Buzz
Every now and then, we all need to disconnect—at least from everything except our passions. More and more, travelers are looking to combine their love for hobbies with their trips, enhancing the fun factor. While some are drawn to the types of interests commonly found in cozy mystery novels, others gravitate toward high-adrenaline activities or seek the rare and exotic.
Whether your passion involves watching sharks glide through the water, investigating eerie abandoned buildings, storm chasing, following criminal investigations, touring historic battlefields, exploring instruments of torture, discovering ancient castles, wandering through cemeteries, scouting iconic film sites, or navigating the gritty streets of the world, there's likely a type of travel suited for you—and it’s probably on this list.
10. Shark Tourism
If you’re a typical vacationer, you might not expect to hear the spine-chilling theme song from Jaws, signaling the approach of the terrifying great white shark. But if you're into shark tourism, the eerie melody might be exactly what you picture when one of these intimidating marine predators passes by your boat on a thrilling expedition.
Shark tourism has gained significant popularity off the coast of Massachusetts’s Cape Cod, with a growing number of charter boat operators competing to provide tourists with a thrilling chance to observe a great white shark up close. This new addition to the region’s traditional whale and seal-watching excursions has become a major draw for adventure-seeking travelers.
In a September 2021 shark tour, newcomers Michael Simard, a construction foreman, and his partner Penny Antonoglou, a civil engineer, found the experience incredibly exciting. 'It’s awe-inspiring, really,' said Simard, adding, 'I had no idea how graceful they were. It really puts things into perspective—that this is their domain, and we’re just visitors.'
Local charter boat operators have managed to turn a negative—the fear of shark attacks—into a positive. Public interest in shark spotting has grown, though somewhat cautiously. The presence of The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a nonprofit, along with its upgraded Shark Center that showcases research on local sharks, and the popularity of shark-themed merchandise like jewelry, stickers, and clothing, has further supported the rise of shark tourism. Beautiful beaches also attract visitors, including shark enthusiasts like Simard and Antonoglou.
Not all locals are as thrilled about shark tourism as the tourists themselves. To ensure safety, there’s a call for more training and equipment for lifeguards, along with the introduction of proactive shark safety measures like undersea detection, land-based warning systems, and drone surveillance. Associated Press reporter Philip Marcelo also mentions that local surfers have started using shark repellents, including personal devices that emit electrical fields designed to deter sharks without harming them.
Despite the steep prices for chartered shark tours, which can range from $1,600 to $2,500 per boat for six passengers, shark tourism shows no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future.
9. Ghost Tourism
If shark tourism isn’t quite your thing, perhaps ghost tourism might be a more fitting choice. Good news—many cities offer ghost tours, and Washington, D.C. is one such city. In addition to its museums, art galleries, theaters, parks, zoo, botanical gardens, and, of course, Congress, the city also boasts several ghost tours. These eerie tours aren’t limited to peak tourist seasons; many of them operate year-round.
As highlighted in a Washington.org article, you can visit historic Georgetown, home to the external staircase from The Exorcist, as well as the Oak Hill Cemetery and the Old Stone House, which dates back to pre-revolutionary times, among other intriguing sites.
Just across from the White House, you can explore Lafayette Park, where guides share chilling conspiracy theories, 'crimes of passion,' duels, and assassination stories—each supposedly linked to a haunting. The spooky narratives are sure to send shivers down your spine.
Though the Executive Mansion itself may be off-limits, a tour of Capitol Hill will immerse you in tales of political intrigue and introduce you to the 'dancing statues' in Statuary Hall and the mysterious cat connected to the Lincoln conspiracy trial. Ghost tours are not exclusive to Washington, D.C.; cities around the country and the world also offer these spine-tingling experiences, ensuring that ghost tourism is here to stay.
8. Storm Tourism
'It was a dark and stormy night'—this iconic opening line from Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s novel, Paul Clifford, perfectly captures the essence of storm tourism, which has grown increasingly popular in areas known for their extreme weather. A form of ecotourism, it attracts adventurers willing to face nature at its most intense. According to Charles McDiarmid, managing director of the Wickaninnish Inn, storm tourists are driven by their desire to experience, up close, 'howling winds, thirty-foot waves, and torrential rain,' as these moments allow 'Mother Nature to truly come alive.'
The Wickaninnish Inn, located in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada, offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean stretching all the way to Japan. Situated in an area notorious for its powerful, 'punishing' weather, the inn provides rooms equipped with a fireplace, an ocean view, and a storm kit stocked with 'rain gear and boots tailored for each guest'—perfect for exploring the tempestuous weather. What was once considered seasonal tourism now has no off-season, as McDiarmid points out, for those who seek out stormy conditions.
7. True Crime Tourism
True crime tourism appeals to those with a strong stomach, eager to visit infamous crime scenes. One popular option is the Jack the Ripper walking tour in East London’s Whitechapel area, though this is just one of many opportunities for the intrepid. True crime tourists might also find themselves drawn to a five-day tour of legendary Transylvania, where, as NBC News reports, the notorious Vlad the Impaler, 'who is believed to have killed 80,000 people,' allegedly dined among 'a literal forest of vanquished soldiers impaled on stakes.'
The United States also offers numerous attractions for fans of American true crime TV series. In Los Angeles, California, crime enthusiasts can visit the infamous spots once frequented—or stalked—by Charles Manson and his 'family.' In New Orleans, The Axman, a serial killer known for breaking into homes and gruesomely attacking his victims, is one of the city's most macabre draws. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, famed for its beer, is also notorious for the cannibalistic Jeffrey Dahmer. Tourists can retrace his footsteps or, if preferred, walk the grim grounds of New York City's notorious 19th-century gangs.
Chicago, the 'Windy City,' doesn't fall short in offering dark tourism. Visitors can hop on bus tours to explore the grim legacy of sadistic H. H. Holmes. Other thrilling options include following Ted Bundy’s movements around Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington, or visiting Hollywood's Museum of Death for a chilling experience.
6. Battlefield Tourism
Not everyone has the opportunity to fight in a specific historical battle, and no one can go back in time to fight in battles from the past. These facts often compel people to explore battlefield tourism. By visiting battlefields, they can get a feel for what it may have been like to fight in a specific war for a particular cause. As Stephen Thomas Miles, a University of Glasgow graduate student, highlights in his 2012 PhD thesis, battlefields are rich with 'historic, cultural, nationalistic, and moral' aspects of a nation's past, aspects that still resonate deeply on both local and national levels.
In his thesis, Miles specifically examines four significant UK battlefields—Hastings (1066), Bannockburn (1314), Bosworth (1485), and Culloden (1746)—as well as the World War I Western Front in France and Belgium. His research investigates what these historic sites symbolize for the tourists who visit them and compares the actual experiences of the Front with the expectations of its visitors.
He discovered that the commercialization of battlefield sites reduced the visitor’s 'visceral... experience,' as the 'grief' visitors associated with the Front overshadowed its 'deeper meanings.' By this, he likely refers to the 'historic, cultural, nationalistic, and moral' aspects of these sites. Essentially, commercialization diluted the emotional power of such places, while those battlefields that remained uncommercialized preserved their raw, emotional impact.
5. Torture Tourism
Torture tourism enthusiasts must be cautious, as many sites claiming to display real torture instruments often showcase replicas. However, for those who seek authenticity, real instruments are available. The Tower of London is one of the prominent locations offering exhibits detailing the brutal history of torture, used to force confessions from criminal suspects and women accused of witchcraft. As noted in 'Rick Steven's Europe,' 'The Tower was a gleaming reminder of the monarch’s absolute power over his subjects.' Among the chilling exhibits is the infamous 'limb-stretching rack,' a stark reminder of the divine right of monarchs to rule.
For those truly seeking the genuine experience, there are other sites to consider: the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenberg, Germany, where you’ll find 'instruments of punishment and execution'; the Maison Forte de Reignac in southwestern France, featuring '60 instruments of torture,' including the notorious iron maiden; and the Gravensteen fortress in Belgium, home to the finger screw and a waterboarding exhibit. As Huckleberry Finn famously noted, 'human beings can be awful cruel to one another,' and these places embody that cruelty.
4. Castle Tourism
Castle tourism, which pairs well with torture tourism, offers an array of fascinating sights for travelers. Throughout Europe, thousands of castles stand, each one a remarkable blend of private living spaces, administrative rooms, and fortified defenses. These grand structures are not limited to Europe alone, as they can also be found across Africa, Asia, North America, and South America.
One castle that captivates many tourists is Bran Castle, famously known as ‘Dracula’s Castle.’ Situated in the Transylvanian region of Romania, the castle’s pale stone walls emerge from a rock formation, nestled in the forested mountainside with breathtaking views of lush fields, distant hills, and towering evergreens. The sight invokes a sense of awe and history, where visitors can feel the weight of its majestic past.
As visitors approach, they are greeted by the castle’s courtyard and a series of elevated hallways, staircases, and defensive walls. Upon entering the castle, portraits of the former owners from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century line the walls. Exhibits in both Romanian and English chronicle the history of the castle, starting from the 1400s.
Visitors ascend steep staircases to reach the upper floors, passing rough-hewn wooden doors before entering the castle’s grand rooms. Inside, they are surrounded by intricately carved furniture, finished stone fireplaces, framed tapestries, chandeliers, paintings, and a variety of other artistic and functional pieces.
Just when it seems like the tour is nearing its end, more stairs lead to additional floors, rooms, exhibits, and surprises. Guests discover even more treasures, such as exquisite furniture, suits of armor, shields, maces, lances, swords, knives, dresses, and the opulent attire of noble families.
Yet, not everything is shining beauty and elegance: there are also grim devices like the rack, the iron maiden, and a wooden chair with sharp spikes embedded in its back, seat, and sides, among other chilling instruments of torture that are disturbing to even think about.
Dracula himself is conspicuously absent from the castle’s exhibits. Despite its famous moniker, 'Dracula’s Castle' has no actual link to the legendary Prince of Darkness. As Duncan Light points out in *Dark Tourism: Practice and Interpretation*, 'Castle Dracula . . . never existed outside [Bram] Stoker’s imagination,' and the Romanian government does not promote any connection between the vampire and Bran Castle. Still, it remains a delightful destination, even though Dracula never called it home.
The Palace of Versailles offers numerous tours for visitors. According to Viator, the palace has evolved significantly from its modest beginnings as a 'hunting lodge' to its current form, which boasts 700 rooms adorned with stunning frescoed ceilings and intricate carvings, as well as the breathtaking Versailles Gardens, with their perfectly symmetrical walkways and fountains. The palace's grandeur is indescribable, and to truly appreciate it, one must see it firsthand. Many visitors agree that 'no visit to France is complete without experiencing the grandeur.'
Thankfully, there are reasonably priced tours that allow visitors to explore the palace and its surroundings. One option focuses on the gardens and introduces visitors to the history of the palace’s former resident, King Louis XIV. Another tour takes guests inside the palace, where they can admire the lavish rooms of the 'playground of the French monarchs.' For art enthusiasts, a third tour visits Claude Monet’s gardens in nearby Giverny, which inspired many of the artist’s iconic impressionistic works. There are also various other tour options, including small-group tours, walking tours, bike tours, bus tours, train rides, 'access to the Queen’s Hamlet,' and an 'optional fountain show.'
While most tours are quite affordable, there are some pricier options. The most luxurious of them offers an 8- to 12-hour excursion to both Versailles and Giverny in a chauffeured limousine, complete with bottled water and a prearranged lunch at a selected restaurant. This exclusive tour is available for groups of up to four people.
3. Slum Tourism
Slum tourism, a controversial form of sightseeing, has existed for over a century. It began when wealthy Londoners ventured into the notorious East End around 1840, as noted by Christine Bednarz in her National Geographic article. The practice quickly spread to affluent New Yorkers who visited places like the Bowery and Five Points to observe brothels, saloons, and opium dens. Bednarz highlights that these visitors were often astonished by what they saw.
Since those early days, slum tourism has expanded to other locations, including Dharavi in Mumbai, India, known for its dark alleys and corrugated shacks; the racially segregated townships of South Africa; and the sprawling favelas of Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities. Other poverty-stricken areas, such as the cemetery slums in Manila, Philippines, have also become destinations for this type of tourism.
While some condemn slum tourism as an exploitative indulgence in the suffering of others, a form of schadenfreude rooted in privilege, others defend it, arguing that it raises awareness among the wealthy who might otherwise remain oblivious to the struggles of the poor. Furthermore, supporters claim that these experiences could lead to meaningful assistance for disadvantaged communities. As advocates argue, it is better to be informed and to help than to remain indifferent.
2. Film Tourism
In 2019, the film industry generated $101 billion USD globally, according to Forbes. This impressive figure highlights the vast international audience for films, including many film tourists alongside regular moviegoers.
Many movie locations attract tourists, not just in Los Angeles, but in various other places where famous films have been shot. New Zealand is a prime example. As noted by Jared Cowan in Los Angeles Magazine, “Several analyses credit the New Zealand locations from The Lord of the Rings trilogy with bringing film tourism into the mainstream.” Tour companies offer a range of tours, from a $139 half-day experience to a lavish $5,100 fourteen-day journey. For those with a tighter budget, some of these filming locations, especially in Tinsel Town, can be visited for free.
Certain film locations have become attractions themselves. The house from Father of the Bride (1991), starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, is one such site. Cassell’s Music, which appeared in Wayne’s World (1992) with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, and Eckhart Auto Body, featured in Punch-Drunk Love (2002) with Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, are also popular destinations. Additionally, the Craftsman house from Neighbors (2014), starring Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, is frequently visited by fans.
Other filming locations remain fan favorites, such as the Episcopal Church of the Ascension from The Fog (1980), starring Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis; the house that stood in for Marty McFly’s residence in Back to the Future (1985), featuring Michael J. Fox; and Nancy Thompson’s house from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), starring Heather Langenkemp, John Saxon, and Robert Englund.
Many filming locations are also popular with budget-conscious film tourists. However, many of these sites are on private property, so visitors are reminded to respect the owners’ rights, with a polite request: Please, don’t eat the daisies!
1. Cemetery Tourism
Cemetery tourism? Indeed, it’s a relatively new phenomenon that has recently captivated the imagination of a segment of the public. Like other tourist attractions, cemeteries around the world offer guided tours of their sites, though very few visitors are interested in purchasing a tomb and becoming permanent residents themselves.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, affectionately known as “The Big Easy,” cemetery tourists frequently visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. These visitors typically take part in an “educational walk” around the graveyard, stopping by a museum said to be haunted, a mortuary chapel, and other notable locations. As reported by U.S. News & World Report, the cemetery is also home to “the city’s famous Voodoo queen Marie Laveau.”
This same cemetery also contains the grave of civil rights activist Homer Plessy and will eventually be the final resting place of actor Nicolas Cage. Other tours of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and nearby burial grounds focus on a range of topics, including jazz, the tomb architecture, ghost stories, cemetery history, voodoo, “above-ground burial practices . . . . [and] prostitution, politics and New Orleans folklore.” It seems there’s something for everyone, even in death.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery, located in the northeastern part of Paris, France, holds the title of the most-visited cemetery in the world. This 100-acre park, which houses 70,000 tombs, is also Paris’s largest burial site. Renowned for both its beauty and history, the cemetery first opened its gates in 1804. At the time, it was placed on the outskirts of town to help prevent the spread of disease from other crowded cemeteries, as noted by a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio article.
Napoleon Bonaparte showcased his savvy marketing tactics by promoting the cemetery, going so far as to have the remains of Henry III’s wife, Eleanor of Provence, poet Jean de la Fontaine, and playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (better known as Molière) moved to the newly established burial ground. As the CBC Radio article highlights, "Not long after, Père Lachaise became the place to be."
Since then, Père-Lachaise has become the final resting place for many notable figures from various fields. Among those interred are composer Frederic Chopin, though his heart rests in Poland; opera legend Maria Callas; singer Edith Piaf; and mime Marcel Marceau. A few non-French figures are also laid to rest there, such as Irish author Oscar Wilde and American rock star Jim Morrison. It's easy to understand why so many people flock to Père-Lachaise.
