Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had miserable experiences in both Miami and Orlando Florida (Miami less so). I will give the state one more shot (have always wanted to see the Keys) but if I don't like it there, I'm never going back to the state as a whole.

Op here. I felt so old and out of place in Miami. We tried the arts district, we tried restaurants for dinner, I just felt it was not my vibe or my scene as an unfashionable, heavier, mom of three. Miami and Houston as well were my two. I won’t see those again.

I'm the QP, and I was still pretty young (relatively speaking) while I was there so that wasn't my issue, but it still wasn't good. The Everglades airboat tour was very disappointing as was most of the food (although I did like a walking food/culture tour we took around South Beach, more for the experience than the food we tried).

Orlando was worse though. I was pickpocketed, we had multiple terrifying drivers, at least one identified attempted scam, bad service experiences, you name it.

I have always wanted to do the Keys though, so I am hopeful that the third time will be the charm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with Orlando; was at UCF for a conference. Never been to the Florida coast but didn't like this area.

All of Arizona, but especially Tucson. Drove around most of the state. Some beautiful forest and cacti but all the cities and towns were depressing and too freaking hot. Seemed like a place where people's dreams have gone to die for generations. Route 66 is a monument to failed businesses left to decay in the sun; they were never nice architecture so it's dreary and sad. Abandoned hotels, restaurants and RV parks and then nothing for miles till the next one. People take great photos of these places but seeing them in person is different. Creepy vibe to the whole state. I've been there several times and always want to leave.

Very far northern California and small town Oregon are also creepy in a different way. Like you could disappear and no one would care. Also had the same vibe in rural western Pennsylvania.

Haha, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and my East Coast friends who have gone there to visit come back not having enjoyed it. I think it feels too "Twin Peaks remote" to them. There is a lot of empty space between towns and cities out there, lots of wooded areas. The gray, misting skies don't help, I suppose. And the people are...very pale, lol. It doesn't bother me because I was raised in it. I used to jog on logging roads as a stupid teen, go three miles in and back, and not see a soul. That was just dumb. It's a beautiful, rugged, remote part of the country. The isolation can rub off on the people. I always felt growing up there that the rest of the country forgot about us, didn't understand us, we were just a junk drawer up in the corner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've hated anywhere, but I wouldn't return to Bali.

I also found Bali to be hit or miss. There are nice parts but they are harder to find.

Other observations:

Romans are exceptionally rude; Parisians friendlier than expected.

Egypt is a mess and horrible for tourists, a result of dealing with tourist hordes for millennia.

Don’t travel solo as a woman in India and you will be fine, with the exception of Varanasi, I’m still creeped out thinking about it nearly a decade after visiting.

Anonymous wrote:Naples, Italy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have lived all over the world and hated every damn minute I spent in Nairobi. Have been in poor countries and war zones but have never felt so unsafe and unwanted.

Unwanted. Tell us more about this? Can’t say I was ever wanted in a country. Comfortable yes. Maybe unwelcome.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is closer to home: Colonial Beach.

Last summer we were looking for a beach that's doable for a day trip from nova. Colonial Beach came on our radar. From my quick research, it sounded promising.

The place was dead in the middle of summer. The beach itself was littered with bird poop, and the sand hard. There were barely a handful of restaurants/cafes open. It was very depressing.

Go to sandy point. My little kids thought it was Adventure Bay

Sandy point was terrible growing up it was filled with jelly fish. Is it still?

Colonial Beach is a bust, the water is awful. The odors and rocky sand were a bust for me.

Maybe try Ocean City? I’ve never been to Ocean City but I’ve got coworkers who love it.

Ocean city is trashy. Are you coworkers trashy? Do the ride hogs?

They are all huge fans of Secrets (? I believe that is the name). A bar where the 20somethings are at peak age and the people who went in their twenties reminisce.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is closer to home: Colonial Beach.

Last summer we were looking for a beach that's doable for a day trip from nova. Colonial Beach came on our radar. From my quick research, it sounded promising.

The place was dead in the middle of summer. The beach itself was littered with bird poop, and the sand hard. There were barely a handful of restaurants/cafes open. It was very depressing.

Go to sandy point. My little kids thought it was Adventure Bay

Sandy point was terrible growing up it was filled with jelly fish. Is it still?

Colonial Beach is a bust, the water is awful. The odors and rocky sand were a bust for me.

Maybe try Ocean City? I’ve never been to Ocean City but I’ve got coworkers who love it.

Ocean city is trashy. Are you coworkers trashy? Do the ride hogs?

Anonymous wrote:My list is random:
Cologne, Germany. So boring and not that pretty except the famous church.

Pitlochery, Scotland. A tourist trap for a reason I couldn't figure out. I did have an amazing Indian meal there at least.

Los Angeles. I was so disappointed. I thought it would be prettier and cleaner and more fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had miserable experiences in both Miami and Orlando Florida (Miami less so). I will give the state one more shot (have always wanted to see the Keys) but if I don't like it there, I'm never going back to the state as a whole.

Op here. I felt so old and out of place in Miami. We tried the arts district, we tried restaurants for dinner, I just felt it was not my vibe or my scene as an unfashionable, heavier, mom of three. Miami and Houston as well were my two. I won’t see those again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had miserable experiences in both Miami and Orlando Florida (Miami less so). I will give the state one more shot (have always wanted to see the Keys) but if I don't like it there, I'm never going back to the state as a whole.

Op here. I felt so old and out of place in Miami. We tried the arts district, we tried restaurants for dinner, I just felt it was not my vibe or my scene as an unfashionable, heavier, mom of three. Miami and Houston as well were my two. I won’t see those again.

No place will ever make you feel uglier than Miami.

So true. I don’t think it’s my scene now as a mom of 3 - but I liked it when I was 22. I don’t think I’ve been back to south beach since a bachelorette party in 2013 - and I was too old then but rallied with friends.

My ILs live in North Miami so I go fairly often, but we like Hollywood Beach now.