Cheesy Tourist Traps
By koopharper
@koopharper (7599)
Canada
October 3, 2012 5:40am CST
Had another bit of fun with the gang on our staycation. We went to Magnetic Hill which is on the other end of the city. Over the years this has been one of New Brunswick's most popular tourist sights. My family visited when I was an eight year old and my wife and her family visited when she was fourteen. That was a long time ago. Back then it was a gravel section of road where you could put your car in neutral and coast "uphill". It is of course an illusion. I decline to pay five bucks to actually do it with the family minivan this time around. Instead we parked in the free parking lot and walked around. They built a village of souvenir shops, a zoo and an amusement park since my previous visit. We just looked around. It was just too touristy for my liking. There were gumball machines on the wharf with feed for the local wildlife. We just took pictures. Some of it was quite nice but my family and I are more into awesome natural wonders. For us it just wasn't worth spending money we don't have on.
3 people like this
5 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Oh, I absolutely love covered bridges and this one is very beautiful, thank you for sharing.
As for "cheesy tourist traps" Oh yeah, I see them at every "special" event they have here as well as when we visit other cities. Here we have a "Pork Festival" (ironic since I avoid pork at all costs) and the things I see that have pigs on them just to draw people in still amazes me.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
I did really like the covered bridge. There are a number of them in the area and I think they are all picturesque.
Pork Festival doesn't do anything for me. I can't believe some of the things they make for the sake of attracting tourist dollars.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Oct 12
Now a northern county has a Strawberry Festival and the town my daughter lives in has an Applefest, that would draw me in...
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
4 Oct 12
Love strawberries and apples. If I were in the area I might drop by for something like that. I've always had a good appetite for dessert.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 Oct 12
my mother is from New Brunswick, a place called Shippegan, I remember Magnetic Hill, the whole experience was lost on me lol
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
5 Oct 12
I don't remember much of our visit when I was a kid. I like Yanzalong's idea though. I'm going to wait until the off season is on go up there with my bicycle and give it a run. The park doesn't get completely shut down and I don't think there are any barriers to doing that. Not worth getting charged with trespassing but don't think that there is any problem with doing this.
@GardenGerty (169534)
• United States
3 Oct 12
I know what you mean. I do not like the gimmicks at tourist traps. We like free, awesome sites.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
4 Oct 12
There is a lot you can see for free. I'm astonished at how many get sucked into the souvenir shops and stuff that really isn't worth anything. You can find stuff like that anywhere. I grew up near Niagara Falls and couldn't figure out why people come to do so many things besides look at the falls themselves. That part is free.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
3 Oct 12
In 2006 in the summer time I visited Romania. I saw some tourist traps for Dracula. I went to Bran Castle and it seemed very touristy. Before that I had been to a much less touristy castle. The views from there had been stunningly beautiful. Wow!
Earlier that year in the winter time I had visited Central America. I had been to quiet and peaceful Mayan ruins in Belize and Guatemala. It was so very touristy at the Mayan ruin in Mexico. The tourists came off dozens of coaches from the beach resorts near Cancun.
I am glad you are getting on well in your staycation. Magnetic Hill sounds really touristy. I prefer natural scenery, historical sites and places where I can see wildlife.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
Magnetic Hill was very touristy, not a total waste of time though. Today we did better. The weather was spectacularly beautiful and we spent a couple hours on the nature trails around the Irishtown Reservoir. That was worthy of a lot of pictures. Might put something on the Lot here later on.
@yanzalong (19091)
• Indonesia
4 Oct 12
Hi koopharper, that sounds an interesting site for me as a biker. I'd be glad if it were uploaded here.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
4 Oct 12
I hadn't thought of checking that out on my bicycle. I wonder if I could sneak past the toll booth. Maybe they would let me go for free. It is the off season after all. This town is quite cyclist friendly by the way. The recreation trails by the river are all good for cycling. They give access to the entire downtown core as well. The nature trails around the Irishtown Reservoir are all good for cycling except for the long expert yellow trail. You might be able to ride there anyway on a good mountain bike. Most of the major parks here have cyclable trails. Riding on the roads isn't quite as good. Too many car drivers here have questionable driving skills. You really have to be on your guard.
