Anonymous wrote:Cinque Terre. It was beautiful but it was crowded to the point where we wouldn't move. The weather was also terrible while we were there, so I'm sure that plays a huge part in my feelings.

Wow. I found this absolutely lovely.

When I was in college (80's), I went on a trip to Greece and Italy. Men there treat young American women walking together like whores (and honestly, I was a very modest, plain-jane type girl and so were my friends). It was really horrible.

However, once I got a little age on me, I have traveled to many places that I've loved, especially India, Poland, Geneva, Amsterdamn. The older I get, the nicer people treat me when abroad. It is nice there is something good about aging!

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Anonymous wrote:For the person who didn't like Florida - how much of the state did you see? It's a huge state. Tallahassee is different than Tampa is different than Miami is different than Naples is different than Orlando is different than Jacksonville is different than Key West, etc.. Unless you've been all around the state, I'm not sure that you can say you dislike the whole state. And they do have awesome state parks - one of the best state park systems in the US!

That's me, and I didn't see the entire state. I also said that I do believe the state parks are probably awesome, and I don't hate those (in Florida or anywhere).

But the areas I saw where people actually live were so depressing to me. Again, I didn't see everywhere, and I don't intend to. Other people can have Florida.

FWIW, I also haven't seen all of Arizona, but I kind of love it. Only really been to Phoenix and surrounds, and Tucson. Love them both, and would spend more time exploring that state.

I also spent many vacations in the Midwest as a kid, and I like that even more than Florida too. The vast flat cornfields are boring, but not depressing.

I'm perfectly happy for other people to love Florida, and I keep my opinions to myself in person, but on an anonymous board, I will admit that Florida is just the worst for me.

I can be the tie-breaker here. I grew up in FL, have been ALL OVER the state, and can confirm it sucks.

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Anonymous wrote:Corolla, Outer Banks.

Just nothing to recommend it. Blah beach, drab houses.

I agree. What is the appeal?

+2
Never understood it.

+1000

What a dump!

Oh my yes - and horribly boring. Please, everyone, stay away!

I see you're trying to be clever (or something), but no need. I would never go back. Wretched place is overpriced with nothing to really recommend it. If you've travelled a lot, this isn't for you. If you haven't, then...well, I'm sure it's lovely. (cough, cough)

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Anonymous wrote:Amsterdam -- while there were some interesting things to see, I just didn't like the 'vibe' of the city, as trite as that sounds. Perhaps because I wasn't a 20 year old backpacker at the time of my visit?

Interesting. We're thinking of planning a trip there, but I wondered if I would enjoy now that I'm older as well.

I hated Amsterdam. Couldn't get the thought of Nazis trouncing through the city out of my head.

Might want to stay out of most of Europe, then.

Disliked Waikiki. Even as a tourist there were too many tourists. Liked the rest of Oahu however, and did eat well even in Waikiki.

Wasn't crazy about Miami, but did like cruising around in friend's boat and having dolphins sport in the wake.

Wanted to like Barcelona, but pickpocket culture was a turnoff.

SF was beautiful but full of damaged souls in the downtown. I was recruited for a cult while waiting in line, and heard someone wailing like they were in hell while in a bookstore, lots of incidents like that. Liked Marin and Silicon Valley towns much better.

Found Athens to be dirty and some of the locals aggressive. Piraeus thankfully we were just passing through. Islands were great.

Really haven't been to any east coach beaches that made me want to come back.

Brussels has a cold sterile feel. Hated it. Couldn't wait to leave. The rest of Belgium was a delight.

We went to Amsterdam last summer, but stayed in Haarlem. Which is probably like staying in Bethesda to visit DC. Short train ride. Haarlem was quite charming, with delicious food. Amsterdam seemed a bit like New Orleans - lots of people are there to party. We did Anne Frank museum, the flower market, etc. Never made it to the museums. I really liked Delft - now that is a hidden gem.

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Anonymous wrote:Amsterdam -- while there were some interesting things to see, I just didn't like the 'vibe' of the city, as trite as that sounds. Perhaps because I wasn't a 20 year old backpacker at the time of my visit?

Interesting. We're thinking of planning a trip there, but I wondered if I would enjoy now that I'm older as well.

I hated Amsterdam. Couldn't get the thought of Nazis trouncing through the city out of my head.

Anonymous wrote:I've traveled to a few different continents, and probably more countries than states.

The only place I looked forward to getting away from fast, was Miami. Superficial to the extreme, and so, so, so much plastic surgery. I felt like I encountered more lions and ducks than humans.

agree with the Miami sentiment, especially South Beach. I thought Vegas was fake, but I think South Beach takes the cake.

Gatlinburg was also really ugly to me as was most of the Tennessee side of the Smokies.

Grand Canyon and Outer Banks mentioned many times are favorites of mine. If you get off the overlooks and go down into the canyon and explore it's fabulous. Outer Banks, while I can see it being boring to some, is a place that I've been going to forever so it holds sentimental appeal.

Anonymous wrote:For the person who didn't like Florida - how much of the state did you see? It's a huge state. Tallahassee is different than Tampa is different than Miami is different than Naples is different than Orlando is different than Jacksonville is different than Key West, etc.. Unless you've been all around the state, I'm not sure that you can say you dislike the whole state. And they do have awesome state parks - one of the best state park systems in the US!

That's me, and I didn't see the entire state. I also said that I do believe the state parks are probably awesome, and I don't hate those (in Florida or anywhere).

But the areas I saw where people actually live were so depressing to me. Again, I didn't see everywhere, and I don't intend to. Other people can have Florida.

FWIW, I also haven't seen all of Arizona, but I kind of love it. Only really been to Phoenix and surrounds, and Tucson. Love them both, and would spend more time exploring that state.

I also spent many vacations in the Midwest as a kid, and I like that even more than Florida too. The vast flat cornfields are boring, but not depressing.

I'm perfectly happy for other people to love Florida, and I keep my opinions to myself in person, but on an anonymous board, I will admit that Florida is just the worst for me.

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Anonymous wrote:Paris is like a required class with a professor who is nice to look at but is a complete asshole. You go because you have to, but all the while you're treated like like you're a subordinate know-nothing. You leave feeling dirty because you enjoyed the scenery while being abused.

It's that way in all of France though. They're douchebags about the language.

Once in Cannes I was denied a croissant until I stopped pronouncing it the American way and gave it my full, "KWA- SYONT" ridiculous attempt at a French accent. And she knew EXACTLY what I was talking about given all the pointing and numerous attempts to pronounce it. She just sat and stared at me, pretending not to comprehend, for a good three minutes.

This happened to me all the time during my first year in the US...people making me repeat over and over until I had the perfect pronouciation and pretending not to understand what I was ordering... douchebags in all the US, too?
And remember that too many Americans who visit France don't even try to speak French. They assume that their own language must be used by everyone. Can be irritating...

My time in France (I ended up spending an entire summer there) has made me emphasize so much with people with "broken English" here. I went to France not knowing a word, and it's so hard when you're trying to communicate and people just don't understand you. Now I get it.

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Once in Cannes I was denied a croissant until I stopped pronouncing it the American way

You poor bunny. If only I knew where you are so I could rush to your side and pat your hand.

I will add that I once (ONCE) has a waiter act as though he didn't understand what I was saying, and it hacked me off. But that was ONE interaction among dozens, and all the other French people I talked to were delightful and very complimentary about my French, which was definitely them being nice and not me being fluent.

I didn't say, "oh poor me"- I have been to France many times, though that was my first, and now I really enjoy the correction I got the first time I was there- it has made me much more unafraid to dive headlong into doing a full French accent.

But hey, why pass up the need to be needlessly snarky. It's so... productive.

The only place I remember being let down by was New Orleans. I don'tknow what I expected, but I remember being disappointed. However, I found myself having to go there a few years later, and I liked it just fine.

NC beaches are overrated. Emerald Isle, Wrightsville - meh. I like parts of the Outer Banks but other parts are boring. NJ beach towns are much better!

I loved Paris and found the people to be mostly kind and helpful.

For the person who didn't like Florida - how much of the state did you see? It's a huge state. Tallahassee is different than Tampa is different than Miami is different than Naples is different than Orlando is different than Jacksonville is different than Key West, etc.. Unless you've been all around the state, I'm not sure that you can say you dislike the whole state. And they do have awesome state parks - one of the best state park systems in the US!

Anonymous wrote:
Once in Cannes I was denied a croissant until I stopped pronouncing it the American way

You poor bunny. If only I knew where you are so I could rush to your side and pat your hand.

I will add that I once (ONCE) has a waiter act as though he didn't understand what I was saying, and it hacked me off. But that was ONE interaction among dozens, and all the other French people I talked to were delightful and very complimentary about my French, which was definitely them being nice and not me being fluent.