Michael Ralby on Second-Best Tourist Spots

Tourist destinations are popular for a reason—they’re historically significant, and in some cases a symbol of social or economic status. Being able to travel is considered a luxury, and seeing a prized national monument or priceless set of jewels (and having documented your visit) means that you are part of the elite.

In recent years, though, and especially among those fortunate enough to travel frequently, visiting tourist destinations has become looked-down on, too mainstream. Many tourist attractions, to be fair, are overcrowded because of their popularity, overpriced, and overall underwhelming. It’s no longer considered noteworthy to visit Bondi Beach in Australia because that’s what “everyone” does when they go to Australia.

Still, tourist destinations often cater to visitors to make the experience enjoyable. People keep coming back, and those attractions want to encourage that.

How, then, do you find somewhere accessible but also unique? Verdict suggests finding the next best tourist attraction. Beat the crowds, but still obtain that status symbol. And who knows? Perhaps, in time, the second most popular will become the most popular overall.

Mont Saint-Michel, France
Rather than visit Paris, take a trip to Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. This town is already known as a popular place among pilgrims because of the monastery of Saint Michel, although the population of permanent residents remains small at only 44 people. For the history buff, or anyone interested in architecture, Mont Saint-Michel offers a glimpse into medieval France, as its layout matches the feudal set-up from centuries ago. At the top of the mountain rests the abbey and monastery, followed by the large halls for the gentry, then stores and housing for knights and vassals to the lords, and at the bottom are the houses of lowly fishermen and farmers. It’s a unique experience and much less crowded than Paris, by far.

Union Station, Washington, D.C.
New York City is single-handedly the most visited place by tourists in the United States. Not all that surprising! Second to New York, however, is Union Station, which might come as unexpected for some. More than just a train station, Union Station features a shopping mall and restaurant complex and even used to show movies until 2009. For anyone who loves architecture, this building is a must-see. Architects Daniel H. Burnham and Pierce Anderson designed the after ancient Greece, and there are huge statues of Greek gods to exemplify that. It’s a simply stunning view, and you can easily picture the station packed with people in any era.

Originally posted at MichaelRalby.net