Step right up

If you want it, here it is, come and get it
Mmmm, make your mind up fast
If you want it, anytime, I can give it
But you better hurry ’cause it may not last

Did I hear you say that there must be a catch?
Will you walk away from a fool and his money?
If you want it, here it is; come and get it
But you better hurry cause it's going fast
        -- Badfinger, 1970


Has anyone been riding along with me since Washington State? Do you remember that gas station shaped like a teapot on the road?

I’ve seen a lot more of this kind of outlandish effort to convince tourists to hit the brakes and find out what’s up with that … whatever. Gigantic sharks, lobsters, oranges, pirates – you name it – are erected along highways as lures.

Tonight I sleep in Sarasota – the former winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey circus. The circus no longer winters here, but circus history and artifacts abound. The Ringling Circus Museum is a major attraction, but Sarasota offers a 3-ring-circus as the town also features the Ringling Art Museum and the Ringling Castle – which was the winter residence of the Ringling family.

I have a feeling that once tourists start arriving in a Florida city – for any reason – a host of cottage industries follow, notably the aforementioned gift shops housed in grandiose structures designed to attract attention.

I’ve lived in tourist towns – and have noted efforts to separate visitors from their cash by nearly all means necessary. But I get the feeling that Florida (and points north along the east coast) have the art of trolling for tourists down to a science. And I must admit that I’m beginning to find it off-putting.

Figures from 5 years ago indicate that Florida is second only to California in attracting tourist dollars – well over $50 billion annually. These two states are way ahead of New York and Texas; others that fall far behind.

I suspect that Florida has to try harder – and must resort to more artificial (and less artful) means – in order to stay close to California. The Golden State (CA) has many more natural attractions and a wider range of offerings.

In future years, as growing numbers of Baby Boomers take to the roads, tens of millions of middle-class vagabonds will soon descend upon interesting regions, cycling in and out with the seasons.

It will be interesting to see how different “tourist destinations” evolve in the coming years. Those that stick with overpriced food, souvenirs, thrill rides and flashy, but vacuous shows, they may lose out in the long run.


Even if one is born every minute, there are only so many suckers to go around…