This has been a very interesting thread. A friend of mine who moved here from Germany a couple of years ago has made a point to visit as much of the U.S. as possible, and he recently said that he found all of our country to be practically indistinguishable from the rest. For example, he said all the malls have the same stores, the same look to them, and even the people look alike. He said in Europe each town has a different look and personality, etc. You know, I think he's right. We're kind of Stepford America.

I take offense to your German friend's remark Patrick.

My Gap, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Mickey D's, and Starbucks is much more unique than any other.

I mean really, has your friend even been to a Sam's Club

cfc, you forgot the mother of all, drumroll please.. deep fried twinkies!

Seetheworld: I understand. I get plenty of brain freezes.

Postal. I agree. for example, I live in Houston. I can see how people will confuse it with other parts of the country.

Our snow skiing is fantastic. We should be the permanent host of the winter olympics. My friends in Denver are ready to move here. The beaches rival Florida, the surfing is better than Hawaii. Our historical monuments blow away Washington D.C, Philadelphia and Boston. The old world charm of our downtown puts New Orleans and Charleston to shame. I love Houston Style Pizza. Much better than Chicago and New York. And the cheesesteaks, Philadelphia should rollover and be dead. Why go to St. Louis when you can see our golden arches. Our new metro train is much more fun to ride than a trolley car in San Francisco. And we don't have to worry about a terrorist blowing up our Golden Gate Bridge, just our refineries and chemical plants. The summers are so mild here, that people are moving here from southern California. The only places I can thnk of that would rival Houston as a tourist destination are Dallas and San Jose.

I've heard about this tourist site called the Space Needle, it's pretty boring because you can't even get to it. Who would ever visit a needle in space, and who put it there in the first place? What happens when it falls back to earth, who gets stuck with that deal? The US taxpayers no doubt. I suppose NASA thinks they have this one all sewn up.

And what's the deal with Vegas?!? Every night we were there was ruined by those gangs of pirates fighting outside our hotel. And that place across the road had such plumbing problems that they had to haul people up and down the halls in boats! And why in the world would they build a place so close to an active volcano? They really need better zoning laws there!

And I don't get the attraction of Hawaii. I can get the same vivid colours of the roadside wildflowers in silk. Lush gardens, ha! I'll take my little bonsai anyday. (wink)

LDLee -

There's only one response to your post ---- ROAD TRIP!!!!

"I never was a fan, and "Horse With No Name" has to be one of the worst songs of all time."

I agree, but I used to love driving down a Ventura Highway in a convertible with my Sister Golden Hair surprise. Actually, it seems that Everyone I Meet is From California, even if they're Lonely People. So, as I think of being with my Woman Tonight, give it Another Try, don't be a Tin Man because Today's the Day, Only in Your Heart, that You Can Do Magic.

I can't stand a boring ride down highway 1 to Big Sur. It really sucks big time. It really ticks me off when I have to take stroll on the beach when it's 70 degrees in the middle of January. Bummer.

LDLee, the suggestion for you to do a road trip is, indeed, a good one. That way you could enjoy the greenery of the "new" I-10, which you failed to mention in your list of Houston's most beautiful features.

Shame on you....

LDLee,
And that show was educational too. I won't visit Germany or buy a German car because of Pearl Harbor.

Oh heck. Lets just build Wal-Marts everwhere and screw up all of America. Those ten acre parking lots are so beautiful and they get rid of those pesky trees. Besides, we all need to buy more products from communist China and put Americans out of business.

And let's build more gaudy shopping malls instead of needed housing for thwe have nots.

Big Yellow Taxi!

meets

This Land Is Your Land

Yes more parking lots for all! Who needs trees. One our Calfornia governors , that went on to much bigger and better things, once said "You've seen one redwood tree you've seen 'em all." Boy he was sure right.

Oops, sorry for the typos. Cocktail hour started early today.

And the envelople please:
((if my side will stop hurting))

1st Place goes to:
Icuy 1/22/2005 12:28 a.m. "Hawaii"

2nd Place goes to:
DixieChick 1/22/2005 12:15 p.m.
"Redwoods"

funny stuff....thanks folks...

Plus:

The color green can get very monotonous in Seattle.

And what's with the brick in Boston?

Why do all the buildings in Miami look like they came from Don Johnson's wardrobe.

Why do you need basketballs at LA Lakers games? You can just use the breasts of a typical female Angeleno.

Did y'all know you can get a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" IN KANSAS?!!!! Yep, right next to the NASCAR race track.

Things I love about America: ice in my drink, toilets I know how to flush and McD's off the freeways.

Travel is fun, home should be boring.