of the soaring Italian alps, Italy's largest lake has breathtaking scenery, medieval towns, and well-preserved castles that look straight out of a fairytale. And though vacationing here comes with a lower price tag, you won't be missing much. Lake Garda is home to one of the best wine regions in Italy, Michelin-starred restaurants, tranquil resorts and a myriad of activities sure delight the adrenaline junkies you know and love.

Photo: Slawek Kozdras/National Geographic

Lake Garda's wind patterns make the area a hub for windsurfing, sailing and a host of other water sports. Scuba divers can also explore its caves, boat wrecks and the remains of WWII tanks at the bottom of the lake.

The area's beaches offer sparkling waters, lush landscapes and mountain scenery all around. Enjoy an aperitivo under the shade of an olive grove and embrace la dolce far niente -- the sweetness of doing nothing.

The town of Arco has via ferratas, or protected climbing routes, hiking trails and more than a hundred boulders to scale, making it one of Europe's most popular rock-climbing destinations. What better way to burn off the carbs you devoured while sitting in a dazzling waterfront piazza the night before?

The top-trending destinations in the world can sometimes give you an unwanted lesson in Instagram versus reality. Instead, see what's right next door. Go where the locals go. There's a reason they're there.