The Most Overrated Tourist Attractions In 43 US States Elle Tharp Updated January 25, 2022 84.2k votes 15.5k voters 873.4k views Voting Rules Vote up the state tourist traps that aren't worth the trip. John Denver was singing about West Virginia when he called the Blue Ridge Mountains "almost heaven," but they are just as heavenly in western North Carolina. Beale Street is the most popular tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee and while this 1.8-mile stretch of road may once have offered an authentic Memphis experience, these days it offers little more than a corporate array of bars hoping to cash in on what little it has left of blues culture. Says Partera60: "I had fantasized about seeing a gig at this concert venue, and finally made it happen. This brick wall attraction near Seattle's Pike Place Market was covered in 15 years worth of gum until 2015, when it was removed to preserve the brick. What visitors expect is a quiet cabin in the woods. They treat the place like it is their own and the grounds are neat and clean because of it. Plus, theBuffalo Bill Grave and Museumopened in 1921, and hasn't changed much since. Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Ocean City Boardwalk, in summary, is over-hyped.". Zero culture. A RIP OFF!". Don't miss the floral clock or the 9/11 monument.". This collection of scrap metal sculptures stretches across 32 miles on a southern North Dakota highway. Says Grfy86: "The amount of people and trying to find parking sucked any enjoyment out of the experience. Its a beautiful, peaceful walk through a garden and history as well. The only access is up to the gift shop. Located on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (which is actually above the state of Wisconsin), this area is near to Mackinac, yet far less crowded. There's tons of sightseeing to do in the US but some spots have become tourist traps. The vast barren land of Badlands connects to the seemingly endless prairie.". Especially the round trim 10-11 mile hike to Mosquito Beach to Chapel Rock. (Nearby Bellevue is a haven for local vintners). At nearly 1,950 feet deep, Crater Lake is one of the world's deepest lakes, found in the crater of a dormant volcano that once blew its top. Spiky, craggy mountain formations change to rounded colorful mounds. It is a beautiful mountain drive with lots of scenic views to look stop and look around it is that kind of drive where you can immerse yourself into nature and enjoy the scenic views.". A sort of cabinet of curiosities where most curiosities are for sale, the shop is a little like a hyped-up flea market. Disgraceful.". I would suggest hiking to one of the lesser known geysers and doing your research on what time to arrive.". Greedy much? World's Largest Ball of Twine, Cawker City. There are hundreds of ways you cancelebrate the holidays. Don't waste your time.". It costs $10 dollars per person to visit, which might not break the bank, but why pay anything at all for a view you could see for free? Says Arn E: "Badlands presents a landscape you won't find anywhere else. But tasting rooms, advertisements and films all hype Coke meaning you're paying to essentially experience one giant ad. Locals avoid this spot at all costs, and so should you. We've also had. And it should! If you want posh-meets-prep sophistication, head south to New York City's Upper East Side. ", Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising. Not my kind of beach. The official Gateway between the east and west, the 630-foot-tall Arch is the world's largest. Says Jessica W: "We hiked almost all the trails in the area. With skiing in the winter and outdoor recreation in the summer, Sun Valley is one of the most popular destinations in Idaho. In fact, it barely registers a blip on anybody's radar unless they're thinking about football. Atlanta, Georgia is another city that many Americans deem overrated. report. The folks in Arizona think the Grand Canyon is a bit overrated not a bad place to visit by any means, mind you, just more glorified than it deserves to be. Avatar (2009) 20th Century Fox /Courtesy Everett Collection. Now this is one we can agree on: Niagara Falls is the most underrated attraction in New York. Rides, a water park and cool Lego creations are all found in the sleepy town of Carlsbad, which bonus is also less expensive than nearby San Diego. Waikiki was basically designed with tourists in mind, and is a strip of luxury hotels, expensive stores, and chain restaurants flanked by an overcrowded beach. This is a place to go to see the Gorge. Los Angeles is a city that's all style, but it's also the one with the smallest amount of substance. 9 1. However, The Blowing Rock, which gets a lot of praise for its stunning views and interesting rock formation, is a miss. We have traveled it many times, toured the stops, and camped along the Trace. It is also about all the other guests that attend here. Its nickname says it all: Heaven's Amphitheatre. It needs some investment. It's crowded, hot and full of overpriced food. The boardwalk has cheap tourist beach type stores and cheap restaurants where quantity is more important than quality. Katherine Parker-Magyar I've visited every state in the US multiple times and some are simply too overhyped. Americans are taught that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, and undoubtedly, this is a very cool fact. The Most Overrated Cities in America. It is tourist hell. That's plenty of land to explore, featuring mountainous, canyon and flat terrains for hiking, riding and driving. Came to see it and now we have; my wife and I will doubtless never return. A Stairway to Heaven or a Highway to Hell? The museum doesnt even have an outdoor viewpoint of the track. Taking a former warehouse district and rejuvenating it as Oklahoma City's place to be for dining and nightlife is both good and bad. The mission built in 1718 was overrun during its infamous battle in 1836 and now is a very small piece of history in the middle of San Antonio. Says weswwwz71: "A beautiful place and nice hike. We're not sure what's so magnificent about a street that has a few shops and restaurants, but hey. The realistic view (murky water and fivefish, if you're lucky) is hardly worth paying for, especially when there are sea lions right above the surface that you don't even need to pay to see. Hate is a harsh word. Again, a great spot in West Virginia. If you want real New England bravado old salts, Red Sox fans, and Irish pubs visit Massachusetts. The Best States ranking of U.S. states draws on thousands of data points to measure how well states are performing for their citizens. Says Pat N: "I've lived in central Iowa all my life and still do not understand the appeal of the Iowa State Fair. You will not be disappointed!". A beautiful river carving through dense forestry for 53 miles to make up an outdoor-lovers' paradise? Major disappointment.". Says Tammy B of the largest water park in the Dells: "So disappointing, will not return. Atlanta has great historical sites to check out, but completely underrated is its zoo. But as one of the only beach areas in the state, it also attracts tons of visitors, making it feel a bit like a tourist trap. But we get it: The crowds and epic lines can make it unappealing. The tallest building in the city is the head office of the church. Meet The Five Most Overrated American Presidents Yet America's also had very bad presidents long before our " very stable genius " kinda sorta won a presidential election. What a great place to visit. What's the most overrated movie you've ever seen? Especially the front of the building - cant see it for the trees. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", 1986. Lots of scenery and wildlife!". Alabama's No. In 2018, 157,000 people attended the races, but Kentuckians want visitors to understand that horse racing isn't the bee's knees. As beautiful as it is, I recommend heading up a little further to the rugged and remote Moosehead Lake in the Maine Highlands for a truly immersive wilderness experience. The same goes for hedonistic bachelorette weekends if you're committing to techno pool parties in broad daylight, you may as well swap Scottsdale for Las Vegas. Restaurants are below average.". But those who love it say this size makes it great for little ones, requiring just a couple hours to take everything in. Very easy, paved trail in and little rougher trail around the edge, if you wish.". Of course, hiking is a great way to see the snow-fed lake, but you can also drive along the rim to take in the views. So sorry fellow Virginians, but Shenandoah is on the most overrated list. Every movie filmed in Las Vegas ultimately includes a scene from The Strip. We spent more time queuing than actually being on the island and going up the statue! In the first six of the seven academic surveys noted above, he was ranked as follows: second from bottom; second from bottom; fifth from bottom; fifth from bottom; second from bottom; sixth from. Says Christel H: "Have to go. But in recent years, I feel like its popular cities like Scottsdale and Sedona have become pretty overrun with tourists. Magazine Mountain (the state's highest point) is a regional hang-gliding mecca and the area also boasts gnarly mountain biking routes. It's a spectacular site during all four seasons, but most of its 3.5 million annual visitors love the cool summer temps and time on the water best. Their lackluster attractions include bumper boats, Segways, and a steam train, but their money maker is the trained bear shows, which many considerethically questionable. "Avatar" , 2009. Finally, we return to the East Coast for our last section to visit the famous land of Benjamin Franklin, Grace Kelly, and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.". Says WillM8741: "The Inner Harbor is a great place to visit. They do reel in tourists and road trippers with over 300 billboards throughout the state,though. The 6 million-acre national park may feature the tallest mountain peak in North America, but those in Alaska find the wildlife-filled area a bit ho-hum, especially since you can't fully access the park for personal exploration. Mention that you'll be spending a long weekend in San Francisco, Miami or New York City and you're guaranteed to get "oohs" and "ahhs.". The drugstore turnedmakeshift mall became famous for offering free ice water back in 1931, and doesn't charge for attractions such astheir snake pit and giant road side sculptures (see the dino, above). The hike is well worth it. We did in the morning and early evening to beat the traffic. Despite it being an obvious tourist trap, tourists and locals alike don't seem to mind at all. The tickets aren't too costly, with adult prices at $17 and children's at $13, but battling the overwhelming crowds and long lines just to walk through what is essentially a huge advertisement, is downrightsilly. Derby is not cool either. North Carolina's biggest and best amusement park receives more than 2 million visitors during its season, but considering its hot summer temps, stifling crowds and steep rates, it's not the place to be when visiting the state. Says tmoonk: "A beautiful area to visit. People from all over the countrystop at this quirky roadside pop culturereliquary, which is most famous for being home to a(terrifying) Jack-in-the-Box that's said to be the world's largest. But did you know it's under construction into 2021? Says loveliveplay: "My wife Kate and I visited this magnificent wonder on our way through touring Oregon. It's essentially a wacky, four acre holy shrine you might be better off going to Legoland. Carved from limestone deposited in an ancient sea, the underground landscape is one of the most famous and overrated New Mexico tourist attractions. Trekkies the world over make the trek to this tiny town in Iowa, to a private yard behind a small house, to look at a gravestone-like plaque commemorating the "Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, Karch 22, 2228.". By Patricia Mazzei. Challenging and gorgeous hikes. It's their outrageous prices that should make you think twice: tickets are $40 per adult and $28 per child, and zip lining costs at least $50 on top of that. Great experience and recommend highly.". We loved the hikes. Known as a hipster paradise for decades, Portland is now hailed as the must-visit urban destination in the Pacific Northwest though I think the city often feels crowded, expensive, and pretentious. I especially like the Asia Gardens and the numerous trails.". They are absolutely filthy and disgusting. The empty plot is a glacial silt surrounded by thousands of Maine's pine trees. It's essentially like Cancun duringSpring Break neon signs advertising cheap, tacky bars line a street that's full of drunk people throwing plastic beads at your head when they aren't throwing up. Here are the 10 I think are the most underrated. Canoed and hiked the boundary waters area. TripAdvisor travelers love her park, as well: 87 percent gave it very good or excellent ratings. Loads of waterfalls and canyons in the Wyoming section of the park doesn't stop some from finding Old Faithful yawn-inducing. They even have a Ferris wheel. Interestingly, however, the most overrated city was a matter of relative agreement in some states, whereas others . ), Says _kcnlu2 of The Shore's Atlantic City Boardwalk, the most iconic attraction on the coast: "Dirty, dingy, smelly awful. Says jemimahking: "You are herded like sheep from the moment you arrive. The history, the geography, the scenery is wonderful. Whilst it houses some amazing cars, the history & atmosphere of the circuit is not really captured. We really enjoyed going to Grinnell Glacier. You'll find waterfalls, river rafting, hiking and horseback trails all the things you can do in Yellowstone, basically, with thinner crowds around to hinder your experience. So much to see and do We arrived at opening and left at closing. These numbers include all people other than people just visiting: These include citizens, non-citizen permanent . But obviously both have their appeal to a fairly large subset. Hawaii's beaches may be quite a draw, but don't miss the state's rainforested trails. TripAdvisor travelers agree: 99 percent recommend it! Says SpyRay: "Prepare to be ticketed. I've been all over the United States. Locals were quick to comment that LA is a fabulous place to live, but understood why tourists wouldn't like it. Cheap seedy shops and eateries. As Yellowstone is so large, it's mostly located in Wyoming but crosses into Montana and Idaho as well. Did you really come this far, to one of the most beautiful, untouched, wild and untamedstates,to see a fake little Christmasvillage? Sadly, this isn't the only ode to Stonehenge you'll see on this list. visited every state in the US multiple times, for a truly immersive wilderness experience, Burning Man is more of a lifestyle than a festival, one of the most gorgeous sights I've ever seen in the US. One thing that seemingly flies under the radar just a few hours south of Disney is a theme park that still provides a happy experience. Over in California, the city voted most overrated and, again, we use "voted" in the loosest sense of the term is Los Angeles. The old-fashioned Victorian town along a stretch of beach is one of the most popular places in Delaware. It's a state where America began. Everything overpriced. It just felt like a cash grab. 20 Most Underrated Cities in the USA. No further explanation necessary. But to drive all the way into northern Vermont to tour the factory that creates it? Says mmurphy1321: "Diamond Head is a must-do hike in Oahu.". Neon lights, ropey bands, loud bars. Now, it features a museum and covered upTNT, asbestos, mercury, radium andradioactive uranium. Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader. While it is quite pretty, it's only interesting for about 10 minutes. Food was OK not great, but our overall trip was GREAT!!! At nearly 5 million square feet of space, Minnesota's biggest draw it welcomes 40 million annual visitors is home to an amusement park, aquarium, multiple dining and entertainment establishments, a wedding chapel, and over 500 stores. It's full of creepy alien toys, and all of them pretty low budget. The view of the ocean is lovely and the many rose bushes.". share. Colorado is amazing, but there's more to explore in the American West. The shops, the town, the pier? Lots to do in the area, especially if you love to hike. In reality, it's small and broken (obviously), not to mention surrounded by tourists.

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