Geography

Frivolous tourist: What’s that?
Earnest tourist: That’s an aircraft carrier. San Diego is a big Navy port.
Frivolous tourist: Well, I think it just clutters up the look of the harbor.

–San Diego, California

Overheard by: Teresa Minnich

College kid: But I was conceived in Florida, so that means I'm neutral!

–Virginia Beach, Virginia

Woman: So the water goes all the way around the island?

–Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Overheard by: Molly

Little boy: Mom, Jewish people are from the desert, right?
Mom: Yeah.
Little boy: So why are they in Miami?
Mom: The beach is like a desert — with water, though.
Little boy: Oh. What about black people?
Mom: Sweetie, they’re just tan. They’re all just tan. Now go play. [pause] It’s like I’m healing the world.

–Miami, Florida

Child: Mommy, do the fish come from the ocean or the country club?

–Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Greek man: You are so white! Why are you so white?
Pale girl: I’m from England.

–Stalis, Crete

Overheard by: Another pale girl

Dad: What grows in the marsh, baby?
Little girl: Marshmallows?
Dad, to mom: You want her to go to what college?

–Tybee Island, Georgia

Overheard by: Sullivan

Weasel on cell: I’m in Brooklyn now, so it will have to wait until later…

–Miami Beach, Florida

Overheard by: Local

Woman: Where are you from?
Twelve-year-old boy: Minnesota.
Woman: Oh, yeah, you have really good cheese there.
Boy: Ummmm…
Woman: Oh, wait. No. That’s Wisconsin. They have really good cheese.
Boy: Yeah. They do. But I’m from Minnesota.

–Virginia Beach

Burly guy: One good thing about this trip: at least it ain’t Jersey.
Girlfriend: Jersey’s not that bad!
Burly guy: Easy for you to say, there’s not a warrant out for you there.

–Revere Beach, Revere, Massachusetts

Overheard by: Staying far away from this guy…