Usually, the reason why people go to certain places called "traps" is because they are fun. For example, you don't have to be a tourist to enjoy going to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. If you go to Paris, you really should see many of the recommended sites. There are some ways to avoid the crowds.

Try to go during off season when the crowds are minimal. Start your day early before many people have gotten out of the hotel room. When we went to Disney World, we took advantage of the perks of staying at the Resort hotel which allowed us an hour early entrance into the park. We hit all the major rides that have normally long waiting lines. Then we started making appointments for rides so that we didn't have to stand in super long stand-by lines.

When choosing a place to eat, make sure that the locals are eating inside. If not, then the food is probably over priced, and not as good. Watch the local news and read the local paper to find out what is the hot picks for the weekend fun for the locals. For example, in Hawaii the Friday newspaper has the TGIF which highlights the best entertainment for the weekend for both families, singles and couples.

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