Can I extend the forum north of the 44th parallel? <BR> <BR>Toronto is a great place to live but I can't imagine why anyone would want to visit... The most overused accolade I hear is that we live in a "nice, clean" city. I have no idea what people from the US would come here to see (cleanliness)? The CN Tower? Big line ups, overpriced and if it's not raining you can look at the railway yards beneath. <BR> <BR>Shopping? The Eaton Centre is three levels of tacky chain stores with K-Mart type clothing. We go to Buffalo for deals, lots of selection to raid Target and to pick up the latest trendy stuff at Ann Taylor or the Saks outlet (and honestly, if we're going to Buffalo to shop doesn't that say it all???) <BR> <BR>We do have great restaurants but if I hear once more that we're on par with New York or LA in terms of being cosmopolitan, I'll gag. <BR> <BR>The Theatre?? The Stratford Festival is great, but it's a 2 hour drive outside of Toronto ... most of our plays have wooden Canadian actors with phoney British accents in plays that have been on Broadway for years already. And they promote these plays as if we're getting really "hot", fresh-from-broadway productions, like Lion King which already has been playing in New York for years. Or "Art". <BR> <BR>The Harbourfront is great ... if you can get there from the downtown. Thanks to the city planners from the 1950s there is a major expressway that runs between downtown and the harbour so forget about walking unless you want to go through an industrial wasteland. <BR> <BR>The weather... YUCK! OK, June - October are usually nice. November to May expect grey, dreary days. <BR> <BR>I once read an article that categorized cities in terms of the number of days you could fill there (New York and London were 7-day cities). Honestly, Toronto is a two day city in the summer and a one day city any other time of year. And spend that day eating!

Heather, <BR>I was in Toronto last summer and I thought it was great. I loved everything except the CN tower (an overpriced tourist trap). I was there a week and that wasn't enough time to see everything I wanted to see. If you want to live somewhere that really has nothing to do you should try Wisconsin. <BR>

Note to Kat: Unfortunately, you're telling us something that MANY of us already know without even visiting: That Atlantic City is horrid! And NO, don't go just for the gambling either! Go to Vegas along the Strip as it's far SUPERIOR in every way imaginable!!

Since some have extended this topic to Canada, my vote is Vancouver. What an overrated bore. The whole city shuts down by around 10pm.

Another vote here for Vancouver

Loved Plimoth Plantation,the rock was bad. <BR>Lived in Florida- anyone been to Naples? <BR>a beautiful place. <BR>Thought the Empire State Building was a nightmare-really long lines and CROWDED. <BR>Loved Central Park. <BR>The Queen Mary was boring! <BR>Disney World is a one time experience. <BR>Everglades are hot and boring-but go to Corkscrew Swamp near Naples. A nice boardwalk thru trees. Always see an alligator and cool birds. <BR>Loved Conway, New Hampshire- great trails and waterfalls.Also liked Martha's Vineyard- fun place. <BR>Least favorite place-- The Bonanza Attraction in Lake Tahoe. It was dirty, dusty, boring, and over priced. If it was free it wouldn't be worth it!

Forgot to mention that my family loved Rock City on Lookout Mtn.

As a New Yorker, I must nominate Times Square- why do tourists go there? It's horrible- dangerous, crowded, ugly, no good restaurants. And people always pick hotels in this area. Skip it, or if you must see it, drive by. No natives go there- we stay away from it.

Has got to be any type of swamp tour...either in New Orleans or the Everglades...first of all, the alligators have all been scared away, along with any wildlife that may have remained for the marshmallows (Yes, they still feed the poor creatures Marshmallows)... <BR> <BR>Chances are the boats are too noisy to attract any kind of wildlife...besides...leave the poor creatures alone! <BR> <BR>Soon the caribbean will be the same, with all the cruise ships tramping in with their sightseers looking at the 'beautiful clear water"...guess what muddies up the waters?

Someone wrote: don't leave all the good stuff to ourselves about places that are unspoiled...You've got to be kidding...every time I see a newspaper article exposing something I've enjoyed for years unspoiled I get very upset. <BR> <BR>You don't think I'd want tourists to see my favorite unspoiled spots, do you?

I finally decided to read this general thread and found it helpful. I think, though, I have a selective memory and tend to remember the good vacation decisions I made and block out the mistakes. Here's some I remember:<BR><BR>Florida--Silver Springs. Couldn't see much on glass bottom boat ride. See where some Tarzan was filmed--so what? A state park is better alternative to see nature.<BR><BR>Georgia--Helen and River St in Savannah. Helen is another town that has tried to create a fake German identity that has drawn outlet stores, t-shirt shops, condos, an Octoberfest, an terrible traffic. The surrounding state parks are great. Earlier poster described the tacky street in Savannah.<BR><BR>NYC--climbing the stairs to the Statue of Liberty. Riding the ferry and even the base was fine, but the lines, steps, and limited view was not worth the effort to climb.<BR><BR>NH--Conway area. Too many people and too much traffic around mostly unimpresseive shops and restaurants. The nearby mountains are great. Just stay on the west side.<BR><BR>Vermont--Ben &amp; Jerry's factory tour. One viewing area above the production floor. Just buy the ice cream at the store.<BR><BR>Tennessee--Gatlinburg has been well described. Although I haven't been there, my family was disappointed in Graceland. Not the size or luxury they expected for touring a mansion. Nephew liked the costumes.<BR><BR>Chicago--Navy Pier. Just too much like other shopping/entertainment complexes.<BR><BR>Texas--I think part of the disappointment with the Alamo is that it is small and in the middle of the city--just not the setting to help get a feel for the history.<BR><BR>Utah--Great Salt Lake. I don't know what I was expecting, but not all the flies!<BR><BR>California--Solvang is a Danish Helen. SF Fishermans Wharf area is dirty and depressing. Go elsewhere on the Bay.<BR><BR>Seattle--I didn't think the revitalized shopping area was very impressive. We went looking for some recommended ethnic restaurants and found some places that made us feel uncomfortable/unsafe. Once out of the city the surroundings were beautiful.<BR>

Steamtown, Scranton, PA.<BR><BR>To get there, you have to drive<BR>into Scranton!

Key West--It takes so much effort to get there, I guess I was expecting something special. I saw a few old houses, key lime everything, rocky beaches, and crowds waiting for the sunset even when overcast sky. There are the bars and restaurants, but I can find as good with much less travel time. I just didn't get it.

Linda, I agree -- Key West is one, big ZERO!!!

Tucked between Chicago (cool big city), Minneapolis (cool mid-sized city), and Madison (cool smaller city) is a hell hole called the Wisconsin Dells. Don't waste your time. I am sure at one point it was a very pretty area, but I can only see so many go-cart tracks, water slides, and McDonalds before I stop enjoying myself.

Most depressing mountain-top experience:<BR>PIKES PEAK. Pay to drive up, no vegetation, saw 1 bird, no other animals, dusty, sometimes perilous drive, crowded with other desperate-for-good time vacationers, tourist shop at the top to remind you of the "view", provided it's not foggy, cloudy. <BR>Greatest mountain-top experience: MOUNT EVANS (just west of Denver). Paved road all the way up, lush scenery, friendly mountain goats at the top, no crowds (also no restroom facilities or trinket shops), fresh air, much more interesting. Be sure to fill up the gas tank and use restroom before you begin ascent. Haven't been there since about '92, may have been commercialized since then.

Anyone been anyplace this summer?

I will never again go to disneyland over Christmas vacation. I am ashamed to admit we let our kids talk us into this more than once, since we fly from Hawaii to California every year. the last time we did this we got onto FIVE rides and we were there from open to close! We spent the entire time in line, or pushing our way through crowds in the street to the next ride! It might be better with the Fast pass, but a gate attendant said the crowds go up from about 10 or 15 thousand to 65,000 at Christmas.

In response to Denise (Big D) about Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens - I live here, and I agree, it is truly pathetic. You are right about the people who work there - all are very sweet and conscientious people. But I don't know why it is hyped at all. It's an embarrassment to us locals. I would not go to see the Corpus Christi Zoo either. Go to a zoo worthy of your time and money. I do like our Aquarium, even though it's not enormous. We have the Lexington, which is a battleship, and if you enjoy climbing up and down ladders in cramped spaces, be sure to go. For those people who are World War II buffs, and like seeing the planes, etc., by all means, take the tour (just make sure you aren't claustrophobic). The Columbus Ships here are also of interest - for about 5 minutes maximum. Maybe long enough to take a snapshot? That said, I do love Corpus Christi, and admire our beautiful bay. Don't look too close, though. We call ourselves the "Sparkling City by the Sea" - but there's plenty of trash on the beaches. People here spend a lot of time on the beach, cooking barbecue, playing horseshoes or volleyball, surfing and swimming or just laying back to get a tan. Take a stroll along the bayfront - watch the sailboarders and the rollerbladers as they pass by, drive to Port A and enjoy the beaches there (watch out for the undertow and the sharks, though), maybe take a fishing trip out into the gulf, visit the Aquarium, and you will probably get the best the city has to offer.

I'm so crushed. I'm visiting Salem this October for my honeymoon. My original plan was to go to Boston, and do the New England fall foliage thing and see some historical sites (never been east of St. Louis). <BR> <BR>I experienced HUGE sticker shock at the Boston hotels. So I started looking at bed and breakfasts. Two requirements : King size bed (fiancee is over 6'3") and a jacuzzi in the room. A bed and breakfast in Salem met these requirments. <BR>We were only going to spend 1 possibly 2 days in Salem, the other days are for driving up to Lake Winapasaukee in NH, 2 days in Boston, and a day down to Plymouth or Cape Cod. <BR> <BR>ANy of you have any better ideas? Already bought the plane tix to Boston, but we wouldn't lose that much money to cancel the B7B reservations in Salem.