Most Misunderstood Major City for Tourist (transfer, neighborhoods, buses)
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You read the question now...What do you think is the most misunderstood American city for visitors? What causes the confusion? How can one understand the city better?
Definitely LA. Not a very tourist-friendly city. So many dispersed hubs and a less destination-based transit system that is on a grid system and often requires transfers - it is also largely bus-based which definitely gives the average American tourist pause (Asian / Australian / European / African tourists - see them on the buses quite often). The rail system right now misses some of the biggest tourist attractions on the Westside (this is being addressed literally as we speak). Terrible traffic (like every mega-city) for those that choose to drive.
The worst thing about LA being so tourist-unfriendly is that it arguably has the 2nd or 3rd most sites to see of any American city. Some really great stuff going on down here.
I'd say LA, Chicago, and Houston are all up there for most misunderstood possibly each for different reasons.
* Los Angeles - Munchitup's reasons and the fact that the food is better than people think and there's some great ethnic enclaves there too.
* Chicago - People seem to think that the food is just hot dogs, pizza, steak, and greasy food like that when that trend died years ago. Though it's definitely still around, a lot of locals are not eating it THAT much. The food scene is incredibly diverse and tourists also miss out on the many non downtown neighborhoods and hence some of the ethnic enclaves as well.
* Houston - it's more diverse than people think with better food than most people think.
Last edited by marothisu; 02-10-2014 at 11:04 AM..
I'd say LA, Chicago, and Houston are all up there for most misunderstood possibly each for different reasons.
* Los Angeles - Munchitup's reasons and the fact that the food is better than people think and there's some great ethnic enclaves there too.
* Chicago - People seem to think that the food is just hot dogs, pizza, steak, and greasy food like that when that trend died years ago. Though it's definitely still around, a lot of locals are not eating it THAT much. The food scene is incredibly diverse and tourists also miss out on the many non downtown neighborhoods and hence some of the ethnic enclaves as well.
* Houston - it's more diverse than people think with better food than most people think.
I do agree Chicago gets "hurt" by having such a great downtown. People can spend the entire time in the area around the Loop and never see the also-interesting neighborhoods around the city. I really enjoyed my last trip to Chicago because it was the first time I really got to get out and see areas outside of the Loop + River North.
I do agree Chicago gets "hurt" by having such a great downtown. People can spend the entire time in the area around the Loop and never see the also-interesting neighborhoods around the city. I really enjoyed my last trip to Chicago because it was the first time I really got to get out and see areas outside of the Loop + River North.
Yep. Downtown is great, but so are other areas and there's a few new interesting entertainment areas developing as we speak (i.e. in parts of Logan Square). Where did you go?
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DC Bound 1990
Tourists in DC get lost all the time, confusing city layout.
I don't think that's what the OP met by misunderstood. DC has a street grid, walkable downtown with great public transit throughout the city. The avenues that run diagonal and traffic circles give it a little of a European ambiance, but certainly not that "confusing" if your paying attention. If someone gets lost in the city I chalk that up to them not being knowledgeable of how to navigate big cities....
DC is however "misunderstood" from the standpoint of people do not know much about the "real DC" from television, and come to town thinking it's all monuments and memorials from an outsider perspective, when many people arrive they are shocked at how vibrant a place it is.
Last edited by the resident09; 02-10-2014 at 12:29 PM..
You read the question now...What do you think is the most misunderstood American city for visitors? What causes the confusion? How can one understand the city better?
Dallas
Most younger Americans born after 1980 don't know or even care where JFK was shot & killed.
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