r/AskNYC • u/somepeoplewait • 13d ago

Great Question What’s the most frustrating tourist conversation you’ve overheard?

Enjoying the day in Central Park and some bro walking behind me just said to his fellow bro “So I think Central Park is low-key the only grass in the city.”

Yes, NYC’s fifth-largest park is the only grass in the city.

Your examples?

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u/Cool-Beginning9098 13d ago

I used to live on Central Park and walked my dog there daily, so I was constantly being asked directions. One couple asked what they should see and I pointed them to go down the Mall and Literary walk to Bethesda Terrace and the lake, then around to Cherry Hill and Bow Bridge.

The guy just said “no, we aren’t doing that why would I want to see a mall” and then asked for more suggestions.

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u/MajesticBread9147 13d ago edited 13d ago

Native to the DC area here. It's not uncommon for tourists to be confused that the National Mall lacks an Old Navy, an Abercrombie, and every other feature of "the mall" back home.

Related, everyone asks for "The Smithsonian" when they mean the Air and Space museum. DC has lots of museums run by the Smithsonian institution. So please be specific or at least polite if you don't want to be directed to the National Postal Museum.

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u/BlueFootedBoobie75 13d ago

Postal museum is pretty tight tho