As a lover of words, I find myself scouring the Internet for interesting articles after I’ve finished the printed newspaper and the latest book I’ve checked out from the library.
I’ll read the top news stories and, when I’ve finally had enough of the shenanigans of the people we elected to pass laws in this country, I look for off-beat and quirky articles.
I came across a link for a blog posting the writer’s opinion on the top overrated tourist destinations in the country. As we’re planning a trip to the New England area, I clicked on the link to see if the writer mentioned any cities where we’re headed and if we should rethink where we want to visit.
Glancing over the list, I realized I’ve been to a lot of the places he mentioned. As I kept reading, I found myself disagreeing with most of the things in the essay.
But by the time I got to the last paragraph, I realized this guy is the biggest snob I’ve come across in a long time. He gets his kicks, and attracts blog readers, with ridicule and a snarky attitude.
He mentioned that Asheville, N.C. was “sadly average and overpriced.” Our stay there was luxurious and affordable, including my first experience with a bed and breakfast.
The owners of the B&B were some of the most gracious people I’ve ever met, and they treated my sisters, mom and me like queens.
Our primary reason to visit was to see the 250-room Biltmore, and the estate was overwhelming in its grandiosity and a glimpse into a part of our nation’s past. I found the place fascinating, certainly not average.
His disdain about Colorado was pure snobbery – “the state is too often either uptight or boring.” I’ve been to Colorado a couple of times, and “boring” is not a word I’d use to describe the rugged Rocky Mountains and some of the most colorful meadows and valleys I’ve ever seen.
He also bashed San Francisco with a snotty comment about the smell of body odor “rising off unwashed pavement.” One could say that about any sprawling metropolitan city, but if that’s all he concentrated on when visiting, then he’s missing what’s really beautiful about this coastal site.
I watched someone ride a bike up one of those steep hills, and my admiration grew for the people who have to walk or bike up those streets every day. The people in the shops were friendly and helpful and all told us to hang around and watch for the fog.
Watching the fog come in over the bay is truly a unique experience. That fog resembled a fluffy white blanket as the edge slowly crept toward the shore.
Boring? Not a bit.
But this Texas gal saw red when he bashed Austin as a “mildly entertaining town.” He’s obviously never watched the parade of creative types around the state capitol, attended an energetic “Austin City Limits” taping or eaten from one of the city’s many food trucks where one can order everything from spicy Thai to authentic Mexican to flavorful Jamaican.
Almost anybody can put on their snob hat and dismiss a city’s attempt to attract tourists or visits. That’s what sells these days – writing mean comments and hiding behind a cartoon picture on the Internet.
The real trick is to lose the snarky attitude and actually do what writers are supposed to do – dig beyond the surface and talk to the locals, the real treasure in every city and town. Through them, you’ll find the beauty and uniqueness everywhere you travel.
The next time you’re in Austin, Mr. Snooty Writer, get off that high horse, strap on some leather sandals and stroll around the capitol. While you’re there, pick up a “Keep Austin Weird” T-shirt and talk to the folks milling around the food trucks.
That’s where you’ll find what you’re looking for in these “underrated places.” The people are the real treasures, and they’re what makes any destination a memory maker.
This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.