# How many of the World's Best Tourist Traps have you visted? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669 "2012-10-23T21:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/61 "2012-10-24T16:56:57Z")
1. When you’re in the travel industry for 30+ years, you get around. Except Hawaii. Never been. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/62 "2012-10-24T17:06:52Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I’ve been to only 8, but I visited Stonehenge in 1964 when it was still possible to go up to the stones, rest your back against one, etc. It was fascinating, but that experience is not possible today. Same here, although I didn’t realize that’s out now. Pity. ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/63 "2012-10-24T17:19:02Z")
6 to 9, depending on how strictly you define being there. The one place that stands out by far is Angkor in Cambodia. It’s a huge area with so many large and unique temples with spectacular carvings spread over a very large area. I spent three days biking around the place and it was possibly my favorite experience in SE Asia. The major temple complexes in Java and Burma don’t even come close. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/64 "2012-10-24T17:38:16Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Of all the tourist traps I’ve been to, Pisa was the worst. That city has no redeeming qualities. Twelve for me, and I was going to mention this as well. Useful ONLY as a “Check that box in life” moment. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/65 "2012-10-24T17:40:18Z")
I think I’ve been to the Checkpoint Charlie museum - I went to a ‘Berlin Wall and Escapee’ museum in Berlin, but I don’t remember the name, and I’ve been through Checkpoint Charlie. Is it a new museum since 1987? I saw Stonehenge from a car going ~100 mph. Didn’t count it. Weird list. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/66 "2012-10-24T17:44:54Z")
> [@FlyByNight512](#): > > Oh, if you’re in the neighborhood of London - Hampton Court Palace is jaw dropping and has some of the most interesting and informative tours I’ve ever been on. Same for the historic baths in Bath. I would definitely prefer to go to Hampton Court Palace… > [@Colibri](#): > > Only seven, but I’ve been to one of the most unvisited ones, Uluru. And I climbed it back in 1975, something I think tourists aren’t allowed to do anymore. > > It’s a pretty weird list. Eleven of 25 are in Europe. Strange for the US attractions to include the Space Needle and Graceland, but not the Grand Canyon, the Empire State Building, or Disneyland. Having Angor Wat and Chichen Itza but not Macchu Pichu, Tikal, or the Taj Majal is also odd. I was hesitant to add Checkpoint Charlie - I visited it when I was 2 years old, so I didn’t mark it off, though it is on my bucket list. I won’t be able to do the gondola ride in Venice, I physically can’t clamber around and get in and out, nor sit effectively on such a low seat. Nor do I actually want to go to Venice. The Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple are on our bucket list, and a number of other places on this particular list. I will have to skip anything that takes lots of walking unless it can be done in a wheelchair. And we have seen the Grand Canyon - though I am ashamed to admit I have been to Graceland - I got dragged there by my parents on a road trip. [back then Memphis had an all Elvis radio station. :dubious:] ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/67 "2012-10-24T17:46:49Z")
Just two. I suck. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/68 "2012-10-24T18:07:11Z")
They don’t seem to understand what a “tourist TRAP” is. Wall Drug. Trees of Mystery Fisherman’s wharf /Pier 39 SF Cannery Row\* Hollywood (Walk of Fame, sign, etc) Mystery Spot Santa Cruz. Times Square “South of the Border” SC It’s a place that tourists go (once) but locals avoid. \*The Monterey Bay Aquarium is fantastic and not even close to a ‘tourist trap”. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/69 "2012-10-24T18:08:37Z")
Most of them. I counted the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, but I actually went through Checkpoint Charlie when it was still operational. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/70 "2012-10-24T18:15:25Z")
I live about twenty minutes walk from the Capitol - I can see the dome from my balcony. I swear to merciless, implacable Cthulhu: I love my city more with every passing day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/71 "2012-10-24T18:19:56Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I can see the dome from my balcony. Bwhaa… I ain’t even gonna mention what that reminded me of. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/72 "2012-10-24T18:33:45Z")
Re Stonehenge: English Heritage run some special access tours that get you in beside the stones. There are limited places, and the tours are held very early in the morning and late at night, outwith the normal opening hours. You can’t touch the stones though. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/73 "2012-10-24T18:43:47Z")
1. I was glad to see Blarney castle on the list because we expected it to be really cheesy, but it wasn’t. The grounds of the estate are beautiful and it was fun. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/74 "2012-10-24T19:37:34Z")
I “did” Chichen Itza before it was totally cleaned up and tourbus-ified by the Mexican Tourist Board (or whoever was responsible) … I took a local (slow) bus, by myself, from Cancun and we went on secondary highways, through very rural areas. Mucho speedbumps through the villages. There were still some traditional Mayan-type dwellings along the route. Chickens everywhere! Corn plots. Funky schoolyards. Dust. Soda pop stands with no doors. Flies. Local crafts vendors were still allowed. I purchased a huipl, which started out cross-stitched very nicely, but the work had deteriorated by the time it was put up for sale. I’m guessing too much pulque in the system of the woman who crafted it. Best part of Chichen is NOT the cenote, but the INTERIOR PYRAMID. Underneath the VISIBLE pyramid. There’s a “throne chamber” with a leopard chair. VERY steep, narrow, stone stairway, poorly lit and very creepy! :eek: I also took the slicked-up tourista tour. The young(er) female in the seat ahead of me occupied herself ENTIRELY with her make-up. She missed the whole thing! ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/75 "2012-10-24T19:39:10Z")
I “did” Stonehenge, too, 1970. Before it was all walled off with plexiglass. But I NEGLECTED Salisbury Cathedral, easily accessible along the route to Stonehenge. I deeply regret not touring it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/76 "2012-10-24T19:59:27Z")
6: Eiffel Tower, Versailles, US Capitol, Statue of Liberty, Tower of London, Space Needle. Now I just hang around Mall of America. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/77 "2012-10-24T23:35:33Z")
> [@Atomic\_Mama](#): > > I “did” Stonehenge, too, 1970. Before it was all walled off with plexiglass. > > But I NEGLECTED Salisbury Cathedral, easily accessible along the route to Stonehenge. I deeply regret not touring it. ☹ I, too, visited Stonehenge when you could walk right up to it and touch it. Saw Salisbury Cathedral, too. Then I watched my tour bus drive off without me, and was furious – they had _counted heads_ to avoid leaving without everyone. I was getting ready to take the rail back to London, but then had the bright idea of hitching a ride on a different tour bus. They gave me a ride, but at the awful cost of being and Example. “If you get separated from your tour, do what this young man has done…” The Horror. The Horror… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/78 "2012-10-25T22:26:50Z")
Just one officially – I visited the U.S. Capitol as a high school senior while on a [Close Up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Up_Foundation) tour of Washington. I’ve seen the Statue of Liberty on several trips to New York, but never set foot on the bit of soil formerly known as Bedloe’s Island. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/79 "2012-10-25T22:57:00Z")
I’ve been to eleven, some several times, and climbed up inside Cheops to the burial chamber. I counted Checkpoint Charlie because, even though I haven’t been to the museum, I’ve actually been through Checkpoint Charlie when it was active. I AM history, muthafuckah! I’m surprised Abu Simbel and Carnak aren’t on that list, among others. I would rank the Charles Bridge in the Czech Republic, the Vatican, Notre Dame Cathedral, the cathedral in Seville, Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon (also the one at Belem), and Victoria Falls the equal of most of those listed, and all of which I’ve seen. But then, it ain’t my list. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-worlds-best-tourist-traps-have-you-visted/638669/80 "2012-10-26T00:10:17Z")
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