I feel the same way about forts, OP.

Anonymous wrote:I will never, ever again go on a “beach vacation” anywhere in the world. I am a working stiff so my time off is limited and spending it like a blob in the sand is a hard boring “no”

So sad and depressing

I will never, ever again go on a “beach vacation” anywhere in the world. I am a working stiff so my time off is limited and spending it like a blob in the sand is a hard boring “no”

We only go to beaches or mountains. No cities.

At some point, we came up with this rule -- to say that you have "done" a city you need to:
1. Go to the top of something tall and look out and admire the view
2. Go for some sort of ride on a 'novelty vehicle' (can be a horse and carriage, boat ride, Segway, one of those carts where you pedal it while drinking beer, doesn't matter)
3. Eat something ethnic and novel to the region
We also usually try to go swimming.

I

Yes to world class museums, castles and cathedrals/temples/shrines.
Yes to natural wonders.
No to fancy restaurants and shopping.
I will buy a token souvenir.

Shopping.

We very rarely do castle/palace tours anymore unless traveling with family members who are really keen to do so. Outside views are good enough. Same with big churches.

We’re big on museums, botanical gardens, and river boat tours (something I used to avoid but works for our family now).

We stopped buying souvenirs. Sure, I might buy a purse, clothes, etc. but I’m not buying traditional souvenirs. I do still pick up a Christmas ornament if I come across something unique.

Trekking across the city for some restaurant people said was a “must do.” I put a high priority on eating close to whatever else I’m doing even if it means I sometimes don’t eat the best food there is there. I just can’t with the schlep anymore.

We don’t really do big churches. I got dragged into them a lot as a child during European trips. No interest now.

We consume museums VERY lightly.

Rome - saw Vatican do a breeze through mainly trying to get to Sistine Chapel. That was it.

Munich - 1.5 hrs on Deutsche Museum focused on toys and engineering stuff. Plus of course the palace which is sort of a museum.

London - we’ll do the Churchill rooms museum but are skipping the rest (again although doing Tower of London which is sort of a museum).

If we go to a city and want to see the art museum like in NYC or Philly we set a goal of focusing on items of biggest interest for about an hour or so and then leaving.

Snorkeling in places other than stellar coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef or South Pacific islands

I've had the opportunity to travel to Asia quite a bit and I've seen so many temples and shrines that it would have to be pretty impressive for me to go. Same with art museums - it would have to be something very special or interesting to me to bother going.