bbqboy

But Sarge, the tourists in Dallas are for the most part, Oklahomans, not World Travelers.

gmoney

Sarge, I was not saying that there was anything wrong with Dallas but it is not usually high on the list of US vacation destinations. Especially for foreign visitors.(not that there's anything wrong with that). I'm sure that there are many interesting things to do in Dallas but its not generally known as a Destination vacation.

missypie

Folks, if you click on dabber's screen name, you'll find that his question about what to do in Dallas drew 289 responses. Mind you, for a while some folks were debating statistics, but there is a lot of info in there about what there is to do.

girlwilltravel

I had to giggle when I read your heading! I live in a tourist/vacation spot and I ask myself the same questions about the little town of Hot Springs, Arkansas! Why would anyone come want to visit! Hot Springs is a charming little town situated in beautiful mountain, surrounded by lakes to fish and ski, a race horse track to lose you money, quaint shopping, have hosted gangsters, and early major league baseball training, and can say we gave the world Bill Clinton. I live here and I'm always making plans to travel in other places!!
Seriously, I have friends from Europe who love to come here to eat! I had one British gentlemen I sat next to on a flight from Chicago that he loves the states for the food. He loves his local alcohol libation, but give him USA food!

arthur_haven

Dabber, you make a good point. There's something in Dallas that attracted your interest, and you apparently found some othr things to do. Yes, I read your Dallas thread.

I'll agree with the poster who said that Dallas is not a vacation destination like Las Vegas or Orlando, or Boston or San Francisco. And I agree that the city is not well known. I have met very few people who have an accurate image of what it is, or what it has. But we are a geographically ignorant people. Blame the media, I guess.

And I'll agree with Sarge that the Dallas area has many things to entertain a tourist...

But why do foreigners, especially Europeans visit Texas and Dallas? Obviously to see something different, something out of their ordinary experience.

Pegontheroad

This summer I became acquainted with a young Australian farmer at a Goethe Institute in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, who has traveled to various strange places in America, among them Oklahoma City, to see where Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah Building and to the place in Louisiana where Bonnie and Clyde shot it out with the cops.

He also traveled to Stalingrad to see where the Russians defeated the German army. He said the cab drivers and passport officials were very puzzled about why he would visit Stalingrad.

Come to think of it, so am I.

sharone

We visit the gulf coast as often as we can for the weather & beaches, 2 weeks guaranteed sun. We live in the cold, rainy north of England where we are lucky to get 2 consecutive days of sun. We love many parts of the US, great scenery, friendly people, drivings a doddle. We did find it amusing though when we tried to find 'Historic Englewood' and we were told we were in it! My garden shed looked older. Luckily we have France, Italy etc on our doorstep for quick weekends of culture.

dgg

Hey Dabber, be honest, what did you REALLY think of Dallas and the US? Sorry to put you on the spot, but I'm curious.

dgg

OMG! I just read through all the posts and poor Dabber is getting it again because of his choice to visit Dallas as his 1st US destination. I was a frequent poster on his original thread and believe me, it became hot and heavy at times. Dallas is a little controversial to say the least!

My fanstasy is to write a US guidebook for European travelers, but I think it would fail miserably. I'll never forget the time my husband and I met and Indian guy who was bringing his parents to the US for the first time and their top destinations were Orlando and Las Vegas. HELLO!!! Let's face it fellow Americans, there's nothing like those cities anywhere else in the world. Personally I can't stand either place (Orlando is a periodic obligatory with my 4 kids) but both places are unique, regardless of your taste. Admit it!

dgg

I just had a brainstorm...I'm going to start a thread for the top 5 US must-sees for foreign travelers. It's probably been done before, but what the heck.

mel710

The USA has something for everyone. We have been visiting since the early eighties and have been to at least 20 states. We have enjoyed every one. The people are great and always happy to meet someone from the "Mother Country". We find the history fascinating, all cultures descending on a new land, the Pilgrim Fathers creating the first 13 colonies and the War of Independence where the new settlers broke away from the British taxes (good for them). We loved Arizona, with it's stunning scenery, then the bright lights and fun of Vegas in Nevada. We loved Tennessee, Memphis with its music and 50's feel. Graceland, Sun studios and all the memories of Elvis. We then moved on to Nashville for a week, then over the Smoky mountains, breathtaking!We loved California with all it's movie connections, but our favourite state is Florida. Not just Orlando, (but I must have my "Mickey fix" each time we go,) but the wonderful beaches of the Gulf coast and of course the Keys. If you want architecture, go to St. Augustine where there are European style buildings with a Spanish and British influence.I could go on all day,but I think you get the picture. The US is great, be proud. As for Walmart,of course we visit, you can always rely on it for those essentials. The strangest thing I have ever seen in the US was a frail old lady,at least 80 years old, roller skating (very slowly) through Central Park in New York. Brilliant!! Must go, as we are packing to go to Florida, then it's New England in June.

schnauzer

I have seen quite a bit of the States over the years, and enjoy simply that it is "different" to either Australia or the UK where I am originally from. Our last trip was to ski as the ski fields for the most are rubbish in Oz and we had a terrific time in Steamboat. Can't say I would come to the States for the food, sorry guys, even though we did have some great meals, however we paid a fair wack for the "good" food. (also gotta love the way you guys do ribs, yum yum yum)

What we found amusing was to visit Walmart and find that they actually sold guns and ammunition and that the counter was adjacent to the childrens toy department. Surely,the saying only in America, has to come to mind, but I don't know, maybe this happens elsewhere in the world and I am living in total ignorance. Anyway, USA has so much to offer in the way of national parks and lots of activities. I am still wanting to see the New England states in Autumn, oh well one day maybe.

P_M

DavidBaily, thank you and everyone else for your good words about the US. I regret that you cannot live here if that is your wish.

About the Alamo: In addition to what j 999 9 said, in the battle of the Alamo Texas lost just over 100 men, while the Mexicans lost about 2,500. It was not a defeat for Texas.

bbqboy

Schnauzer, Do you not have Guns in Australia, or do you not have Wal*Marts?

judyjay

When our friends from France came to visit us (we live in the Chicagoland area) they marveled at how new our homes were. They loved the whole subdivision thing. "Where we come from, everything is so old." I had to smile at that--that's exactly why my husband and I travel to where they live, to see their living history.

wally34949

We do have some of the best national parks. If you ever hike the Grand Canyon, you will see a lot of foreigners. The Americans will be riding the muels.

I remember talking to a tour director in Australia. He had a bunch of Americans on a previous tour. He spent several days showing them the national parks in Australia. The comments from the American's were, The Grand Canyon is bigger, Yellowstone is more beautiful, etc. Finally, a kangaroo hopped by and the American's said, "Now we don't have anything like that in the States."

woodysagoodboy

Sarge56, Having read your post about Dallas, I think you can shovel it with the best of 'em. nothing wrong with being a homer. Woody

crefloors

Sharone, are you implying that we ain't got culchah? !!!! LOL

GoTravel

crefloors, that's Kulcher with a capitol K!

sarge56

Woodysagoodboy... I am a native Chicagoan and will just as proudly tell you about the incredible city it is and all of its wonderful attractions. I've also lived in Tennessee, S.Carolina, N.Carolina and Nevada. And I suppose I would tell you about each of the wonderful things in those places, too. My point is that each place in our country does indeed have its' own charms. Having lived here for almost 20 years, I just get tired of people bashing Texas. My siblings also don't visit because they believe all the hype they see in the media, and think of Texans as some of the most ignorant people in the country. Well, those folks are everywhere. And I certainly don't think that a couple of poorly-spoken "Texans" represent the population as a whole. Most "natives" here are friendly, warm and bright (think of U of T, Texas A&M, Rice University, SMU, TCU, UNT and Texas Tech- we probably have over a quarter million college students in this state alone). One of my siblings who is an avid outdoors person finally came to Texas last year to hike the Guadalupe Mountains out west. She has hiked in over 50 national parks and she said she had to change her favorite now from Utah's Bryce Canyon to the mountains in West Texas! SO>>>those of you who believe the hype...don't. Take advantage of those "weekend fares" that airlines offer. Come for a 3-or4-day weekend. See Dallas/Fort Worth. Austin is wonderful, especially if you're a 30-something. San Antonio is awesome, too. Houston (not in the summer :]) has some fine musuems and is close enough to do Galveston also, which has some wonderful history and beaches. Y'ALL COME DOWN NOW, Y'HEAR???