Most countries have tourist attractions which are very famous worldwide.
Examples of these attractions are Buckingham Pallace,The Tower of London and Big Ben in the UK.
The Eiffel Tower in France,The Statue of Liberty in the USA and so on for most nations.
What I would like to know about are some of the places in your country which are not famous and that you think would be worth a tourist visiting.
I think that the waterways or canals in England are well worth a visit and are often overlooked by tourists.
The canals were created to meet the transportation needs of a newly industrialized country (complete with other devices, such as industrial hoists, sewing machines, and other large devices) in the period of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
They linked various important towns and cities in the K and were the main way to transport goods.
These days many canals are in a bad state of repair but there are millions of pounds being invested and the waterways are becoming a major leisure activity for people.
Travelling by narrowboat on these canals lets you see the 'real' England and the variation between countryside and inner city industrial scenery is amazing.
Hopefully I will be buying the boat in this picture on Saturday as it has always been a dream of mine to live on a narrowboat.
Feel free to include links or pictures in responses as I think other members will be interested in knowing more about your countryhappyThanks for reading
[question posted by mike197601]
responses and comments:
Have you ever heard of the Grand Canyon, in the United States. It is well known here in this country, but I have no idea if it is known around the world. I have never been there YET, but it is a beautiful place. My parents have been and have brought back many beautiful pictures. You seem to like the outdoors so I am sure you would appreciate the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is a huge canyon that is 446km long, 29km wide, and 1.6km deep. You can hike, or if you're feeling risk, go climbing with some climbing harnesses, or take guided tours deep into the canyon! I will go someday! [Aprillynn1]
My parents flew over the canyon by helicopter and they said it was incredible. [Aprillynn1]
Hi Mike. I live in the USA, and while many of our treasures are well enough known, there are things I've discovered that I love, though they are probably less publicised. There are many beautiful caves, for instance, in Kentucky and Tennessee. Ruby Falls is my favorite, named for its 140 foot waterfall, all far underground. In my own state of Michigan, we are surrounded on three sides by the five Great Lakes, the biggest fresh-water body in the entire world. There is a small Victorian city along Lake Michigan that I love...not overwhelmed as yet by tourists. You can buy some genuine, lovely rare Victorian rings. I've been to 35 of our 50 states, and discovered such beauty in each one! I do feel blessed. Karen [PeacefulWmn9]
Yes! That is definitely Ruby Falls. I only wish that someday you might see--and hear--it in person. Amazing to see such a thing so far below ground. Your time frame is right, too, 6+ mos., two weeks at a time, to visit 35 states. I've seen all of our known "wonders" as well as many astounding discoveries that are not well known. I do indeed love to travel, and hope yet to make it across seas! I am glad you've gotten to go "spelunking" in England :)) Karen [PeacefulWmn9]
I always like finding about hidden or not so known "mysteries"---One of the "mysteries" of the NYC area is in Brooklyn, known as the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel...I did an article about it and it's over at AC. The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel was built in 1844 underground to solve the problem of too much traffic congestion on Atlantic Avenue itself where pedestrians were often killed...here are articles about it http://the-tech.mit.edu/~Subway/Tunnel/index.html http://www.brooklynrail.net/proj_aatunnel.html Anyway the tunnel was never finished, and was forgotten about but all kinds of "legends" about it grew over the years, including that John Wilkes Booth hid vital pages of his diary about his assasination of Lincoln--time went by and more and more of the tunnel became a myth until an engineer named Bob Diamond possessed by the story in 1980 decided to try and actually find it...he did. And now he conducts regular monthly tours of the place...the whole tunnel has yet to be excavated and Diamond is trying to get permission to do further excavations. Anyway...makes you wonder what other "hidden treasures" lie under our feet [pyewacket]
I had a look at the links and a few other things I found about this tunnel. Looks really interesting although the pictures available weren't the best....being a tunnel there wasn't much they could photograph really I suppose. I think the picture I found shows the bit that is still to be excavated as you are right that there is more to do there. I am interested to find out what they find when they get the whole thing opened up. Thanks for your response [mike197601]
In Canada the Rocky mountains. Definitely. Wait, let me rephrase, in Canada or the northwestern United States. The range stretches through both countries. If you like the outdoors it's the place to go. I live a half hour away from the rockies and go every chance I can. Jasper National Park and Banff National Park are both spectacular. Not the town of Banff (tourist mecca) but the park itself is amazing. Old abandoned mining towns, great hiking, great camping, glaciers, the most amazing blue lakes ever, turtle mountain is a great one to see (half a mountain fell in a rockslide in the early 20th century due to over mining and demolished the town beneath it) the highway is completely surrounded by the rocks from the slide. They call it turtle mountain because the rock slide left the face of the mountain as smooth as a turtles back. In the winter the skiing and the hotsprings are phenomenal.... Basically everywhere you look is a vista fit for a postcard. But come prepared for wild life! Coyotes, wolves, bears, deer, moose, mountain lions.... the list goes on. [FFFrocks]
Picture postcard material this National Park certainly is I had many amazing images to choose from but this one is my favouritehappy Mountains,forest and lakes are the sorts of scenery I love the most. All I could wish for extra is the sea. We are never far from the sea in the UK and I would miss it if it was too far away. I can't imagine living in the middle of the US,Canada,Australia or China whare the sea would be so many hours travel awaysad Wouldn't mind visiting for a while though!! [mike197601]
Hi mike. Sadly even I haven't travelled a lot in my country. Indonesia consits of thousand islands which quite a lot of them even havn't been touched by human kind. But I know several places which might been interested. The famous one of course is Bali, I think many people around the world know this. But the newest hot places for tourism are Manado and Bangka Belitung. They both have beautiful beaches and the area has not been fully commercialized like Bali now. The people are very friendly and your stomach will be satisfied by various kind of seafood, sold every in the markets, even at most concession trailers. Manado recently become very famous since became the host of International Ocean Meeting and Bangka belitung became very famous because of an Indonesian movie about poor kids who try to reach their dream even with limited resources. Btw do you mean by canale is the one who cross Thames River to Greenwiich? Or is it different canale. I went to London last year and stay there about 5 weeks, also visiting Edinburg for two days...I think London is a beautiful city with classic architectural buildings, but I feel at night, it is so empty and all stores are closed..But having a lot of fun there with my friends, and all expenses are paid by my office, so actually I can't complain much about it lol [sophisticated_boy]
Yeah! Toraja and Yogya is also wonderful! If you visit Indonesia, it's all about culture and scenery. Since we have a lot of people in Indonesia (around 220 million), all provinces has their own culture and beliefs, which made it very interesting everytime you go to visit a place. It's all look very different from each other and we have many breathtaking places! If you want to try surfing, other than Bali, you can also try Mentawai or Lombok Island which very famous because its wave. You should visit Indonesia...it's definitely worth it! (Plus it's also very cheap, so you don't have to worry to spend your money here lol) [sophisticated_boy]
ya you are right about thing.. all country have some tourist attraction...and that works as the income source of the country.in my country there is Taj Mahal...Agra fort...i love to see my Indian heritage..and i am proud to see my heritage going forward and people are coming too see From outside......... [johndevis1234]
The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous places in the world so I really must find a good picture. I hope to visit India soon and intend to go to Goahappy [mike197601]
I live in the Philippines. Well we have alot of tourist spots here like the perfect cone shaped Mayon Volcano, Chocolate hills (it looks like hersheys kisses), rice terreces and more.. we have the corrigidor where you'll see canyons and everything used during world war 2 are preserved even caves used by American amy to hide from Japanese before. We also have white beaches here (well Philippines is an Island so more waters around it)... we also have reefs as beautifuls as it is in australia. We have water falls that are huge and clean (not as big as the niagra falls)... We have the palawan caves (Which I will never dream of visiting) with bats leaving inside it... AND the best of all (but haven't seen one yet) is the YAMASHITA's treasure.. they said that this are Japanese treasures buried under ground during the war.. no one has found one yet... Though we have terrorist in the lower part of our country, we have a normal peaceful live up north. the rice terreces.. its nice to visit this place. sorry I dont know how to add pics again.. [jaizhi]
I think I will start with the easiest to find image which was that of the Mayon Volcano. This looks amazing and some of the pictures showing its activity are brilliant. I picked a more peaceful image to upload which makes it look quite harmlesshappy I will be looking for the Second World war sites which you mentioned soon as they are taking a lot more time to find decent images of. I've seen a lot interesting, yet sad vintage WWII posters everywhere recently. [mike197601]
Hi Mike, as you'll be aware this country is full of treasures, hidden or otherwise. One place that is nearby to here is a real gem and I don't think it is widely known about at all but I have referred to it in another post so hope it's ok to mention it again. Deep down in the Mani, hovering in an isolated position over the sea is the amazing village of Vathia. It is very difficult to get to so not a place too many people see. It is a village of old stone tower houses, some maybe six storeys high, referred to as Mani towers. By the time you reach it you have left behind the lush olive tree areas and reach a place of barren stone where hardly anything grows. In olden days there was no road to reach it and the inhabitants had a hard life and relied on the sea for food. They constantly suffered attacks from pirates which is why the village was settled so much higher than the sea. Few people live there these days but some still do. As you approach it is the most truly amazing site. I love to go there but prefer it on gloomy winter days when the total barreness of the area really hits home. One of the things the village is famed for is nailing the severed heads got a of enemies to the exterior of the houses. I am going to attempt to put a picture on Mike but as you may imagine I haven't got a clue how to do it so I'll close this in case I lose it and have a go. Expect a call for help when I can't put said photo on.confused [thea09]
lollolI did know exactly what you were doing Mike and it's perfectly fine with me though I don't know how on earth you could make the presumption I might comment back to you. I know what you mean though, I keep trying to keep my leaderboard thing at the top of the list to sucker more members into that great interest so please do pop in and comment now and again, I'm a little short of my first 1000 yet - but you will be pleased to hear a new interest is on its way. As for your response here I take great exception to the use of your word 'nice'. Nice is nothing. Would you drive for 2 hours down a gloomy winding barren mountainside on an extremely narrow road to see something 'nice'. How can a place famed world wide for hanging its enemies heads on their tower walls as nice. I must insist that you refer to your thesauras and respond with suitable appropriate words in future. [thea09]
Hi mike! There are a lot of little hidden trasures where I live. I live in a mountainous area and there are hiking trails galore that lead to breathtaking scenaries and waterfalls out the ying yang..lol...here is a pic of one of my favorite places to go. It is very secluded and often times me and my family are the only ones there when we visit. [JenInTN]
My home country was many hidden treasures as well as famous attractions. The capital city of my home country is London and most foreign visitors like it there. However there is so very much to see like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the River Thames that they might just see London. They can go out for day to Rye in East Sussex and that has an old tower with splendid views across the old town and countryside. I suggest they go to Chilham in Kent to see its beautiful medieval square because it is a charming little village. Some travelers enter England via Calais and arrive in Dover. Many rush off to London but those that stay a while could do a cliff walk and see the White Cliffs. That walk from Dover to Deal is lovely and I really recommend it. I am a primary school teacher living in England. One time my class studied transport as their topic. They visited a narrow boat museum and it was a lovely day out. Going on one of those along a canal would make a relaxing holiday. I think that it would be lovely to see the variation between rural England and the industrial towns. [maximax8]
Plenty to come back too here so I will go for the Milennium Bridge this time around. Pretty scary to walk on when there are a lot of people on it as it sways severely from side to side although I think they have sorted that out nowlol [mike197601]
hiya mike We have Edinburgh Castle, the Scots monument, Princes Street gardens, Holyrood Palace, but nothing beats the Fringe Festival. There is so much to see and do at the fringe that any tourist would need at least a month to get round everything. IMO it's not publicized enough for tourists. http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/festivals/fringe Alice happy [Aliceinwebland]
thanks mike happy [Aliceinwebland]
Rice Terraces is one of the World's Nature wonder and it's a great place.. The coral reefs in the South as well.. You can check the caves at the Palawan and it will for surely be a great visit.. [paoxav]
we have a lot of famous attractions in Arizona...Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, San Xavier Mission, Tombstone, Bisbee, Saguaro National Monument, Tubac, Sedona ...you could spend a month here and probably not see it all. we actually have a couple rivers and some lakes here too. oh, and Mount Lemmon at the bottom is desert but when you get about 3/4 of the way up there's pine trees and grass and you can go skiing up there in the winter. Oo, oo, and we have Eegee's. [skyhss]
very cool photo. let me know if you need any info on any thing, i'm like a walking travel guide. [skyhss]
What a boat,it is very beautiful.Living on it must be pretty interesting.wish you can realize yor dream. For my country ,China,there are many of tourist attractions and some are famous worldwide like the great wall,the imperial palace,the terra-cotta army...etc. But I'd like to introduce a small island called"Gu Lang Yu" in the south of China and the city "Xia Men" it belongs to. The scenery of the city is so beautiful that people say it is suitable for couple to travel.The island is very lovely and special and quiet.you could not find cars on it ,all stuff transfered by foot or cart.you could choose live on the island and there are some great home hotel to pick. I promise you that would be very worthy.Unless the seaside view and the viarious history buildings and many delicous food,on the island ,there is a big piano museum I like most. I like your post and learn much from this post,it is a good subject.thank you wish a happy day. [vanessa_wh8888]
The number of posts you need to reach to be able to put images in discussions was something I never really was sure of so thanks for letting me know. I will be coming back to this discussion when the site is more reliable as I have had too many responses disappear latelysad [mike197601]
Yes of course, here in the Philippines, everybody is after it. There are a lot of things that you can find here that greedy people are dying to have. [bbkimz]
A week ago my husband, my oldest daughter, our great grandaughter and I visited Hannibal Missouri. Hannibal was the home of the author Mark Teain ( Samual Clemens). It sits right on the banks of the Mississippi River and has a lot of historical buildings in it. Just a little way out of town is the Mark Twain cave - all of the places one sees can be found mentioned in some of his books. I think the best know book is Tom Sawyer. This is not as well known as the Grand Canyon, the Great Lakes or Niagra Falls etc but it is an extremely interesting place to visit. [us2owls]
my country as lots of treasures (israel) but they are not given the proper care and publicity to be known wolrdwide.. [grundmang]
I live in America, and there are a lot of famous sight seeings and treasures here. The ones that I admire most are the statue of Liberty, or the White House. I have been there before, and they are awesome. [minhminh0604]
ah well, the united states supposedly has National Treasure! Ha ha, no probably not. However, there is the legend of the lost Confederate gold. At the beginning of the Civil War, France loaned a lot of money in gold to the Confederacy, planning to take advantage of a weaker America. When the Confederates lost, they were expected to return the gold to France. However, en route to the harbor, the gold was lost. Most likely stolen...but either way, it's probably still in the United States, making it a hidden treasure! [Stariane]
treasure... hmm.. probably a little bit of gold. its in a town call ballarat in Australia. i went there and gave it a try but no luck, but i do know a couple of people who succesfully got their hands on it, not much, but still, gold!! :) [yelrihs]
Most countries do have hidden treasures and some countries like Bhutan in fact discourage mass tourists to retain their uniqueness. India has such treasures in each and every State. Can You imagine, India has a Place like Hampi, where Stone speak literally. Knock on a stone, and it makes a sound, each stone in a different note. Have you heard about the Sar Pass in Himachal Pradesh @ 13000 ft and about the Rohtang Pass, the highest motorable road in the World!!! And have you heard about a Place called ShivGange Hills near Bangalore. Here when Ghee is rubbed into the Shiva Linga, it turns into Butter and the not the usual way of Butter becoming Ghee!!! Unbelievable. There are so many places and hidden treasures, it will be impossible for one post to justify them. [goodfundadvisor]
Being from the UK myself, there is nothing I enjoy more than visiting old market towns and looking at the various architecture found around the towns some of which goes back hundreds of years. You just have to look at the old Frames of a Tudor building or the concrete embellishments on Victorian properties to get a real sense of a town having a history. Quite often these towns will also have hidden treasures such as a town near where I live hosts a British Schools Museum and just walking through the various Rooms set out with artefacts from teaching over the years is amazing and interesting. But yet you would never even know the museum existed unless you stumbled upon it by accident. I honestly don't understand why small market towns don't capitalize more on their history and market these sites to tourists. Especially as the ever ongoing redevelopment of towns means that many of these wonderful historical elements will be lost before we know it. [thedailyclick]
If anyone does look at these pictures there is a particular place in one of them which means quite a lot to me. There are a couple of pictures of a park type place in the middle of the town with lots of flowers in. On my thirtieth birthday my girlfriend bought a massive display box of fireworks designed for events. She took me and a few friends into the middle of town and set the box off...it was a mad night and we got chased away by the Police but not before we watched all two hundred fireworks go offlol [mike197601]
First of all good luck with the Canal Boat. Looks like a nice one in the picture! Ok I've been thinking about this discussion for some days now. I am attached/belong to two countries, England and India. First I'll mention something in England which I think is special and that I think everyone should visit, and then India. [sritrinity]
I'll do India abit later. [sritrinity]
Just me...and I ain't coming out of hiding until Obama leaves...ninja [The_Lamb_Lies_Down]
This is good stuff mike,our country is the smallest of the world but very famous among tourists across the world mainly europeans.Naturally we are attracted to poeple for it's natural beauty...and I too live in a small island here.We can go around the island with in ten minutes by a motor bike (maybe 30 via Cruiser bicycles) and if we stop at a cross road and look at both ends sea is visible from both sides. Not far away from our place there is a memorial site that was made during the second world war by UK where British sodiers were burried and there names were curved in thier tomb stones, up to this day this area is protected by the government.and few UK guys know about this place [Misterwit]
The place is still there where ever you look around the GAN ISLAND the essence of British involvement is still to be seen,well designed roads,trees from europe,the air port,the jetties,thier theatre,thier houses..........the place is a real beauty... You can visit here anytime you want you will be given sanctuary by me...and if you are robinson crusoe type just drop with the back pack only.......and if you are bit luxury type than you will need some money but I guarantee you it will be very,very little cash.....but remember you need pre arrangements my friend [Misterwit]
I live in Ontario, Canada. Our big main attraction is Niagara Falls. What people miss out on is the rapids and whirlpool just down the river. It is a beautiful and picturesque site that requires only a short hike into the gorge and you will see beauties that are not as crowded as the Falls. You can really see and get a feel for the power of the Niagara River. [j00nior]
well here in AZ, USA, we have of course the Grand Canyon. but best of all we have Lake Havasu, which I lovewub i've had countless hours of fun there. it has not only Native American shops, etc. but it has your London Bridgerasp its said to have been planned to tear it down and the guy, (i forget his name) that planned Lake Havasu didnt like the idea of getting rid of it and had it shipped here in peices and rebuilthappy talk about recycle!!its wonderful to see and walk across. [bunnybon7]