Popular places you have no desire to visit

I’d stay away from the various -stans that are run by virtual kings, but otherwise I’d explore any country, especially if I could mostly stay away from the crowded tourist spots. That means I'd explore Rome, but otherwise hit northern Italy. London, but the English countryside. China if I could get to one of the spots along the wall that isn't just teeming with tourists.

I have no desire to go to Dallas or San Antonio or Phoenix. There’s plenty of things to do in greater L.A., but the traffic is brutal, so that’s a no thanks for me.

 

Some thoughts about these, @maumann:

Key West — clothing optional bar, yes
New Orleans — been three times, including Mardi Gras 1999 and my honeymoon, yes
San Antonio — forget the Alamo, no
Mackinac Island — meh
Niagara Falls — double meh
Any Disney resort — have to hit the World again in a couple of years so the younger daughter can experience it, an unenthusiastic yes
Joliet — I'm going to try to stay out of prison, no
Memphis — Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee, yes
Las Vegas — I like to gamble, yes
Phoenix — hot, dirty, crowded, no
Atlanta — world-class aquarium, yes

 

My wife and I have been married 27 years, and this will still spark a fight at the drop of a hat. I can't find any redeeming quality about staying somewhere you have to go shower in a communal area, and/or sleep in a tent. She grew up camping.

I told her she can take the kids and do the camping thing, while I stay home. She thinks the notion of "glamping" will win me over. Fuck that shit.

 

I did the Kentucky Derby infield experience when I wore a younger man's shoes.
Pure bacchanalia.
It was fun and there were boobies but I don't need to do it again.

 

Chicagoland, Pocono and Talladega are three places on the NASCAR circuit I really don't miss. Lousy racing, plus lousy locations. You're too far from Chicago or Birmingham to enjoy them. And Newark is ... Newark.

Unless I had credentials or someone gave me amazing seats, my days of sitting in the stands with 200,000 other people at the 500 are over. However, I would be happy as a clam being there from the first day of road course practice through final practice and watching the final weekend on the TV. The building tension of the cars roaring by on the edge of adhesion -- trying to find that last split-second to make the show -- coupled with the whispers of the history of the place when it's quiet is mesmerizing. I will do that again some day.

And yeah, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is quite nice, as is their view of the falls. The American side is downright depressing.

 

When I think of Niagara Falls, I think of the Twain story extolling the virtues of the noble Indians carving the nicknacks and such, going on and on — except it was the Irish. It’s funnier than I’m telling it.

 

We went to Niagara Falls, Canada on our honeymoon in 2002. I wasn't expecting much, but was very impressed with the Falls and a couple nearby villages we visited.

I'd go again.

 

I'm biased because I grew up there but I cannot believe someone wouldn't want to do the L.A. thing for a week.

 

I can't either, having lived there myself.
But I don't want to go to New Orleans or Las Vegas, so eh.
Different strokes for different folks.

I do think we need more specificity when talking about greater Los Angeles.

 

I'm curious what you disliked so much about Brazil? I've never been there but love to travel and could see myself going there someday.