TOURIST IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
How often have you been warned off a place, an attraction or a restaurant because it is “too touristy”?
There’s a reason why New Orleans ranks as one of the world’s most touristy destinations.
The word touristy or for that matter, tourist, is anything but a compliment these days; a traveller, on the other hand, has cachet, it confers a certain kind of cool.
Conventional wisdom has it that travellers like to savour journeys, seek out new horizons, take the road less travelled, but tourists, well, they do what’s expected of them and are content just to tick the boxes with a been there, done that, let’s board the bus and move on to the next destination attitude.
Bah, humbug to that I say. Call me shallow, call me callow, you can even call me a tourist, but you won’t offend me because there’s usually good reason why the so-called tourist traps are popular.
With few exceptions, the most popular tourist attractions have delivered great experiences, ones that live on in my heart and mind long after some of the off-the-beaten-track journeys and adventures I embarked on have been forgotten.
So with that in mind I offer you my list of tourist traps that even the most resolute of cool hunters should see.
New Orleans’ French Quarter
Apart from Disneyland, you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere more touristy in the US, and that’s saying something.
So why go? It’s a beautiful well-preserved city, it’s integral to American history – and since Cyclone Katrina, to its psyche as well – but most of all because it’s a non-stop party. The air fizzes with fun year round, not just during Mardi Gras. (I don’t know if I’d do Mardi Gras it looks a little full-on for my liking as I do like to get a couple of hours sleep every night.) There’s music blasting from cafes and jazz bars, people dancing on the streets, and there’s always a chance that you might catch a glimpse of Brad Pitt, who bought a house in New Orleans after Katrina, and has contributed greatly to the Crescent City’s renaissance.
Niagara Falls
Eight million tourists give or take a few thousand either way, find their way to the US/Canadian border annually to do the Falls. I did it a couple of years ago thinking I’d write a clever dick piece poking fun at it. But I loved it, every hokey moment of it, especially the Maid of the Mist boat ride where you get to wear a blue plastic poncho and come within spitting distance of the Falls. All that water, all that power, it was compelling. But then Mother Nature at her powerful best always is.
The Taj Mahal
What’s India’s most popular tourist attraction? The Taj, of course, and with good cause.
Be warned, the number of tourists, and touts trying to make a living from the tourists, will just about do your head in, but don’t let that put you off. It’s worth it. Once there, don’t hold back, go the whole hog and, like me, have your photo taken on the Diana bench – so named because it’s where Diana, the Princess of Wales, was photographed at the height of the speculation around her non-marriage. The media made much of the fact of how unhappy and alone she looked at the world’s most famous monument to love.
Times Square
It’s all the things that you’ve ever heard about New York and more. It’s gritty, it’s dirty, there are people everywhere, but you feel like you have made it to the centre of the universe.
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16 Responses to this article
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Pauline July 17, 2012
My favourite place in the world that I have been to so far, is New York. I just love it. I have been in winter and summer and both seasons are fabulous.
I also like Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston. San Diego is another really lovely part of the US. I love the States.
I love Rome and we did the touristy things there. We had a guided tour of all the attractions and it didn’t worry me one bit walking behind a guide with a flag. Same in Venice, kissing on the Bridge of Sighs etc, everything touristy.
We have also done the individual travel and I love both. I don’t care how we go as long as we go!
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Aeron Winters July 17, 2012
Like you, I loved Niagara Falls. I got drenched on the Maid of the Mist, and loved every minute of it.
I have also vacationed at Disney World in Florida and it was amazing, and I didn’t even ride the rollercoasters. I enjoyed that I could be a kid again and not be embarassed about that. Everyone should do it at least once.
I agree about Madame Tussauds too, There is something very creepy about the whole realistic wax figures….ick.
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Judy July 17, 2012
One of my favourite destinations is Venice…. I will never forget one rainy night walking back to our accommodation when we heard singing …. rounded the corner to find a group of gondaliers giving an impromptu concert ….. magic!
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Norelle July 17, 2012
I agree re Ulura – it is everything you expect but it’s way more – glorious colours, its sheer presence and the feeling of himility you get …
Also I would add the isle of Capri, Yosemite, Ellis Island in NY, Chelsea Flower Show, Canadian Rockies, and,of course the big potatoe in Robertson – it just makes me laugh! -
sandra nori July 17, 2012
Buenos Aires is hard to beat, especially if you go there with the intention of you go there to pig our on tango lessons and to go tango dancing. To me it is a cross between NY and Paris. Iguazu falls is a must if you go there, much much much bigger than niagra ( yu must do both th Argentinian and Brazilian side).it takes 2 days to walk around them properly.
London and NY are other favourites. You do’t have to think, you will stumble on a great cabaret, blues jazz, dance venue, theatre ballet etc. I like to try to link up my travel to an international dance competition, never hard to get tickets . Africa, very different very exhilarating and you will be the same again after being in is wilds. -
Clare July 17, 2012
I love Amsterdam. It has the reputation of being just another stop on young people’s boozy euro tours, but if you avoid the cliched tourist spots (the red light district in particular, which is saddening & depressing) & try to ignore the drunken groups of young English males on stag weekends, it’s a truly beautiful & intriguing small city. The markets, museums, gardens & of course canals make for a great visit. Spring is better than summer & you must try the pickled harring!
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Kimberley M July 17, 2012
The Great Wall of China is my vote for best and worst. Forget Badaling and go for the more remote and untouched stretches, such as Mutianyu and Huanghua.
The Canadian Rockies are amazing, too – breathtaking.
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JessB July 17, 2012
I love touristy things! I went to New York, and did a stack of them, and don’t regret one. We went to the top of the Rockefeller Centre, to the top of the Enpire State Building, to the John Lennon memorial at Central Park and stayed right off Time Square.
But the best touristy thing I saw was by accident. We were lining up to get on the ferry to Ellis Island, which is amazingly beautiful, and we noticed a memorial to those who died on the Titantic, on the dock where it’s journey was supposed to end. It was very simple, and very moving, especially followed by the trip to Ellis Island where so many people had arrived.
My favourite Aussie tourist thing is the monorail in Sydney. I was told on my first day there (years and years ago) that only tourists rode it, and I proceded to have at least one ride a day for the rest of the time I was there. Loved it!
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RobynMarie July 17, 2012
I couldn’t agree more – Times Square, Empire State – beyond anything you could imagine. But my all time favorite was the ultimate in ‘tourist destination’ – the Statue of Liberty. It was a miserable day, typical New York winter, driving rain and lashing wind but I was totally smitten when I caught my first glance of Lady Liberty. For half a second I was on The Mayflower, seeing the Mother of Exiles for the first time… and she took my breath away. I still dream about her and I wake up smiling. I think if you want the ‘real’ everyday life – stay home! I love being a tourist and I truly hope I always will be one.
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KathyA July 17, 2012
A cruise along the west coast of Alaska! Sounds cheesy but you are in the most beautiful place. Miles upon miles of rugged white capped mountains line the shoreline. Wildlife sightings galore and the most magnificent glaciers. The food on the ship is pretty special too.
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Lou July 17, 2012
I agree with everything you have to say except Bondi Beach – I find it seriously overrated because it is so overcrowded. Such a shame…
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ellenni July 18, 2012
i just love travelling and wherever i am at that time its my favourite place. i just love being there. i love airports too – all those people going somewhere.
one has to visit time square and we did everyday as our hotel was between times square and 6th avenue. bliss.
we are almost too old to travel now and because of my husband’s health we need to travel in the point end of the plane and oh boy is that expensive. however as long as our money holds out we will be travelling. we only lives once and if you are suddenly taken unwell you have all those great memories. -
Miranda Muer July 22, 2012
Taco Trucks in Melbourne…….ques of home-grown urban tourists
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Miranda Muer July 22, 2012
*queue’s
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Rhoda July 24, 2012
Prefer to get away from crowds but the young daughters of a friend recently went on a Mediterranean cruise together. Enjoyed themselves. They had 9 hours to ‘do’ Rome LOL
