It wasn't until my third trip to Florida's Kennedy Space Center that I discovered there was more to the place than just the small visitor center complex by the parking lot. On my previous two trips with my brother, we just paid our entrance fee, hung out in this small area, and then left.
How sad it was when I realized that there was also a bus tour that shuttles you out to all the other parts of the Space Center that we had no clue about! On the way, you get to drive past the Vehicle Assembly Building (where the Space Shuttle was constructed) and other operational facilities. You get to stop at the Apollo/Saturn V Center and stay for as long as you want. Inside this huge building is an actual Saturn V moon rocket that is 363-feet long (tipped over on its side so it will fit in the building), real moon rocks, and other Apollo program artifacts.
And guess what, this bus tour was included in the admission price we had paid on our previous two trips, but we totally missed out on it because we didn't know about it. It felt ridiculous that we missed it because this tour really is the main point of visiting the Kennedy Space Center.
Another time, on a trip to Spain, I decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Seville. I detail the entire experience here, but in a nutshell, I ended up missing out on going to the TOP location in Seville just because I didn't know about it.
So, what did I learn from these two experiences?
It's simple: a little advanced planning for any trip is crucial, especially if you don't want to miss out on the TOP things to see in a destination!
Try out these few tips as you plan for your next travel adventure.
Tip 1: Research Organized Tours
I'm not really an organized-tour kind of gal. I prefer going at it solo and just seeing things at my own pace.
However, organized tours are a gold mine for information on WHAT to see and DO in the places you're visiting! Some companies will list out their entire itinerary as a way to entice customers to sign up. These itineraries are often the top, or best, things to see in destinations. So, they've essentially done a lot of the leg work for you and will cut down your research time significantly.
NOTE: Now, keep in mind that organized tours have their individual niches. So, if you're wanting to see all of the historical spots that a city has to offer, you probably wouldn't want to look for a tour sponsored by a nature/hiking/camping company. However, the contrast is also true. If you want to find off-the-beaten-path locations that can only be reached on a hiking expedition, you wouldn't want to look at the itineraries for an urban tour company.
Let me give you a specific example. When I went to Jerusalem, I did so spontaneously because I had found tickets from Krakow to Tel Aviv for only about $20. I had ALWAYS wanted to come here and since it was such an important destination for me, I didn't want to miss out on anything crucial to see. I didn't have much time to research, but out of the blue this idea hit me. "Hmm, I wonder if I was on an organized historical and religious tour of this city, where they would take me?" So, I googled to find such companies, and voila!, I found comprehensive list of places included on the tours! I copied down this list of sites and then used Google maps to find the directions to each. It was FAST and EASY and seriously one of the best ways I've ever put together a tour of a city on the fly. Another thing I could have done is pin all of the locations on Google maps and then used that to plan my route. That would have also been a great method, especially if you're limited on time in the city you're visiting.
Tip 2: Connect with Locals
When you get to your place of lodging, the first question you should be asking the person at the desk (or your Airbnb host) is, "What do you recommend I see and do in this city?"
They live here. They work here. They work with tourists like you all the time and are likely asked this question often.
Most of the time, they'll present you with a free map of the city and then circle all the important places that you don't want to miss. While you're at it, get their recommendations for other spots (favorite restaurants, cafes, etc.) and also find out if there are any special events going on in the town that you should know about.
In the Kennedy Space Center situation, I could have avoided the issue I ran into by simply asking more questions when I bought my ticket. At the ticket counter, I should have said, "Now, I haven't been here before, what's everything available for me to see with my admission?" This specific question would have most likely provided me with the information about that free bus tour that I didn't know existed!
I also do this same thing when I meet someone on a flight going towards my destination. When I was flying from Berlin to Riga, I sat next to two lovely fellow travelers who were from Riga. I asked for their top tips on things to see and also places to eat. I took quick notes on my notes app on my phone and I used these to build my itinerary for the next day. I checked out every one of the places they recommended, including having breakfast at their favorite breakfast spot the next morning.
Tip 3: Ask Other Travelers
I also like to get advice from other travelers I meet along the way. When I chat with fellow hostelers and I find out they've just been to a place I'm going next, I ask them for advice.
- "What were some of the places you really liked going to?"
- "Did you have a favorite restaurant?"
- "What tips would you offer?"
- "What did you think of the hostel you stayed in?"
I jot down notes of what they say in my notes app and then I have it to reference later on in that city.
In a hostel room in Oslo, I chatted with one of my roommates. He had just come back from visiting the far north of Norway for the northern lights. I was super curious about his experience, so I asked lots of questions. Where did he stay? What kinds of activities did he do? What kinds of clothing was necessary? He was a wealth of information and all of those details are now at my disposal for when I make a trip to that area in the future.
Tip 4: Do Some Quick Google Searches
Google is seriously my best friend when I travel. She gives me directions, helps me figure out what to see and do, and provides me with ways to communicate when language is a barrier.
However, Google isn't just a magic fairy godmother. You literally have to know how to talk to Google to get her to provide you with the information you are looking for.
In other words, you must practice with your queries and commands to get the proper answers from Google in response.
For instance, when I was doing my quick research for my Seville excursion, I clearly did not ask her the RIGHT questions because she did not tell me that the most important place to see in Seville was Plaza de España. So even though I was only steps away from it, I totally missed it!
Part of the reason for this issue was time. I was frazzled and only had about 1.5 hours total in Seville (due to a delay in train), so I wasn't using my peak research abilities.
Had I conducted a proper search, Google would have given me the proper answers. So, it wasn't Google's fault. It was mine.
To help you avoid such a situation in your research, consider using these types of phrases. Note that it's best to keep these phrases in quotes for more precise results.
"Top places to see in [location]"
"Not-to-miss places in [location]"
"Top destinations in [location]"
and so forth.
Had I done this for Seville, this would have been my results after searching "Not-to-miss places in Seville." As you can see, the top suggestion is the very place I missed going to!
Tip 4: Use Apps and Guidebooks
There are some fabulous apps out there that provide you with itineraries when you visit specific cities around the world. One of my favorite is Visit a City, but there are many others. You select your city, then choose how many days and if you want it to be a packed itinerary or easy-going pace. Then, it will put together a walking tour of the city with the top attractions included. What's great about this app is that it organizes everything so you won't backtrack. It also tells you the distance and time it'll take to walk between the locations. I have used this app many times, and have really had great success with it. And did I mention, it's totally free?
Another app I use is the Rick Steves Audio Europe app. I go into great detail on this post about the app (how to get it, how to use it, etc.). But just quickly here, I'll note that this app has free audio walking tours of cities, neighborhoods, museums, etc. plus all kinds of interviews from Rick's podcast. Once again, this app is free!
Guidebooks are an obvious choice. They'll list out the top attractions and even rate them from most important to least important (based on their own set of criteria). I like Rick Steves travel books in particular because his our constantly updated and ebooks are available, which is particularly handy when you like to travel light.
Final Words of Advice
Travel is never going to be perfect. You're always going to find out about things that you missed in a destination, because it truly is impossible to see EVERYTHING in a place, even after visiting multiple times.
However, if you follow these suggestions I've outlined, you'll at least get a better idea of the TOP things that shouldn't be missed in a place. Seriously, don't go to San Francisco and miss the Golden Gate Bridge. Don't go to Seville and miss the Plaza de España. Don't go to Berlin and miss the Brandenburg Gate. Don't go to Oahu and miss Pearl Harbor. And don't go to New York City and miss the Statue of Liberty! All of those would 100 percent be a tragedy!
My overall advice: find out the most iconic place in a city, go to that first, and then fill up the rest of your time with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the not-to-miss list.
This strategy will help you avoid some of the travel mishaps I've had in the past!