For years, your city's visitor tourism office has directed people to the same lame restaurant, the same crowded attraction, the same tourist-trap shop.
As a traveler, I'd rather get recommendations from a local resident than from an agency that's probably getting kickbacks from businesses.
Here's your chance to set the record straight.
Tell us: what are the essential experiences in your city or town, and what can we skip?
Here are mine...
City: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Food
Do: get a homemade tortilla. Our go-to weekend place, Taqueria Vallarta (several locations) has great flour tortillas - soft, thick, and perfectly grilled. Their corn tortillas are out of this world - pliable and tasty - we think they may have egg in them because they have a crepe texture. Both are amazing with any filling. Also great: Eddie's Taco House on Cevallos.
Skip: Mi Tierra restaurant. It's like eating at a Chi-Chi's in Indiana (which I did growing up, so I know) - the least interesting Tex-Mex food in the city, and a crowded tourist trap to boot.
Attractions
Do: walk the Riverwalk, starting at Houston Street and going north. This section winds past our big, red public library; an old convent that now houses the Southwest School of Art & Craft; a brand-new lock system; San Antonio Museum of Art; the VFW Post 76 (oldest in Texas); many cool art installations; and the restored Pearl Brewery. [Bonus tip: by 2013, San Antonio hopes to complete the Riverwalk's southern branch, which will lead to the missions.]
Skip: the Riverwalk from La Villita to Houston St, especially the spur that goes to River Center Mall. This area is chain bars and restaurants, extremely crowded, and has nothing to do with the river itself.
Shops
Do: try the shops and galleries along South Alamo Street in Southtown (South of Durango Blvd). Lots of unique, local art and craft here.
Skip: El Mercado. Yeah, if you want a Mexican blanket, go here, but better yet: cut out the middle man and go to Mexico. This is a collection of stalls filled with kitsch, which would be cool if it was unique in each stall, but they all have the same stuff.
Please give us some tips on your city or town in the comments!
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Friday, July 31, 2009
Your City: the Must-Dos and the Don't-Bothers
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6 ate pie:
Ummmm....
Let's see. I live deep in the middle of nowhere.
DO
-Play with the dog. He likes that sort of thing.
DON'T
-Play with the cow. She hates everyone.
DO
-Drink beer from the porch. It's probably the most excitement you'll get in this area.
DON'T
-Fall off the porch. The drop is longer than you'd suspect.
DO
-Set off fireworks whenever you want. It's technically illegal, but our neighbor, the cop, doesn't care (by neighbor, of course, I mean he lives w/i a mile of us...but he is closer to our house than anyone else)
DON'T
-Hit the church out back with the fireworks. They don't take too kindly to burnt headstones in their graveyard.
...hey, my home "town" isn't so boring after all!
San Francisco:
There is so much to do here but let's go the 'frugal' route. I like museums a lot.
Here is a link to the museums that are ALWAYS free: http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/ss/freemuseumdays.htm
Then on the first day of the month all the big museums also have a free day here's the link for their schedule: http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/ss/freemuseumdays_3.htm
In fact since summer is getting ready to end we're going to be doing the first day of the month museum run all next week while I'm off with the boys.
Then just driving up and down the coast there are infinite parks with hiking trails, you can walk along the pier downtown and see Fisherman's Wharf (though it's gotten more 'touristy' since 2000, but everyone wants to see it), walking down there you can see Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, walk to the bridge and across it...
You can also drive about 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods it's the closest Redwood Trees and there are a bunch of beautiful hikes through there too. http://www.nps.gov/muwo/
I can keep going but you get the idea...
I liked getting the tamales when I lived in San Antonio, man they were good!
Beth - will avoid the cow!
Ed - Great ideas! I do like free. I second your rec of Muir Woods - beautiful place. Nice camping. Your boys are lucky to hit the museums next week - do they think so too? :D
Baltimore: Hm.
Stay out of West Baltimore.
Eat crabs at Obrycki's.
Hang out at the Harbor and just people watch. Check out the World Trade Center "Top of the World" exhibit. If it's a clear day, you can see for miles.
Take a water taxi to Fells or Fort McHenry.
Check out the American Visionary Art Museum. It's art by prisoners and the mentally challenged.
Lately, I have really liked the Federal Hill and Locust Point neighborhoods. Take Fort Avenue (walk or bike) down to Fort McHenry and have a look around.
Finally, there's a cute little neighborhood north of the inner city called Hampden. It's real cute and you can reach it by light rail (Woodberry station).
Skip the Aquarium. I never cared much for it.
Shannon--They both like museums actually. I don't really make it a boring thing, we check out the stuff we are interested in and go at our pace. Brad used to be terrified because after he saw 'Night at the Museum' he couldn't let go of the concept of everything coming to life. But he's working past it and goes pretty easily anymore. But this week he's at camp so it's just me and Zach and he's really excited about it. We all went to the Asian Art Museum yesterday so there are new pics of that on my Facebook and I'll be adding them from the one's we go to all week.
carrielaura - great info -- I've been to the Harbor area with friends -- didn't go to the aquarium -- did go the giant Borders? Barnes & Noble?
Ed - awesome -- will check out your pics tonight... howdy to your family!
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