pbrewer+FollowVisiting Portland Made Me Realize How Different Liberal Ideals Are from Reality Portland markets itself as progressive, accepting, artsy — the kind of place where “everyone belongs.” But when I visited, the contrast between the image and the reality felt impossible to ignore. I saw activists holding signs about equality while stepping around homeless camps like they were trash. I watched a man overdose outside a vegan cafe while everyone kept sipping lattes like it was normal background noise. Then a local told me, “What you see on Instagram isn’t Portland. This is.” It made me wonder: How can a city preach compassion yet coexist so comfortably with visible suffering? And why do tourists get blamed for “not understanding Portland,” when maybe the city doesn’t understand itself? #Travel #Portland #RealAmerica886381Share
pbrewer+FollowWhy Does New Orleans Welcome Tourists but Not Protect Its Own People? New Orleans is magical — culture, food, music, warmth. But visiting made me question something nobody wants to talk about. Tourist areas are heavily policed, spotless, glowing. Seven blocks away, I saw entire neighborhoods with broken streetlights, abandoned houses, and kids walking home alone because buses don’t run reliably. A bartender told me, “The city keeps Bourbon Street shiny because that’s where the money is.” But shouldn’t a city take care of its residents with the same energy it uses to entertain outsiders? New Orleans is unforgettable — not just because of its beauty, but because of the question it forces you to ask: Who is the city really for? #Travel #NewOrleans #TourismPolitics369Share
pbrewer+Followhonolulu: paradise or prisoner’s island? 🌺🌊 Everyone posts about Honolulu like it’s heaven on earth — turquoise waves, luaus at sunset, a mai tai in hand. So when I finally went, I expected peace. Instead, I felt trapped inside a postcard. Waikiki was wall-to-wall tourists, sunscreen in the air, and $22 cocktails served with plastic flowers. Locals worked double shifts at resorts they could never afford to stay in. I asked a bartender if she ever went to the beach after work — she laughed. “Are you kidding? I can’t even afford the parking.” The island’s beauty is undeniable, but it’s guarded by walls of money. Tourists chase “aloha spirit,” but many Hawaiians say it’s been stolen — replaced by hashtags and hotel slogans. Maybe paradise isn’t supposed to feel like someone else’s job. #Travel #Hawaii198Share
boothconnor+FollowVegas hotel breakfast receipt leaves diners fumingA Vegas hotel breakfast bill is making waves online after a guest at the Cosmopolitan was hit with a jaw-dropping $142 tab for pancakes, French toast, and an American breakfast. The kicker? Multiple gratuity charges were tacked on, including an auto-gratuity and a “room service upgrade,” leading the guest to tip twice without realizing. Locals and visitors are sounding off about the growing trend of hidden fees and double tipping in Vegas hotels. Have you ever been surprised by unexpected charges while dining out or traveling? Let’s hear your stories and thoughts on tipping culture! #News #LasVegas #TippingCulture1310Share
Danielle White+FollowRoyal Caribbean Repricing DramaAnyone else notice Royal Caribbean making it way harder to reprice your cruise if the fare drops? People are saying the cruise line’s quietly changed the rules—now most deals are for new bookings only, and you can’t just call and get the lower price anymore. Pro tip: booking with a refundable fare (though it’s pricier) or using a travel agent might help, but the old easy reprice days are kinda over. Fine print is everything now! #News #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseTips00Share
pbrewer+FollowTraveling Through Arizona Made Me Question What ‘Safety’ Even Means I’ve never been to a place where people talk about safety so much — yet define it so differently. In Scottsdale, I heard wealthy tourists brag about how “safe and pristine” it felt. An hour away, in Phoenix, I saw police stopping Latino families for no clear reason. A local told me, “This is normal here. They call it ‘protection.’ We call it something else.” Then a Border Patrol truck passed us on the highway, and everyone acted like it was as normal as a delivery van. Arizona is beautiful — but beauty doesn’t erase the tension you feel when a place is obsessed with safety while half its residents don’t feel protected at all. #Travel #Arizona #SafetyDebate2627Share
kirk16+FollowIf you find this tape on your door, call 911.We came home from a weekend trip and found a small piece of blue painter's tape on our front door lock / bottom of the garage door. I thought it was a prank. My neighbor told me it’s a tactic thieves use to "case" houses. They stick it there to see if anyone opens the door. If the tape is still intact after 24-48 hours, they know the house is empty and safe to break into. Check your doors every day, even if you use the garage! #HomeSecurity #BurglaryAwareness #Casing #NeighborhoodWatch #TravelSafety9216Share
William Mckinney+FollowRobert Irwin’s Wild New AdventureRobert Irwin just dropped the cutest update: after his big Dancing With The Stars win, he’s back at Australia Zoo, running the Crocodile Hunter Lodge! The place is total eco-luxury, with kangaroos, koalas, and a restaurant where you can watch wildlife while you eat. Fans are already planning trips to stay in cabins inspired by his dad, Steve Irwin. Who else wants to book a room and live their best wildlife life? #Pets #RobertIrwin #AustraliaZoo81Share
