General traveling chat

IDK about title for this thread...

 

There is a thread for tips to traveling to Japan, but I figured it'd be fun to have a thread just about traveling in general. Where have you been, where do you want to go, and why? Would you recommend some place or would you think it is best not to bother if someone is thinking of going?

 

I wanted a thread like this after I realized that I really quite liked travelling, especially after my first time leaving the state this year (next goal: the country!) and visiting a couple of the members on here.

 

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Though this may sound lame I think if someone wants to go relax Minnesota is incredibly nice just to have a calm visit and just enjoy who you are with. There isn't anything super exciting, and sure the Mall of America is there, but it is essential just another mall (disregarding the freakin' amusement park in the center). My personal experience though short was that from what I could see even the cities seem calmer than what I'm used to. (CA is all just craziness, though it has its quiet moments too.)

 

I personally don't exactly like Texas. I don't care if I was only there for about 24-hours. The heat, humidity, and smell were not to my liking. I actually was right by this amazing piece with Texan Long Horns in Dallas (wish I had my camera to take pictures of it honestly) made out of some sort of metal, but I didn't quite care for the weather. Maybe it was just that day, but it was weird to breathe.

 

I've been to various places in CA, and I have to say that they are all nice and dandy, but they don't have that great enchantment because I'm aware I can drive to them, though I am still kicking myself for not visiting the Volks USA store yet (9 hour drives are not fun...). I've also missed out on a lot of things just an hour from me, but that list is far too long to go into.

 

As for where I want to go to? Well everyone wants to go to Japan pretty much. I'd love to go there and just shop and eat, and admire every pretty thing. Maybe get into a Dolpa. I have a friend, she's considering letting me visit next year. I may take her up on it if somehow my finances are good and I can save...><;;

 

Other places would include Orlando, Florida, which funny enough is more for Universal Studios because they are putting in a "Cabin in the Woods" attraction. I want to go down into that amazing basement and release the Hellraiser-look-a-likes. Ah, but that'd be too much I'm sure, also absolutely terrifying. I wish we could do that. Obviously, Disney World would be FANTASTIC too, but I have to say Universal got me the second they announced that. I want to see it before it is gone (though they still need to build it.).

 

Other then that, hmm, there are a few random places. I'd like to go visit my friend in Honolulu, Hawaii. I don't even have the same thoughts as much tourists, but I'd love to actually go meet up with him and say I've been there. At least once. Plus, it would most likely be a good place to relax, or so I assume. I like the water, and I'll be surrounded by it so...

I have been to almost every state in the U.S. I think the Rocky Mountains are fantastic. I love Chicago. I hear Traverse City in Michigan is supposed to be amazing. I like the outdoors when the weather is good. Minnesota can have nice weather in summer, but lately it has been really hot.

 

In the end, I have decided that who you travel with makes a big difference. I can enjoy almost any place as long as I am with friends. Any place that isn't 110 degrees...

Traverse City is very pretty. I have driven up there twice, and it's amazing scenery all the way up. The lake is beautiful, and in some places, the road curves around right off the shore. It is very dramatic especially at sunset. Unfortunately, it did start snowing soon after we arrived there.

 

But I've traveled to the Southwest before, and I have to say that New Mexico was by far my favorite. Not many choices for shopping or dining in Gallup, but I still can't get over the color of their dirt and their cacti. I do love cacti.

 

I go to Chicago semi-often. It's a convenient drive from where I'm at, so it's a popular choice for people who want to get out of town. I love cities more than nature, so I always find it invigorating to be there. It's probably not as exciting living there, but visiting is fine. I adore the aquarium! My honey promised me he would take me again after the Comic Con ends, I hope he knows we'll be taking the South Shore over, because I'm not driving my car around there.

 

My dream is to some day see China, Japan, and Singapore! Mostly China though first. I want to see Jiuzhaigou, Hong Kong, and Beijing! It's a bit far to travel all at once though, but part of my dream is to find work and live there for a while too. When I was in school, I was always disappointed by how much exchange programs cost, although I tried to get something together several times, they never worked out.

But I've traveled to the Southwest before, and I have to say that New Mexico was by far my favorite. Not many choices for shopping or dining in Gallup, but I still can't get over the color of their dirt and their cacti. I do love cacti.

New Mexico has a beautiful landscape but sometimes it can feel a little isolated. I can see the appeal though.

 

Well I live in Southern California so it's not an incredibly long trip to Volks USA. XD I've been to New York and I wish I could visit again. I didn't even get to see a broadway show on my trip. But being there was fantastic. I've been out of the country once and it was just for a little while on the border of Mexico.

The places I'd like to go are England and Japan, both have great appeal to me. And I definitely want to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida.

I personally don't exactly like Texas. I don't care if I was only there for about 24-hours. The heat, humidity, and smell were not to my liking. I actually was right by this amazing piece with Texan Long Horns in Dallas (wish I had my camera to take pictures of it honestly) made out of some sort of metal, but I didn't quite care for the weather. Maybe it was just that day, but it was weird to breathe.

 

Native Texan and Austin resident here! If you did visit Dallas in the summer, that is the worst time of year to visit (not to mention, I can't say I like Dallas that much, even though I grew up there).

 

I would say please give Texas another chance! Austin is AWESOME if you love food, outdoor activities, and music. I wouldn't come here during the major festivals (ACL, SXSW) but if you come in the spring or the beginning of the fall, you can watch the bats, grab free shows, and eat the best barbeque and food in Texas. If that's not to your liking, that's ok -- Texas isn't for everyone!

 

Me personally, I've been around the US, and my favorite places (in the States) have to be Seattle for the greenery and the whales in Puget Sound, New York for the shows and the convenience of all the amazing shops there, and Utah for Zion National Park and the Arches National Park. If I wanted to paint a picture of what I think is beautiful in the United States, I would paint the red dirt Arches in Utah.

I enjoy non-summertime Texas too. And since Dallas isn't really Texas (I am kidding - sorry anyone from Dallas), technically Gunter still doesn't know whether she likes Texas or not. haha I agree that places like Austin and San Antonio can be more fun. I think it depends on what you are there for. Each city has its own level of pollution and humidity too. I really like Corpus Christi in winter but that is probably because it is Christmastime with my family and I am biased.

 

Seattle and the rest of the Pacific Northwest is awesome too. The Rocky Mountain states are national treasures.

Scotland is beautiful, as is Hawaii especially outside of the tourist zones. Same with Puerto Rico.

 

Stateside, Tennessee is a very diverse state if you have time to go from one end to the other. Each section is completely different.

I'm not much for traveling... but Jerusalem is interesting! ... yes that one

 

Bring tons of sunblock & don't gawk at all the 18-year-olds with assault rifles (the Army kids all go home for weekends, but they get to keep their firearms with them. Seen record amounts of deadly weapons on gossiping girls. Its really somethin) Oh, and be prepared to walk thru a metal-detector at roughly MOST the shops you enter.

 

And I highly recommend matching up your schedule just right to get allowed to go up on Temple Mount. (just watch what you're wearing that day! Uncovered knees or shoulders will get you kicked away from the gate. Double-so if you're a girl! ... hadda suffer those 2 hours in my hoodie, 'cause ooooh noes girl's bare arms are blasphemous!)

and dun even care for religion, it was just as my uncle put it "I'm here to appreciate the architecture & the art"

But the people are rude! Incredibly rude. Never been elbowed around so much just to get on a bus (and pushed away in line, and then yelled at by some cranky lady for being dun even know what)

 

States-side haven't been many places either. Have visited NYC far too often and its always fun. Saw lots of Broadway shows and ...yeah... Its THE tourist trap of 'em all, but you gotta visit anyway!

I haven't traveled too extensively, and much less so recently.

 

Spent about a week in Jamaica, around 23 years ago, when my grandparents were there with the Peace Corps. I was mostly in the rural villages and the mountains. Absolutely beautiful landscapes, but the heat and humidity were unlike anything I've ever experienced anywhere else, and the mosquitoes were fierce.

 

20 years ago I spent a weekend in Yellowstone park. The geyser fields there are truly an alien landscape. fields of grey rocks and then suddenly a pool of rainbow colored boiling mud, and geysers exploding beside you with almost no warning. Not to mention the buffalo that will walk right past your car, and the sounds of the wolves at night. That's one place I would LOVE to go back to.

 

Other than that, and my travels have pretty much been limited to all over Washington State and the Oregon coast, with a few forays just across the border into British Columbia (mostly Penticton). I love the area around Olympia (my dad grew up there), and Portland is probably my favorite city that I've been too, although I may be a bit prejudiced since I was born there. The Seattle area is pretty nice, too. I love being places that are cool, wet, and green, since here in eastern Washington it's basically all desert.

Hmmm...There are a couple of places I really want to see. Living in the USA I am amazed how vast and how great some of the places are to visit.

 

Roswell New mexico (For the aliens obviously. Also, I want to see the biodiversity of that area or southwest in general)

 

Salem Massachusetts in October (kinda obvious why)

 

The Sequoia forests in California (Giant trees you can drive a car through are epic.)

 

Michigan's upper peninsula waterfalls (It might be possible to see this?)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/09/08/sweden.drunken.moose/index.html

There are moose in the U.P.

 

Overseas

Japan like every one else. (Except I have a high interest in seeing their insect museum in Gifu.)

 

Seoul, South Korea and Shanghai/Hong Kong China (I am not a city person, but would like to see what all the fuss is)

 

More of Europe. (I grew up in England, but never saw France, Germany,Etc)

 

I am sure the list could on, but my one traveling tip is make the best of the situation and turn one error or problem there into another opportunity. (Basically the whole make lemonade approach when a challenge occurs) That way you still can look back and say you enjoyed your trip, even if it didn't originally go as planned. I have found and gone to places I originally had not planned on, when bad weather hit, or a place was closed. I ended up enjoying the newly found places, and was glad I visited them.