The Lure of a Big City
Vacation [From the Tower of London to Paris’ Eiffel Tower,
historic landmarks and one-of-a-kind attractions have long lured travelers to
the world’s great cities.] "It becomes, at least for some
people, a kind of pilgrimage in the sense that you want to finally see the
Statue of Liberty and it’s in New York and you have to go to New York to see
it," said Witold Rybczynski, a professor of urbanism at The Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania. "There isn’t a second version of
it anywhere else." This sort of unique attraction, combined with
the excitement d city life and a concentration of cultural opportunities, fine
dining, shopping and accommodations brings some visitors back again and
again. "There’s such a vast range of riches in a small, pretty
easily navigated space. That’s definitely what attracts me to cities," said Don
George, global travel editor for Lonely Planet Publications. Few
large cities have remarkable natural scenic attractions to build upon, so they
tend to rely on heritage and cultural sites to set themselves apart, according
to Douglas Frechtling, a professor of tourism studies at George Washington
University. Visiting cities gained popularity in the 18th and
19th centuries, as the landed aristocracy in Britain increasingly sent their
sons — and occasionally their daughters — to round out their education on a
Grand Tour of the celebrated sights and cities of continental Europe, Frechtling
said. America’s nouveau riche adopted this tradition in the late 19th and early
20th centuries, and later, less well-heeled travelers joined the tourist
ranks. "In terms of what we might call mass tourism or
middle-class tourism, that really didn’t develop until after World War II,"
Frechtling said. "It was just too difficult and too expensive to
travel." Navigation 101 Now the allure of big cities
seems as potent as ever. The number of visitors to central Paris in 2004, for
example, is estimated at 25 million, according to the Paris convention and
Visitors Bureau. New York City welcomed 39.9 million visitors to
the five boroughs in 2004 and is expecting a tally of nearly 41 million for
2005, according to NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism marketing
organization. Getting acclimated to the pace and logistics of a
large metropolitan area can take a little time. "I recommend
when you get somewhere, you either ask a taxi driver to take you around or you
get on one of the tourist buses that allow you to pay a one-day fee and travel
in the circuit as often as you want, so that you get a visual idea of the city,"
said Ruth Jarvis, series editor for Time Out Guides, in a phone interview from
her London office. Whether you’re visiting a big city for the
first or 15th time, a good map is essential. Even locals carry maps to navigate
London, Jarvis said, so there’s no shame in standing on a street comer peering
at yours. In some cities, local volunteer guides will help
guests discover the destination, Jarvis said. In New York, Big Apple Greeters
offers this service. Jarvis recommends walking as much as
possible because it gives you more opportunities to discover the local culture
and get a sense of a city’s layout. When using public transportation, Jarvis
suggests taking buses over subways for the same reason. "If you’re just a little
bolder and you get buses, then you’re above ground and you can pick up where you
are so you have the confidence to make your own explorations a little
later." Most cities offer discount transportation cards that can
save you motley if you anticipate frequent bus or subway trips. Keep your
hotel’s address on hand and have the hotel give you the number of a reputable
cab company to keep with you, Jarvis suggests. Renting a cell phone in an
international destination can also ensure that you always feel confident about
getting back to your home base. Making the Most of Your Trip
Lonely Planet’s George advises travelers to plan their itineraries around
a city’s neighborhoods to get the best local flavor. "Identify
your passions and then identify the neighborhoods where the most appropriate
places you want to see are," George said. It may be a part of
the city known for art galleries or historic attractions or a particularly
well-regarded area for restaurants, theater or shopping. "One of
the things I always try to do in a city if I’m there for multiple days is
actually block out some time for aimless wandering," George said. Wandering
leaves the door open for some of the most memorable and unexpected discoveries
of your trip. Wandering may yield unexpected city scenes, like
this secluded serenade in New York’s Washington Square Park.
Even before you choose your destination, consider the atmosphere you’re
seeking. Every great city has a unique collection of attractions and notable
features. San Francisco, California, is particularly unusual
because of its stunning (绝妙的) location. While the city offers
museums and other cultural attractions, visiting those institutions is not the
first thing. Rybczynski, the urbanism expert, would do on a visit.
"I’d just enjoy walking around and probably take the cable car and just
look at the views and go by the water and do all those things," he
said. San Francisco’s scenic beauty and cuisine put it high on
Frechtling’s list of favorite cities. England’s capital also ranks
high. "I’m very fond of London for the theater," Frechtling
said. History is king in European cities, Rybczynski said,
because it stretches back so much farther than in the United States.
"I think in a sense the European cities are unbeatable because they have
this head start," he said. Whether you’re headed to Europe,
Asia, Australia, South America or across the United States, George recommends
building a splurge into your trip. Choose one great meal in a
legendary restaurant over a slightly nicer place to sleep, or cut back on dining
expenses in favor of the best seats you can get to the opera.
"That almost certainly will be one of the most priceless memories that you
bring back," George said. Besides San Francisco, ______ is also Frechtling’s favorite city to visit.