The truths that tourists never believe.

[draggar]

Inspired by the other threads - what are the TRUE things that no one ever believes you on?

From New Hampshire: Unless you're a good swimmer, don't go swimming (in deep water) at Dover Point.

NH senators get paid the lowest in the country, plus gas money (unless this has changed in the past 5 years).

The Kancamagus highway is pronounced just like it is spelled.

Maine:
3 seasons - Winter, Mud, and Construction (I didn't believe it until I experienced it).

The islands near Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor do NOT float on the water.

UMaine (Orono) is on an island, technically.

New Jersey:
Don't drive on Normandy Road - seriously.

Florida:
Too many ways to kill or injure you: sharks and jellyfish in salt water, aligators in fresh water. Highest density of mosquitoes in the world, most lighting strikes in the US, most tornadoes in the US, fire ants, bufo frogs / poison toads, killer bees...

Florida is a big state. Virginia is closer to me than Pensacola, FL.

Yes you can take a day cruise to the Bahamas (and you DO need your passport).

You can't really "do" Orlando in a day or two.

It rains every day from April/May to November.

[taxguykarl]

Maine:
3 seasons - Winter, Mud, and Construction (I didn't believe it until I experienced it).

That's one more season than Illinois has--we lack the mud season.

[seigus]

Maine: 3 seasons - Winter, Mud, and Construction (I didn't believe it until I experienced it).

Texas: 3 seasons - hot, hotter and OMG throw a log on the fire; it's 50 degrees out!

[Toujin]

Here's some from from Virginia

*The Richmond-Metro area is surprisingly multicultural

*The locals are actually quite friendly

*The tobacco laws here are less strict than those elsewhere, so don't be surprised to see people smoking in public.


And some from Northern Cali, where I'm headed tomorrow!

*Unless you have a superhuman constitution, don't swim in the ocean without a wetsuit. You'll find that it's unbelievably cold!

*Not everyone is San Francisco is gay.

*San Francisco tends to be cool and windy, so bring a jacket or sweater.

*The nights in Northern California tend to be rather cool.

*Yes, there are farms here!

*LA is a 6 hour drive from San Jose, not counting the traffic.

[Mike Taylor]

Georgia (where I grew up):

1. A simple peanut farmer brokered peace between Israel and Egypt.
2. It contributed a LOT to the history of rock 'n' roll (Ray Charles, Little Richard, the B-52s and the Allman Brothers Band to name a few).
3. Henry Ossian Flipper, the first black graduate from West Point Military Academy was born in Southwest Georgia.
4. Jackie Robinson, baseball star and Civil Rights leader, was also from the southwestern part of the state.
5. The Girl Scouts were founded by Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah GA.
6. It may not snow very much in the lower part of the state, but the humidity of the region make the cold VERY unpleasant in winter.

[Rine]

Red flags mean don't go into the water. Not even "knee height" water. You can die. Yes, it's happened. People get knocked over and sucked out to sea in a rip current.

Pensacola, FL IS the oldest European settlement in the United States. Don't let St. Augustine tell you any different.

[smileyeagle1021]

*Not everyone is San Francisco is gay.

.

damn, and that's the whole reason I wanted to go to San Fran too

Reno
-prostitution, is in fact, not legal.
-yes, those are the gas prices residents pay all year
-not everyone is a gambling addict or an alcoholic
-yes, we do learn how to count past 21
-yes, I'm sure prostitution really is illegal

Salt Lake
-no we aren't all Mormons
-no, the Mormons don't do virgin sacrifices in the Temple... for that matter, no I haven't been inside the Temple... yes, I do know what goes on in the Temple... no, I don't want to tell you... no, it's not because I'm Mormon, it's because I'm lazy.... look, if you really want to know, google it.
-yes, you can in fact get a drink in Salt Lake
-no, I'm not lying to you, I'm not the only gay person in Salt Lake (sometimes it feels like that... but that's beside the point).
-yes, there actually is a decent number of 24/7 establishments... they all though are located *gasp* near where people live and are likely to patronize them.. you of course would not see this being in a hotel cluster.
-the Elders aren't out to kidnap you and steal your soul... most of them are actually quite nice... yes, they'll even talk to me if we end up on the same bus/train (and they've always been very polite).

[Hobbs]

San Antonio, Texas

-Crockett begged for his life when he was captured (Daughters of the Texas Revolution hate this too.)

-YES! I speak English!!

-NO! I don't speak Spanish!!

-I've never met (or want to) meet, Eva Longoria or Tony Parker!

-No, I don't know how to ride a horse.

[Lace Neil Singer]

* It is actually sunny and warm in England on occasion, and we've actually had summers here that rival Spain in temperature.

* There are people here who speak other languages besides English.

* Nope, we're not all chavs.

* We do have dentists, and attend regularly.

* We also have a plethora of talent in the acting and music industries.

* English comedies are funny.


Seriously, a lot of tourists especially Americans seem to think that our comedy consists of just Benny Hill style stuff. There are also those who think that just cuz they don't understand the humour, that it's not humour.

[AdminAssistant]

For my home state, Arkansas:
- Yes, we do have a state law mandating the pronunciation of the state's name. The trouble started when the upstart Territory of Kansas had to go and make things difficult. The two names have different origins. Kansas comes from the name of the Kansa tribe, while Arkansas comes from a French mispronunciation of a Quapaw word.

- We were settled by the French, and had the first permanent settlement west of the Mississippi. Yes, before New Orleans. Our natives were friendly to the Europeans, and they settled here first.

- Pretty much every town with more than 10,000 people has a Wal-Mart

- We don't all root for the Razorbacks. I actually have a deep seated hatred for the University of Walmart Arkansas, being an Arkansas State alum. Saying, "Pig Sooie!" to me has no meaning.

- No, I don't know Bill Clinton, although I have met Mike Huckabee and I've seen Clinton once, when he was Governor. I've never been to Hope or to his library.

- Our area is called the Mid-South. Not the Deep South - that's Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi. Nobody I know eats chitlin's or grits or hog feet or anything like that. Country food =/= "soul food"

- Barbeque from Arkansas/Tennessee is far superior to anything you'll get in the MidWest. Trust me, I know this from lots of personal experience and experimentation.

- Yes, we do have hospitals, universities, arts centers. There's plenty of "culture".

- Nobody marries their cousins, brothers, sisters, or parents.

- Arkansans, particularly Ozarkers, are intensely proud, stubborn people. Do not insult an Arkansan or Arkansas unless you'd like to find yourself on the wrong end of a shotgun.

[Sheldonrs]

Texas: 3 seasons - hot, hotter and OMG throw a log on the fire; it's 50 degrees out!

MA - 2 seasons - Winter and August.

[JoitheArtist]

Texas (panhandle area):

No, tumbleweeds are not an invention of Hollywood. No, they are not cool, they are a nuisance.

Yes, it snows in Texas! It also rains, hails, thunders, and has most kinds of weather because it's frakking HUGE.

Yes, there are men in spurs in the grocery store. Chill out.

Yes, most of the pickup trucks have gun racks. Chill out.

No, we don't sound like Matthew McConnaghey. That's East Texas.

Yes, anywhere north of Kansas is "Damn Yankees." Deal with it, Yankee.




Southern California:

Disneyland makes the news quite a lot.

No, we don't all work for Disneyland.

Yes, the weather really is like this most of the time.

We give directions almost entirely in numbers ("Ok, you're gonna take the 57 to the 5 to the 55...)

No, we're not all new-age tattooed punk hipsters. Most of them moved to Colorado.

No, we haven't all seen movie stars. I've interacted with more celebs on Twitter than in SoCal.

[gaspode]

* It is actually sunny and warm in England on occasion, and we've actually had summers here that rival Spain in temperature.

aah that was 1976 I remember it well

[Nurian]

- Barbeque from Arkansas/Tennessee is far superior to anything you'll get in the MidWest. Trust me, I know this from lots of personal experience and experimentation.

Them's fightin' words!

[Miyon]

Maine:
3 seasons - Winter, Mud, and Construction (I didn't believe it until I experienced it).

MA - 2 seasons - Winter and August.

completely agree on both these.

Ohio:
No we all dont live on farms and own cows

Yes I've been to Cedar Point and yes I know its cool

I live in Canton (why do people even ask what city you live in) Yes Canton, yes the Football hall fo fame yes I've heard of it, no I dont go there ever day. Great you been there that makes my life complete.

Yes Cleveland is as bad as they say.

Yes they repave the highways every year. Yes I-77/76/80/277/90/271/480 have been 'under construction' since 1985

Yes the whole state is a Browns fan and dont mention Pittsburg please.

Seasons
Winter, Rain, Freaken Hot, Rain, Repeat.