As travelers seek refuge from the everyday, some are looking to the tranquility offered by off-the-map destinations.
A recent survey sponsored by Airbnb found “86% of travelers and 94% of Gen Z are interested in rural getaways,” according to the short term rental company.
Bearing this in mind, Airbnb put together a curation — America Off-the-Map list — of 20 rural destinations across the nation “you haven’t heard of yet” but are seeing a rise in tourism.
One California city made the list of lesser-known towns: Coarsegold.
“Coarsegold captures the spirit of the Sierra foothills — wide open landscapes, rich history, and a community that welcomes visitors like neighbors,” Madera County Supervisor Robert Macaulay told Airbnb.
Airbnb’s 2026 America Off-the-Map list
Airbnb said it selected destinations for its list by focusing on “small and medium-sized places that are truly ‘off the tourism map,’ meaning they aren’t currently being promoted among the well known tourism hubs in the state.”
“From coastal fishing villages to Cajun bayou towns and alpine mountain escapes, America Off-the-Map invites travelers to discover something new and helps support local economies and communities across the country,” Airbnb said.
Here are the destinations on Airbnb’s America Off-the-Map list for 2026:
What to know about Coarsegold
Coarsegold is a historic Gold Rush town, with a population just under 5,000, located along Highway 41 between Fresno and the Yosemite Valley.
In the mid-1800s, the town was known as “Coarse-Gold Gluch” after the coarse nuggets the miners found in the nearby streams, the city’s website says.
“The mines flourished from 1849 to 1865,” according to the Coarsegold History Museum.
As miners ventured to the city in search of riches, the city began to grow.
“It is said that ‘Coarse Gold Gulch’ had 10,000 residents in 1850,” the museum said.
“In 1851, Converse and Stalls opened a store, selling supplies to miners,” the museum said. “The Walker Brothers took over the store in 1854 and butchered and sold hogs to the Chinese miners for 25 cents and up per pound, in gold dust.”
Five years later, the Board of Supervisors hosted its first meeting. By 1859, 15 precincts had been established, the museum said.
Soon after, two school districts were also created.
Between 1850 and 1880, many settled in the area, “raising stock and butchering,” the museum said.
“In 1880, the Yosemite Stage Road was built connecting Madera to Yosemite through Coarsegold,” the museum said. “That road ran between the Kennedy Barn and the Old Adobe on the museum property.”
That road was straightened and paved in the 1930s, becoming Highway 41.
Today, “Coarsegold is the only remaining ‘gold town’ in Madera County,” according to the museum.
The town offers an array of activities, including visiting the Coarsegold Historic Village, touring the Coarsegold Historic Museum to explore regional history, and taking a stroll through the town’s antique shops.
Yosemite National Park is also just 20 miles up the road.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California town makes Airbnb list of little-known rural destinations
Reporting by Daniella Segura, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
