'Touristy' versus 'Tacky and Mediocre'

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

What's wrong with something being touristy? Sometimes when people talk about trying to avoid the tourists it comes across as snobbery, like your own trip wasn't the right kind of trip because you didn't see the most 'authentic' sights/restaurants/parts of town/etc. It's impossible to see everything on any trip, and some places naturally attract a lot of tourists due to historical importance or scenic significance.

For example, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris attracts tons and tons of tourists, but would you say it is touristy? Probably not. Disney Land is nothing BUT tourists, but still people world-wide want to visit it.

For me, "touristy" means it attracts a lot of tourists and things can get crowded and chaotic during peak periods -- but still worth doing at least once!!! Old Town Square in Prague, in front of the Astronomical Clock, is definitely touristy. Sometimes in the summer the crowds are so thick you can hardly move. But it's not tacky and mediocre. Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, on the other hand, is nothing but a lane of overpriced souvenier shops that sell things that could be sold in any city in the US -- nothing really shows the flavor or history of San Francisco, and the food is average at best. I'd definitely say that Fisherman's Wharf is tacky and mediocre, but some people really enjoy going there.

So what in your town is touristy (full of tourists and not something locals do every day but still interesting and fun and worthwhile), and what is tacky and mediocre?

For San Francisco we have:

TOURISTY
cable cars
Alcatraz
walking across the Golden Gate Bridge
eating those sourdough bread bowls filled with clam chowder

TACKY AND MEDIOCRE
Pier 39
Fisherman's Wharf
taking those tour busses that look like motorized cable cars on big tires

San Francisco has its tacky stuff conveniently clustered in one place, so my tacky and mediocre list is quite short.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura, add these to your "Touristy Things to do in San Francisco" list:

Eat Ice Cream at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory

Have an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista

Have cocktails at the Equinox(The rotating restaurant at the Hyatt Regency)

Shopping with the Japanese Tourists at Union Square

Check out the Hard Rock Cafe on Van Ness Ave.

(***Please correct me if these places no longer exisit. I USED to live in the city, and most of these places are almost "institutions"!!!)

IN JAPAN:

In Tokyo- anywhere you go is touristy. For example, Odaiba, the Fuju TV station(they have tours!), Shinjuku(nightlife, gay bars), Harajuku(trendy spot for young people), Akihabara(electronics, computer stuff), the Ginza(pricey fashions), Asakusa Jinja(shrine with huge gate & big red lantern out front)Disneyland to name a few.

In Kyoto- Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji(the Silver Pavilion), Kinkakuji(The Gold Pavilion), Sanjusangendo(1000 bodhisattvas!!!), Ryoanji, etc. These are touristy but must-sees and national treasures!

Tacky- hmm. I think Japan beats any place I've been to hands down. I will not name places but will give you an example of some tackiness.
Take the quaint city of Nara, the sacred place with the temples & shrines, where the deer run free in Nara Park. At the souvenir stands there they sell "Shika-no-fun" which is little candied black beans that look IDENTICAL to deer droppings! Or what about "Buddha Boogers" candy? :lol:

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

Ewwww, that candy definitely sounds tacky.

I've been to the Hard Rock Cafe and think it's tacky and mediocre...overpriced hamburgers in an atmosphere of giggling 12-year-olds having their birthday parties. It's probably great if you're a kid. I think what someone feel is tacky is also a function of age and interests. When I was a kid going to an amusement park was a trip to an exotic land.....

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura wrote: Ewwww, that candy definitely sounds tacky.

I've been to the Hard Rock Cafe and think it's tacky and mediocre...overpriced hamburgers in an atmosphere of giggling 12-year-olds having their birthday parties. It's probably great if you're a kid. I think what someone feel is tacky is also a function of age and interests. When I was a kid going to an amusement park was a trip to an exotic land.....

Believe it or not, when the Hard Rock Cafe first opened in San Francisco, it was as trendy as "Stars"! There were some very cool people there in
the arts scene! When it became a novelty, however, the locals stopped going, and now the place is just frequented by tourists. Have never eaten there, just hung out for cocktails...

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Here's a new addition to the "touristy & tacky" list. In September next year, a new Disneyland will be opening in Hong Kong! Much to the delight of Japanese visitors, the admission will be close to fifteen bucks less than it costs to visit Disneyland in Tokyo, and most likely visitors will not have to brave the 2-hour waits for attractions as in Tokyo. On the news this morning it said the admission for a weekday pass will be US$32(I calculated this at a $1=105 yen rate) and $45 for weekends & holidays. Costs $52 for a pass at Tokyo Disneyland.