Tourism

I sat here wondering what to focus on this week, and I knew I wanted to do something I encounter often. Then I thought, growing up in Florida, visiting my best friend in Orlando and living in St. Augustine for the past few years, I know tourists. They swarm the streets of the city and pump hundreds of dollars into the local economy. Living almost with them, it is hard not to adjust and share your city. I have grown to accept it, but it has forever tainted the word "tourist" for me. So many angry people on what is supposed to be their vacation, lost drivers and screaming children. Now, anytime I travel, I resent looking or acting like a tourist even if I literally have no clue where we are or how to get from point A to point B.

I found an article online about the Top 25 Tourist Destinations in America and although I was peeved that St. Augustine was not on the list, I was pleased to see I had visited more than I thought would be on the list. So, here is my take on some of these so-called hot spots. And although they have rated them on their site, I am going to provide my own ratings, in no particular order.

Atlantic City Boardwalk-- I went back in 2007 with my mom and it was a blast! Yet, my same mentality of anti-tourist kicked in as I looked at all the shops with T-Shirts or trolleys selling glow sticks and hotdogs. It was a gorgeous view and I was so please to see it on the list but I don't see anyone being able to spend more than a few hours there.

Magic Kingdom-- I don't care how old you are or who you are: everyone loves Disney, and if you don't, what do you have against happiness? That's what I thought.

The National Mall-- Washington DC is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited (though Chicago is close). I spent a lot of time here entertaining myself while I waited for my brother to get out of work. I hit all the museums I wanted and could stay for as long or as short as I wanted. The first time I went, I even got to see the traveling Jim Henson exhibit! There he was: Kermit in the flesh. Also, I am incredibly directionally challenged, and I could even master the metro system. It really is a beautiful place to just unwind for a bit. Busch Gardens in Tampa-- I used to go on field trips there, and I even got a backstage media pass for their annual Howl-O-Scream. It is a nice mix of a zoo and a theme park, but if you don't like roller coasters, it probably is not the best place to go. You either have water rides, which I severely dislike, or roller coasters, which I love! Otherwise, you just walk around looking at alligators and giraffes.

Universal Studios in Orlando--I always like this theme park, but as of late, it has just gotten better. Ever since they added the to Islands of Adventure the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the park as become, well.. more magical. Nessled next to Jurassic Park, you walk through John William's epic Jurassic Park theme straight into the nostalgic and beautiful Hedwig's Theme. No idea what I am talking about? For shame. But besides that, you can go to the Hog's Head, grab a Hog's Head brew and then go walk to ride the Spiderman ride. It is more adult than Disney, which is refreshing as I grow away from my teens. Does it get much better? The Grand Canyon-- The last time I went here was when I was a senior in high school. It was December and had snowed before we got there, but began to melt as the sun rose. It amazed me how something that was literally right in front of me could seem so unreal. It was so vast that the far distance looked like one of my grandmother's beautiful paintings. I love this park because it isn't overly touristy. Sure, you can shop and ride mules to the bottom, but generally, everyone is just gazing out into the horizon. Its peaceful and truly remarkable.

Times Square-- It's overwhelming, crazy, busy, PACKED, but something everyone has to see once. Do I feel compelled to go again? Not really...

Waikiki Beach-- This is one place I am excited to say I spent a great amount of time at. I visited Hawai'i with six friends for two weeks and it was truly unforgettable. We were there over Lei Day one afternoon, which was such a fun, cultural, yet touristy day full of music, crafts, and crazily enough, flowers. The water was blue, the sand was soft and it was PACKED with people. But it is such a fun strip that you can't help but not be a tourist! And something I never thought about? Hawai'i doesn't have seagulls. They have pigeons. And a whole lot of 'em. The next stop? Great Smokey Mountains (I hope!) Until next week!...

Florida: More than Disney

As one that considers herself a Florida girl, it is always fun to explore just how big this state is and what it has to offer to the insane amount of people that are here. When people think of Florida and tourism, one would automatically think DISNEY! However, this state, in case no one knew, is huge. It takes 10 hours to drive from Miami to Pensacola alone. Therefore, Disney cannot be the only reason people to come to Florida. There is too much else going on!

So what all is here? In the last post, I discussed wildlife and that is where I will begin. Florida has a diverse wildlife population that you cannot see up north. USA Today has some photos of where to go for wildlife, and many of them are in Florida! Take a look! Just by living in Florida for 12 years, I have seen sandhill cranes, alligators, otters, bears, boars, and all that is in between.

Speaking of the Everglades, this article highlights the insanely large pythons that are there and how they are devouring (unsuccessfully) alligators. What’s interesting is that these giant Burmese pythons are not native to the area, so it sounds like someone dropped off their pets a while back. Their ability to thrive in this non-native habitat shows their uncanny survival skills and durability in harsh conditions. With the ablity of these snakes to swallow alligators, it is no wonder that Florida banned the use of these as pets.

I love nature, but I am not about to go camp for weeks just to experience Florida. So, let's go a new direction. One that I love: history! It is also home to the nations Oldest City, St. Augustine which has not only the Castillo de San Marcos, but The Fountain of Youth, Henry Flagler's groundbreaking hotels and loads of hokey yet highly entertaining ghost tours and museums.

And don't forget about the beaches! The Gulf offers clear water, white sand and an excellent place for finding shells and sharks teeth. The east coast, however, brings waves and the surf culture that comes with it. I have always lived within 30 mins of a beach, and I often forget that most people do not have that luxury! And the storms that roll in almost daily during the summers are a sight to see as well. They are dark and scary, but rarely do they ever turn too dangerous. I took this one a few years back. A fun beach trip soon had everyone running for cover:

Regardless, Florida has a lot to offer and taking a road trip through the state would be quite the undertaking!

America's Natural Beauties

I was thinking about how so many people are determined to get out of the United States and see everything that is apparently not offered in America. Well, I understand the need for travel and that what you can see outside the U.S.A. is different than what America can offer. Although I want to travel, I also want to visit everything that is quintessentially American.

Therefore, now I will highlight some of the best resources America has to offer—our National Parks. First, let me preface with this—I have been to very few. My interest in them comes for the extreme desire to visit these natural wonders and the necessary research that comes with the interest. Also, with the recent budget cuts of these parks, it is now more important than ever to spread the word of these natural beauties.

To get you excited, here is a video of some images of these parks, as created by Trip Advisor:

Perhaps the most popular park is Yellowstone National Park (and one of the top contenders on my list). It was established in 1872 and spreads over Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Visitors have the opportunity to see bison, wolves, lynx and deer and of course, Old Faithful. The beauty of places like these is that you go to observe while leaving no footprint behind.

Wildlife isn’t the only reason you should visit national parks. AOL.com's article for getting a One-of-a-Kind experience from your visit as zoned in on just why you should visit all national parks. Whether it is to see volcanoes or feel very small in such a big world, they all have something to contribute to America’s best natural beauties.

Interested? Want to keep up on what people are saying through social media? Visit a Tumblr page that only focuses on American's greatest national parks!