Places that were BETTER than you expected?
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Anonymous
| Paris. I mean, knew I would enjoy my time there, but I was prepared for everyone to be rude to us, and the city to be filthy and was pleasantly surprised by how nice everyone was. The city was dirty, much like any other big city, but there were lots of really nice areas too. |
Anonymous
| I’ll second Lithuania. Went for work. Did not expect much. Was really pleasantly charmed. |
Anonymous
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Michigan! Went there two summers ago for a wedding in Ann Arbor, which is a quintessential college town. Lovely. Then we headed west to Saugatuck - so artsy and beautiful. Then we went to Traverse City which has tons to do, so pretty, reminds me kinda of Cape Cod. Went to a great winery there. Sleeping Bear Dunes is hard to explain how cool it is- feels like you’re on a whole different planet. Then up to the UP with a stop in Mackinac- super charming. The UP is just so...pristine and untouched. Just heavenly. Pictured Rocks is striking. And the people in MI are so nice.
I feel like that state gets such a bad rap for being flyover, crappy economy, ugly...and I know it’s not without its problems but omg no one mentions the absolutely GORGEOUS (and quaint and charming) parts. Loved it. |
Anonymous
| Way north in Wisconsin, the Northwoods part if the state. Lakes everywhere, so clean, the light is beautiful in the summer and the days last forever. St. Germaine, Eagle River area. |
Anonymous
Wisconsin is much prettier than people realize esp around here. This is doubly true for Michigan. It's absolutely stunning outside of the cities. Unfortunately lots of people only know about Flint and Detroit 
I thought I would like Scotland but the Highlands exceeded my expectations. Edinburgh is one of the most fantastic places I've ever been. I would move there in a heartbeat. Wales is also underrated-- it's so charming and all the little valleys are just adorable. Check out Hay on Wye-- it's a town full of used book stores!! The Welsh people are more friendly and open than the English and I love to hear their language and read the Welsh road signs. |
Anonymous
+1 And, you can fly non-stop now from Dulles! |
Anonymous
Same here. I expected it to be ugly but I found it to be vibrant. Of course, I didn't have to commute which I understand makes DC traffic look pleasant. |
Anonymous
Love Santa Fe. We spent so much time there growing up and NM is just so gorgeous in the mountains. |
Anonymous
I’d love to go there but the travel logistics always seemed so challenging. Where does Dulles fly direct now? Traverse City? |
Anonymous
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Loved Pittsburgh - the river running through it was lovely, the restaurants were great, the people were nice.
And although I already had high expectations, I was blown away by Bermuda. Just an absolutely lovely place. |
Anonymous
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I am so happy to see that several other people mentioned Michigan as that was what I came here to post. My in-laws have a lake cottage in the UP and I really had no idea what to expect — flash forward eleven years and I absolutely love it. We all look forward to our time up there each summer. I grew up with southern lakes which are usually so gross and dirty...it isn’t like that all in the UP. The water feels clean and you can see through it if it isn’t too deep.
Mackinac Island should absolutely be on everyone’s bucket list as it is just so charming and different than anywhere else in the US. |
Anonymous
Minus the Anne Arbor stop, my Dh and I took this trip about 30 years ago and had the same exact reaction! We were leaving the state and my husband said we should explore it first. I was not thrilled because I was pregnant and feeling awful. But it ended up being one of our best trips ever! |
Anonymous
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Stockholm
Copenhagen Fjords in Norway Patagonia Mexico City Cambodia |
Anonymous
Which river did you like? There are famously three 
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Anonymous
Santa Fe is awesome!! |