You should avoid these places in the US as a foreign tourist, Americans say

12 August 2023 , 09:00

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National parks and deserts seemed to top the list of places international tourists should avoid when venturing to the US (Image: Getty Images)

If you're planning a trip to the US, the massive size of the country and the sheer number of attractions can be overwhelming.

America boasts hundreds of gorgeous national parks, cultural centers like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago and lots of other sites to see.

But it's important to be weary of some places or to secure a local escort when visiting for a myriad of reasons.

One foreigner, Reddit user u/AMGBOI69420, wanted to know what places foreigners should avoid on trips to the US.

Dozens of Americans took to the comments to share their experiences and provide words of caution to pending tourists.

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Death Valley is gorgeous, but the temperatures can be dreadfully hot (Getty Images)

Two common themes seemed to emerge from the responses — foreigners need to be careful in the country's national parks, and they should generally avoid the deserts in the Southwest.

Colorado has become a hotbed for national news coverage after several hikers went missing or died in the state's parks in recent months.

Redditor u/eyjafjallajokul_ told foreigners to exercise caution if they chose to venture into the wilderness, urging them to think twice before venturing out if they don't have wilderness survival knowledge and experience.

"Tourists die on our mountains and in Rocky Mountain National Park all the time," they wrote. "Do your research! Altitude is no joke."

National parks can be dangerous for those unprepared to navigate them (Getty Images)

"If you go to a national park and you disregard the signs, you're going to die," wrote u/Xanza. "It's not a joke."

Specifically, many of the parks caution against interacting with the wildlife. Bears and bison roam Yellowstone, for example, and it's generally a terrible idea to approach them, as they can attack if you bother them.

"Treat buffalo like field puppies? You're going to die. Try to pet the brown bear? You're going to die. See that moose and want to feed it? You're probably already dead. Oh look, a rattlesnake! *dead*" wrote u/Xanza.

They, along with several others, warned tourists not to go swimming in the hot springs, which are exceptionally acidic.

The altitude in Colorado's national parks around the Rocky Mountains can be cumbersome to those who are unprepared (Getty Images)

"You're going to die painfully and completely dissolve into a soup," they wrote. "S**t is dangerous here, and if you don't respect it, you'll be lucky to die quick."

The deserts can prove dangerous, too, because of the heat. Death Valley, for example, can reach temperatures of more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).

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Even experienced hikers can succumb to heat exhaustion, warned many users.

u/ambulocetus_ wrote: "my uncle died hiking in death valley 2 summers ago. i think it was 118F. he was an exceptionally experienced hiker, but he was in his 60's. heat exhaustion. don't try it."

Wildlife can prove especially dangerous to tourists who bother them (Getty Images)

Many tourists die because they don't come prepared with water, wrote u/plushautopsy.

Other users cautioned tourists against visiting what they called "tourist traps," such as rainforest cafés or wax museums. One Redditor, u/insert_creative, said foreigners should avoid large chain restaurants and prioritise small businesses, which often have better quality food.

But some said fast food restaurants are a good idea, since many of them aren't found in other parts of the world.

The main theme of the thread seemed to be that no place is truly off-limits as long as people are prepared to go there — to weather the climate, to avoid danger or simply to avoid overpriced "tourist traps."

Jeremiah Hassel