What are some areas a tourist should avoid in the U.S.?

Reality is that the U.S. is little different than anywhere else in the world: every city, location has its sketchy areas. At your age, you should have a well-developed spidey sense where your gut begins to send warning signals. Trust it.

Many will tell you to avoid Oakland, California, totally. Like any major city, it has its good areas and bad areas. Raising my kids there, I remember when my youngest -- when he was just entering his teens or was a preteen -- saying at dinner he had taken his bike down East 14th to see how far he could go and his mother and I just about choked. There are several blocks that are fine, then it rapidly deteriorates and becomes rough territory rife with gangs, street walkers, drug dealers. Before we could say a word, he said "I got as far as X and I figured that was as far as I should go, and turned around". And I heaved a big sigh of relief, and felt the kid had matured into street safe.

beermeplease · M

funny you mention that...was just thinking about the time in 1991 when a buddy of mine and i were in tacoma and spent a couple of nights there. we were there for a guns n roses concert at the tacoma dome. the first night there we ended up in the wrong part of town. we kinda figured we were and we hailed a taxi...he stopped, telling us to get in..told us that one more block up he wouldn't have stopped....had fun at the show though

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

On second reading, why are you asking? If you are asking in preparing for a trip than we can perhaps highlight where to go to, what to avoid, both for value and safety.

OlderSometimesWiser · F

Camden, New Jersey. I don’t scare easily but ended up there by accident and felt I could get attacked at any minute.

BrandNewMan · 61-69, M

Go to:

Moab, UT .. Arches Natl Park, Canyon Lands Natl Park. Dead Horse State Park

Lexington, KY ' Tour a distillery and sample some bourbon, see the Kentucky Horse Park

Shenandoah National Park (VA) for a sunset

mysteryespresso

Whole country

TheOneyouwerewarnedabout · 46-50, MVIP

blue cities

Ambersky · 51-55, F

All places in the US have rough areas. They also have gems.

…except Alabama. It’s all rough.

Notladylike

All of it.

CreyvinMoorhead · 41-45, M

NEVER go to Canada.

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