Definition of "Tourist Trap"? There seems to be some…
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Definition of "Tourist Trap"?
There seems to be some confusion in another thread that I think is sort of important in a road trip resource.
What defines a tourist trap.
Personally, I LOVE tourist traps, as long as I know that is what I am doing.
This is how I define one, I would like to hear your thoughts.
A "Tourist Trap" is a thing ...usually near what is or once was a major highway... designed to get people to stop, get out of their car, and spend money. Often, they are placed near major destinations such as coastal highways, National Parks, or scenic roadways. You can also find them on loooooooong stretches of road (so you stop to get gas as well). Then there is the variety that was built in order to lure you to a small town OFF the major highway as a last ditch effort for an economic boost for a failing town.
And a TRUE tourist trap usually has way more hype than it can deliver, and/or it is just something odd.
Examples include-
A giant house full of weird stuff built by an eccentric and now maintained to anchor a gift shop.
A "Mysterious Place" where cleverly built illusions seem to stretch the laws of physics
A walk that includes giant trees, dinosaur statues (often scientifically inaccurate), or other oddities.
A gift shop or "trading post" that offers something that is somehow AMAZING and totally mundane at the same time. (i.e. world's largest boot, giant jackalope, Douglas the 20' alligator, or whatever)
Drive through trees, big trees, oddly shaped trees
Uniquely shaped gift shops (built in a hollow log! Underground! In a cave!)
Reptile Collections
"Living Mermaids", fairy castles, standing stones
Restaurants claiming "World's Best \_\_\_\_\_\_" or "World's Only \_\_\_\_\_"
Tours of places that are basically gift shops attached to a farm or factory.
And finally places that may have once had historic or economic importance but are now overflowing with tee shirt shops, bars, bad restaurants, and mini museums" (see Fisherman's Wharf, Branson MO, Niagara falls, "Old Town \_\_\_\_\_" and etc.
What would you add or take off this list of examples?
Would you change my definition.
#travel #activities
source
There seems to be some confusion in another thread that I think is sort of important in a road trip resource.
What defines a tourist trap.
Personally, I LOVE tourist traps, as long as I know that is what I am doing.
This is how I define one, I would like to hear your thoughts.
A "Tourist Trap" is a thing ...usually near what is or once was a major highway... designed to get people to stop, get out of their car, and spend money. Often, they are placed near major destinations such as coastal highways, National Parks, or scenic roadways. You can also find them on loooooooong stretches of road (so you stop to get gas as well). Then there is the variety that was built in order to lure you to a small town OFF the major highway as a last ditch effort for an economic boost for a failing town.
And a TRUE tourist trap usually has way more hype than it can deliver, and/or it is just something odd.
Examples include-
A giant house full of weird stuff built by an eccentric and now maintained to anchor a gift shop.
A "Mysterious Place" where cleverly built illusions seem to stretch the laws of physics
A walk that includes giant trees, dinosaur statues (often scientifically inaccurate), or other oddities.
A gift shop or "trading post" that offers something that is somehow AMAZING and totally mundane at the same time. (i.e. world's largest boot, giant jackalope, Douglas the 20' alligator, or whatever)
Drive through trees, big trees, oddly shaped trees
Uniquely shaped gift shops (built in a hollow log! Underground! In a cave!)
Reptile Collections
"Living Mermaids", fairy castles, standing stones
Restaurants claiming "World's Best \_\_\_\_\_\_" or "World's Only \_\_\_\_\_"
Tours of places that are basically gift shops attached to a farm or factory.
And finally places that may have once had historic or economic importance but are now overflowing with tee shirt shops, bars, bad restaurants, and mini museums" (see Fisherman's Wharf, Branson MO, Niagara falls, "Old Town \_\_\_\_\_" and etc.
What would you add or take off this list of examples?
Would you change my definition.
#travel #activities
source
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