What are the specific things you like to do

Old Aug 21st, 2003, 05:44 AM
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What are the specific things you like to do

When I travel,one thing I always try to do is get up in the morning and walk thru different neighborhoods or places that we don't always get to see. This seems to be the only way I get a "feel" for the destination.

What are some of the things you like to do or have done.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 05:51 AM
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I like to go into shops that are mostly used by locals, not tourists. You can learn a lot in the supermarket!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 05:54 AM
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We do the same thing, Anon! We own a fish market in Florida, so it's always fun to check out "the competition" in other faraway places. I'll never forget going into a store in St. Lucia, where all the meat was wrapped in white freezer paper, and marked on the outside with the price and the word "beef" scrawled in marker! Also, discovered that the fish in Hawaii with the exotic names is same species as we get from the Gulf and the Atlantic (red snapper, etc). That was a surprise!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 06:03 AM
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We like to take black and white photos very early in the morning as the city is coming alive for the day.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 09:08 AM
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We like to hike in areas of scenic beauty like national parks.

Utahtea
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 09:16 AM
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Us too, Utahtea. We love the national parks, and we've done some great, memorable short hikes even a few miles outside of larger cities. In the spring, we hiked in Torrey Pines and Cabrillo outside San Diego, and these count as one of the more memorable parts of the trip - even including all the interesting, touristy type stuff there is to do in San Diego.

I also love browsing used bookstores when we're away. I love finding books on the local area that I can't find closer to home.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 09:30 AM
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I agree with the 2 last messages : for
someone who is physically able, best way to get the atmosphere is to hike in nature(NP, state park, national monument) or to walk.
I remember this year a walk from little Italy in NY(the one in Bronx), continued by a cross to Grand Concourse, till Yankee stadium and then Spanish Harlem : in one day, italy,
old buildings in a now safe neighborough and then portorican NY :
incredible and if you look more interested than "curious" in the wrong acceptation of the word, there is no problem with the people who are always
to give you some good advices(from where
take pictures,...).
-and recently, 2 hikes in canyonlands-
from big spring overlook to confluence overlook(in the needles district) and the syncline loop(around upvehal dome
in the bottom of the canyon) in island of the district where we were alone and have captured all the beautiness and the wild caracter of the park.
Finally a day in grand Gulch primitive area, at the discovery of anasazi ruins and rockart, alone with our archeologic guide : a day of history in an area which seems like in the prehistory.
Not easy for who cannot hike or walk but definitively the best ways to capture atmosphere, smell, different
colours and if possible, early in the morning...
Hope we can do it for many years..;
Erik.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 09:37 AM
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Yes to taking walks/hikes through local neighborhoods, scenic areas and visiting local food markets.
I like to ride horses whether it be along a beach, in a scenic area or through a city park.

Also, hang out in local bars/pubs and watch big-time sporting events on TV with the locals - as a sports fan I find that this really gives me a sense of identification with the local people - even if we're rooting for opposite sides!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 10:13 AM
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Hiking is big with us too. Love exploring and just taking in the beauty of the land.

Also like to find neighborhood bars for a beer or two to see what the locals are like. Love meeting new people!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 10:29 AM
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Love to browse through food stores, art galleries, bookstores. Walk through residential neighborhoods (preferably not in the suburbs - you've seen one you've seen 'em all). Totally agree with going to a local pub and talking to locals.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 10:45 AM
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I forgott one of my favorite even I'm european : going to a game during the seaseon, even in the small towns and perhaps better in those cities :
ambiance is really like to be in a family... for generaly a cheap price..
Stadiums are generally full of charm..
Erik.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 11:09 AM
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Great Question!

I like scenic or country destinations so:

Get up and watch the sunrise.
Try out whatever the local/regional micro brew is.
As mentioned earlier, take a walk.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 11:20 AM
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I always buy the local newspaper to get a flavor of what it's like to live there. It's especially fun when the area is a lot different from where I live because the people are concerned about different things -- the fishing limits in Alaska, the wildlife issues in the West and so forth. Sometimes I clip ads or articles for my scrapbook to inject a feeling for the places we've been.

If the area is a lot different from where I live, I pick up some booklets with real estate listings and choose where I would live if I had unlimited money.

I even like grocery stores. I remember our amazement in California in 1992, when we saw supermarkets with food courts and dry cleaners. Those features had not yet made their way to Connecticut.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 12:27 PM
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I too love going into grocery stores. My husband and I once purchased cauliflower that was bigger than a baby in upstate new york. We brought it back home to chicago, and my mother in law made us soup!
I also enjoy getting up early, going into the local coffeeshop or starbucks, and then maybe taking a walk.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 01:06 PM
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Aside from exploring anything new and exciting: Finding lodging with a balcony and a view to enjoy both morning coffee and evening tall one.

Finding fun, fresh jogging paths and trail rides.

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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 01:12 PM
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At the beach I like to get up early, hopefully before and anyone else is out and before the sun rises and walk along the water. Watching the sun come up for the day against the water is beautiful.

At night I like to sit out at the beach and look at the stars.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 01:52 PM
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I hit the bookstores and prowl around looking for the local interest section. Not only do I find the standard guides loaded with information about the place I've found myself, but there are usually locally published books and guides unavailable except in this location. I find that even in the national chains, and remember from my days working at a Waldenbooks that we would carry local guides that would be extremely difficult to get on the other side of the country.

And sometimes you find guides completely unavailable but in a particular location. There's an excellent guide to the Asheville Urban Trail, for example, carried by all the big bookstores here that you probably wouldn't be able to get somewhere else but through ordering it via the internet.

Also, call it goofy, but I like to collect a tee shirt from wherever I travel. Not just to keep in a closet, but to wear. When it wears out, it's time to go back to the Philadelphia Zoo, or Atlanta (though going back to Atlanta would be more of a chore than a vacation), or Hot Springs, or wherever else!

And of course, wherever I go, I've got to go downtown. Hanging out downtown, any downtown, is one of my favorite things to do, although I've got admit that I've been spoiled by Asheville's downtown. Sometimes it's hard to find anything else that can compare!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 02:06 PM
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Hauntedheadnc - your T-shirt collecting isn't goofy; I do something more corny. About 5 or 6 years ago I started bringing home a refrigerator magnet from our travels. I know it's not the most classy thing, but I like to be reminded of all the great places I've been, and I actually wish I started sooner. I don't have any magnets from Oregon or Yosemite. They were some of my favorite travel destinations, and I don't know when I'll get back.
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 02:12 PM
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First afternoon/evening: Pop down to the hotel bar (or nearest pub) and chat with the bartender about what to do while I'm in town. If it's still light, I take a quick, intense walkabout to get my bearings. If there's an underground, find the nearest stop and grab a map.

I always strive to take my meals in locally-owned establishments (no national chains or franchises), and I always force myself to try the local specialty, no matter how bad it sounds.

And, I'm ashamed to say it, I also collect T-shirts and/or refrigerator magnets. I embrace my tackiness, dammit!!
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Old Aug 21st, 2003, 02:13 PM
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I didn't imagine that so many people liked to check out the local supemarket! I really like to do so, too.

I also love to eat new food...One thing is to try all the non-common sweets at the supermaket.


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