One of the things I most enjoy about traveling is talking about it. In this new weekly series, I’d like to pose some of the questions I’ve discussed with friends, family and fellow travelers over the years. I invite you to pull up your backpack, grab a handful of the local snack food and chime in with your comments and thoughts. Feel free to respond to others, but remember to play nice!
Here’s a Question for You:
Where would you take a foreigner to show off where you live?
I love this question … especially because it falls on the heels of my recent post on how to travel in your own backyard. I think I may be cheating a bit here since I live in Las Vegas and there’s more than enough to keep anyone occupied for at least a few days in the city. Heck, I even write an online travel guide to Las Vegas, which details the city’s hotels, restaurants, shows and diversions. But if I had to choose the big highlights of Las Vegas for a foreigner — or anyone visiting for the first time — I would definitely recommend he or she does the following: Visit the Neon Boneyard during the day (where relics of Las Vegas’ older days have gone to die), see the Las Vegas Strip lit up at night and dine at one of the city’s massive buffets or truly spectacular restaurants with a view.
Join the conversation!
Gray
I would take them to Stowe first thing in the am, where we would go to the top of the mountain for the incredible views. We’d have lunch in Stowe, then drive back to Shelburne to spend the afternoon at Shelburne Farms (a working farm and National Historic Landmark), where they could see the farm animals and watch cheesemaking. We’d head back to Burlington in time for a sunset ferry cruise on Lake Champlain, then spend the evening in Downtown Burlington, enjoying dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants, strolling the Church Street Marketplace, and maybe enjoy some live music from one of our local bands.
January 21, 2011 at 8:47 am
JoAnna
That sounds so amazing, Gray! I’m making you stick to it if and when we make it to Vermont.
January 21, 2011 at 9:59 am
Gray
Well, what are you waiting for? Come any time! I have a spare bedroom and a futon.
January 21, 2011 at 11:20 am
pam
Even before I lived in West Seattle, I would bring people out here to look back at the skyline across Puget Sound — and to see the views of Mt. Rainier. It’s from the viewpoint at Alki that you get not only a feeling of the size of the city (not very big, really) and of how gorgeous the setting is. I also take all my guests to the fish ladder to see the salmon run (in season) because it introduces that fish to out of towners — the salmon are such a critical part of our ecosystem that I can’t imagine thinking of Seattle without thinking of salmon.
And then, we go for fish and chips.
January 21, 2011 at 8:54 am
JoAnna
I’ve been to Seattle lots of times but have never been to the fish ladder. I’ll have to seek that out next time I’m there.
January 21, 2011 at 10:00 am
Alouise
Actually thinking about this is kind of fun, and is making me realize there’s more to do where I live than I thought. Being from Edmonton most people who visit here go to West Edmonton Mall, so I’d take visitors some place else. Edmonton is known as Festival City, because we have a ton of festivals through out the year. So depending what time of year it is, I’d take them to whatever festival happens to be on. After we’d head out of the city to Elk Island National Park to spot wildlife. Then we’d go to Whyte Ave for dinner and some drinks. If they’re not into nightlife, we could see some live theatre at one of the many venues in old Strathcona. Alternatively a sports buff could see an Oilers game or an Eskimo Game (our Football team) depending on the time of year. Really taking a visitor on Edmonton all depends on the season.
January 21, 2011 at 10:06 am
JoAnna
It’s funny you mentioned the mall, Alouise, because that’s the only thing I know about Edomonton. I had no idea the city was known as Festival City ~ sounds like fun!
January 23, 2011 at 11:40 am
Stephanie
Since I’m down here in Austin, TX, there would definitely be some barbecue, Tex-Mex, and steak eating involved. In-between the fooding, we could definitely check out the local parks and trails or even catch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse (where, conveniently, you can eat and drink while watching a movie). And then partying down on 6th street, of course.
January 22, 2011 at 9:50 am
JoAnna
I’ve always wanted to visit Austin. I’ve heard the food is superb and the music scene is among the best in the country.
January 23, 2011 at 11:46 am
Emily S.
I would take anyone and everyone to the St. Louis City Museum. It’s basically an enormous indoor playground for adults and children alike, and everything is made from recycled building materials. It has caves, aquariums, tunnels, a rooftop slide, life-size slinkies… I guess the museum part comes from taking old bits of STL buildings and reworking them into awesomeness.
It’s really kind of impossible to explain, actually! Go to their web site (citymuseum.org)and see – it’s completely AWESOME.
January 22, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Authentic Seacoast Resorts
For us on the Nova Scotia Authentic Seacoast it depends upon the season. In late fall we like to take people up the Canso Strait to see the Gannets diving for herring. A truly spectacular experience. In early spring a walk high above Chedabucto Bay on the Trans Canada Trail (one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 Canadian adventure experiences). In the summer a habour cruise on a lobster boat or a beach picnic on a secluded cove are great. Here are all our favourite activities as well as seasonal top 10 lists: http://www.authenticseacoast.com/play
January 23, 2011 at 8:49 am
Cheryl Probst
Two places or rather categories:
1. Local wineries — there are about 200 within a two-hour radius of where we live in Eastern Washington.
2. Maryhill Museum — the best little museum I’ve ever been to. They have an eclectic collection of things, ranging from an international chess collection set to Northwest Indian artifacts to the largest collection of Rodin art on the West Coast. All sitting out in the middle of nowhere with stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge below.
January 23, 2011 at 9:21 pm
JoAnna
We used to live in Eastern Washington, and I definitely think that area is underrated. The wineries are so amazing in that part of the United States!
January 28, 2011 at 8:25 am
Trisha Miller
For visitors to the Phoenix Valley, as long as they don’t mind some driving I’d take them to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and then for a desert jeep tour — the desert has so much beauty to offer and so few people get out to see what little is left of it around here. Then back to Scottsdale where I’d take them to Greasewood Flat for a great burger and finish off with some drinks and dancing at one of the few remaining authentic cowboy bars around here, the Rusty Spur.
January 24, 2011 at 5:43 pm
JoAnna
I love the idea of checking out an authentic cowboy bar ~ though I’d have to get a pair of cowboy boots. Something tells me my flip flops wouldn’t fit in too well there.
January 28, 2011 at 8:33 am
Caitlin @ Roaming Tales
I would take them on a ferry on Sydney Harbour. But there’s more than enough to do if they want to spend a bit of time here.
January 30, 2011 at 7:04 pm
JoAnna
A float in Sydney Harbor sounds like a nice, slow way to enjoy Sydney.
February 1, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Abbie
I would take them to the La Brea tar pits, and my favorite bakery, Sweet Lady Jane in LA. In Orange County, I love taking people to my favorite hiking spot, Crystal Cover State Park.
January 30, 2011 at 8:21 pm
JoAnna
Every local tour should have a stop at a bakery.
February 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Linda Sand
I lived for 45 years in Minneapolis/St Paul so that’s where I’ll take my fictional visitors today. I would send them canoeing down Minnehaha Creek then drive them back along the route they canoed since they won’t believe they just canoed through a big city without the car trip. Then I’d take them on the gangster tour of St Paul so they can experience that bit of history. If the timing was right I would take them to Northfied for Jesse James Days because people don’t realize Minnesota was once part of the Wild West.
May 27, 2011 at 7:17 pm
JoAnna
I grew up near St. Paul and was always surprised how little people knew about the city. Except for the blistering cold winters, there’s a lot to love about the Twin Cities!
June 5, 2011 at 7:25 pm