accidental tourists

The other day my family and I were graciously invited to to visit a local attraction for a small event they were hosting. It had been some time since we had visited The Aquarium of the Pacific and we were eager to get back there, looking forward to spending one of our last days of summer taking in the sights and sounds a nearby coastal city.

Who knew that a lovely morning at the Aquarium would put us in such a touristy frame of mind? After spending time experiencing all of the wonders from down under the sea, we wandered around the surrounding area as if we had never been there before. Shops, restaurants, and lots of photo ops, we we acted just like vacationers.

Looking at all the images from the day, I realized, I captured us perfectly; the accidental tourists.

I can only imagine how many photos you took this summer; of all your adventures near and far. So today, for the sake of boardwalks and salt water taffy, roller coasters and postcards, sunburns and snapshots share your quintessential tourist pictures. Everyone's got some! We want to see yours today.

Comments

[Caroline]

LOVE that you just posted this! I just spent the evening blogging Part 3 of a recent road trip. You know what they say about "Great Minds", right? ;-D

Check it out, if you are so inclined!
http://www.carolinemartinphotography.com/2011/08/24/my-life-exposed-road-trip-2011-part-three-craters-of-the-moon/

[agrippinamaior]

for me nothing screams quintessential tourist pictures more than my ones of paris. taken over several trips a few years apart, from back streets and detail shots to the big kahuna of tourist sites - the eiffel tower. to me they are all paris and they are all about travel and adventure!

enjoy, reminisce about and/or yearn for paris on my flickr stream

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=20958381@N08&q=paris

or my blog posts

https://agrippinamaior.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/to-be-in-paris-is-to-be/
https://agrippinamaior.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/paris-city-of-the-living/

[Marcie]

A little something from the 4th of July:
http://marciescudderstudios.squarespace.com/home/2011/7/23/mr-president.html

[Lauri]

Nothing says "accidental tourist photo" more than being brave enough to hand your camera over to a stranger and in return you find that the photo is useless because it is out of focus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9121229@N03/6079303540/in/photostream

[pthurmond1]

Key West is our favorite vacation spot. If you have ever been there you know that Blue Heaven is the ONLY place to have breakfast. Locals and tourists alike flock there to experience the food and atmosphere. This is a picture of an old Blue Heaven sign that has been replaced, obviously. But I thought it was just waiting for me to snap a photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50901045@N02/6034060688/in/photostream/lightbox/

[Doris]

This is a photo from last year on a trip to Chicago. This image always brings a smile to my face:

http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/july-5-2010/

[autumn sun]

my daughter makes an effort not to look like a tourist when we go on trips. she does a pretty good job
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5973515297/
but sometimes you just have to take the cheesy tourist photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5726861996/
or ignore the locals stares when you do stuff like this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5950081599/

[tara on the wander]

here's a classic from our super mega epic road trip from vegas to minnesota with two very little boys...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/impossibletask/5906948559/in/set-72157625595791129

[Roxanne]

Ohhh how I love this theme... This summer I revisited Harvard Square, which was my undergraduate home. This time, I was a complete tourist. Here are the images that were born when I shifted from student to traveler's eyes:

http://www.storiesofconflictandlove.com/2011/08/whimsical-at-harvard.html

[DebC]

My family is totally tourist-y.
We travel so rarely that we appreciate everything.
Of course, we did visit three outstanding National Parks in the western United States;
it would be hard not to be in awe of everything.
http://simplify-daily-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-three-days-of-vacation-are-posted.html
http://simplify-daily-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/20110824-vacation-posts-last-3-days-are.html

[Libertad Leal]

This summer we made a dream come true and took our kids to Disneyland and then rented a car and drove all over. It was magical in every way. Between my husband (also a photographer) and I we took nearly 2000 pictures! Lot's of touristy ones! I uploaded some to flickr, not truly touristy per se though. Now the REALLY touristy ones are in the comments of these images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841600002 Disneyland castle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5845346211 My reflection in the mirror of the Disneyland carousel (because I am a dork)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841069969 The Ferris Wheel at the Sta. Monica Pier
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/6045477317 Dancer at the Disneyland parade

[cheris]

The Oregon coast after such a brutal TX summer makes us feel like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/liffords/6038581751/in/set-72157627295602677/

[WorthIt!]

My iPhone has made instant "tourist" shots possible in new ways - snapped this one while walking the dog and waiting for the ferry to Lopez Island in WA state's San Juan Islands. Nothing says tourist in WA quite like a ferry snap!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/6080366564/in/photostream

[Denise]

This summer I am living in the Black Hills, South Dakota. Some friends came out to visit and we spent the weekend being tourists, which is ironic because my job consists of me HELPING tourists every day. We had so much fun pretending we weren't locals for a few days...

Here is Kyle, shooting beautiful Sylvan Lake:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/6005766107/

[Radish]

This is a favorite of mine. My granddaughter had a little snitty fit, and plopped herself down on the ground. It was a perfect photo op. The day is well remembered for the beautiful site, the tides, all the water, the mist, and all the fields around it.
http://day2dayradishes.squarespace.com/imported-20110101180339/2011/8/25/august-25-quintessential-vacation-photo-of-the-year-for-me.html?SSScrollPosition=25

[Lisa Clarke]

We had another one of our "late afternoon day trips" to the beach this week. Only an hour from home, and yet very much a needed change of scenery.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/polkadotcreations/6077872556/

[smallroots]

I love playing tourist in my own city and I'm lucky that it's a pretty easy thing to do. I especially enjoy watching tourists taking it all in as in this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/5424536448/

Here are some other photos I've taken as a hometown tourist:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/5861790017/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/5979764255/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/5423889067/

[Wendy T.]

Popsicl face is a sure sign that it's summer!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendytienken/5810041535/

[Linda Jacobs]

An accidental touristy evening on the Maine coast last week.

www.garlinjake.blogspot.com

[Linda Jacobs]

http://www.garlinjake.blogspot.com

[Sharon]

We just got back from a family vacation in San Francisco and have so many classic tourist shots - where you have to wait for other tourists to move before you get the one you wanted. This is probably the most touristy of all:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/queenofsheba/6050883321/in/photostream

[Cori]

We just went to Newport, Oregon. I am in love with my new camera. The photos are the best ever (for me).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderinthewoods/sets/72157627384577853/

[mgreenhouse]

I have such a sweet tooth and www.munchiessweetsandtreats.com made my candy buffet at my party a complete hit.

[Kat]

Aaaaah, the summer of 2011 has been bittersweet. Leaving our home in Italy to move home to Oregon. From city hopping in Europe to road trips in wide open spaces this summer.
http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/06/summertime-in-hood.html
http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/08/wide-open-spaces.html

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[Anne]

When on holiday I take pictures of almost everything (but mostly my own kids), so yes...I'm a tourist and I'm proud of it! Here are some pictures of are last holiday in france:

http://circusedgar.blogspot.com/2011/08/chanteloup-2.html

http://circusedgar.blogspot.com/2011/08/chanteloup-1.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annekruit/6057016478/in/photostream

And we're dutch, so we always take our own peanutbutter (pindakaas) with us!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annekruit/6056461189/in/photostream

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