"Americans of Reddit, what places in America should foreigners avoid at all cost?"
Those Signs Are Not Just Decorations
"If you go to a national park and you disregard the signs, you're going to die."
"It's not a joke."
"Treat buffalo like field puppies?"
"You're going to die."
"Try to pet the brown bear?"
"You're going to die."
"See that moose and want to feed it?"
"You're probably already dead."
"Oh look, a rattlesnake! "
"*dead*"
"Want to swim in Old Faithful?"
"You're going to die painfully and completely dissolve into a soup."
"Sh*t is dangerous here and if you don't respect it you'll be lucky to die quick."- Xanza
"If you’re in a National park, listen to what the caution signs say and don’t venture off of paths."
"One is because of wildlife and the other is because humans don’t need to ruin everything in nature, just to get a photo."
"Also, don’t fall into the Grand Canyon." - Yawheyy
grand canyon arizona GIF by Go USA JpGiphyKnow Your Limits And Be Prepared
"Don’t hike into the wilderness of Colorado (especially 14ers) without knowing wilderness survival and responsibilities."
"Tourists die on our mountains and in Rocky Mountain National Park all the time."
"Do your research!"
"Altitude is no joke."- eyjafjallajokul_
Some Things Are Worth The Added Expense...
"Not American but as a visitor trying to travel on the cheap, I made the mistake of booking a greyhound bus ride."
"There's a reason why it was cheap lol."- toadkarter1993
The Name Should Be A Clue
"Death Valley in the summer especially if you consider yourself a strong hiker, and live in a cooler climate."
"It has that name for a reason."- FabFrench
death valley documentary GIFGiphyOr Even Dip Your Toes...
"The hot springs in yellowstone are not hot tubs do not swim in them."- needs_grammarly
"Steaming Acidic hot springs in Yellowstone."- SuvenPan
Every City Has One...
"Anywhere with a Rainforest Cafe and a Wax Museum on the same street is a tourist trap."- Klytus_Im-Bored
homer simpson episode 13 GIFGiphyMaps Exist For A Reason
"Avoid going to one location thinking another location across the country is a short trip."- Jebediah_Vorbeck
So Much For "Brotherly Love"
"The Kensington area of North Philadelphia."
"Don't."
"Just don't."- amhildreth
Even If You're A Night Owl
"Most of Downtown Los Angeles at night."
"When the streets get quiet and the locals go home, that's your cue to go back to your hotel or a more popular hotspot."- muststayawaketonod·
los angeles city GIF by The Broad MuseumGiphyAracnaphobia!
"Pueblo Colorado."- External-Traffic-916
"F*ck Peublo and its mass Tarantula Migration."- paustulio
Not The Where, But The What
"It's not 'places' as much as 'situations' that you should avoid."
"Depending on where you're from, you'll have some of these instincts, but not others."
"It's not all or nothing."
"But here's some situations I can see happening to a European, as an example."
"Getting stranded in the desert."
"Whether you're hiking without water, or driving too far on a single tank of gas, there's a real risk of being stranded without very immediate help, and no cell reception."
"Underestimating travel time."
"You're not going to see NYC and LA on the same trip."
"They're three time zones apart."
"They are exactly as far apart as London, England and Baku, Azerbaijan."
"You'll either be driving for a week, or flying."
"Even things that seem close, like NYC and DC, are not actually that close."
"It would be about 6 hours of driving or train to get from one to the other."
"Trespassing."
"It is taken VERY seriously here, and you could wind up shot if you are on the wrong person's land."
"We do not have the right to roam."
"And we do have the right to bear arms."
"Some states even have 'castle laws' which considers trespassing to be sufficient reason to shoot someone in 'self defense'."
"Any places people are mentioning are places that Americans wouldn't go to either if they could help it."
"But if I can say one place in particular, it would be Camden, NJ."
"It's just across the river from Philadelphia, and has a couple of tourist draws like the Aquarium or the concert venue, but anywhere that's not those specific places is incredibly unsafe."- pHScale
Season 9 Reaction GIF by The OfficeGiphyLike any country, America has its fair share of underwhelming and unsafe destinations.
Thankfully, most of these places aren't written up in guidebooks, and won't be high on the list of any foreign visitors.
Sadly, guidebooks still might not stop them from shelling out loads of money for very mediocre food at a noisy theme restaurant...
What are you looking at?
"If you’re in a New York City subway, try not to make too much eye contact or look too long at people around you."
"Just ignore the smell."
"Woman near you screaming at the top of her lungs at her silent child?"
"Keep listening to your music."
"Someone digging through their bag, muttering to themselves, and throwing rose petals on the floor like they’re preparing for a seance?"
"Just keep staring blankly at your phone."
"Trust me."- Jroks2
They're not as cute and cuddly as they seem
"Raccoons are cute… but from a distance."- Legoboy514
racoon GIFGiphyThat's not how we do things here.
"Don't think the laws are the same everywhere."
"You can walk with an open alcohol container in Vegas but not many other places."
"Alcohol laws, pot laws, firearms laws, smoking - lots of very different laws depending on the state and city where you are."- Babstana
Be very careful around the police.
"If pulled over by the cops, do not exit the vehicle unless they ask you to."
"The cops might sit in their vehicle for a while, & then they will approach the window & expect you to talk to them while sitting in the car."- yahdinguus
Don't go in the water.
"If you find yourself in Florida, absolutely do not swim in the lakes, ditches, or channels."
"Any standing body of water can and does have alligators in it."
"Also possibly water moccasins."
"And maybe even diseases."- Dobbys_Other_Sock
Laugh Alligator GIF by VISIT FLORIDAGiphy"I live in an area around 4 major rivers and my town has a booming river industry."
"It never fails someone drowns at least once a month."
"The current is so strong as soon as your feet hit the water you’re most likely gone."
"Look at the river, take pictures, stop and look at our murals along our flood walls, but do not go near the river!"- Cuesey123
Don't believe everything you see
"Don’t assume that the price shown on an item for sale is your price for said item."
"There are almost always taxes that are added to the price when you go to pay."- Red_Queen592
Take one more look at a map before you take off
"Underestimate distances."
"When I was a tour guide, far too many customers asked how many HOURS the train to New York was [in seattle] and I had to put their jaw back in when I said 5 days."- a9249
Tonight Show Travel GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonGiphy"Just walk on by..."
"Don't take pictures with the people dressed up in costumes in LA/ NYC."- 541mya
Take pictures, leave everything else.
"To not take anything from national parks."- Objective-Dingo6603
Maybe just avoid discussing politics altogether?
"Don’t think that politics from wherever you’re from, specifically Europe and Australia/New Zealand."
"Also don’t try and talk about American politics when you don’t know anything about it."- Saschajoon
"Better not to talk about guns, and abortion especially in the south."- chaseanimates
They earn every penny!
"No matter how your country feels about tipping, ya gotta tip your waiters here."
"It's how they earn their living."
"But don't let people take advantage of you."
"18-20% is standard, feel free to tip more if you had extra good service."
'And look at your check."
"Some restaurants add the tip for you, not cool, but they do, mostly if you are part of a big party, but I've had it happen when I was eating alone."
'My two favorite places in the US are NYC and Texas, and yes, we are extremely nice in Texas."
' However, I lived in New York for 17 years and they are very nice there, as well, it's just different."
"New Yorkers are no nonsense, and as much as everyone enjoys bashing the Texas, we are really, really nice, and Houston has some of the greatest food o the country."
"Just be aware of your surroundings and don't look like a tourist wherever you visit."- Winter_Opening_7715·
"Not tip your waitress or server at restaurants."
"Most are severely underpaid and get most of their income from tips."
Tip Tipping GIF by DeRay DavisGiphyThey are convenient though
"Skip going to Wawa".- nilla_wafer__
A controversial opinion?
"If it's your first time, DO NOT GO TO LA or California in general."
"Not as nice as you think."- mincraft890
There are certainly areas for improvement.
"Do anything that requires medical attention."
"Insurance is a complete scam."- ChucksNorris243
season 8 episode 23 GIFGiphyBest in small incriments.
"Please do not plan to have a road trip from California to Texas to Florida to New York or anything along those lines."
"You will spend the majority of your vacation in a f*cking car paying a ridiculous amount of money for gas."
"People do not realize just how big the US is."- Vo_Lair
Is this so out of the ordinary?
"If you are visiting someone in America, take off your shoes when you enter their house."- certifiedzay
Needless to say, there is no handbook of rules of do's and don'ts when visiting the USA.
And more often than not, your own good judgment will often serve you well.
Though, when in doubt, follow any advice you're given.
Oasis in the desert? No thank you.
"Dubai."
"Why and whats special about it?"
"Its a modern city in a desert."- Maximum_Calendar_791.
"Dubai."
"A fake city with fake people, no human rights, where the world's tallest buildings hide corruption and slavery in their shadows."
"It's like someone decided to take every problem of mankind and concentrate it in one spot."- PayNoNoticeOfMe.
"Dubai one i think it is ugly two I would die in two minutes of me being there I can't stand anything above 40 c°."- BookWormPerson.
One of the seven wonders is one too many for me.
"The pyramids. "
"Too many horror stories of Egypt."- Aemiom.
Landlocked.
"Not really a destination, but taking a cruise."- Shortbus_Playboy.
cruise ship vacation GIF by Hallmark ChannelGiphyMountains aren't really my thing.
"Everest."
"Just why."
"You use a bunch of money to get in there them come down."
"And trash your whole way there. It's literally a corner in the Earth insufferable for humans and we still made a way to go there to trash it."- ACLullaby.
It's in my own backyard... but still not interested.
"I have lived about 15km away from the Burj Khalifa ever since it was made."
"I could not care any less besides the occasional pointing out the 'shiny tall building' to my nieces.- legolosss.
The pictures are enough for me.
"Mount Rushmore."
"Friends who've made the journey to Mount Rushmore mostly say it was no big deal and not worth the effort or expense to travel there."- Back2Bach.
States Selfie GIF by Ethan BarnowskyGiphyHustle and Bustle? No thanks.
"Anything busy.'
"Whether it's cities, structures, I don't care."
"I'd rather go to a boring empty quiet place than a place full of people."- TheSmeep.
They're watching us.
"That creepy a** place in Japan with all the realistic dolls."
"No thank you."
dolly dearest horror GIF by absurdnoiseGiphyA Local's guide to Seattle
"Even though I have been."
"The Space Needle in Seattle sucks."
"It's expensive and the restaurant is over priced and the food sucks."
" Also "'he First Starbucks'."
"Not that big of a deal."
"Pike place on the other hand, worth it."- PrincessLuma
"Start spreading the news"... Or not...
"New York."
"Loud, crowded, weird people, filthy, scams, expensive, and I don't feel like getting robbed."- Last_Ad9992
"New York, too busy and the landmarks are underwhelming."- Bigfatairatom
No Walkabout for me...
"Anything in Australia."- hels1989
"I live within a 20 min drive of the largest theme parks and water parks in Australia."
"They wear off real quick."- bobdabioengineer
australia GIFGiphy"Why oh why do I love Paris?"... I don't!
"France."
"Specifically Paris."
"It’s beautiful sure, but I’ve had a lot of relatives who have been there and they said that it’s fun for like a day."- Vo_Lair
Easy to understand these days...
"All of Texas."- hopingforfrequency
"Hooray for Hollywood!"... just not the sign...
"The Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles."- UndesirablePickle
Los Angeles Hollywood GIF by James CurranGiphyMaybe better from Canada?
"I went to Niagara."
"Dad was too cheap to do maid of the mist and we didn't have passports for the Canadian side, so we stared at a waterfall for 15 mins and then went to the gift shop."- Pen15joke
Manmade? No thanks.
"Most man made things."
"I'd go to the Grand Canyon a million times before I'd care about seeing the Eiffel Tower."- spazmatt527
Some dream of paying a visit to these places.
Others hope they never have to set foot there, and will choose to leave it to the other millions of tourists.
To each, their own.
One rock is just like any other
"Plymouth rock Massachusetts."
"Despite all the rage it's still just a rock in a cage."- BodybuilderOk3836.
"Plymouth Rock!"
'I don’t know how famous it really is outside of New England but it’s a rock that marks where the Pilgrims supposedly first landed in Massachusetts."
"It is quite literally just a medium sized rock with '1620' carved in it but every elementary school teacher around Massachusetts at least hypes it up for the class field trip to see a literal rock that is not big, impressive, or really historically relevant."
"Driving an hour on a bus to see this was the most anticlimactic thing and I would not particularly recommend."- alisoninwonderbread
Vegas of the East Coast?
"Atlantic city."
"Monopoly got me good."- mahouko08.
How do you spell that again?
"Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales."
"Nothing there except an Edinburgh Wollen Mills shop."
"Which is just silly as Edinburgh is nearly 300 miles away.'- Dreddguy.
Hooray for Hollywood...
"Hollywood, it's seedy and disappointing."
"It's full of entire industries (*cough scientology *cough) that take advantage of starry-eyed twits."- Judas_Feast.
"Hollywood Walk of Fame."
"It's a sidewalk and outside of maybe big events where they may clean the ones around where photos may be taken."
"It otherwise is just covered in dirt from people's shoes and some are barely legible because they haven't been cleaned in ages."- CaninseBassus
Los Angeles Hollywood GIF by Party LegendsGiphyWhere the land meets the sea.
"Lands End, UK.'
"Heralded as the 4th most disappointing attraction in the UK."
'It's not even disappointing enough to win an award.'
"I mean the landmark in Cornwall, not a clothing store."
"Deary me."- YellowBernard.
"They say the neon lights are bright..."
"Time Square on New Years Eve."
"Just forget it."
'It has *never* been worth it."- roman_fyseek.
Times Square Ball GIF by New Year's Rockin' EveGiphy"See the Pyramids along the way..."
"Egypt.'
"Its like if phone scams were a materialized location."
"You get there an right away the airport is going to start scamming you, take your electronics away and tell you that you need permits for them (which they will gladly sell you, and then tell you that its the wrong one and have you buy another one)."
"The hotel you stay at will check your bags again like the airport did and again tell you that you need permits or whatever random thing they decide they can get away telling you needs one."
"The police will extort money from you if they think they can."
"Fake police will come up to you and fine you or tell you to follow them to different sites where they will charge you."
"Children will run up to you and ask if you want to ride their camel very aggressively (they will cut you off with their camel and not let you move forward) tell you its free, and then try to charge you insane amounts of money and call their camel pimp over to deal with you if you don't pay."
"If you don't get on the camel they will often even get the camel to attack you."
"It's all pretty wild, its not worth it."- yovalord.
There are few worse feelings than arriving at somewhere you've been dreaming of going all your life, only to find yourself disappointing.
Maybe some places are best visited in our imaginations.
It certainly costs a lot less!
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