Americans help me welcome Europeans to the US by listing great US destinations
Jan 22nd, 2008, 03:10 PM
#41
Um Toucan2 --
The rest of the country is a mere footnote to New York City. What isn't in New York is not worth preserving. Note for instance, that it is as staggering a presence as the Grand Canyon, and considerably more interesting after dark.
The rest of the country is a mere footnote to New York City. What isn't in New York is not worth preserving. Note for instance, that it is as staggering a presence as the Grand Canyon, and considerably more interesting after dark.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 04:07 PM
#42
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I love all the ideas you've presented, and I am actually taking n ote of some of them for myself for future trips here in the US.
By the way, I also posted this on the US board and there are tons more responses on this forum. Interesting!
By the way, I also posted this on the US board and there are tons more responses on this forum. Interesting!
Jan 22nd, 2008, 04:36 PM
#43
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I have to agree with Toucan. I like NYC just fine, although granted it's not a favorite of mine, but I absolutely do not think it is in any way a true representation of the rest of the US. That's like going to Rome and assuming that it represents all of Italy, or going to Paris and assuming that it represents all of France...that just isn't the case.
Tracy
Tracy
Jan 22nd, 2008, 07:44 PM
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While I agre with the "wrong forum" sentiment, it seems harmless to share with friends that they, in turn, might share with non-Ameicans visitng the US.
1. Pleasant Hill, aka Shaker Village, Kentucky - - a fascinating and quirky footnote in American religious history. And a cornerstone of a visit to bluegrass Kentucky, where the Bourbon whiskey trail is every bit as interesting as some "route du vin" portions of Europe.
2. Yosemite. Listed twice by the OP for good reason, Nothin' else like it anywhere.
3. New Mexico is so many good destinations in one that I wouldn't lump any of Colorado with it (though I could be wrong). Especially a good idea to combine 24 hrs in Albuquerque on the main launching field at the Balloon Festival with a few days further north (Santa Fe and beyond, etc).
3. RollerCoaster USA. So many to choose from, but especially Cedar Point - - though you may have your own favorite.
4. Annapolis - - this might not be worthy, but having spent a half day there - - and lamenting that it wasn't two and a half, it seems a taste of America not duplicated in Europe in any sense that comes to my mind.
5. St John and St Thomas USVI - - maybe they do not seem like the US to many visitors from abroad, but an awesome place to get a beginner's-eye-view of snorkeling and scuba, if you're so inclined.
6. Likewise, Puerto Rico USA - - like a whole 'nother country, culturally, geographically (El Yunque National Forest, for example) and more.
7. Newport, RI - - while America has no Versailles (though we have some cool "stolen" replicas.. Hearst Castle, Biltmore House, Hammond Castle, others), this is a slice of American history, culture, society and geography that is American as Mont St Michel is French.
America's cities are treasures in their own right, but it seems to be simply "itching for a fight" to get in on the NYC versus everywhere else fracas. (I personally would vote for NOLA, SF, PHI, BOS, PIT, SEA, ATL, WAS, CHI or CLE as all holding a decent candle to many of the world's great cities).
Best wishes,
Rex
1. Pleasant Hill, aka Shaker Village, Kentucky - - a fascinating and quirky footnote in American religious history. And a cornerstone of a visit to bluegrass Kentucky, where the Bourbon whiskey trail is every bit as interesting as some "route du vin" portions of Europe.
2. Yosemite. Listed twice by the OP for good reason, Nothin' else like it anywhere.
3. New Mexico is so many good destinations in one that I wouldn't lump any of Colorado with it (though I could be wrong). Especially a good idea to combine 24 hrs in Albuquerque on the main launching field at the Balloon Festival with a few days further north (Santa Fe and beyond, etc).
3. RollerCoaster USA. So many to choose from, but especially Cedar Point - - though you may have your own favorite.
4. Annapolis - - this might not be worthy, but having spent a half day there - - and lamenting that it wasn't two and a half, it seems a taste of America not duplicated in Europe in any sense that comes to my mind.
5. St John and St Thomas USVI - - maybe they do not seem like the US to many visitors from abroad, but an awesome place to get a beginner's-eye-view of snorkeling and scuba, if you're so inclined.
6. Likewise, Puerto Rico USA - - like a whole 'nother country, culturally, geographically (El Yunque National Forest, for example) and more.
7. Newport, RI - - while America has no Versailles (though we have some cool "stolen" replicas.. Hearst Castle, Biltmore House, Hammond Castle, others), this is a slice of American history, culture, society and geography that is American as Mont St Michel is French.
America's cities are treasures in their own right, but it seems to be simply "itching for a fight" to get in on the NYC versus everywhere else fracas. (I personally would vote for NOLA, SF, PHI, BOS, PIT, SEA, ATL, WAS, CHI or CLE as all holding a decent candle to many of the world's great cities).
Best wishes,
Rex
Jan 22nd, 2008, 07:56 PM
#46
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love this thread (even if it is about US locations on the Europe board! No worries Julie
) It's reminding me of more US destinations I'd like to go to myself!
You took the words out of my mouth Tracy. FD amuses me.
Places to which I return again and again
1. Colorado - the whole darned state. Visit Mueller State Park appx between Woodland and Florissant if you want great hikes and vistas without the crowds of Estes. But literally every corner of this state has something exciting.
2. Washington State - Hey, it's home. Julie was naughty with number 12, so I'll be sure to put it separately....not a US destination but...
3. As long as you are that far north, head into BC! Love Vancouver, Victoria, head east a bit into Okanagon country.
4. Chicago. Someone already mentioned the architecture. And you know, maybe other cities have great stuff too, but you have to give it to the Chicago Architecture Society (or whatever their exact name is) they know how to give a tour.
5. Texas. It's a big state. Take your time. Are you a birder? Then you are nuts if you have not gone to Texas for spring migration. I certainly haven't covered the whole state yet, and the gun racks and beer barns might scare you a little, but buck up, you can take it.
My two bits for what it is worth (hmmm...what's that exchange rate again?)
Oh relax, I was just kidding about the exchange rate!
) It's reminding me of more US destinations I'd like to go to myself!You took the words out of my mouth Tracy. FD amuses me.
Places to which I return again and again
1. Colorado - the whole darned state. Visit Mueller State Park appx between Woodland and Florissant if you want great hikes and vistas without the crowds of Estes. But literally every corner of this state has something exciting.
2. Washington State - Hey, it's home. Julie was naughty with number 12, so I'll be sure to put it separately....not a US destination but...
3. As long as you are that far north, head into BC! Love Vancouver, Victoria, head east a bit into Okanagon country.
4. Chicago. Someone already mentioned the architecture. And you know, maybe other cities have great stuff too, but you have to give it to the Chicago Architecture Society (or whatever their exact name is) they know how to give a tour.
5. Texas. It's a big state. Take your time. Are you a birder? Then you are nuts if you have not gone to Texas for spring migration. I certainly haven't covered the whole state yet, and the gun racks and beer barns might scare you a little, but buck up, you can take it.
My two bits for what it is worth (hmmm...what's that exchange rate again?)
Oh relax, I was just kidding about the exchange rate!
Jan 22nd, 2008, 08:02 PM
#47
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SE Utah, esp. Arches & Capital Reef National Parks.
Las Vegas, New Mexico is 100 years apart from the other LV--frozen in time and a blend of colonial Mexico and 50's America. They still have the old movie theaters functioning & the old department stores. It's not restored, it simply never grew. We were fascinated.
Olympic National Park to see the giant old growth. Sadly you have to see the nuked landscapes on the way there, but once you're in the park it's cool.
The Columbia Gorge is beautiful, as is north central Washington.
Las Vegas, New Mexico is 100 years apart from the other LV--frozen in time and a blend of colonial Mexico and 50's America. They still have the old movie theaters functioning & the old department stores. It's not restored, it simply never grew. We were fascinated.
Olympic National Park to see the giant old growth. Sadly you have to see the nuked landscapes on the way there, but once you're in the park it's cool.
The Columbia Gorge is beautiful, as is north central Washington.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 12:18 AM
#49
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I forgot to mention Alaska...another whole other world within the U.S. that many do not see.
If you go to Chicago...do the blues and Jazz club tour at night. A friend once did that for me and it opened up a whole other view about the charms of Chicago.
I forgot the smoky mountains and Bershires
I love NYC ( and places around it like fire island, Hamptons, Conn,Long Island) and lived there for many years in Manhattan, but no way does it represent the U.S. It is like a planet unto itself.
I think the small quaint villages and small towns say much more about America in the same way that the small quaint villages in Europe shows the heart of Europe much better than the cities.Cities are great, but the heart is found in rural locations more often.
Boy, this thread is making me homesick. I could name 50 fascinating places just near my hometown of Santa Cruz, California and I am sure others could too.
Friends of ours happened to take off in an RV for a year around the U.S. when we took off for our long tour of the world. Their website gives lots of details for great places around the U.S.:
http://www.donnercruz.com/
If you go to Chicago...do the blues and Jazz club tour at night. A friend once did that for me and it opened up a whole other view about the charms of Chicago.
I forgot the smoky mountains and Bershires
I love NYC ( and places around it like fire island, Hamptons, Conn,Long Island) and lived there for many years in Manhattan, but no way does it represent the U.S. It is like a planet unto itself.
I think the small quaint villages and small towns say much more about America in the same way that the small quaint villages in Europe shows the heart of Europe much better than the cities.Cities are great, but the heart is found in rural locations more often.
Boy, this thread is making me homesick. I could name 50 fascinating places just near my hometown of Santa Cruz, California and I am sure others could too.
Friends of ours happened to take off in an RV for a year around the U.S. when we took off for our long tour of the world. Their website gives lots of details for great places around the U.S.:
http://www.donnercruz.com/
Jan 23rd, 2008, 12:39 AM
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Rosetravels, I loved Las Vegas NM. But don't tell everyone about it please! Let's keep it our secret 
. It's on the list for a return visit in May. Yes we are going to NM. Not sure what we are going to do there yet - just enjoy it and chill I think.
You guys are doing a good job of reminding me of all the places I still want to visit in the US. Sadly I'll have to win the lottery to pay for it all.
My SIL and I want to go to Chicago together, but she is a teacher and can only go when it is to darned cold, or too darned hot.
I've never been to NYC, I am not really a city girl, but who knows one of these days I may get myself over there and stand and gawp with all the other tourists I'll visit the B&H shop while I'm there. You can keep all the high fashion stores - give me a photographic Alladins cave
. It's on the list for a return visit in May. Yes we are going to NM. Not sure what we are going to do there yet - just enjoy it and chill I think.You guys are doing a good job of reminding me of all the places I still want to visit in the US. Sadly I'll have to win the lottery to pay for it all.
My SIL and I want to go to Chicago together, but she is a teacher and can only go when it is to darned cold, or too darned hot.
I've never been to NYC, I am not really a city girl, but who knows one of these days I may get myself over there and stand and gawp with all the other tourists
I'll visit the B&H shop while I'm there. You can keep all the high fashion stores - give me a photographic Alladins cave
Jun 2nd, 2008, 03:42 PM
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I love Hawaii, the people are very very nice there. I have been about 7 or 8 times and I will go again. Aloha !!
California, well, once you've done Disneyland and San Francisco( nice) its not somewhere I would return alot to,, the people are sometimes a bit strange, my husbands aunt is American, she is 76 and still does yoga in a bright purple leotard,, in the middle of the living room , with people there, YIKES>
As for the finger printing. The American poster who does not understand how that would be unwelcoming is being silly. I am Canadain and don't have to go through that, if I did, I would stop going over, it is EMBARRASSING , demeaning and insulting. Crimminals get finger printed in my country not vacationers. I bet HE wouldn't like to be finger printed .
California, well, once you've done Disneyland and San Francisco( nice) its not somewhere I would return alot to,, the people are sometimes a bit strange, my husbands aunt is American, she is 76 and still does yoga in a bright purple leotard,, in the middle of the living room , with people there, YIKES>
As for the finger printing. The American poster who does not understand how that would be unwelcoming is being silly. I am Canadain and don't have to go through that, if I did, I would stop going over, it is EMBARRASSING , demeaning and insulting. Crimminals get finger printed in my country not vacationers. I bet HE wouldn't like to be finger printed .
Jun 2nd, 2008, 03:53 PM
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Gee, the South sure is underrepresented on here!
"See Rock City"--how many of us saw those barns emblazoned across the country as a child? Rock City is still lovely and has a beautiful view of 7 states--along with nearby Ruby Falls, a great aquarium, whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River...all of this makes Chattanooga, TN a great destination (and no, I'm not even from TN--AL though--it's close).
Also,
*Chicago, Illinois
*Washington, DC
*For a unique American experience, go to a NASCAR race anywhere (there's a great track in Talladega, Alabama)
*New York City
*I second the recommendation for Shakertown in KY (and lovely horse farms in the region)
*Grand Old Opry in Nashville, TN,
*Elvis' home in Memphis, TN, followed by a jaunt down to Tupelo, Mississippi, his place of birth
*Mitchell's Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
*The Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore
*Follow the US Civil Rights trail, with a visit to Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham, AL (sites of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, MLK Jr.'s church in Montgomery, a really top-notch Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham AL)
*Do you like American football? Nothing beats a Southeastern Conference football game in the fall--pick a team--they are all good.
*The lovely Gulf Coast (Alabama, Florida or Mississippi--guess I should include Louisiana and Texas too)--there are some really beautiful beaches along that coastline)
I'm not as well travelled in the Western part of the country, so I can't speak to it as well.
"See Rock City"--how many of us saw those barns emblazoned across the country as a child? Rock City is still lovely and has a beautiful view of 7 states--along with nearby Ruby Falls, a great aquarium, whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River...all of this makes Chattanooga, TN a great destination (and no, I'm not even from TN--AL though--it's close).
Also,
*Chicago, Illinois
*Washington, DC
*For a unique American experience, go to a NASCAR race anywhere (there's a great track in Talladega, Alabama)
*New York City
*I second the recommendation for Shakertown in KY (and lovely horse farms in the region)
*Grand Old Opry in Nashville, TN,
*Elvis' home in Memphis, TN, followed by a jaunt down to Tupelo, Mississippi, his place of birth
*Mitchell's Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
*The Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore
*Follow the US Civil Rights trail, with a visit to Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham, AL (sites of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, MLK Jr.'s church in Montgomery, a really top-notch Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham AL)
*Do you like American football? Nothing beats a Southeastern Conference football game in the fall--pick a team--they are all good.
*The lovely Gulf Coast (Alabama, Florida or Mississippi--guess I should include Louisiana and Texas too)--there are some really beautiful beaches along that coastline)
I'm not as well travelled in the Western part of the country, so I can't speak to it as well.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 05:15 PM
#56
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TrollSilentTrollDeep:
You are a very bad person who's been to a lot of very bad places.
Now that I've scolded (jokingly) TrollSilentTrollDeep...
Every time I see people complaining about the unwelcome attitude--especially the fingerprinting--I remember Europeans criticizing the U.S. immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center because the U.S. had no meaningful border control. The implication was that it was our own fault that our country was attacked.
Now the U.S. is criticized because it does have meaningful border control, at least at the airports.
I have no doubt that the security is overdone, but it seems to me that we're darned if we do and darned if we don't.
You are a very bad person who's been to a lot of very bad places.
Now that I've scolded (jokingly) TrollSilentTrollDeep...
Every time I see people complaining about the unwelcome attitude--especially the fingerprinting--I remember Europeans criticizing the U.S. immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center because the U.S. had no meaningful border control. The implication was that it was our own fault that our country was attacked.
Now the U.S. is criticized because it does have meaningful border control, at least at the airports.
I have no doubt that the security is overdone, but it seems to me that we're darned if we do and darned if we don't.
Jun 3rd, 2008, 05:43 PM
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Troll Silent Troll Deep:
Actually, I think you you should have added "North Philadelphia" and "Camden, NJ" to your list.
I'd also like to add there are some very lovely neighborhoods in other large American cities - such as Red Hook in Brooklyn, parts of Dorchester in the Boston area.
But these places you list are really special and should only be seen by a very small handful of foreigners who post here on Fodor's so they continue to maintain that certain charm. The rest may prefer to stick to the OP's list...
Actually, I think you you should have added "North Philadelphia" and "Camden, NJ" to your list.
I'd also like to add there are some very lovely neighborhoods in other large American cities - such as Red Hook in Brooklyn, parts of Dorchester in the Boston area.
But these places you list are really special and should only be seen by a very small handful of foreigners who post here on Fodor's so they continue to maintain that certain charm. The rest may prefer to stick to the OP's list...
Jun 4th, 2008, 01:48 AM
#58
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Personally I’m thinking for some time about visiting the US for a tour through the New England states and then going to Chicago (big time favourite with some friends of mine).
Another extremely popular tour for Germans is the SF, Nevada, Arizona, LA tour, seeing some of the truly awesome national parks (I really like the camping facilities, by the way).
But up to now, whenever I had to decide between the US and another, also interesting location. the finger-printing stuff has always resulted in the US not making it to the top of my list.
My main problem is that I don’t think that the finger prints will ever be deleted but that they’ll be kept in a US database until the end of times. That’s something I don’t agree if my own government wants to do it. I certainly don’t want to offer it to the government of another state which has no legal obligations at all to protect my personal data since I’m a foreigner.
Now, I don’t feel so strongly about it that I wouldn’t travel to the US if it was for business or if the dollar keeps falling. I mean everybody has his price and mine isn’t too high But until now I always ended up going somewhere else.
Another extremely popular tour for Germans is the SF, Nevada, Arizona, LA tour, seeing some of the truly awesome national parks (I really like the camping facilities, by the way).
But up to now, whenever I had to decide between the US and another, also interesting location. the finger-printing stuff has always resulted in the US not making it to the top of my list.
My main problem is that I don’t think that the finger prints will ever be deleted but that they’ll be kept in a US database until the end of times. That’s something I don’t agree if my own government wants to do it. I certainly don’t want to offer it to the government of another state which has no legal obligations at all to protect my personal data since I’m a foreigner.
Now, I don’t feel so strongly about it that I wouldn’t travel to the US if it was for business or if the dollar keeps falling. I mean everybody has his price and mine isn’t too high
But until now I always ended up going somewhere else.
Jun 4th, 2008, 06:35 AM
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DH and I will be visiting NYC in September - his first time to the States and my second (last one 15 years ago). Although it is an extremely popular destination for Irish people - especially in the run-up to Christmas - I'm equally amazed at the number of people who said that fingerprinting has put them off travelling to the States and they're now going to Canada instead.
I still can't wait though!
I still can't wait though!
