mztery

SO many posters say something like "We're going to Denver/ NYC/Boise/Charleston - what are the "must-sees" there?"

Don't most travelers go to places because they want to see what's there because they have already heard about what is interesting in that place? I mean I can kinda see if you are going for a work trip and adding on some days, but who plans vacations to random places where they have no idea what there is to see?

november_moon

I wonder about that too. I have a hard time answering those questions and a lot of times I don't answer them at all - I kind of figure that if a person doesn't even do a basic amount of research (look at the top Attractions on Trip Advisor perhaps) then I am not all that motivated to help them. Besides, what do you say?

PaulRabe

The main problem I have with questions like this is that something *I* might consider a "must see" would be something some other person would consider a crashing bore -- and vice-versa. If the person would at least state, "I'm interested in experiencing this while traveling to xyz -- where would be a good place to find it?", then we could give an intelligent answer.

Also, sometimes the person doesn't even say what time of year s/he will be traveling, making it impossible to know whether or not an attraction even could be visited.

peterboy

Seriously...you don't get it?

You might be going to the coast of california for instance to drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you know about Bir Sur and the hearst Castle. Then you ask "what are the 'must sees" and learn about Point Lobos and the host of other attractions that you overlooked.

This is what travel forums are for...to find out what other found interesting. People are always curious about what other find interesting even if they themselves don't.

Perhaps they are being a bit lazier than you are but you seem to have no problem not answering so what's the beef?

garyt22

the request for "must sees" is very valid and should not be treated with the flippant response given... many times I have changed my plans on the advice of a well traveled person who has recommended a genuine GEM, not normally listed in a chamber guidebook ...

There's a dried fruit stand in the Hawaiian islands that was recommended as a "must see"... my kids still talk about the coconut candy and dried mango seven years after we stopped there...

There's a company called Monterey Whale watch that afforded my family a "life changing" whale experience on our trip to California... there's nothing like being 6 feet away from the eye of a wild whale... you can see into their soul...

thats just two examples... don't be so quick to dismiss the idea... just disregard those that don't fit you...

spirobulldog

The poster is asking what in your opinion is the best of the best.

For instance, everyone know that you should see Old Faithful in Yellowstone. But, they might not know to see Old Faithful Inn, Upper and Lower Falls, Lamar Valley, Tower Falls.

When I have asked this question, I get several different opinions and even things I haven't considered or knew about.

A lot of questions are generic, general, vaque, broad. Some people come to this board before doing any research at all. A lot of the trip reports state that they planned their entire trip based on the recommendations here.

qwovadis

most veteran fodorites that ask this

are looking for the best experiences

from fellow travel community folks who have been there...

think that some new posters are just clueless and think

they will get better advice than general dated guidebooks

which they usually do...

Lateagain

Beats me, why are they going in the first place if they don't know what to see. Do they stick a pin in a map.

Dayenu

I wondered too, and I think it may be the personality - if you are indecisive, you want somebody to tell you where to go

Or you live your life "to keep up with the Joneses" so you don't want your neighbor to say "you went to XXX and didn't go to YYY restaurant???"

Or some posters are just lazy to do a search, they expect somebody to chew it for them so they can just swallow.

I don't understand why don't they start with a tour guide?

KVR

One example that we recently had regarding this is that we went on an Alaskan cruise departing from Seattle and wanted to know what to see and do in Seattle before we departed. So actually, Alaska was our destination, but since we were leaving from Seattle we wanted to reserach it also. Of course we new some of the main atrractions, but wanted input from the locals and experts regarding other things not to miss.

Also, most people just want to post that they finally booked a trip and talk with others about their experiences. It's a good converstation starter to some and many times you'll get information not found somewhere else.

I am a veteran member and use this board and well as many other research tools to plan our trips. Don't be so dismissive and negatvie towards others looking for information. Isn't this what this board is for?

ellenem

I think that the people who react strongly to "must-sees" questions are those who spend lots of time here and have answered the question before, only to receive the response, "Oh, we have THAT on our list already. I was hoping you would suggest something else."

It is frustrating to spend time offering the wrong answer when a little guidance ("What are the must-sees in NYC? Already on our list are Top of the Rock and Times Square. By the way, we hate museums and love shopping.") could generate more useful answers.

nytraveler

I must admit this is a mystery to me too. Unless you have a last minute business trip come up and can then get a couple of days vacation - and no time to do any research.

I start with what my must sees are, pick the locations, then string them into a trip. I may ask later about a specific site - of if there are some little known places I should consider - but I know what I want to see before even considering going anywhere.

november_moon

I think the OP is talking about those posts that say something like "We are going to SF, what are the must-sees?"

No information about who "we" are and what "we" like or when "we" are coming.

suze

I don't have a problem with this question in the least. I think it's a perfectly valid request to ask on a TRAVEL FORUM! No one owes me an explanation as to why they are going somewhere and seeking suggestions for what they should see and do. I answer this question ALL the time for my home city and a few places I know really well.

longhorn55

"Must See" to me is like Kryptonite to Superman--it completely saps my ability to answer questions so I avoid any query with those words like the plague. Like so many others who have posted here, I have wasted my time in the past answering "must see" questions only to find out that what I suggested was not one of their interests (e.g. musuems) or that my suggestion was not a good one for the time of year they were traveling (e.g. Uluru in July is great, but not so pleasant in December).
If posters would first provide a bit of basic info: number of people traveling (and age groups), travel dates, interests and sometimes even budget, then we who answer questions could provide so much better and useful information.

Fra_Diavolo

Wow -- some of you are very generous. I consider the "what is there to do" or "must see" sort of questions the mark of an imbecile, and do not respond.

NewbE

A bigger mystery to me is why someone so misanthropic would bother posting on a message board where people ask for help with travel. "What are must-see's" is indeed a perfectly valid question, and no one should feel foolish for asking it. It is a way of saying, "did I miss anything in my planning, something I Must See?" It is also a way of saying "what is the best thing about this place?" And yes, some people are insecure as travelers, or insecure when going somewhere new for the first time, and need someone else's opinion. That's why they come here, duh!

happytrailstoyou

A bigger mystery to me is why someone so misanthropic would bother posting on a message board where people ask for help with travel.

"Oh 'tis a cruel, censorious world we live in." -- William Wycherley (1675)

I agree with what the OP says and I find nothing objectionable about it. I don't know the answer to the question, but when somebody asks what are the "must sees" in Seattle, for instance, I am likely to provide a link such as this: http://www.frommers.com/destinations...2_indattr.html

HTTY

mztery

re: I think the OP is talking about those posts that say something like "We are going to SF, what are the must-sees?"

No information about who "we" are and what "we" like or when "we" are coming.


thanks for clarifying novembermoon.OF COURSE If someone who has done some planning, or is going to a new place and is wondering what exciting new restaurants or whatever, etc - the "must sees" question has validity. I'm not talking about forum regulars who want to make sure they won't miss anything. But I AM talking about posters who have done NO checking and no planning and want forum regulars to be their travel agents, while saying "no " to every suggestion.

happytrailstoyou

A bigger mystery to me is why someone so misanthropic would bother posting on a message board where people ask for help with travel.

"Oh 'tis a cruel, censorious world we live in." -- William Wycherley (1675)

I agree with what the OP says and I find nothing objectionable about it. I don't know the answer to the question, but when somebody asks what are the "must sees" in Seattle, for instance, I am likely to provide a link such as this: http://www.frommers.com/destinations...2_indattr.html

HTTY