Fascinating places that tourists aren't allowed to visit
irulan_amy / Flickr
With new transportation links and travel apps that improve planning and booking, the most secluded corners on earth have become closer than ever.
However, there are some places around the world that will never make it into the tourism brochures, and for good reason. Whether it's an island infested with venomous snakes or the Pope's secret archives, the destinations on our list are closed off from the public.
Here are 10 fascinating places you are NOT allowed to visit.
Area 51
SipaPhoto | Shutterstock.comWhere: Nevada
Area 51 is arguably one of the most secretive places on earth. Also known as Groom Lake, the United States Air Force base’s purpose remains unknown to the public, leading to wild speculations and conspiracy theories. It is commonly thought that top-secret aircraft and weapons technologies have been developed and tested in Area 51 since the facility was established by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1955. Others believe the area houses UFOs and that aliens are being held captive there. Although Area 51 was never declared a secret base, it took until 2005 for the U.S. government to publicly acknowledge its existence. Access to the area around Groom Lake, controlled by surveillance and motion sensors, is off-limits to civilians and the airspace above is a no-fly zone for commercial aircraft.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Nevada Travel Guide
Club 33
irulan_amy / FlickrWhere: Anaheim, California
Who says Disneyland is for children only? The secret feature of the theme park, Club 33, is an invitation-only private club that was first opened in 1967. Located at the intersection of Royal Street and Orleans Street in New Orleans Square, Club 33 was intended as a place to host dignitaries, investors, and celebrities. The waiting list for membership is several years long and after an initiation fee (rumored to be between $25,000 and $100,000), members pay an annual fee of $12,000. In exchange, members have access to two dining halls, VIP cards, valet parking, jazz lounge Le Salon Nouveau, and the 1901 Lounge in Disney California Adventure, the only place that serves alcohol in Disneyland.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's California Travel Guide
The Lascaux Caves
Bayes Ahmed / FlickrWhere: Lascaux, France
The world famous cave of Lascaux are found in every history book thanks to their more than 17,000-year-old paintings of humans and animals. Clearly visible in the over 600 works of art that adorn the complex of caves in southwestern France are aurochs, horses, deer, and plants corresponding to fossil records from the Upper Paleolithic period. Although named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the caves have not been accessible since 1963. After opening them to the public after WWII, the presence of visitors and influx of light created a number of problems like the growth of lichen, crystals, microbes, and fungi, forcing a permanent closure to preserve the site.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Dordogne Travel Guide
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