Bucket list experiences in your city or region

[Acajack]

What are the things that one must do at least once if you're from your area, or things that you'd always try and have visitors experience when they come to town?

[Centropolis]

soulard market on a saturday morning. grabbing a giant bloody mary or jumbo beer about 7:30 AM, strolling the stalls for a vestigal taste of creole st. louis. all with a big fat ass slab of gooey butter cake in hand while staring into the 100 year old butcher case full of hasenpfeffer meat, hooves and gator tails.

then sitting outside watching the random musicians.

not really covid era stuff, sadly.

i do this on my birthday every few years. it really feels like a portal into the old soul of the city.

[Acajack]

Here is one for my region. The ultimate bucket list experience for Canada's capital Ottawa is skating on the Rideau Canal, the world's largest skating rink that runs through the heart of the city. Contrary to some people's assumptions it's not actually cold enough for the canal to operate for more than about 50 days per year. So a visit to check this one off needs to be planned accordingly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEFY8m6h5SY

When on the canal (or anywhere in Ottawa), another likely bucket list item is the beaver tail pastry. It's actually a fairly simple pastry, but tastes pretty good after you've been skating in the cold for a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnW5e4uzYrU

[begratto]

For Montréal, the experience that my visiting friends enjoyed the most was Saute-Mouton JetBoating in the Lachine Rapids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTGdfWepuUA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UupSsdOXHiQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT32QeFMeYo

It's a bit expensive, but a very memorable experience: you get to experience going through huge rapids on the St.Lawrence river, get wet, and get awesome views of both the city centre and nature. It's spectacular - and very refreshing!

I must have done this 10 times already, and I never get tired of it.

[pj3000]

Miami

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Miami

Interesting, but since this thread is about "experiences", what kind of "experiences" would your contribution to the discussion involve?

[cowolter]

For Vancouver
Meditate/Relax on the pier at Porteau Cove
Watch the sunset at the Wreck Beach Bluffs
Richmond Night Market
Go fishing for Spot Prawns
See the telescope at the GMS Observatory.


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[MolsonExport]

[Centropolis]

[Sam Hill]

A show at Red Rocks.

Normally, I'd also recommend a show at El Chapultepec. It's a jazz club, and Denver institution where greats like Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald once played. It "officially" opened the day after prohibition ended. Whenever friends came to town, I would take them there. Unfortunately it is now closed forever - a victim of covid.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

A show at Red Rocks.

Normally, I'd also recommend a show at El Chapultepec. It's a jazz club, and Denver institution where greats like Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald once played. It "officially" opened the day after prohibition ended. Whenever friends came to town, I would take them there. Unfortunately it is now closed forever - a victim of covid.

damn, that sucks.

people think denver is this soulless sunbelt-y sanitary wipe but it was and still is civilization for the entire breadth of large european countries and has these unknown legacy dives and small institutions.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Flagstaff: Leaving Flagstaff and never coming back

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

Flagstaff: Leaving Flagstaff and never coming back

also: arriving in flagstaff and getting a nosebleed in the shower.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Here is one for my region. The ultimate bucket list experience for Canada's capital Ottawa is skating on the Rideau Canal, the world's largest skating rink that runs through the heart of the city. Contrary to some people's assumptions it's not actually cold enough for the canal to operate for more than about 50 days per year. So a visit to check this one off needs to be planned accordingly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEFY8m6h5SY

When on the canal (or anywhere in Ottawa), another likely bucket list item is the beaver tail pastry. It's actually a fairly simple pastry, but tastes pretty good after you've been skating in the cold for a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnW5e4uzYrU

The canal is a good one!..I was going to say the museums, but they aren't that unique, and I thought of a better one..Canada Day downtown..That is if you find a patio, and just plant yourself there..One big party!.As for myself..Been there done that ( over the top huge crowds is not my thing anymore), but the large throng of all day revelers leading up to the fireworks is quite the thing, and nobody celebrates Canada's birthday like the Capital!

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

also: arriving in flagstaff and getting a nosebleed in the shower.

I'm guessing a combination of dry air and high altitude?

Speaking of altitude, one or two beers will get you drunk.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

Flagstaff: Leaving Flagstaff and never coming back

No Grand Canyon?

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

I'm guessing a combination of dry air and high altitude?

Speaking of altitude, one or two beers will get you drunk.

4 or 5 if it's American beer.. ..I kid, I kid.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

soulard market on a saturday morning. grabbing a giant bloody mary or jumbo beer about 7:30 AM, strolling the stalls for a vestigal taste of creole st. louis. all with a big fat ass slab of gooey butter cake in hand while staring into the 100 year old butcher case full of hasenpfeffer meat, hooves and gator tails.

then sitting outside watching the random musicians.

not really covid era stuff, sadly.

i do this on my birthday every few years. it really feels like a portal into the old soul of the city.

Sounds great! Is this available any time of year...?

Would anyone there be able to converse with me (in French), you think?

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

soulard market on a saturday morning. grabbing a giant bloody mary or jumbo beer about 7:30 AM, strolling the stalls for a vestigal taste of creole st. louis. all with a big fat ass slab of gooey butter cake in hand while staring into the 100 year old butcher case full of hasenpfeffer meat, hooves and gator tails.

then sitting outside watching the random musicians.

not really covid era stuff, sadly.

i do this on my birthday every few years. it really feels like a portal into the old soul of the city.

This pretty much describes the type of experience I try to seek in any city I visit... to get some non-workday local flavor, as well as learn some hands-on history... and get an early buzz. It's cool that St. Louis has that creole influence way up the river.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by lio45

Sounds great! Is this available any time of year...?

Would anyone there be able to converse with me (in French), you think?

i’m not sure what the schedule is but it is a year round city market, not a farmers market per say.



there are still quebecois descendants in st. louis that speak varying amounts of french but its not indigenous fluency anymore with an authentic creole stank on it- its you know, university. there could be some people who speak words of “paw paw” french though, especially from rural areas.

the real “paw paw” quebecois french is more likely to be heard in the old mining district and ste genevieve area just south of st. louis. post WW2 road building and american media has mostly stamped out fluency. old people still sing songs but its kind of a cargo cult thing now. the ozarks were the last holdout of french between the us northeast/canada and louisiana.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_French

ste genevieve is a town that is an actual national park now, which overall is a good thing. i’d rather it be preserved. its worth a stop.

https://www.nps.gov/stge/index.htm