**ONE** best place in US for tourists?
 

Just for fun, if you had touristy friends coming over from Europe, what ONE place/city would you suggest they see?

Hawaii for the beaches?

NYC for NYC?

Wash DC for the history?

Grand Canyon?

How about Vegas??

Of course, no matter what we think, my guess is the #1 choice is Disneyworld for most people visiting the US....

One of a Kind City: New York City
One of a Kind Scenery: Grand Canyon

Since you say "touristy" friends, I say the "one place" is California. Where else can you get such variety -- the beauty of San Francisco, the fame and dazzle of LA and its many sights including Disneyland if you want, the beauty of the redwoods and Yosemite, and if you cheat just a little bit, the glitz of Las Vegas?

If one place, I would go with the Grand Canyon. I would have said New York City except that I feel the natural wonders of the U.S. are what set it apart more than anything else. To not see some of the natural world here would be like visiting Switzerland without seeing the Alps.

New York - for any adults.

Disneyworld - only for little kids - and their parents.

But then I've always far preferred people to nature (fine in it's place - but boring after a limited amount of time).

You did ask for ONE place.

Las Vegas - no place in the world that comes even close.


I also believe that the majority of tourists love to experience and see just the opposite of what they have at home. Knowing a little more about your friends would help to determine the one, ultimate spot.

I have to agree, Las Vegas and not because it's necessarily the "best" but because truly there is no other place like it, not only in the US, but really anywhere I think.

Hi k2rider, most of my friends in Italy prefer these places in order of preference:
1) San Francisco
2) New York City
3) Lake Tahoe
4) Las Vegas

Some have indicated they would like to go to Portland OR., and Santa Barbara, but no sure if that is because of the location or because I have family in those areas. Probably a little of both.
I would say that San Francisco seems to be the favorite place to visit.

DisneyLand or DisneyWorld has never been mentioned.

one such place does not exist.

Just to clarify, I don't have friends in this situation. I just brought it up to see what kind of responses I'd get. I live in San Diego and deal with tourists CONSTANTLY in the beach area. Most of them seem to be from Ireland and Italy. They stay for months at a time and many never think of going to Vegas. I always tell them that Vegas is a MUST DO side trip before they go home.

The Europeans I encounter in my area are most interested in the beaches. We have a large European population along the beaches in Florida. I'm sure part of the reason for this is that it's much closer than either Hawaii or the Pacific coast.

I would never suggest Disneyland or Disneyworld, bc to me, amusement parks are so fake and contrived. They are more an example of marketing and commercialism, than the ONE place to visit in the US.

There really are so many...San Diego was going to be mentioned. San Francisco is so special. Seattle is beautiful, NYC is the greatest, Chicago is my kind of town (sorry, had to throw that in), and then I LOVE New Orleans.

Whew, hard to choose. So many wonderful places in this country, and so diverse...

How about NYC w/a side trip to Jones Beach & on out Long Island.

Our Parisian friends after one day in las vegas informed us they did not want to stay there any longer, this place wasn't for them but they loved Zion Park, North Rim of Grand Canyon, Saguaro park and Organ Pipe in Arizona. They also enjoyed their visit to Georgia's mountains, Sanibel Island in Florida, Oklahoma City, Adirondack Mounatins and Lake Placid ,Burlington area of VT. They found Great Smoky Mountains too crowded and they visited it in April.

There are many glorious places in the US, some of which have already been suggested. But, Las Vegas? If that is the best we have to offer ______ (fill in the blank).

I'd go with NYC, the BIG APPLE baby.

mm

It depends on what they want to see - impressive, world class sights like the Grand Canyon or New York; or typical home town USA. Some Europeans might really enjoy staying in small town USA, going to a diner, shopping mall, rodeo, baseball game, parade, etc.
Granted, New York and Vegas are fabulous, but they doesn't really represent average American life.

Some of the posters here make me laugh. If they only took the time to read the OP and not have their own preferences blocking their thinking, maybe they will understand why Las Vegas was suggested.

It was a simple question - ONE PLACE, that's somewhat unique to US.

No history, likings of the "friends" was provided.

It's possible that they may hate/love big cities, small cities, beaches, mountains, valleys, etc.

Nobody knew what their preferences were.

Grand Canyon - Wonderful, magical, amazing destination - IF that is what one is looking for. Besides, canyons could be found in other parts of the world. We don't have the monopoly on that.

Mountains - same, we don't have monopoly. There are just as majastic or even bigger and more amazing mountains in other parts of the world.

Falls - There are bigger, more beautiful, more natural falls in other parts of the world.

Big cities - There are more beautiful, more historic, more modern, more something or other big cities in the world.

Small cities - same as big cities. Look above.


but, there is only one Las Vegas - nothing like it in the world. Unique, and in many ways so American. Loud, flashy, rich.

So please don't tell me that your French friends hate it, that you would not be caught dead in Vegas, that it's this or that.

The question wasn't about what you would like, it was about a very unique, a very American ONE spot for a mystery person(s) that we did not know anything about. With the little information given and asking about the ONE very special American place - Las Vegas fits the picture.

Are you kidding?


PEDRO'S SOUTH OF THE BOARDER!!!

Vegas ain't got nuttin' on Pedro!

:-D




:-D




Okay, okay, Vegas.

BTW, Europeans have their own Disney.