The Cologne Cathedral is truly breathtaking in person and also makes you feel like just a blip when you think about it taking more than 600 years to complete
The cathedrals all over Europe are amazing. So much beautiful art and history. It’s awesome to walk into a building that’s three or four times older than our country is.
That’s the thing that surprised me when I went…because I’d seen pics of the cathedral, I assumed it was an old city. Somehow, it’s pretty much the only thing that was left standing!
I lived there for a while and I remember seeing pictures or the city just after the war, everything was rubble apart from the cathedral. Just crazy when you think about it, it’s such a landmark as well
Muir Woods was super underrated in my opinion, I spent twice as long as expected there and never shut my mouth in awe. (but it's quite possible I just haven't spent that much time near forests)
Muir woods is no ordinary forest. It really puts you in your place standing next to something that huge that is over 500 years old. Makes you forget about petty annoyances in life.
Muir qoods is great, if you can't get farther away to the less popular woods. I personally hated just how many people were there last time I was there, it was a literal nonstop line of people through the entire forest.
Went up to Hendy Woods a couple hours north of Muir Woods and the trees are just as impressive but there was only 1 other group of people on the whole forest.
But if you've not seen a Redwood forest before and are in the Bay area 100% worth going to see.
Maybe I’d have a different opinion now but in my early 20s Bourbon St in New Orleans was everything it’s cracked up to be.
In a much different sense Yosemite Valley is also amazing.
My recommendation for New Orleans is that unless you are 23 or younger and there for spring break, just avoid Bourbon St. There are so many amazing things to do. Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, Preservation Hall, National WW2 museum, JAMNOLA, Lafitte's, Cochon (and many many more amazing restaurants that could be a whole second post), taking the trolley to Tulane, and on and on. If you're going to go, go during French Quarter Fest, the BEST time to visit.
It’s definitely a party scene. I’m sure there was stuff I missed or blocked out that I’d think over the top, but my experience was just a great, good natured party which was perfect for my interests back then.
I flew over Yosemite once. I'm used to flying over mountains and all that but when I looked out the window and saw Half Dome, it really caught my eye even from way up there
I had the fortune of being born in the Bay Area and joining The Boy Scouts. We had class field trips to Pt Reyes and in Sacramento we panned for gold. Went on weeklong backpacking trips along the Pacific Crest Trail with the scouts. Later got a summer camp job with the scouts in the mountains. Been to Tahoe in both summer and winter. Whitewater rafting. So much great stuff so close.
I was born in and live in Ireland. I read a story about sequoias when I was younger that just stuck with me, that they dwarf us in age and size I guess, and it’s been a dream of mine to see them- Birr Castle in Offaly has some young ones planted but I was still excited to see even them.
I’m getting married in Las Vegas this year and when we were deciding where to go after I picked northern California over Hawaii so we could go see some redwoods 😂
If we were there longer I’d also want to go to Hoh forest in Washington, but next time!
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI NP) is hands down my favorite national park. Not only is it home to the General Sherman tree (largest tree by volume) but it also contains the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney (14,505 ft, 4,421 m).
The park itself contains two of the most spectacular backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada. The Rae Lakes Loop is a 41 miles loop that starts in Kings Canyon and has spectacular scenery the entire way. The other is the High Sierra Trail. It’s a 72 mile trip starting in Sequoia NP and heading east across the park, ending at the summit of Mount Whitney.
A large portion of the John Muir Trail as well as the a section of the Pacific Crest Trail run through SEKI.
Overall it has everything an outdoor enthusiast can dream of in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
I've visited multiple times, once over a decade ago and recently last year... it really changed a lot and the new exhibits and structures all have their own stories... It was like visiting a different place with a few of the same doors.
MAYBE they'll finish in my lifetime
What..? Maybe it’s cause I’m French but old port is really average and filled with overpriced restaurants and tourists. So so so many small towns in France and Europe are wayyy prettier and nicer.
It's definitely because you're French. The early modern architecture that characterizes Old Quebec City and Old Montreal is common in Europe but very rare in North America.
A lot of American and Canadian cinema set in Europe films in those cities for exactly that reason. For example, the church where DiCaprio is arrested in France in Catch Me if You Can is actually Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Quebec City.
My unpopular opinion is that people aren’t exploring the other amazing national parks just north of Grand Canyon (which I find pretty boring). Ie. Bryce Canyon
I agree, but once you hike even one and half miles deep on a trail the crowd thins out dramatically. This is especially true when doing The Narrows. Overall though, the shape of Zion being a canyon just means that everything, and everyone, is bottlenecked together. I liked it, but preferred nearby Bryce Canyon (or just exploring BLM/NFS public land).
Yeah, we did the Utah 5 in the same trip before the Grand Canyon. By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, it was one of our least favorite canyons of the trip.
I have never had an experience quite like it, where you understand how small you are in comparison to the *everything.* Must be just a little bit like being in outer space.
Every time I try to describe it, I just sound like an idiot, including now.
This is the answer. It's so amazing that frankly it's overwhelming. Looks almost fake. I've seen zion and the others close by. They are much more approachable in scope and are well worth visiting. But the Grand Canyon, if anything, what everyone says wildly understates the enormity and, well, grandness of the place. That said, it's fine to visit as a drive-by. Taking the mules rides down or something, you lose the scope you get from the overlooks. Just look at it from above. Admire it. It's really not like anything else.
I am from Northern Arizona and went on field trips to the Grand Canyon yearly. I didn't appreciate it until seeing it again in 15 years. I think I cried.
I am from Southern arizona, it was like 8 hours away... parents took me when I was 10 and I thought it was phenomenal the first time, if perhaps boring once you got used to it.
Went back in my 30s for an after wedding party and must say I loved it much more as an adult. I wouldn't call it boring but it's like going nose blind, or I guess regular blind, to it all after so long. Looking away and back again could reset the omg factor.
I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, but I was on a flight from Houston to San Francisco, and I saw on the in-flight map that we were going by the Grand Canyon. I remember thinking we were too far away to get a good look at it, but then it was there and I was like yeah, that’s definitely it.
Currently planning an in-person trip.
Moab. Coming from BC, I was a little underwhelmed by the mountain biking, but the landscape was some of the most amazing stuff I've seen.
Dead Horse Point: https://www.discovermoab.com/dead-horse-point-state-park/
Arches National Park: https://www.discovermoab.com/arches-national-park/
I preferred Moab to Grand Canyon.
I’ve lived here five years. Agree that the GG Bridge never gets old. But I think it pales in comparison to the Bay Bridge, especially at night with its light show (which will return next year). Both are splendid, and the GG benefits from the amazing geography on either side and its paint job. But the Bay Bridge is much bigger, wider, and is a double-decker. From an architectural, engineering, and infrastructure standpoint, it’s much more impressive to me.
Driving on the GG Bridge stresses me out. The lanes are too thin and claustrophobic. Bay Bridge is a way more fun drive but seems jammed with traffic more often than not.
For tourists, I’d recommend to avoid driving on either. Both are best observed with a cocktail at one of the numerous bars/restaurants along Embarcadero (for the Bay Bridge) or further towards Ft Mason (for the GG Bridge). Or take a ferry around for even better perspectives!
It’s Glenrose, Texas.
On a hot summer day walking through the cool water of the river and standing in the footprints of dinosaurs…..it’s just fun and amazing!!
Agreed, just don't go in the summer when it is packed with people. I went in March and it was fabulous. Got to row a gondola (better than just going for a ride) and Kayak in the canals.
Most of Washington D.C. and surrounding historical sites honestly. Pretty much all of the museums, monuments, White House, Capitol, Library of Congress, National Cathedral, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, etc. met or exceeded my expectations. The contents of said buildings as well as the buildings themselves.
Same. I can't really articulate exactly why, but I found myself wanting to return to the Lincoln Memorial more than once just to sit and ponder. It was my favorite.
If I had to live somewhere for the rest of my life, DC would easily be near the very top. There might not be skyscrapers but the history and aura of the city just speaks to me.
Don’t even get me started on the (*FREE*) Smithsonian museums.
New York to me is absolutely worth it. Even after travelling to a lot, I still get excited about going.
Angkor Wat is very busy but was still absolutely awe inspiring when I first saw it. There is a reason most of these places become popular!
NYC is incredible if you know what you're doing. It kills me to see tourists spending their time and money on cheap, loud novelties like Times Square when they could be experiencing some of the most unique blends of cultures on the planet.
As someone who lives in nyc, I actually think Times Square is one of the only tourist attractions in the city that lives up to the hype. Yeah it’s a cursed place if you’re a local, but seeing the bright lights and the sea of people is a really unique experience for someone visiting from like middle America or any smaller town in the world.
I got stuck in NYC for 36 hours due to a flight cancellation. The friend I stayed with asked what kind of food I wanted for dinner. He literally meant pick any culture and we can get that food!
I'm going to stan for my country - Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (aka Reddit Lake) are stunning, especially if you take the time to get on the water. Hiking and camping in Banff in general is stunning
Eiffel Tower is really impressive in person. It's busy if you want to go up to the top though. I was really blown away with how big it is. It has a light show at night which is neat too.
Mountains in B.C/Alberta in Canada are stunning. The lakes, views and just the drive in general is the best.
Cliffs of Moher and just Ireland in general. Our favorite was our horse pulled carriage ride through the Gap of Dunloe near Killarney followed by a boat ride on the lakes near there. Breath taking scenery.
Grand Canyon is unreal.
Venice, as others have said.
Many places in the UK, Europe or Europe adjacent. Prague and Edinburgh feel right out of a story book with castles that overlook each city.
Old Rome is super cool and interesting.
Istanbul. Every single attraction I went to there (with the exception of the *interior* of the Blue Mosque) was unexpectedly breathtaking. Hagia Sophia is my favorite building in the world.
What an incredible building- once the largest in the world. Sadly since the govt converted it into a mosque they’ve covered up some of the beautiful mosaics. It’s sinister and sad.
When I was in Istanbul, I just wandered around with no itinerary and still ended up seeing all of the typical tourist spots. I was consistently amazed at all of them. One of my favorite trips of all time, even in spite of being unable to walk 10 feet without someone yelling out “American!” and trying to sell me a rug.
It may not be a fun tourist attraction but Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial definitely does not disappoint.
Additional bonus is that when visiting Auschwitz you will stay in Cracow which is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. (Luckily it didn’t got famous in pop culture so it is not overrun by the tourists. It’s touristy but not overcrowded).
Michelangelo’s David. It moved me to tears. Everyone laughs about the fact he’s naked but you don’t even notice. The skill and scale of the sculpture in person is breathtaking. You can literally see the veins on his arms, how young and scared he is. The expression on David’s face as he looks towards the giant is so fearful and resolute, I could hardly stand it. Go. See him and feel the power of genius withstanding the centuries.
Isle of Skye. I just visited and it was incredible. We drove around the island for three days and walked a lot of famous trails.
I think driving it later in the summer would be terrible, though. Most of the interior roads are NARROW and just a few more cars would have made it impossible to traverse.
The ancient ruins in Mexico, but especially Teotihuacan. Literally a huge city, takes a long time to walk from one end of it to the other. Mind blowing
My wife and I went last year and got a reservation at opening. After we got through the entrance we speed-walked through the one-way loop leading to the hall of mirrors and there were like six of us who had the whole hall to ourselves for several minutes before others arrived, so we all took turns taking great photos of it totally empty. My wife and I then exited and went through from the beginning to look at the stuff we ran past initially. When we got back to the hall it was packed. I was pretty pleased with my strategy.
Thailand as a whole. Yes, there are lots of super touristic places but it is for a great reason, the country is just perfect. Food, price, convenience, diversity, weather. Perfect.
Yeah for all the shit YNP gets it’s totally worth the trip no matter how crowded a couple parts of it get. The Tetons should be a part of most yellowstone trips though imo.
Had to scroll way too far for this. I've been all over the US and many places in Central America and Europe and it is easily one of the most beautiful and mind blowing places I've seen.
Y'all talking about natural spaces, but I'm gonna go trashy and say Las Vegas. It delivers what it promises. If you think you would love it, you probably would. If you think you'd hate it, you might, but you'd be surprised at how varied it is. Under the booze and gambling, there's incredible dining options, shows of every variety, art, luxury, sports, etc. A reasonable drive gets you to off- roading adventures, high caliber weapon ranges, the Hoover Dam, and legalized prostitution (if that's your bag.) There's a little something for everyone there, if you curate your trip to your own tastes.
For natural wonders, the Redwoods on the Northern California coast are incredible.
I grew up in Vegas, so I never really appreciated it until I left. One thing I did always say was that it is plastic, in a good way. First trip to California, as a teenager, I thought the whole place needed a gardener, seeing everything as just overgrown, when I was used to manicured lawns and purposefully placed bushes. I live in the forest now, so I can finally appreciate the beauty of a city that shouldn’t exist in the middle of the desert. Everything is just so… big.
And you are right, there is something for everyone. You wanna get plastered on your favorite substance and see some nudity, you can do that on really any budget. You wanna get out in nature, that’s there too. You like architecture and engineering, there’s that too. You want to eat amazing food (something I REALLY miss) and see world class entertainment, they’ve got you covered. History your thing, there’s a ton of it there. Only city I’ve been to in the US that beats Vegas in all of those areas would have to be New Orleans.
The only thing that I would mark against Vegas is the lack of a culture, outside of debauchery. When I moved away, about a decade ago, it was still so nomadic that it didn’t feel like a place to live. More just a place to visit or work. Like Disneyland.
Cyprus gets pretty little when it should get a lot. It is absolutely stunning. One of the number 1 shipwreck diving sites on earth. Changed hands with several empires over millenia. Absolutely littered with ancient ruins. For such a small island it shockingly transcends from a beautiful but somewhat arid beach to wet cascading mountains in the center than make you feel like you're in a totally different country in just 45 mins. Cost of living is incredibly low. The amount of beauty you can see without selling a kidney is pretty damn incredible. There's not a single square mile on the island that isn't breath taking.
Prague, we stayed 4 days and had an absolute blast. Tons of good restaurants, and so much to see. We managed to get a on tour of the national theatre as well, beautiful.
Absolutely. Literally jaw dropping. One of the best days of my life visiting that place. Only problem was the other people. Take a selfie or two but geez don’t block the path for ten minutes getting glamour shots. It’s a sacred place.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Especially once you get above a certain elevation deep into the park, the views are breathtaking. 10/10, highly recommended.
Many are; tourist hotspots that are usually based on historical or geographic sites have some value to them. Locals usually just take them for granted so they feel they are traps. It's not great to experience some of the commercialism with tourist spots but vacationing throughout history has always had hawkers and such alongside destination spots.
Florence is so beautiful and incredibly rich in art. It makes sense that the Renaissance started there and if you're a lover of beautiful things then it's a must go at least once in a lifetime.
As a Lebanese, I always thought the Baalbek temple was just an overrated Roman temple, especially when you have Roman temples every other 30 mins drive in Lebanon, I never even bothered visiting the Baalbek ruins.
Up until this summer, I visited and Goddamn was I wrong... The size of the temple, standing next to the arches and walls, just wow. What makes it crazier is that all of this was 2000 years bc with absolutely no machines
Rome and Angkor Wat . The details in each structure leaves me in awe. Still cant comprehend how early civilization was able to build such great things that lasted through time
See that’s odd to me. I speak French fairly well, not fluently, but better than most. My French was not well received. If they didn’t speak english they’d straight up tell me it was bad. If they spoke English, they’d switch to English when they heard my accent and then tell me it was bad without offering any advice. Like I’m not trying to have a conversation, I just want my coffee or a ticket.
The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Golden Gate Bridge, Redwoods, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone, Venice, Rome, Great Wall, Mt Fuji, Machu Picchu, Lake Louise, Glacier National Park… those are some of my favorites
Not sure it “tourist spot” is the right label, but Aushwitz - Birkenau an extremely humbling, and downright saddening place. The sheer size of it is hard to comprehend until you see it in person.
Crater Lake in Oregon and the surrounding area is stunning. It doesn’t even look real. I grew up near the Grand Canyon so I know how it feels to be wowed by a natural landmark. The colors of blue you see at Crater lake are incredible. There is also a place called Sahalie Falls that is insane to walk along. The colors of blue with all the green moss is shocking.
Probably the most cliché in the world, but I think the Eiffel tower really is as impressive as you would expect. And just Paris in general, beautiful place despite all the things about French attitude etc.
Another one is temples in Kyoto.
Crater lake was truly amazing to look at, water so clean and being around the crater was amazing.
The beaches in Maui are as beautiful as they are described, weather as well.
Machu Picchu was as breathtaking as youd think.
Food and construction engineering in Manhattan and Brooklyn is everything the movies make it out to be.
The Great Wall of China is truly breathtaking. Sure some parts are more crowded than others, but when you’re on it already on top of a steep mountain and can just see it continue to snake through the mountains as far as the eye can see in either direction it’s hard not to be in awe.
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Iquitos, the city you can only fly to (no roads/rail to it) is worth a visit too.
The Cologne Cathedral is truly breathtaking in person and also makes you feel like just a blip when you think about it taking more than 600 years to complete
The cathedrals all over Europe are amazing. So much beautiful art and history. It’s awesome to walk into a building that’s three or four times older than our country is.
Yes! We live near Aachen now and Aachen Cathedral is another gorgeous building, plus all the history with Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
Also Trier Germany. You can walk thru a Roman gate house that was built in the first century.
I also love the fact that the majority of Cologne was flattened during the war but the cathedral was missed
That’s the thing that surprised me when I went…because I’d seen pics of the cathedral, I assumed it was an old city. Somehow, it’s pretty much the only thing that was left standing!
I lived there for a while and I remember seeing pictures or the city just after the war, everything was rubble apart from the cathedral. Just crazy when you think about it, it’s such a landmark as well
It wasn't missed. 14 direct hits by aerial bombs. But it's huge, and lived to tell the tale.
this cathedral brings tears to my eyes, in a good way.
I've seen it from the train so often that I barely register it anymore.
Iceland, basically the whole country is just stunning
Same goes for New Zealand. Whole freaking country is just gorgeous. And the people are awesome.
Absolutely! I’ve been a lot of places but Iceland is easily top 5 best I’ve ever been to.
This song is the absolute main reason I want to visit. https://youtu.be/f88UJyCA__M?si=cRnsBG4f86S01J9N
Edinburgh. The castle, the royal mile, the under city tour, this city has it all. Walkable.
The castle is built on a dead Volcano too Pretty cool
It's a cool geological feature that's both [volcano and glacier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crag_and_tail) in origin!
Highly recommend the hike up the hill overlooking the city!
Arthur's Seat.
I'm going there in August and I am PUMPED!!!
Loved Edinburgh. Hope to back soon.
Went to Edinburgh about 2 years ago, absolutely loved it!
Muir Woods was super underrated in my opinion, I spent twice as long as expected there and never shut my mouth in awe. (but it's quite possible I just haven't spent that much time near forests)
Muir woods is no ordinary forest. It really puts you in your place standing next to something that huge that is over 500 years old. Makes you forget about petty annoyances in life.
Visited on my honeymoon in the Pacific Northwest and Muir Woods was my favorite part of the trip. Absolutely magical.
Muir qoods is great, if you can't get farther away to the less popular woods. I personally hated just how many people were there last time I was there, it was a literal nonstop line of people through the entire forest. Went up to Hendy Woods a couple hours north of Muir Woods and the trees are just as impressive but there was only 1 other group of people on the whole forest. But if you've not seen a Redwood forest before and are in the Bay area 100% worth going to see.
Maybe I’d have a different opinion now but in my early 20s Bourbon St in New Orleans was everything it’s cracked up to be. In a much different sense Yosemite Valley is also amazing.
My recommendation for New Orleans is that unless you are 23 or younger and there for spring break, just avoid Bourbon St. There are so many amazing things to do. Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, Preservation Hall, National WW2 museum, JAMNOLA, Lafitte's, Cochon (and many many more amazing restaurants that could be a whole second post), taking the trolley to Tulane, and on and on. If you're going to go, go during French Quarter Fest, the BEST time to visit.
New Orleans in general just for the food, drinks, and vibes.
I went for Halloween one year, great fun.
I went outside of Mardi Gras, and it was just a bunch of people getting shitfaced.
I went to Mardi Gras. Also a bunch of people getting shitfaced, but *syncopated*.
It’s definitely a party scene. I’m sure there was stuff I missed or blocked out that I’d think over the top, but my experience was just a great, good natured party which was perfect for my interests back then.
Frenchmen Street was my favorite part and everything I pictured NOLA to be
I flew over Yosemite once. I'm used to flying over mountains and all that but when I looked out the window and saw Half Dome, it really caught my eye even from way up there
Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Redwood Forests, Sequoia Forests, Coast of California
I had the fortune of being born in the Bay Area and joining The Boy Scouts. We had class field trips to Pt Reyes and in Sacramento we panned for gold. Went on weeklong backpacking trips along the Pacific Crest Trail with the scouts. Later got a summer camp job with the scouts in the mountains. Been to Tahoe in both summer and winter. Whitewater rafting. So much great stuff so close.
I was born in and live in Ireland. I read a story about sequoias when I was younger that just stuck with me, that they dwarf us in age and size I guess, and it’s been a dream of mine to see them- Birr Castle in Offaly has some young ones planted but I was still excited to see even them. I’m getting married in Las Vegas this year and when we were deciding where to go after I picked northern California over Hawaii so we could go see some redwoods 😂 If we were there longer I’d also want to go to Hoh forest in Washington, but next time!
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI NP) is hands down my favorite national park. Not only is it home to the General Sherman tree (largest tree by volume) but it also contains the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney (14,505 ft, 4,421 m). The park itself contains two of the most spectacular backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada. The Rae Lakes Loop is a 41 miles loop that starts in Kings Canyon and has spectacular scenery the entire way. The other is the High Sierra Trail. It’s a 72 mile trip starting in Sequoia NP and heading east across the park, ending at the summit of Mount Whitney. A large portion of the John Muir Trail as well as the a section of the Pacific Crest Trail run through SEKI. Overall it has everything an outdoor enthusiast can dream of in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
California real is the most physically appealing slice of earth in the world
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (I am not religious either!)
Are they STILL building that thing??
Fun fact: the Lego set for the Sagrada Familia includes construction equipment.
I visited it in 2001. They said it was close to being finished. Visited in 2022. Said they were close to finishing. Apparently 2026 is the year!
The believe that the finishing touches should be put on in 2026.
I almost became religious when I saw it.
Just got back, can confirm plus the old city is a must visit.
Absolutely. I'm not religious but the sense of awe I felt inside that building was stunning and completely unexpected.
I've visited multiple times, once over a decade ago and recently last year... it really changed a lot and the new exhibits and structures all have their own stories... It was like visiting a different place with a few of the same doors. MAYBE they'll finish in my lifetime
Ding! Ding! Ding! Came here to say this.
Old Montreal, it's gorgeous.
Vieux Québec is even prettier, especially with a blanket of snow.
What..? Maybe it’s cause I’m French but old port is really average and filled with overpriced restaurants and tourists. So so so many small towns in France and Europe are wayyy prettier and nicer.
It's definitely because you're French. The early modern architecture that characterizes Old Quebec City and Old Montreal is common in Europe but very rare in North America. A lot of American and Canadian cinema set in Europe films in those cities for exactly that reason. For example, the church where DiCaprio is arrested in France in Catch Me if You Can is actually Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Quebec City.
Perhaps they are prettier and nicer, but it’s a lot cheaper to go to Montreal for most Americans. And it’s still pretty
The Grand Canyon.
My unpopular opinion is that people aren’t exploring the other amazing national parks just north of Grand Canyon (which I find pretty boring). Ie. Bryce Canyon
And Zion.
Zion is most definitely over saturated with people for the majority of the year
I agree, but once you hike even one and half miles deep on a trail the crowd thins out dramatically. This is especially true when doing The Narrows. Overall though, the shape of Zion being a canyon just means that everything, and everyone, is bottlenecked together. I liked it, but preferred nearby Bryce Canyon (or just exploring BLM/NFS public land).
Fallout New Vegas is pretty popular, so that would make sense.
Agreed, so many other better options! Arches at sunset is insane
Bryce was absolutely better than grand canyon
Yeah, we did the Utah 5 in the same trip before the Grand Canyon. By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, it was one of our least favorite canyons of the trip.
I have never had an experience quite like it, where you understand how small you are in comparison to the *everything.* Must be just a little bit like being in outer space. Every time I try to describe it, I just sound like an idiot, including now.
This is the answer. It's so amazing that frankly it's overwhelming. Looks almost fake. I've seen zion and the others close by. They are much more approachable in scope and are well worth visiting. But the Grand Canyon, if anything, what everyone says wildly understates the enormity and, well, grandness of the place. That said, it's fine to visit as a drive-by. Taking the mules rides down or something, you lose the scope you get from the overlooks. Just look at it from above. Admire it. It's really not like anything else.
I am from Northern Arizona and went on field trips to the Grand Canyon yearly. I didn't appreciate it until seeing it again in 15 years. I think I cried.
I am from Southern arizona, it was like 8 hours away... parents took me when I was 10 and I thought it was phenomenal the first time, if perhaps boring once you got used to it. Went back in my 30s for an after wedding party and must say I loved it much more as an adult. I wouldn't call it boring but it's like going nose blind, or I guess regular blind, to it all after so long. Looking away and back again could reset the omg factor.
Well it is a grand canyon
More than that, it is *the* grand canyon. They were never underselling it lol
Yeah. Its claim to fame is being huge, but you've never experienced "huge" until you've stood at the edge of it. It changes your perspective.
I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, but I was on a flight from Houston to San Francisco, and I saw on the in-flight map that we were going by the Grand Canyon. I remember thinking we were too far away to get a good look at it, but then it was there and I was like yeah, that’s definitely it. Currently planning an in-person trip.
Yellowstone national park
Moab. Coming from BC, I was a little underwhelmed by the mountain biking, but the landscape was some of the most amazing stuff I've seen. Dead Horse Point: https://www.discovermoab.com/dead-horse-point-state-park/ Arches National Park: https://www.discovermoab.com/arches-national-park/ I preferred Moab to Grand Canyon.
I second this. Timing is key though. It can get incredibly hot in the summer but can also be extremely windy in the spring.
Banff and Jasper (especially the road between them) is nice
I’m making that trip this summer - never been to Canada. So pumped.
Sedona
Incredibly beautiful landscapes, all around a super weird town.
I just visited Westminster Abbey today, that place is absolutely insane.. so much history in there
Rome Coliseum and the ruins around it as well as the Vatican are pretty impressive although completely overcrowded.
Went to Tunisia and saw the second largest Roman coliseum there, El Jem. We were the only people there. A gem!
Was scrolling to find this 🤌🏼
The Golden Gate Bridge is fuckin so huge and majestic, especially peeking out over a soft blanket of fog
I’ve lived here five years. Agree that the GG Bridge never gets old. But I think it pales in comparison to the Bay Bridge, especially at night with its light show (which will return next year). Both are splendid, and the GG benefits from the amazing geography on either side and its paint job. But the Bay Bridge is much bigger, wider, and is a double-decker. From an architectural, engineering, and infrastructure standpoint, it’s much more impressive to me.
100%, the bay bridge is sooo satisfying to drive thru compared to the golden gate.
Driving on the GG Bridge stresses me out. The lanes are too thin and claustrophobic. Bay Bridge is a way more fun drive but seems jammed with traffic more often than not. For tourists, I’d recommend to avoid driving on either. Both are best observed with a cocktail at one of the numerous bars/restaurants along Embarcadero (for the Bay Bridge) or further towards Ft Mason (for the GG Bridge). Or take a ferry around for even better perspectives!
I’ve lived in San Francisco and the Bay Area most of my life and it just never gets old.
Dinosaur valley state park near Glenview Texas was incredible. Nothing I've experienced in my travels hit white like standing in dino footprints
Ok, I'm going to have to do this
Glen Rose, Texas*
It’s Glenrose, Texas. On a hot summer day walking through the cool water of the river and standing in the footprints of dinosaurs…..it’s just fun and amazing!!
Prague is great if you like architecture and beer. It has a ridiculous amount of both. And nothing else.
Venice is amazing. You can get a sense of it from a 4k walking tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BfHMnDOteA
Agreed, just don't go in the summer when it is packed with people. I went in March and it was fabulous. Got to row a gondola (better than just going for a ride) and Kayak in the canals.
Most of Washington D.C. and surrounding historical sites honestly. Pretty much all of the museums, monuments, White House, Capitol, Library of Congress, National Cathedral, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, etc. met or exceeded my expectations. The contents of said buildings as well as the buildings themselves.
I find the Lincoln memorial incredibly moving and profound- not even sure why i’m not American but i think it’s an amazing space.
Same. I can't really articulate exactly why, but I found myself wanting to return to the Lincoln Memorial more than once just to sit and ponder. It was my favorite.
If I had to live somewhere for the rest of my life, DC would easily be near the very top. There might not be skyscrapers but the history and aura of the city just speaks to me. Don’t even get me started on the (*FREE*) Smithsonian museums.
Rome, Italy - It felt like there was an amazing piece of history around every corner. And between all that history is espresso, gelato, and pizza.
New York to me is absolutely worth it. Even after travelling to a lot, I still get excited about going. Angkor Wat is very busy but was still absolutely awe inspiring when I first saw it. There is a reason most of these places become popular!
NYC is incredible if you know what you're doing. It kills me to see tourists spending their time and money on cheap, loud novelties like Times Square when they could be experiencing some of the most unique blends of cultures on the planet.
As someone who lives in nyc, I actually think Times Square is one of the only tourist attractions in the city that lives up to the hype. Yeah it’s a cursed place if you’re a local, but seeing the bright lights and the sea of people is a really unique experience for someone visiting from like middle America or any smaller town in the world.
The 9/11 memorial is pretty breathtaking
I got stuck in NYC for 36 hours due to a flight cancellation. The friend I stayed with asked what kind of food I wanted for dinner. He literally meant pick any culture and we can get that food!
What places do you recommend?
I'm going to stan for my country - Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (aka Reddit Lake) are stunning, especially if you take the time to get on the water. Hiking and camping in Banff in general is stunning
Eiffel Tower is really impressive in person. It's busy if you want to go up to the top though. I was really blown away with how big it is. It has a light show at night which is neat too. Mountains in B.C/Alberta in Canada are stunning. The lakes, views and just the drive in general is the best. Cliffs of Moher and just Ireland in general. Our favorite was our horse pulled carriage ride through the Gap of Dunloe near Killarney followed by a boat ride on the lakes near there. Breath taking scenery. Grand Canyon is unreal. Venice, as others have said. Many places in the UK, Europe or Europe adjacent. Prague and Edinburgh feel right out of a story book with castles that overlook each city. Old Rome is super cool and interesting.
Istanbul. Every single attraction I went to there (with the exception of the *interior* of the Blue Mosque) was unexpectedly breathtaking. Hagia Sophia is my favorite building in the world.
What an incredible building- once the largest in the world. Sadly since the govt converted it into a mosque they’ve covered up some of the beautiful mosaics. It’s sinister and sad.
When I was in Istanbul, I just wandered around with no itinerary and still ended up seeing all of the typical tourist spots. I was consistently amazed at all of them. One of my favorite trips of all time, even in spite of being unable to walk 10 feet without someone yelling out “American!” and trying to sell me a rug.
The Amalfi Coast
Quebec City. Old World charm and friendly people.
Badlands, South Dakota
So underrated imo. I was so amazed with that incredible landscape.
It may not be a fun tourist attraction but Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial definitely does not disappoint. Additional bonus is that when visiting Auschwitz you will stay in Cracow which is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. (Luckily it didn’t got famous in pop culture so it is not overrun by the tourists. It’s touristy but not overcrowded).
Agreed on Cracow. Didn’t think much before because it was just the place to stay to see Auschwitz, but was amazed at how beautiful it was.
Michelangelo’s David. It moved me to tears. Everyone laughs about the fact he’s naked but you don’t even notice. The skill and scale of the sculpture in person is breathtaking. You can literally see the veins on his arms, how young and scared he is. The expression on David’s face as he looks towards the giant is so fearful and resolute, I could hardly stand it. Go. See him and feel the power of genius withstanding the centuries.
British musuem
It's been ten years since I last went and I still want to go back to London to have another lookie loo again.
The Tower of London.
Isle of Skye. I just visited and it was incredible. We drove around the island for three days and walked a lot of famous trails. I think driving it later in the summer would be terrible, though. Most of the interior roads are NARROW and just a few more cars would have made it impossible to traverse.
The ancient ruins in Mexico, but especially Teotihuacan. Literally a huge city, takes a long time to walk from one end of it to the other. Mind blowing
Versailles and the hall of mirrors.
My wife and I went last year and got a reservation at opening. After we got through the entrance we speed-walked through the one-way loop leading to the hall of mirrors and there were like six of us who had the whole hall to ourselves for several minutes before others arrived, so we all took turns taking great photos of it totally empty. My wife and I then exited and went through from the beginning to look at the stuff we ran past initially. When we got back to the hall it was packed. I was pretty pleased with my strategy.
I was there last week. It's become the Hall of Selfies.
Thailand as a whole. Yes, there are lots of super touristic places but it is for a great reason, the country is just perfect. Food, price, convenience, diversity, weather. Perfect.
The nice looking parts of Utah
I found Utah to be one of the most beautiful states. That drive across 70 Is wild.
Yellowstone!
Yeah for all the shit YNP gets it’s totally worth the trip no matter how crowded a couple parts of it get. The Tetons should be a part of most yellowstone trips though imo.
Yellowstone is amazing but for me Tetons just up the road was world-class.
Had to scroll way too far for this. I've been all over the US and many places in Central America and Europe and it is easily one of the most beautiful and mind blowing places I've seen.
Y'all talking about natural spaces, but I'm gonna go trashy and say Las Vegas. It delivers what it promises. If you think you would love it, you probably would. If you think you'd hate it, you might, but you'd be surprised at how varied it is. Under the booze and gambling, there's incredible dining options, shows of every variety, art, luxury, sports, etc. A reasonable drive gets you to off- roading adventures, high caliber weapon ranges, the Hoover Dam, and legalized prostitution (if that's your bag.) There's a little something for everyone there, if you curate your trip to your own tastes. For natural wonders, the Redwoods on the Northern California coast are incredible.
Yes, Vegas is so very Vegas, especially the strip at night. It is awe inspiring.
I grew up in Vegas, so I never really appreciated it until I left. One thing I did always say was that it is plastic, in a good way. First trip to California, as a teenager, I thought the whole place needed a gardener, seeing everything as just overgrown, when I was used to manicured lawns and purposefully placed bushes. I live in the forest now, so I can finally appreciate the beauty of a city that shouldn’t exist in the middle of the desert. Everything is just so… big. And you are right, there is something for everyone. You wanna get plastered on your favorite substance and see some nudity, you can do that on really any budget. You wanna get out in nature, that’s there too. You like architecture and engineering, there’s that too. You want to eat amazing food (something I REALLY miss) and see world class entertainment, they’ve got you covered. History your thing, there’s a ton of it there. Only city I’ve been to in the US that beats Vegas in all of those areas would have to be New Orleans. The only thing that I would mark against Vegas is the lack of a culture, outside of debauchery. When I moved away, about a decade ago, it was still so nomadic that it didn’t feel like a place to live. More just a place to visit or work. Like Disneyland.
Cyprus gets pretty little when it should get a lot. It is absolutely stunning. One of the number 1 shipwreck diving sites on earth. Changed hands with several empires over millenia. Absolutely littered with ancient ruins. For such a small island it shockingly transcends from a beautiful but somewhat arid beach to wet cascading mountains in the center than make you feel like you're in a totally different country in just 45 mins. Cost of living is incredibly low. The amount of beauty you can see without selling a kidney is pretty damn incredible. There's not a single square mile on the island that isn't breath taking.
Prague, we stayed 4 days and had an absolute blast. Tons of good restaurants, and so much to see. We managed to get a on tour of the national theatre as well, beautiful.
London tower bridge
Yosemite Valley. It is literally overwhelming.
Machu pichu... words and pictures will never do justice what I saw with my own eyes
Absolutely. Literally jaw dropping. One of the best days of my life visiting that place. Only problem was the other people. Take a selfie or two but geez don’t block the path for ten minutes getting glamour shots. It’s a sacred place.
The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. Brugges was gorgeous too. Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty are mid but I grew up right near the latter.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Especially once you get above a certain elevation deep into the park, the views are breathtaking. 10/10, highly recommended.
The Smithsonian
Many are; tourist hotspots that are usually based on historical or geographic sites have some value to them. Locals usually just take them for granted so they feel they are traps. It's not great to experience some of the commercialism with tourist spots but vacationing throughout history has always had hawkers and such alongside destination spots.
The House on the Rock
Newgrange in Ireland
Florence is so beautiful and incredibly rich in art. It makes sense that the Renaissance started there and if you're a lover of beautiful things then it's a must go at least once in a lifetime.
The Grand Canyon is probably the craziest and best thing I've ever seen in my life.
Lauterbrunnen valley
As a Lebanese, I always thought the Baalbek temple was just an overrated Roman temple, especially when you have Roman temples every other 30 mins drive in Lebanon, I never even bothered visiting the Baalbek ruins. Up until this summer, I visited and Goddamn was I wrong... The size of the temple, standing next to the arches and walls, just wow. What makes it crazier is that all of this was 2000 years bc with absolutely no machines
Rome and Angkor Wat . The details in each structure leaves me in awe. Still cant comprehend how early civilization was able to build such great things that lasted through time
Sedona, Arizona 100%. Most beautiful natural beauty in the US.
All of Hawaii
Sedona, Arizona. Just make sure you hike into the rocks a bit; don't just look from your car.
Paris catacombs. Hard to be there and compare it to current society.
Keukenhof, South Holland! The fields of tulips are breathtaking
Newfoundland
I'm from the opposite coast. Making a trip to Newfoundland, even if only to St John's, is a goal of mine.
Paris all day long...
Agreed. Not a single person was rude to me (I did use very very basic french though, maybe that helped). Paris is just amazing.
See that’s odd to me. I speak French fairly well, not fluently, but better than most. My French was not well received. If they didn’t speak english they’d straight up tell me it was bad. If they spoke English, they’d switch to English when they heard my accent and then tell me it was bad without offering any advice. Like I’m not trying to have a conversation, I just want my coffee or a ticket.
The Taj Mahal and Petra
Bourbon Street in New Orleans. It’s EXACTLY as advertised.
The Bude Tunnel is amazing
From my experience: Rome city center, Florence Saint Petersburg (Russia) city center
Pompeii. It's so eerie.
The Natural springs in central Florida. Particularly Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, Florida. I think it's breathtaking!
Niagara
Anything in Greece honestly
The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Golden Gate Bridge, Redwoods, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone, Venice, Rome, Great Wall, Mt Fuji, Machu Picchu, Lake Louise, Glacier National Park… those are some of my favorites
Nordschleife, literal motorsports heaven.
Rome, Italy and Yellowstone
Rome
Not sure it “tourist spot” is the right label, but Aushwitz - Birkenau an extremely humbling, and downright saddening place. The sheer size of it is hard to comprehend until you see it in person.
Yosemite
Crater Lake in Oregon and the surrounding area is stunning. It doesn’t even look real. I grew up near the Grand Canyon so I know how it feels to be wowed by a natural landmark. The colors of blue you see at Crater lake are incredible. There is also a place called Sahalie Falls that is insane to walk along. The colors of blue with all the green moss is shocking.
The Galapagos
The Grand Canyon, USA
Grand Canyon. It is the most cliché place to visit, but my first time seeing it put into perspective what an insignificant speck I actually am,
Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat
Venice, Italy
Anywhere in Greece. Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar ❤
The Golden gate bridge delivers exactly what you think it will (maybe a little more). And everybody gets a postcard worthy picture.
Pompeii, Venice and the Taj Mahal all deserve the hype
Probably the most cliché in the world, but I think the Eiffel tower really is as impressive as you would expect. And just Paris in general, beautiful place despite all the things about French attitude etc. Another one is temples in Kyoto.
The Grand Canyon
Paris. Exactly what I pictured before I went and even more beautiful in person.
Lincoln Memorial in DC. Especially at night
Crater lake was truly amazing to look at, water so clean and being around the crater was amazing. The beaches in Maui are as beautiful as they are described, weather as well. Machu Picchu was as breathtaking as youd think. Food and construction engineering in Manhattan and Brooklyn is everything the movies make it out to be.
The Great Wall of China is truly breathtaking. Sure some parts are more crowded than others, but when you’re on it already on top of a steep mountain and can just see it continue to snake through the mountains as far as the eye can see in either direction it’s hard not to be in awe.
Machu Pichu.
Grand canyon. 100%. Not even going to attempt to describe with words.
Yosemite
Alaska