11 tourist traps that are actually worth visiting
You travel to see the world, not to wait in three-hour lines to make it to the top of an overpriced observatory deck. That said, certain proverbial “tourist traps" are totally worth the time, money and proximity to sweaty, disgruntled teen tours. Here are 11 of them.
Moyan Brenn/Flickr
The Grand Canyon (Arizona)
You could visit the Grand Canyon 100 times and always walk away feeling completely awestruck. While the South Rim draws almost 90 percent of tourists for its breathtaking vistas, and it shouldn't be missed, you can escape the crowds by also venturing to the North Rim's less frequented trails.
David Phan/Flickr
Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty (New York)
Look, New Yorkers--we'll forgive you for avoiding the overpriced Empire State Building observation deck. But a trip to Ellis Island and Liberty Island is a must. The place is full of history, and you can even scan the books and try to find your family name among the 12 million immigrants who passed through from 1892 to 1954.
Alvarez/Getty Images
Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo)
We're always wary of places deemed the “number-one, must-see spot" in any given city. But Japan's largest fish market is 100 percent worth it. Go at 5 a.m. to see the live bluefin tuna auctions, where the best-looking, biggest fish sell for unthinkable prices. Before you leave, make sure to grab a traditional sushi breakfast.
Dwight Nadig/Getty Images
The White House (Washington, D.C.)
OK, it might sound obvious, but no trip to the nation's capital is complete without a visit to what is possibly the most important political site in America. Arranging a self-guided tour through the White House takes a little effort (in fact, you have to submit a request through your congressman). But the experience is well worth the extra legwork, and hey, how many people can say they went to the president's house?
Steve Simmonds/Flickr
Anne Frank House (Amsterdam)
If you're going to do just one educational activity in Amsterdam, let it be a visit to the secret annex where the Frank family hid during WWII. The exhibits, videos and commentary are exceptionally well done, and you can even skip the massive lines by buying your tickets in advance.
Marc Biarnès/Flickr
Sacré Coeur/Montmartre (Paris)
Perched atop Montmartre hill on the fringes of the city, Sacré Coeur basilica offers one of the most postcard-perfect, panoramic views of Paris. Climb about 200 winding stairs to the dome, and see the 21 arrondissements sprawl out before you.
GTSA South America/Flickr
Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)
Watching over Rio from the top of Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer stands 125 feet tall with arms wide open. Getting to the iconic sculpture is an adventure on its own--pick a clear day to take the scenic tram ride 700 meters above sea level, through the lush Tijuca rainforest to the top of the mountain.
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Alcatraz (San Francisco)
Alcatraz is one of the rare attractions that both locals and tourists can enjoy. The ferry ride over, offering sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and mainland San Francisco, is impressive all on its own.But the real reason to go is to see the prison where Al "Scarface" Capone and Robert Stroud (the so-called Birdman of Alcatraz) once served time.
Getty Images
Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
Cambodia's most iconic temple, Angkor Wat, is sacred in both Hinduism and Buddhism. But religion aside, this relic of the 9th- to 15th-century Khmer Empire is one of the most incredible architectural accomplishments of ancient times. You could spend an entire day exploring the moats, towers, forests and intricate details that surround it.
G.S. Matthews/Flickr
The Great Wall of China (Beijing)
Sure, you'll be walking with thousands of sweaty people on any given day, but there's a reason why the Great Wall is one of the world's most visited destinations. The 5,500-mile granite, brick and stone wall was built mostly by hand, with some portions dating back to 770 B.C. Head to the restored section at Mutianyu (about 45 miles outside of central Beijing) for a less crowded experience.
Chris Ford/Flickr
The Blue Lagoon (Iceland)
Don't go expecting your own personal hot tub, but the Blue Lagoon--a 40-minute drive from downtown Reykjavík--is pretty incredible. The geothermal pool, set on a lava field, is bubbling with rich minerals believed to help a variety of skin ailments. Even durling Icelandic winter when the days are cold, dark and short, the teal, thermal water feels like dream and illuminates the otherworldly landscape.
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On March 19, 2020, United operated its first flight carrying cargo without passengers on board. While the passenger cabin was empty, its cargo hold was completely full, carrying more than 29,000 pounds of commodities from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
A year later, United Cargo has operated more than 11,000 cargo-only flights carrying more than 570 million pounds of freight. To support the COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts, United Cargo has also transported more than 113 million pounds of medical and pharmaceutical products on both cargo-only and passenger flights as well as approximately 10 million COVID-19 vaccines, providing global communities access to the items they have needed most.
"At the beginning of the pandemic, we knew we were uniquely positioned to utilize our widebody aircraft and our network to keep commodities moving, so we quickly mobilized various departments throughout the airline to launch a cargo-only network of flights that would keep commodities moving," said United Cargo President Jan Krems. "Thanks to those efforts, United Cargo has delivered millions of items to countries all around the world. We would not have been successful without the steadfast support of our employees, industry partners and our customers."
Since last March, United Cargo has transported almost 850 million pounds of freight on cargo-only and passenger flights. The airline will continue to monitor market trends adjust its cargo-only flight schedules to help ensure we are meeting our customer's evolving shipping needs.
Whether you haven't flown with us for a while or just need a quick refresher before your spring trip, read this list of tips to know before your flight and arrive at the airport travel-ready:
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Before completing check-in, all United travelers will need to read our Ready-to-Fly checklist and confirm that they understand and agree to our policies. These include:
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5. Get familiar with CleanPlus
United CleanPlus℠ is our commitment to delivering industry-leading cleanliness as we put health and safety at the forefront of your experience. We've teamed up with Clorox to redefine our cleaning and disinfection procedures and Cleveland Clinic to advise us on enhancing our cleaning and disinfection protocols, like:
Disinfecting high-touch areas on board and in the terminal
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Redesigning our mobile app to allow for touchless check-in and contactless payment, along with enhanced travel assistance features
Implementing high-efficiency (HEPA) filters on our aircraft that completely recirculate cabin air every 2-3 minutes and remove 99.97% of airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria
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Federal law requires all travelers to wear a face mask in the airport, including customer service counters, airport lounges, gates and baggage claim, and on board during their entire flight. Make sure you review the requirements for face masks, including what an acceptable face mask looks like.
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To make boarding even safer, we now have travelers board their aircraft from back to front. At the gate, just listen for your row number to be called – we'll ask a few rows at a time to board, starting with the last row of the plane. This helps everyone maintain a safe distance from each other during boarding without slowing things down. As you step onto the plane, flight attendants will hand each passenger a sanitizing towelette, which you can use to wipe down your seat to ensure it's extra clean.
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Check the United app regularly for the latest updates on weather conditions, flight status, gate numbers and seat assignments. You can also visit our Important Notices page to find essential information and updates about travel waivers, international travel, TSA and security, airports and United Club locations.
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Once you're on board, it's time to sit back and enjoy your flight. Our flight attendants will be happy to help you with anything else you need.
This week, we were honored to become the first U.S. airline to join the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by transporting the vaccine and other critically needed supplies to underserved areas of the globe.
"We are committed to helping the global community in any way we can, and we all must work together to do our part to bring this health and humanitarian crisis to an end," said Director of Cargo Specialty Products Manu Jacobs.
We will leverage our expertise to transport these critical pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments around the world safely, efficiently and expediently. We are proud to partner with the United Nations to support this global effort and provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Together, we are facing an unprecedented challenge. United Together, we rise to meet that challenge.
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Newly added to our collection is a background encouraging our employees and customers to vote. Our mission is to connect people and unite the world — and one of the most important ways to do that is to engage in the democratic process. No matter which party you support, we know our democracy will be stronger if you make your voice heard and vote.
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20 UCSF Health workers, who voluntarily set aside their own lives to help save lives, are on their way to New York City.
We are humbled by your selfless sacrifice.
Thank you.
#UnitedTogether #UCSFHeroes
In celebration and appreciation of all first responders and essential workers. 👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿
This is the story of Jason and Shantel. You see, Jason and Shantel love each other very much. They also love traveling and they love the classic Adam Sandler film, The Wedding Singer.
It all began when Jason reached out to United's social media team, hoping for assistance with his upcoming plan to propose. Some phone calls and one borrowed guitar later, the stage was set for Jason. Put all that together, mix in some helpful United employees and, voila, you have a truly memorable marriage proposal. Congratulations to this fun-loving and happy couple, and here's to many more years of making beautiful music together.
A big thank you to Chicago-based flight attendants Donna W., Marie M., Karen J. and Mark K. for making this proposal come to life.
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