Travel Sterotypes

This is the American Tourist costume, the Hawaiian version.

Have you ever decided on or forgone a trip based on a stereotypical image of your destination? Many people do. Most of their images come from television.  Years ago, I met some wonderful British folks in Orlando, Florida. They had flown in to see Disneyworld, even though I met them one sunny winter afternoon at a water park. The talkative couple admitted they were surprised how peaceful their trip had been. Especially, when they knew all about the natural disasters the States offered including hurricanes, earthquakes, and hailstorms with golf ball-sized ice pellets. Then they went on to confide their fears of race riots, traffic jams, and carjacking.  While the States offered kidnapping possibilities, they still came lured by The Magic Kingdom. There is talk about Disney building their own airport for cautious foreign visitors. As long as they were on Disney properties, nothing bad could happen to them.

Not all stereotypes are bad, just not very correct. When I made my way through Europe as a college student. Dynasty and Dallas television shows were popular abroad. Whenever I conversed with someone unfamiliar with the United States, they’d ask me  either if I lived on a big ranch like South Fork, from the Dallas show or give me a name of a friend in the US, that they expected me to know. Their image of the US swung between huge mansions filled with conniving family members to a small community where everyone knew each other.

Dallas cast in front of South Fork home.

Traveling is broadening in the aspect that it destroys your myths of what a place is like. Two people can visit the same place and have two different experiences too.  When I went to Las Vegas with my husband, I expected glamourous high rollers in tuxedoes and sequined gowns crowding the lobbies. Sunburned conference attenders, elderly people with walkers and oxygen tanks, and hundreds of Asian tourists milled around the fountains and buffets, instead.

A Couple of Vegas Characters

The problem is stereotypes are easy for both television and movie producers. There isn’t a lot of background needed because the viewer mentally fills in the details. People readily accept stereotypes from previously viewed material. Travel promotions often play a part in the stereotypes too. Everyone thought a cruise was the best travel deal out there until recent news footage displaying stranded cruise liner passengers holding up SOS signs for the news helicopters. That in itself has become a bit of a stereotype too. Some people now fear going on cruises afraid, they might become a news item.

Courtesy of National Geographic magazine Click on image for story.

Here’s a bite-sized chunk of my stereotypes about my recent visit to California. My hairdresser told me he grew up in San Diego. This surprised me because the plainspoken man did not strike me as a fashionista. He asked me what my images were about our planned trip.

I expected glorious weather, palm trees, huge traffic jams, and tons of stars and aspiring stars lining the streets. “No stars in San Diego, that’s LA,” he explained as he colored my roots. The myth of the beautiful people died a little.

We landed in the San Diego airport, which was surprisingly small after the behemoth of the Minneapolis airport and walked outside to a gorgeous sunny day. As for the natives, they were a diverse, friendly group herding the incoming tourists in the right direction.

Carlsbad Lagoon, Carlsbad, CA Click on photo for more info

Missing were the plastic Barbie doll people, instead I met a wide variety of people with differing accents. Traffic was challenging, but not the massive gridlock I expected. One native explained that we’d fly out before hitting the horrendous holiday traffic jams. She also advised me what roads not to use. Overall, Californians tended to be on the helpful side, guiding us to the better deals, restaurants, and roads to travel.

I did find the San Diego area beautiful, crowded, and expensive. That would be more of a fact than a stereotype.  Traveling can be eye opening. As for the people, they were the best part.     

The Mission at San Juan Capistrano, CA Click photo for info on the Mission