Okay, what is the not widely known attraction that blew you away?
Jun 13, 2014, 10:19 am
#451
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,795
Well, I can think of two....
1) A visit to southern Utah and its various spectacular national parks in tandem with a road trip that included a jaunt over to Telluride in southwest Colorado, all conducted in a Porsche.
2) An open ocean sail from Raiatea to Bora Bora and back in a 52 foot catamaran where the six of us crewed and sailed the boat ourselves.
These were both very memorable journeys.....
1) A visit to southern Utah and its various spectacular national parks in tandem with a road trip that included a jaunt over to Telluride in southwest Colorado, all conducted in a Porsche.
2) An open ocean sail from Raiatea to Bora Bora and back in a 52 foot catamaran where the six of us crewed and sailed the boat ourselves.
These were both very memorable journeys.....
Jun 13, 2014, 10:42 am
#452
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Mileage Plus, Aadvantage, Skymiles, Marriott, Priority Club, SPG, Amtrak, Hertz
Posts: 834
Jun 13, 2014, 1:07 pm
#453
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 1
I am an extreme latecomer, but . . .
. . . in no particular order, some places that I did not see mentioned in the entire thread -- a few lesser-known than others:
USA:
Devil's Tower, Wyoming
City of St. Louis
Montpelier, Virginia
City of Pittsburgh
Frank Lloyd Wright House and Studio, Lake Park (Chicago)
UK:
Sir John Soane's House, London
Fountains Abbey, Ripon
AUSTRIA:
City of Graz
Town of Feldkirch
Baerenschutzklamm, Mixnitz
Riegersburg Castle and Raptor Show
Heurigers (Vienna) and Buschenshanks (rural areas)
FRANCE:
City of Nancy
City of Colmar
City of Strasbourg
Maginot Line, (several entry points)
Sainte Chapelle, Paris
City of Chartres
Arromanches (Gold) Landing Beach, Normandy
Train of the Pines, Provence
NETHERLANDS:
Keukenhof Gardens
Aalsmeer Flower Auction
Escher Museum, The Hague
ITALY:
City of Pistoia
Ravenna mosaics
City of Perugia
Town of Scanno and vicinity
Town of Mondovi
Town of Tagliacozzo
Town of Anghiari
Monte Isola
Lago d'Orte
BOSNIA:
Town of Mostar
PORTUGAL:
City of Porto
Batalha Monastery
SPAIN:
Segovia
Avila
GERMANY:
City of Bremen
City of Quedlinburg
Harz Narrow-gauge Railway
Town of Wernigerode
Town of Speyer
German Railroad Museum, Nuremberg
Volkingen Iron Works
Bodensee area
Mosel area
ROMANIA:
Brasov
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Town of Cesky Krumlov
SLOVAKIA:
Town of Levoca
City of Kosice
LUXEMBOURG:
City of Luxembourg
MEXICO:
Xochimilco, Mexico City
Luis Barragán House and Studio, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo House and Museum, Mexico City
Trotsky House and Museum, Mexico City
City of Puebla
City of Taxco
Tepoztlan
Tepozotlan (two separate towns, in opposite directions from Mexico City)
Xochicalco ruins
ARGENTINA:
City of Cordoba
City of Mendoza
CHILE:
Villarica
USA:
Devil's Tower, Wyoming
City of St. Louis
Montpelier, Virginia
City of Pittsburgh
Frank Lloyd Wright House and Studio, Lake Park (Chicago)
UK:
Sir John Soane's House, London
Fountains Abbey, Ripon
AUSTRIA:
City of Graz
Town of Feldkirch
Baerenschutzklamm, Mixnitz
Riegersburg Castle and Raptor Show
Heurigers (Vienna) and Buschenshanks (rural areas)
FRANCE:
City of Nancy
City of Colmar
City of Strasbourg
Maginot Line, (several entry points)
Sainte Chapelle, Paris
City of Chartres
Arromanches (Gold) Landing Beach, Normandy
Train of the Pines, Provence
NETHERLANDS:
Keukenhof Gardens
Aalsmeer Flower Auction
Escher Museum, The Hague
ITALY:
City of Pistoia
Ravenna mosaics
City of Perugia
Town of Scanno and vicinity
Town of Mondovi
Town of Tagliacozzo
Town of Anghiari
Monte Isola
Lago d'Orte
BOSNIA:
Town of Mostar
PORTUGAL:
City of Porto
Batalha Monastery
SPAIN:
Segovia
Avila
GERMANY:
City of Bremen
City of Quedlinburg
Harz Narrow-gauge Railway
Town of Wernigerode
Town of Speyer
German Railroad Museum, Nuremberg
Volkingen Iron Works
Bodensee area
Mosel area
ROMANIA:
Brasov
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Town of Cesky Krumlov
SLOVAKIA:
Town of Levoca
City of Kosice
LUXEMBOURG:
City of Luxembourg
MEXICO:
Xochimilco, Mexico City
Luis Barragán House and Studio, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo House and Museum, Mexico City
Trotsky House and Museum, Mexico City
City of Puebla
City of Taxco
Tepoztlan
Tepozotlan (two separate towns, in opposite directions from Mexico City)
Xochicalco ruins
ARGENTINA:
City of Cordoba
City of Mendoza
CHILE:
Villarica
Jun 14, 2014, 11:48 am
#454
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Body in the CLE, soul still in New England
Programs: In 2023? Does it matter? SPG/Marriott: Plat; DL: Plat; B6: Mosaic
Posts: 2,979
What a great idea for a thread, thank you OP!
I will endorse a few that were made earlier and then add on:
Clark Art Museum, Paradors in Spain, My own Liberty Hotel(!), Paris' Monet Museum, Bay of Fundy, PEI (I love riding on the red clay!), Red Rock Park outside LV, Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren, Sainte Chapelle (try to attend a twilight concert here...unworldly), Frank Lloyd Wright House, St. Louis Senegal, City of Porto (so pretty) Portugal, Taxco Mexico (the amount of handmade silver jewelry, at rock bottom prices, is incredible).
My additions (in no particular order):
Doolin, Ireland: Lovely pubs with Irish Ceilidh nightly (locals and tourists alike)
Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland: Maybe a bit touristy..but the combination of the friendly locals, excellent food, history and gorgeous scenery...just lovely!
Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) Chiang Mai Thailand: The only silver Temple in the world. On a pedestrian side street in the best 'town' in Thailand. Plenty of culture, great food and shopping around..without Bangkok's crowds.
Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho: Just like Grand Teton NP, but on a smaller scale, allows dogs, and without the crowds. Plus, the tiny town of Stanley ID (population 63) is adorable and includes the fabulous Redfish Lake Lodge (at the foot of the mountains).
Placencia, Belize: 300 miles from Belize City lies a pristine fishing village that likes a tiny bit of tourism to keep afloat. Home of the narrowest street in the world, an airport whose chickens and cows outnumber planes, and the gateway to the UNESCO Laughing Bird Caye area (great scuba)...it's a beaut. Of course, Disney likes it so much they want to buy an island just off the coast..so go now!
Santiago de Compostela, Spain: A tourist site, yes. But to stand in an 800 year old church (where the bones of Apostle James are said to be buried), surrounded by pilgrims who walked or biked hundreds (or thousands of miles) on their pilgrimage, is quite humbling. Plus, the 6 star Parador on the square (former home of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand) is stunning.
Île de Gorée, Dakar, Senegal: : The departure point for the majority of African slaves during the 20th century. Simple and devastating....several generations of families were ruined here.
Surin, Thailand: Home to the Surin Project, where trained tourism elephants are allowed to live out their lives in relative freedom. Plus, the two local restaurants had best food I had in a month in Thailand, hands down.
Drives:
Flagstaff AZ to SLC on Route 89....the mountains and desert scenery (plus a couple of cute towns) is unforgettable.
Logan Pass: Logan to Bear Lake on Route 89...the view as you crest the Wasatch mountains heading East is stunning
Lolo Pass from Lolo ID to Boise ID...I race cars for fun and this was both nerve wracking and gorgeous at the same time. A drive everyone should do 1x in their life.
I will endorse a few that were made earlier and then add on:
Clark Art Museum, Paradors in Spain, My own Liberty Hotel(!), Paris' Monet Museum, Bay of Fundy, PEI (I love riding on the red clay!), Red Rock Park outside LV, Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren, Sainte Chapelle (try to attend a twilight concert here...unworldly), Frank Lloyd Wright House, St. Louis Senegal, City of Porto (so pretty) Portugal, Taxco Mexico (the amount of handmade silver jewelry, at rock bottom prices, is incredible).
My additions (in no particular order):
Doolin, Ireland: Lovely pubs with Irish Ceilidh nightly (locals and tourists alike)
Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland: Maybe a bit touristy..but the combination of the friendly locals, excellent food, history and gorgeous scenery...just lovely!
Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) Chiang Mai Thailand: The only silver Temple in the world. On a pedestrian side street in the best 'town' in Thailand. Plenty of culture, great food and shopping around..without Bangkok's crowds.
Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho: Just like Grand Teton NP, but on a smaller scale, allows dogs, and without the crowds. Plus, the tiny town of Stanley ID (population 63) is adorable and includes the fabulous Redfish Lake Lodge (at the foot of the mountains).
Placencia, Belize: 300 miles from Belize City lies a pristine fishing village that likes a tiny bit of tourism to keep afloat. Home of the narrowest street in the world, an airport whose chickens and cows outnumber planes, and the gateway to the UNESCO Laughing Bird Caye area (great scuba)...it's a beaut. Of course, Disney likes it so much they want to buy an island just off the coast..so go now!
Santiago de Compostela, Spain: A tourist site, yes. But to stand in an 800 year old church (where the bones of Apostle James are said to be buried), surrounded by pilgrims who walked or biked hundreds (or thousands of miles) on their pilgrimage, is quite humbling. Plus, the 6 star Parador on the square (former home of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand) is stunning.
Île de Gorée, Dakar, Senegal: : The departure point for the majority of African slaves during the 20th century. Simple and devastating....several generations of families were ruined here.
Surin, Thailand: Home to the Surin Project, where trained tourism elephants are allowed to live out their lives in relative freedom. Plus, the two local restaurants had best food I had in a month in Thailand, hands down.
Drives:
Flagstaff AZ to SLC on Route 89....the mountains and desert scenery (plus a couple of cute towns) is unforgettable.
Logan Pass: Logan to Bear Lake on Route 89...the view as you crest the Wasatch mountains heading East is stunning
Lolo Pass from Lolo ID to Boise ID...I race cars for fun and this was both nerve wracking and gorgeous at the same time. A drive everyone should do 1x in their life.
Last edited by navi_jen; Jun 14, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Jun 16, 2014, 6:22 am
#456
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: Mainly Hilton Hhonors, SAS Eurobonus
Posts: 1,981
Luxembourg Ville.
I was there for the first time this weekend and it exceeded my expectations massively.
This city seems to have everything and more:
Fantastic views.
Old ruins ( from old fortresses ).
Fancy modern buildings.
Impressive central european style buildings.
Areas with cobblestones and old houses.
Charming pedestrian streets and squares.
Lots of restaurants.
Many bridges.
Dramatic nature.
It is a very interesting mix of old and new and of urban and nature and city/town.
And it has such a nice feel to it....
I was there for the first time this weekend and it exceeded my expectations massively.
This city seems to have everything and more:
Fantastic views.
Old ruins ( from old fortresses ).
Fancy modern buildings.
Impressive central european style buildings.
Areas with cobblestones and old houses.
Charming pedestrian streets and squares.
Lots of restaurants.
Many bridges.
Dramatic nature.
It is a very interesting mix of old and new and of urban and nature and city/town.
And it has such a nice feel to it....
Jun 16, 2014, 7:43 am
#457
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 8,142
Lavaux Vineyards along Lake Geneva's Switzerland side. View from Grandvaux is spectacular with the French Alps framing the lake.....such a serene setting. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lavaux was recommended by a FTer years ago and I still go back at least every other year..
Bobette
Lavaux was recommended by a FTer years ago and I still go back at least every other year..
Bobette
Jun 17, 2014, 1:38 pm
#459
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Minneapolis, formerly the shores of Lake Minnetonka
Programs: DL PM (and KM)
Posts: 394
I loved the Valley of the Fallen (Valle de los Caídos) at El Escorial outside of Madrid when I visited. Pretty fascinating to see the cross and then the structure carved out of the mountain underneath it.
Jun 17, 2014, 2:21 pm
#460
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Staffs
Programs: BAEC, Etihad Guest, Platinum Tesco Tart
Posts: 589
I've just posted in another thread. Not a tourist attraction but Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi absolutely blew me away, as soon as I walked up the stairs from the metro it was like an assault on the senses, incredible and I felt so safe. We wandered around all afternoon and didn't see any other Westerners, I'd have happily spent days just taking the whole place in.
Equally I loved Jaipur, not quite as intense but a beautiful foreign city.
Equally I loved Jaipur, not quite as intense but a beautiful foreign city.
Jun 18, 2014, 2:46 pm
#461
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
Okinawa, Japan doesn't get much attention on FT for some reason, I feel like it may be because the US military's presence there turns american tourists off since it won't feel so "foreign." But the historical attractions are something to see, like the old castle ruins scattered around the island. Free to go to (other than Shuri Castle), and not many tourists. Check it out.
Jun 18, 2014, 9:33 pm
#463
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Okinawa, Japan doesn't get much attention on FT for some reason, I feel like it may be because the US military's presence there turns american tourists off since it won't feel so "foreign." But the historical attractions are something to see, like the old castle ruins scattered around the island. Free to go to (other than Shuri Castle), and not many tourists. Check it out.
Although I haven't been, I've fortunately stumbled upon an Okinawan food festival every now and then in Tokyo. The donuts - saataa andaagi - are delicious.
Jun 19, 2014, 1:37 pm
#464
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
The food is amazing, although if you don't like pork you're going to have a bad time since that's the staple there. The andagii is awesome, and the Okinawa Soba is to die for.
Jun 25, 2014, 9:57 pm
#465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Most underrated tourist places
So we have this thread where we all bad-mouth the places we have been that were disappointing. How about a thread of places that just plain blew us away?
I'll nominate 2:
1) Fez, Morocco. The Medina takes you to a completely different century. You lose track of where you are and what you're doing. Each area is dedicated to a different craft: metal working, tannery, etc. Smells, sounds, sights, etc. all focused on one thing. You walk where there aren't buildings. No motorized vehicles. I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie.
2) Bhaktupur, Nepal. Similar to Fez in that you lose all sight of modernity. I walked through early one morning before the shops were open. A little mist on the ground. Old women with home made broom sweeping off the cobblestones.
Honorable mention to The Cotswolds in England.
I'll nominate 2:
1) Fez, Morocco. The Medina takes you to a completely different century. You lose track of where you are and what you're doing. Each area is dedicated to a different craft: metal working, tannery, etc. Smells, sounds, sights, etc. all focused on one thing. You walk where there aren't buildings. No motorized vehicles. I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie.
2) Bhaktupur, Nepal. Similar to Fez in that you lose all sight of modernity. I walked through early one morning before the shops were open. A little mist on the ground. Old women with home made broom sweeping off the cobblestones.
Honorable mention to The Cotswolds in England.