Reality tourism: Not quite a day in paradise

For most, vacation involves sitting poolside sipping mojitos. For the growing ranks of adventurous travelers, however, “reality tourism” is the way to go. Here are a couple of options:

Liepaja, Latvia – a masochist’s dream
Instead of just visiting Latvia’s infamous Karosta prison — a former KGB facility that no one escaped during 100 years of operation — tourists are treated like inmates. They’re handcuffed, thrown into solitary confinement and ordered around by “guards.” (Be prepared for plenty of situps.)
Website: Karostascietums.lv
Price: Approx. $15 per person a night

Los Angeles – the darker side of La-La Land
The City of Angels may be known for celebrity mansions tours, but its latest attraction is a gang tour. After signing a release form – presumably because of the iffy neighborhoods visited — patrons board a bus for a three-hour tour of infamous shoot-out spots, the birthplace of the Crips and more. Former gang members also share stories about street life.
Website: LaGangTours.com
Price: $65, lunch included