Okay, what is the not widely known attraction that blew you away?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Okay, what is the not widely known attraction that blew you away?
For me it would have to be the Columbia Tower observation deck in Seattle. Absolutely stunning 280 degree views of Seattle from level higher than the space needle for 5 bucks, with almost nobody up there because it's in a office building and they don't advertise it.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
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The waiting room at L.A. Union Station. Totally wasn't expecting an art deco masterpiece when I arrived there for the first time.
Milwaukee Art Museum, while in town for a few hours on a mileage run. The building itself is stunning, and they have a surprisingly good collection.
Milwaukee Art Museum, while in town for a few hours on a mileage run. The building itself is stunning, and they have a surprisingly good collection.
#5
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Taughannock Falls, outside of Ithaca, New York. It's well known locally, but not so much elsewhere. Because it is not a wide waterfall, it does not exude the power of the world's more famous falls, but the setting is extraordinarily beautiful. Here's one view; Google "Taughannock Falls" for others.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nock_Falls.JPG
Taughannock Falls, outside of Ithaca, New York. It's well known locally, but not so much elsewhere. Because it is not a wide waterfall, it does not exude the power of the world's more famous falls, but the setting is extraordinarily beautiful. Here's one view; Google "Taughannock Falls" for others.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nock_Falls.JPG
#6
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 586
1) Counterfeit mall in Shenzhen China. At least 5 floors of bogus products with a a large banner accross the atrium saying "Protect intellectual property rights strike hard against fake selling"
2) Monkok Hong Kong, the people>.?.! Jesus christ. That was a definate w...TF moment.
(in hong kong they can slice a fish right down the center, leaving it with a half a body and made it live for 15 minutes, a must see at the fish market there besides giant 6 ft clams. It's literally FISH HELL)
2) Monkok Hong Kong, the people>.?.! Jesus christ. That was a definate w...TF moment.
(in hong kong they can slice a fish right down the center, leaving it with a half a body and made it live for 15 minutes, a must see at the fish market there besides giant 6 ft clams. It's literally FISH HELL)
Last edited by scwam; Feb 15, 2011 at 1:37 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tempe, AZ
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Posts: 86
The Taj Mahal in northern India. I entered the atrium barefoot, went up the little gateway, about 1000 yards from the actual building and crossed the threshold to see the white building shimmering in reflection in the pool. Unbelievable... to a guy from a little town in West Virginia, that view, I can honestly say took my breath away.
#8
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El Djem in Tunisia - in much better shape than the Colisseum in Rome and you could go everywhere in it and get a real understanding of what the ancient Roman Gladiator events were like.
Al Deir at Petra - most people ooh and ahh over the Treasury, but if you take the time to make the long hike to Al Deir, you will get a fantastic view across a canyon to an amazing building carved completely out of stone, more magnificent than the Treasury in my opinion.
Al Deir at Petra - most people ooh and ahh over the Treasury, but if you take the time to make the long hike to Al Deir, you will get a fantastic view across a canyon to an amazing building carved completely out of stone, more magnificent than the Treasury in my opinion.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I was at the Kyoto Steam Train museum last Friday. I loved it. There is a massive turntable leading into 20 sheds.
They did the whole 360 degree turning of a couple of steam trains with lots of steam etc.
Heaps of steam trains and you're right next to the main tracks watching normal trains and Shinkansen going alongside.
I was one of a very few westerners there and made very welcome.
They did the whole 360 degree turning of a couple of steam trains with lots of steam etc.
Heaps of steam trains and you're right next to the main tracks watching normal trains and Shinkansen going alongside.
I was one of a very few westerners there and made very welcome.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London
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Akshardham Temple in Delhi. Absolutely mind blowing. Sadly also very frustrating for me as a keen photographer as you are not allowed to take cameras in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshardham_%28Delhi%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshardham_%28Delhi%29
#14
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Cabinet War Rooms in London. Not exactly a secret, but far lower on most travelers' priority lists than they should be. People I've spoken to are usually surprised at how much more interesting they are than they had originally expected them to be.
A great place, but "not widely known?"
A great place, but "not widely known?"
#15
Join Date: May 2004
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Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate - A great way to learn about the Industrial Revolution from the worker's perspective.
Soest, Germany - A walled German town near Dortmund, which while popular with local German tourists, is virtually unknown to international travelers.
Wuppertal Schebebahn - Suspended monorail that isn't just a tourist attraction, but a real, functioning mass transit system
Bologna, Italy - Less famous than Venice, Florence, and Milan, but packed with history, art, and architecture, and better food than any of them.
Soest, Germany - A walled German town near Dortmund, which while popular with local German tourists, is virtually unknown to international travelers.
Wuppertal Schebebahn - Suspended monorail that isn't just a tourist attraction, but a real, functioning mass transit system
Bologna, Italy - Less famous than Venice, Florence, and Milan, but packed with history, art, and architecture, and better food than any of them.