I grew up in a sleepy beach town whose poulation tripled every summer with tourists and summer people who didn't treat us "townies" (oh how I hated that label) very well, so I really get the love/hate thing. I was always very grateful they were there for the sake of our economy, but many years of being treated like a lesser being left its mark. To me, a tourist is different than a traveler. Java, you are a traveler. You do touristy things sometimes, sure, but you do your utmost to respect the local culture and you don't go into it with a sense of entitlement. I love travelers. I love the way they delight in being in a new place and doing new things, and I try to be a traveler rather than a tourist when I'm in a new place. Tourists are another story. I'm still very glad they're here, but I don't enjoy their presence.

I love travelers. I love the way they delight in being in a new place and doing new things, and I try to be a traveler rather than a tourist when I'm in a new place. Tourists are another story. I'm still very glad they're here, but I don't enjoy their presence.

Oh I so completely agree with this!

I love travelers. I love the way they delight in being in a new place and doing new things, and I try to be a traveler rather than a tourist when I'm in a new place. Tourists are another story. I'm still very glad they're here, but I don't enjoy their presence.

Very well said, Kristin. This, exactly.

I don't remember what month it was the last time I went to all the Salem touristy stuff. I do remember taking the tour of the House of the Seven Gables, which was incredibly cool. (Much cooler, I thought, than the witch museum.)

I think the only times I've gotten really annoyed at the tourists here in DC has been around the Fourth of July. Last year, I was taking a class across town during that week, and every single day ran into a group either blocking doors or blocking the escalator or something.

Apparently, I and coworkers have the self-preservation instincts of donuts. A building wide alarm went off that we'd never heard before. Everyone just stood around. "Man, that's annoying!" And the building manager came wandering out and stared up at one of the blaring speakers.

I am pretty sure that the most annoying people on my commute are not tourists/visitors to the city. I am pretty sure that they are Jackholes. They are the same locals that take large strollers on subways at rushhour and the same elderly in my neighborhood that wait until 5:30 on weekdays to go grocery shopping or ask the pharmacist a short history on medication in pill form.

I would like to suggest that visitors overwhelmed by New York might benefit by waiting until after 9:30 to head out on the subway, and also finding a cafe/place to sit between 5-6 would be more enjoyable than trying to navigate the streets or subways.

Shiny award there, Allyson!

Much cooler, I thought, than the witch museum

Which one? I guess that is kinda cool - living in a town where you can have multiple witch museums.

The only touristy things I'm really tempted by (but still haven't done) are the House of Seven Gables (secret panels! hidden staircases!) and the Peabody-Essex museum.

Way cool, Allyson!

GF and were in Salem in October a few years ago (work-related trip - October was a coincidence). We loved the town and had a blast at the House of Seven Gables, Peabody-Essex museum, and one of the cemeteries. The witch museum was a bust. We also enjoyed lunch and beer at BeerWorks.