Musings on: Travel verses Tourism

Traveler: one that travels, one that goes on a trip or journey
Tourist: one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture


Tourist trap:  an establishment, or group of establishments, that has been created with the aim of attracting tourists and their money.  Also known as Gatlinburg, TN.  

Yes, I'm headed to Gatlinburg.  On Wednesday, for a two-day church conference.

Honestly, I'm not sure about this.  I love to travel.  But, I don't like "tourist destinations."  I like to see the place I'm going, not a bunch of outlet malls and cutesy restaurants.

However, it *is* in the Smoky Mountains, in the midst of some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  This, for example, is my hotel:

Is that not gorgeous?  I can't wait to sit out on the balcony with a book and just watch the mountains... 

Anyway, back to tourist spots.  Why, exactly, is there a need for an aquarium, a wax museum, and a Hollywood stars car museum, in a mountain area like Gatlinburg?  What's wrong with appreciating the beauty and history of the mountains for what they are, without the commercial bling?  

I don't want to have to stand in line to climb a mountain.  There's a hundred more out there - just because someone has put an "attraction" on this particular one, doesn't mean that it is any more interesting than all the others.  Why not take a hiking trail, and see a real piece of nature, without the fences and souvenir store?  Does a plastic snake just like those in thousands of gift shops across the country make a better souvenir than a rock picked up out of the woods, with all the memories of the hike attached to it?

At 21, I may be too young to call for a return to "the olden days".  But I see no reason why we can't pry the shiny game coupons away from the kids, moms out of the Coach outlet, dads away from the golf centers, and enjoy an area for what brought everything there in the first place.

My hope is - my mission is - to find the "real" area, beneath all that bling.  Somewhere over there, I'm sure that there is a real community, with hopes and dreams and prayers beyond getting tickets into Ripley's.   With restaurants that aren't perfect replicas of a log cabin, and the salads $12 each.

Even if it means I have to spend the entire time sitting up a tree with bug spray and a book.  I hope I get wi-fi up there...

~Zahrah