Okay, what is the not widely known attraction that blew you away?
Jan 14, 2015, 2:50 pm
#511
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: MSY
Posts: 86
Rosendals on the Djurgarten in Stockholm. Most tourists only go as far as the Vasa Museum or Skansen. Keep going! Past the end of the trolley line but not very far is an old royal palace and gardens that is now a public park, sculpture garden, and producing organic farm. Lots and lots of roses too. The restaurants serve the delicious local produce and until recently, it was the only place in Stockholm to get a salad that wasn't 100% iceberg lettuce. You can eat at tables near the greenhouse or take your food under an apple tree. Very peaceful and beautiful.
Jan 17, 2015, 5:25 pm
#512
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
The Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) near Stavanger, Norway, which is a sheer rockface with a 1700-ft. drop to the Lysefjord below. There's a certain resemblence to Half Dome in Yosemite, with obvious differences. It involves a 2-hour hike (about 3.5 km each way and 1000 feet of elevation gain). Magnificent views at the top.
Jan 18, 2015, 8:13 am
#514
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
The Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) near Stavanger, Norway, which is a sheer rockface with a 1700-ft. drop to the Lysefjord below. There's a certain resemblence to Half Dome in Yosemite, with obvious differences. It involves a 2-hour hike (about 3.5 km each way and 1000 feet of elevation gain). Magnificent views at the top.
I realize it is easy to catch a photogenic shot of the amazing view.
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Just been visiting Tbilisi (Georgia).
I was blown away, definitely scenic.
Jan 27, 2015, 5:17 am
#515
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Poland
Posts: 87
Hershey Train in Cuba - beautiful ride with dilapidated train from Matanzas to Havana with palm trees, peaceful countryside and abandoned chocolate factory.
Short vid from the trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8xeUGUmg7k
Short vid from the trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8xeUGUmg7k
Jan 27, 2015, 2:13 pm
#516
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Wales, UK
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 693
USS Hornet, aircraft carrier in Alameda Shipyards, Oakland.
Very much off the SF tourist trail, and hardly advertised I first came across it as the location of one of three remaining quarantine vans for returning Apollo astronauts. Famous for being the recovery ship for Apollo 11 splashdown.
It is not only a space museum, but is a dedicated museum to the carriers that were lost in WWII, with hundreds of photos and memorabilia from the various ships.
I was fortunate to visit on a "live ship" day, when docents, who served on the Hornet are happy to show folks around. Although the catapault equipment is long gone, the aircraft elevators all work and they spend the day moving aircraft around between decks.
If you enjoyed looking around the Jeramiah O'Brian and USS Pampanito on Fishermans Wharf this is definitely for you
A very pleasant way to spend six hours on a Saturday afternoon and highly recommended if you e
Very much off the SF tourist trail, and hardly advertised I first came across it as the location of one of three remaining quarantine vans for returning Apollo astronauts. Famous for being the recovery ship for Apollo 11 splashdown.
It is not only a space museum, but is a dedicated museum to the carriers that were lost in WWII, with hundreds of photos and memorabilia from the various ships.
I was fortunate to visit on a "live ship" day, when docents, who served on the Hornet are happy to show folks around. Although the catapault equipment is long gone, the aircraft elevators all work and they spend the day moving aircraft around between decks.
If you enjoyed looking around the Jeramiah O'Brian and USS Pampanito on Fishermans Wharf this is definitely for you
A very pleasant way to spend six hours on a Saturday afternoon and highly recommended if you e
Jan 27, 2015, 3:32 pm
#517
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kaiserslautern
Programs: UA G 1.9MM, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 439
Corregidor Island. While its historically well known. Actually going there is amazing.
Hohenzollern Castle south of Stuttgart. Again, off the beaten path for castles in Germany. Much more impressive and preserved than any. Still in the Hohenzollern family. That family became the royalty of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm, etc...
Hohenzollern Castle south of Stuttgart. Again, off the beaten path for castles in Germany. Much more impressive and preserved than any. Still in the Hohenzollern family. That family became the royalty of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm, etc...
Jan 27, 2015, 7:07 pm
#518
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I went in 2007 and was disappointed. Some stuff below decks was in good shape and the docents were great, but at the time there were almost no static aircraft on the deck and a lot of the areas felt as if they were in an advanced state of disrepair. Has it gotten any better?
Jan 27, 2015, 7:20 pm
#519
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
Programs: SA Air, Air Canada, KLM, BA,Lufthansa, United, AA, Hawaiian, Air New Zealnd, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic
Posts: 777
We were there in March 2013.
Going to Australia and New Zealand, we also spent a few days in Tasmania.
I don't know if it is well known or not, but it is the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania.
Going to Australia and New Zealand, we also spent a few days in Tasmania.
I don't know if it is well known or not, but it is the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania.
Jan 28, 2015, 11:21 am
#520
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: OMA
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 75
Petra, Jordan. I honestly thought this place was created as a Hollywood set. It's supposidley 5th century BC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
Jan 28, 2015, 6:41 pm
#521
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Petra, Jordan. I honestly thought this place was created as a Hollywood set. It's supposidley 5th century BC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
Jan 29, 2015, 1:05 pm
#522
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
Coba, Mexico
Excellent Mayan village/pyramid site minus 95% of the tourists you get at Chichen Itza. Easy daytrip from any of the tourist areas along the coast...we did it with a 1-day Hertz rental from CUN. It's a vast site: sometimes you feel like you're alone in the jungle with all of these ruins and some of the largest pyramids in the Mayan world.
Since you'll probably drive through Tulum to get there, you might as well visit the ruins there as well. Tulum is nice, but Coba steals the show.
Excellent Mayan village/pyramid site minus 95% of the tourists you get at Chichen Itza. Easy daytrip from any of the tourist areas along the coast...we did it with a 1-day Hertz rental from CUN. It's a vast site: sometimes you feel like you're alone in the jungle with all of these ruins and some of the largest pyramids in the Mayan world.
Since you'll probably drive through Tulum to get there, you might as well visit the ruins there as well. Tulum is nice, but Coba steals the show.
Jan 29, 2015, 2:36 pm
#524
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Boston Suburbrs
Programs: AA ExPlat, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 1,205
I'd second this. I went in shoulder season - (barely on the shoulder) - end of September, just as they were getting ready to close the seasonal stuff. Cold, thus few tourists, but all trails still open. Only problem I remember was that the hot pools that are very colorful were a bit hard to see due to the steam coming off being visible in the cold air, while it's clearer in summer. you need to be upwind to get a good view.
Feb 1, 2015, 11:46 am
#525
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 21
Great thread!
We literally stumbled into Independence Rock in Wyoming on our way home from a west coast road trip. Basically it's a large rock formation on the Oregon Trail in central Wyoming. Emigrants on the trail would stop at Independence Rock and carve their names in the stone along with the date. Family members who trailed them they would see the names and know they made it to that point safely. Visitors today can climb all over the rock freely and check out the inscriptions, some of which go back to the mid-1800's.
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/Sit...aspx?siteID=24
We literally stumbled into Independence Rock in Wyoming on our way home from a west coast road trip. Basically it's a large rock formation on the Oregon Trail in central Wyoming. Emigrants on the trail would stop at Independence Rock and carve their names in the stone along with the date. Family members who trailed them they would see the names and know they made it to that point safely. Visitors today can climb all over the rock freely and check out the inscriptions, some of which go back to the mid-1800's.
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/Sit...aspx?siteID=24