Most touristy place you've been?
Apr 18th, 2007, 06:12 AM
#21
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Wisconsin Dells and Gatlinburg. I liked both. We had a weekend in the Dells with one day at a water park and the next go- karting. Not a cultural experience. Just fun. Same with Gatlinburg. If you know what you're getting into and want a few days of that, you can have a great time. Kind of like comparing reality tv to Animal Planet- both have their place.
Apr 18th, 2007, 06:37 AM
#25
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suze: Went to Puerto Vallarta Mexico 14 years ago with my husband and we stayed at La Hoya Mismaloya (spelling?) It was the last hotel till the mountains,. It was wonderful and the town was not at all touristy. Loved it because it was a real Mexican town (vs. created just for tourists like Cancun) Guess things have changed in the last 14 years!! Too bad.
I'm a New Yorker, and I'd say that Times Square is the most touristy that I know. And it's not New Yorky anymore. Once the frst chain store went in there, it was doomed. It was sleazy before, but it also was genuine New York. Now it could be (without the amazing lights, of course) middle America for all the restaurants that you could fnd anywhwere else in the U.S., and the middle of the road musicals. If you go, hope you eat at some small restaurant on the side streets towards or on 9th or 10th Avenues to get a real NY meal. Red Lobster doesn't cut it.
I'm a New Yorker, and I'd say that Times Square is the most touristy that I know. And it's not New Yorky anymore. Once the frst chain store went in there, it was doomed. It was sleazy before, but it also was genuine New York. Now it could be (without the amazing lights, of course) middle America for all the restaurants that you could fnd anywhwere else in the U.S., and the middle of the road musicals. If you go, hope you eat at some small restaurant on the side streets towards or on 9th or 10th Avenues to get a real NY meal. Red Lobster doesn't cut it.
Apr 18th, 2007, 09:03 AM
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Leavenworth WA is just about as bad as Gatlinburg TN. Sorry I wasted a day getting to Leavenworth and felt even worse when I paid the hotel bill for staying the night there. At least with Gatlingburg, with a short drive, there are other options.
Apr 18th, 2007, 09:36 AM
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The most touristy places we've been to that aren't virtually ONLY about tourism (that is, leaving out Disney, SeaWorld, Vegas, Branson, etc.) would be New Hope, PA, on a summer week-end and mid-town to "lower" upper East Side Fifth Avenue in NYC around Christmas (you can't move for the crowds).
Apr 18th, 2007, 09:43 AM
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I would have to say Pisa, Italy followed by Pigeon Forge, TN.
Pisa was okay. We never did find the Leaning Tower, but we certainly found our fare share of tourist shops. The town itself was fine, but I wouldn't go back.
I did not like Pigeon Forge in the least. I found it to be an eyesore and took away from some of the beauty of the nearby Smokies.
Most places are touristy for a reason though. I've been to many places, like Rome or Paris, that can be considered touristy but are fabulous in their own right. The hope is that the town has enough to offer to be able to look past some of the tacky touristy stuff.
Tracy
Pisa was okay. We never did find the Leaning Tower, but we certainly found our fare share of tourist shops. The town itself was fine, but I wouldn't go back.
I did not like Pigeon Forge in the least. I found it to be an eyesore and took away from some of the beauty of the nearby Smokies.
Most places are touristy for a reason though. I've been to many places, like Rome or Paris, that can be considered touristy but are fabulous in their own right. The hope is that the town has enough to offer to be able to look past some of the tacky touristy stuff.
Tracy
Apr 18th, 2007, 09:50 AM
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well I would have to say MYRTLE BEACH and then I refer to Gatlinburg as Mrytle Beach without the water!
But knowing they are tacky tourist places--I just want to go and have fun, eat some taffy and play an entertaining round of putt putt!
Besides the people watching is the BEST in the tacky tourist places!
But knowing they are tacky tourist places--I just want to go and have fun, eat some taffy and play an entertaining round of putt putt!
Besides the people watching is the BEST in the tacky tourist places!
Apr 18th, 2007, 10:54 AM
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I wonder if the OP meant "tourist trap" (negative experience) as opposed to "touristy" (which some posters don't seem to mind at all...)??
My vote for BAD tourist trap experience would be The HOuse on the Rock in central Wisconsin (billed as Wisconsin's #1, most-visited attraction). Hated it and hated the adjacent museum.
Hated Hilton Head. Over-hyped, over-rated. PAY to see the water??? Excuse me!
Second the votes for Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg areas. Ick.
My vote for BAD tourist trap experience would be The HOuse on the Rock in central Wisconsin (billed as Wisconsin's #1, most-visited attraction). Hated it and hated the adjacent museum.
Hated Hilton Head. Over-hyped, over-rated. PAY to see the water??? Excuse me!
Second the votes for Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg areas. Ick.
