Is it just me???????

For YEARS… I see pictures of far-away locations… Excotic locations… far away places… Etecetra etcetra, etcetra…

My FIRST vacation ever… My family and I went to Florida. We went to Universal Studios (no expenses spared), Sea World (with free and up-close tickets due to some connections), etc. I was NOT impressed. Views and scenic views were different… but nothing amazing. I earned an award at work where we got a week long trip to Ft Lauderdale with TOP NOTCH alchohol, Everglades trip to view alligators, etc. I travel for work often… and after 5 trips to Seattle… I finally took some photos to share with the family (See below).

AM I THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WOLRD THAT DOES NOT GET AMAZED OT AWED BY REGULAR STUFF FOR THE LOCALS????

I Swear to God… I have NOOOOO Ambition to travel ANYWHERE. Not because I am lazy. But.. Because.. everything I have HEARD About has been made up so much in my head that I Seriously am disappointed by EVERYTHING I see when I travel. I am travelling for work about 7-10 times per year. This is my second time to Seattle this year.. and the first of 5 times to ACTUALLY go see the Bay and Pikes Market and view the needle from a short distance.

Am I alone??? I would prefer a 10 Degree Below 0 day on Mille Lacs with 0 fish biting but the MarCum lighting up once every 2 hours. I apologize.. but I am sitting here in my Hotel room with a view (Mountains, Space Needle, etc).. and am so DISAPPOINTED.. just makes me wonder.

I added the pictures as examples. These all taken in the last day. I dont know WHY I Actually TOOk these… I am actually disappointed in myself for actually taking the time.

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No, not just you.

My 2 cents…

I am unimpressed by big cities as well, but time spent in the Olympian rain forest to the east, to the south in the redwoods or taking a boat ride down the Columbia and jet boat rides in the Rougue river were well worth it.

If you are going to Disney or some theme park, then take the kids for the first time and live the wonders through their eyes.

Dude, you have it bad. Hire a guide out there or something, but get fishing!

This kind of stuff causes cancer in Minnesota mice!

I have to agree! Too many people and too much concrete for my liking. I like my vacations with tall trees and deafening silence!

Apparently you haven’t been to wall drug…or the corn palace…

Sounds like your looking for what you want to see and not what’s there…maybe?

I’m not much for travel either, but there are several places we want to see, years back we drove by the Don Garlits drag racing museum because we were on a time schedule, that was the last time, now we stop when we want and if we get behind, to bad.

I think there’s a lot out there to see, just gotta go with an open mind and no hurry.

Could be your just tried of traveling too..

Al

I’m with you. Nothing man made is all that impressive. Now woods, water, fish and animals YES. The first time my wife took me to New York all I could think about was how noisy and crowded it was and never wanted to come back. So she learned not to take me on vacations like that and actually we really never vacation together.

BK… you may be right. Maybe next time I am out here in Seattle… I ought to hire me a guide to get me on some ocean or bay fish!

I have been over the US a bit with my work. I would NOT consider myself a world traveler as I am the kind of guy that would travel to Bristol TN and not go to the race-track (uhm… literally.. I was in Bristol, TN and did NOT go see the race track).

In all honesty.. this started with my first family vacation.. when we went to florida and to Universal Studios, Sea World, etc… and I came away feeling robbed.

You’re perfectly fine Dave.

Toss me on a beach any day and I’m happy. Nothing better than sitting around with nothing to do. We go to Florida at least once a year. No touristy crap. Just relaxing by the beach and eating and drinking like kings!

Allen.. you may be right.

You simply need a week on rainy lake to fix your problem.

Great food from the local vendors there. My brother was stationed there when I was at Ft Bragg,visited him a few times, the mom and pop ethnic food choices made me jealous. Look at the small joints outside of Pikes Place, also Tacoma has some great places to eat. I’m talking Russian and Italian food: I would love to go back

Hermit crabs, star fish, harbor seals, orca whales, the ocean, the cruise ships and freighters coming and going, the freshest seafood at the sea side, heck I’m just not even scratching the surface!
History, views, beauty, great eats, pomp and circumstance, I can keep it coming.
I had pics lined up but they seemed to lock up and sent me back to square one!

Here is one of a hermit crab looking for a new home, a star fish, a jelly fish, ,,,,don’t get me started!

Your looking for love in all the wrong places! I agree totaly, every time I go to a place that everyone raves about Im disaponted!

Dave, just an idea here-I’ve done a ton of traveling for work myself, and have found the time spent staring out of a hotel window pretty dull. It always seems to be a major city or other type of somewhere that I wouldn’t want to go on my own. So anymore, the first thing I do when I learn that I’ll be travelling again is to get on Google and search up all the places the area has that I can get out in the woods/water/away from people and if nothing else just get out and wander around in some wild country. The BLM sites, the national forest website and state/local sites are a good place to start. As a result, instead of a week in New York state feeling clausterphobic I spent the evenings after work bombing up to Adirondack park and hiking around till dark without seeing another soul. Or traipsing around on BLM lands in SW Arizona deserts instead of sitting and watching the lettuce being picked in Yuma. Or wandering the fotthills of the Rockies, and the high plains of southern Idaho instead of watching the yuppies shopping their way through downtown Salt Lake City. You get the idea…do some research, try to keep an open mind and be open to surprises and a little discovery, and you might just find a little bit to enjoy. I too spend most of that time just wishing I was back home near some water or woods, but I’ve found this a much better way for me to gut my way through a trip I really don’t want to be on.
Google it up, and good luck exploring…worth a try at least!

-Rev

It is what you make of it There is a difference in “seeing” things and “experiencing” them (think curvy girl)

Mrs KFK and I travel a lot.

Ive found if you make an effort to get out and walk around, you’ll find interesting things.

Look at a map and do a little research of the area you’ll be in.

I do agree that nothing man made can compare to the beauty of nature.

I have been to Washington State, Oregon twice, California 4 times,Florida 4 times,NYC twice, Texas 5 times. I have yet to walk a ocean beach or even see the ocean other then out the window of the plane.

I have zero desire to see Hawaii,no interest in ever going to Mexico, wouldn’t fly to Europe if it was free.

It’s all what interests us as to where we want to go and what we want to see.

I don’t know if you are normal but you certainly aren’t weird either.

There has been only 1 time where I enjoyed a trip. A couple years back.. I earned an award at work that was a full-expense paid trip with the wife to Ft Lauderdale with other top performers in the company as well as all the execs.. We got to choose an activity and we chose an airboat ride through the everglades. Saw tons of gators including a 9+ footer. Must have been the “nature” part of it I enjoyed.

I guess part of the problem is… I am here to work… so I really only have a couple hours to do anything of interest. I really don’t mind travelling for work. I mean… how can you not like eating at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and have the company pay for it! Maybe I just need to really lower my expectations. I always hear how awesome things are… and expect to be blown away. Guess it could be worse.

Man you are as perfectly normal as the rest of us. I tend to schedule all my vacations to revolve around hunting or fishing trips. Hey if the family can tag along and go see some sights while I am on the water or out hunting thats perfectly fine with me as long as they are perfectly clear that I reserve only one day to spend with them sight seeing the rest of the time I will be doing my thing. Call me a little selfish but I agree with everyone else concrete and masses of people get me on edge and I am always waiting for someone to bump into me and steal my wallet or something.

Thats why there are Redheads in addition to Blondes and Brunettes. Not everybody likes the same things.

Personally the only thing in Florida I found interesting was the Yankee’s spring training ball park. But, that may say more about me then it does about Florida.

Good post. I have never been comfortable in the concrete jungle or really enjoyed it. Although I spend most of my vacation time and money in MN and neighboring states, I have had some great vacations because of the little things.

I’ve been to Vegas and gambled all night, hit the night clubs, but the most fun I had was one afternoon walking along the strip by myself and watching the people and vendors. In Puerto Rico the beaches were great and we drank well into the night, but the most fun was finding a little gas station that made unbelievable food and the 6 year old that took us fishing to all of his hot spots. We then left him all the tackle we brought with and he was smiling from ear to ear. I guess its about trying to pick up on the little things.

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There has been only 1 time where I enjoyed a trip. A couple years back.. I earned an award at work that was a full-expense paid trip with the wife to Ft Lauderdale with other top performers in the company as well as all the execs.. We got to choose an activity and we chose an airboat ride through the everglades. Saw tons of gators including a 9+ footer. Must have been the “nature” part of it I enjoyed.

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Dude, you need to stop going to Florida. Expand a little bit and go to some less touristy places. If all you’re doing is going to big cities and tourist spots, it’s no wonder you hate to travel.

Whenever I travel, I go to one of the smallest dive bars around and drink with the locals. After a few beers and you’re all buddy-buddy with them, ask them what they do for fun. That’s the best way to get a real experience and not have to deal with other tourists.

Vegas, Florida, Kalifornia, NY, or any big city . . . bah. Keep em. Give me some place off the map that no one knows about. Make friends with the locals and experience life.

i to hate big cities and concrete hey i know right where id set up camp back in a wilderness area in colorado up in the white river nat forest the bull elk are pry gatherin up their cows by now or maybe a cabin on the north end of low would be cool. how ever you seem to be wound a lil to tight when you are there for work they would expect to get preformance out of you and be the sounds of it you have no problem giveing it your all (good on ya for that) but i say make lemon aid out of lemons first thing id do off the clock is check out the local food im sure their is killer seafood there check out the food network.com or watch it for diners drive ins and dives if u know you will travel to a certain city you could write down the different places guy goes and check them out for your self on top of as a last resort while on your way to dine take the long route and just people watch on your way you can always think to your self self wow these gomers need to get out of the city and into an ice house on ML or out in a deer stand in northern min cause they are really missing somethin liveing in the city just my thoughts

I’m thinking part of it is just getting old (or older) Before you know it, nothing will interest you and then you die. Enjoy it – what ever it is – before its too late.

This clip come to mind while reading this thread…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aJmggxKzR4

-J.

You’re not alone.

Especially with American and Canadian cities, I call it the Generica Effect.

Everything’s the same! It’s all the same restaurants and chain stores that every other city has. Oh look, honey, there’s The Gap. Wow, I bet this Gap will be totally different here in Seattle. . . oh wait it’s not. Oh well, for something different let’s go over to that TGI Friday’s . . .

I’m good for 1 day in each major city and then I get bored unless. . .

1. You have to seek out stuff that’s totally unique to that city.

For example, one of the things I did in Seattle was visit CC Filson’s factory and flagship store. Really interesting and you aren’t going to see that anywhere else.

Another example, in New York there’s an old fire-fighting boat tmuseumnow a meseum. You think your boat requires a little TLC? Ha! Really interesting and I doubt there’s many of those around anywhere else.

Another great example is down in Tucson where they have that millitary aircraft “boneyard”. Thousands of retired old aircraft all sitting in endless rows. Creepy but really cool. When I was there a few years ago they were mothballing hundreds of F-14 Tomcats that had just been officially retired from service. Brings back many Top Gun memories.

Also, there’s some really wacky fishing in major cities, but you have to seek it out. Bass on the Chicago river, heck if you can believe it there is even a trout steam in the west end of London. The London in England, not the real London in Ontario. Maybe it’s just me, but wearing waders, a fishing vest, and carrying a rod on a double decker red bus has a strange comedic appeal.

Grouse

I travel for work alot and I’m the same way when I’m at these places ALONE! Eating out anywhere, by yourself sucks, as do experiencing something and having no one to share it with. I often end up walking around a city then going back to hotel to watch TV.

I’m sure I’d enjoy the sites more with my family or a group of friends. But by myself, blah………

On another note, Seattle does have a publicly funded baseball stadium! That’s always fun to check out new ballparks.

A lot of the problem is your expectations when your there. As Eric stated, being by yourself can damper things and leave you with the lack of desire to seeking things out. I always try to set aside an extra day or two to venture out and find things. I honestly don’t believe that anyone needs to travel to “exotic places” to find the real beauty in what this world has to offer. Just need to get off the beaten path.

Also, drop a message on here when your heading out to a new place. I’ve received a few awesome recommendations and met up with a few people to fish on bodies of water that I would have never planned on doing. Made for a great time. That’s part of why I do a few open seats each year in an effort to return the favor