ATLANTA (defeo.biz) — I was briefly engaged in a debate. Not an important or meaningful debate, but one about interesting attractions, as opposed to pedestrian ones.
If it wasn’t such an exercise in futility, it might have been a funny dialogue to dissect.
A few hours after that debate, I participated in a more rewarding conversation about travel. It wasn’t a conversation about the merits of travel (we were in total agreement that travel is a must), but one about what do see and do on a visit.
We agreed, I think, that visiting a destination is whatever one wants to make of it. Some people like to shop, while others like museums. Perhaps, others just want to sit on a bench and people watch.
The point is there is no right or wrong way to enjoy a destination. It’s whatever you want to make of it. A trip can be as relaxing or as busy as you want it to be. You can see famous works of art or see what different menu items the local McDonald’s offers.
I think that’s why my initial conversation was so frustrating. If somebody walks up to you on the street and says tell me five things to see in the city and declines to offer up any guidelines about what the list should include, it’s disingenuous to complain about the attractions.
Traveling means different things to different people. I think taking in City Tavern in Philadelphia, for example, is an incredibly rewarding — and delectable — experience.
The point is, don’t just go to a place because it’s in the guidebook. But, don’t feel like you should skip it because it’s in the guidebook. Do what you want to do and enjoy your vacation. After all, it’s yours and no one else’s.
Besides, what does the person writing the listicle about the “Five greatest/dumbest/weirdest places to see” really know? Chances are good, not much.
