If I'm coming to YOUR area as a tourist, what should I see?

[pigletgirl]

Arizona --
1. GRAND CANYON (!!) Pictures and video don't do it justice.
2. Sedona. There's hardly anything like it! Really spectacular
3. Lava Tubes. Near flagstaff they are underground where thousands of years ago, or maybe millions, lava used to flow.
4. Botanical Gardens in phoenix
In Tucson --
1. Mt. Lemmon
2. Desert Museum
3. San Xavier Mission
4. Both sides of the Saguara National Park
And lots more!!

 

[The Hendies]

I'm south of Rochester, NY.

So, I recommend a couple of wine tours around the fingerlakes while staying at one of the many Bed and Breakfasts. Also check out Letchworth State Park - especially beautiful in the fall.

Add a boat tour of the beautiful Finger Lakes while sipping on some of the best wine you can buy!

 

[PatsGirl]

BlueFairy: Hi One of my pet peeves when I go on vacation is not knowing where the locals go, whether it be restaurants, beaches, shopping, etc. So many people come to the Cape and end up on the southside beaches because that is where 80% of the hotels and other businesses are. The beaches from Harwich to Hyannis (mid-Cape area and hugely overpopulated in the summer) can be quite nasty IMHO. Of course, if you don't know beaches then you might be impressed. I think they are dirty and over crowded.

The bay side beaches on the other hand are gorgeous and when the tide is out, you have miles of beach to spread out on In Brewster, the beaches are rarely crowded because you have to go to town hall to buy a sticker vs. a booth at the parking lot where you can pay to enter for the day. They are called the "Brewster flats" and you can enjoy watching (or doing yourself but with no license you cannot keep) people dig sea clams and other shellfish.

In Dennis (the beaches sell out in July and August early mornings, sometimes before 9:30 am) there are several beaches that have swings and snack bars. At high tide, they tend to be very crowded but that only lasts two hours or so before you can start to spread out... Fishing off the jetties can get you a nice Blue Fish or Bass for your grill and doesn't require a license but does come with size restrictions so check that out. Dennis also has two off-road beaches for 4X4 and that is the way to do the beach if you can! Bring your grill and your cooler and spend the day.

Other great beaches (and ones with waves sometimes large enough for surfing) are on the Lower Cape from Chatham to Ptown. When I want to relax on the beach (and not worry about kids in the water) I go to Dennis or Brewster but we do go to the other beaches a few times each summer. Not so relaxing...I stand by the water a majority of the time just in case

As for Route 28, I have one thing to say: Honky Tonk Tourist Trap And the traffic is a nightmare in the summer. I'd be hard pressed to come up with more than a few restaurants worth going to Route 28 and not one shop until you get into the Harwichport area. Dennisport on Route 6a is a dump as is most of Yarmouth.

If you are planning to come to the Cape, PM me and I'll stop boring everyone on the DIS

 

[DVC Sadie]

Sounds interesting. Does the ferry leave from Pass Christian?

No, it leaves from Gulfport which is just down the road about 8 miles away.

I wanted to add that Bellingrath Gardens is a beautiful place to visit, especially in the spring with all of the Azaleas and flowers in bloom. Christmas time is also lovely with the gardens all of the lights. It looks like a beautiful fairyland. It is about an hour away.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wellll in the STL - the Arch is a must, the AB Brrewery, Grant"s Farm (home of President Grant currently held by the beer Busch family not the former Pres- great free except for parking open seasonaly) during baseball season of course a Cardinal game, the Magic House, City Museum, the Science Center/'planetarium ,the Zoo (also free and one of the best in the country ) and of course the numerous riverboat casinos on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

And while you are in the area, head over to the Delmar Loop and eat pizza at "Pi".

 

[PatsGirl]

DVC Sadie ~ Hi My son is stationed in Biloxi and has been complaining that there is nothing he likes to do there, well he'd like to go to the casinos but he's only nearly 20 and he's already made the mistake of a weekend trip to New Orleans where he was robbed.

Anyways, I was looking at your list and thought he might like to go on a shrimp boat and take a ferry to the Fort Massachusetts. He comes from a long line of Northeast (Cape Cod) fisherman and its his favorite pastime but he has never been on a shrimp boat or got oysters (how does one get oysters in the South?). He loves anything to do with outside activities. He did mention that they had MMA boxing in the area and he was looking for some triathalons?

Could you give me more ideas and/or websites that I could forward to him? He is at Keesler AFB but I think he can get transport to the Gulfport area. Thank you. Brenda

 

[KatieG73]

Well I'm slightly further away but if you ever come to scotland you HAVE to see;

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/

One of the 'Haunted' tours of Edinburgh -very spooky and historic.
http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvingrove_Art_Gallery_and_Museum

A tour of the architecture of Charles Rennie MacKintosh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/

Loch Ness (home of the Loch Ness Monster!)
http://www.visitlochness.com/loch-ness-area/index.php

Katie

 

[Chelley00]

Indiana, north central

We're about 30 minutes from Shipshewana (Amish) and 40 minutes from Michigan City (outlet malls and the lake), St. Joseph, Michigan (beautiful beaches) is also about that far away. Plenty of parks. You can also take the train into Chicago fairly easily. We're about 20 minutes from the RV capital of the world too.

And you have to go to Des Essen Haus to eat. Nothing like family style Amish food.

I know I'm the OP but I am going to bring up Indy's children's museum and Holiday World in southern Indiana as great attractions in case someone else is reading with interest.

And you have to visit Connor Prairie living history museum and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and take a tour of the yard of bricks.

 

[mrsklamc]

And you have to go to Des Essen Haus to eat. Nothing like family style Amish food.




And you have to visit Connor Prairie living history museum and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and take a tour of the yard of bricks.

Ohhh you just reminded me...this is western Indiana but if you're ever in Covington you MUST eat at the Beef House. I had the chop sirloin and...well, I didn't know you could have that kind of experience with food that didn't involve chocolate.

 

[DVC Sadie]

DVC Sadie ~ Hi My son is stationed in Biloxi and has been complaining that there is nothing he likes to do there, well he'd like to go to the casinos but he's only nearly 20 and he's already made the mistake of a weekend trip to New Orleans where he was robbed.

Anyways, I was looking at your list and thought he might like to go on a shrimp boat and take a ferry to the Fort Massachusetts. He comes from a long line of Northeast (Cape Cod) fisherman and its his favorite pastime but he has never been on a shrimp boat or got oysters (how does one get oysters in the South?). He loves anything to do with outside activities. He did mention that they had MMA boxing in the area and he was looking for some triathalons?

Could you give me more ideas and/or websites that I could forward to him? He is at Keesler AFB but I think he can get transport to the Gulfport area. Thank you. Brenda

Brenda, PM me some contact information for your DS. I go to Keesler 3x a week, every other week and could give him information. I am retired and would enjoy helping out another AF person.

My husband throws a net when he goes shrimping (not off a boat). We don't have a boat with the capacity to oyster but we have crab pots that we use to catch crab in the spring and summer months.

 

[Pig Pen]

I live in Vermont. It's a small state, so virtually everything is within a few hours drive. Some of this stuff is seasonal so check before you visit:

Shelburne Museum
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory
Skiing most anywhere
Lake Champlain day cruises (also one company provides overnights)
antiquing
camping
covered bridges (Woodstock is nice for this)
Quechee Gorge
concerts in the park
Farmers Markets

 

[PaddingtonBear]

Welcome to south east Michigan. While you're here be sure to enjoy:
-The Henry Ford- a complex of museums including Greenfield Village, the Henry Ford Museum and The Ford Rouge Factory Tour. Greenfield Village is a collection of restored antique homes, workshops, schoolhouses, a church, windmill, locomotive roundhouse, working farm, etc. staffed with costumed interpreters.
-Frankenmuth- Michigan's Little Bavaria. Oh the kitchy places you'll go! The world's largest Christmas store, Bronner's, is in Frankenmuth as well. The biggest draw to the Frankenmuth area, though, are two huge restaurants that serve family style fried chicken dinners.
-Campus Martius park and Riverwalk. Ice skate in the outdoor rink at Campus Martius and ride the carrousel at Riverwalk, both downtown Detroit. No, you won't get shot, I promise.
-Enjoy a game at the Big House- Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor- GO BLUE!

If you have time, northren Michigan is GORGEOUS, especially Mackinac Island, Traverse City, the Sleeping Bear dunes and Charlevoix. Truly, its the midwestern riveria.

 

[mrsklamc]

Mackinac Island is definately on our list...I don't know anything about the rest of those places...are they pretty scenery? Or are there other attractions there?