Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Ten Most Overrated US Tourist Traps
Chuck Thompson Day here at Gadling continues... Over at the website of his new book Smile When You're Lying, Thompson presents his Top 10 Most Overrated U.S. Tourist Attractions. He makes a number of interesting picks, and I can't say I disagree with them. Here are just a few:
Graceland: "Or any spot dedicated to Elvis kitsch. If the man wasn't over-marketed before, he is now. When did Presley go from American icon to white trash icon? Blame Graceland."
New York City's Ground Zero: "Six years later, the smoking hole in the ground is a national disgrace, a monument to American litigiousness, lack of national will, and craven political leadership."
Architecture in Las Vegas: "We went to the moon in 1969. Big fountains and replicas of pyramids built 4,500 years ago aren't that impressive. Nor is a city where you can't walk to the building next door without burning 600 calories."
More here.
In my opinion, as a general rule, any tourist attraction that is designed and built with the intent to be a tourist attraction is automatically suspect. My hometown's Gateway Arch certainly fits that bill, though its not without some appeal (to somebody, somewhere). What are your picks for most overrated tourist traps?
Filed under: Stories, Hotels and Accommodations, Books
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Karen Jan 4th 2008 1:55AM
Definately Vegas. I have no use for the artificial glitz. The Wisconsin Dells has been tourist trap USA for years and years but Pigeon Forge is even worse. Tacky beyond words. The town of Cherokee, near the entrance of Smoky Mt. National Park is pretty bad, too.
Pat Jan 4th 2008 1:56AM
My husband and I lived in Henderson for 6 years, and we both liked Las Vegas and loved Henderson. It really is a fun place to live and my neighbors were wonderful people. If housing was not so expensive, I would like to live there again. Maybe you people who do not like it went to the wrong places!
Beverly Jan 4th 2008 2:48AM
Hey, "W", comment #42---What do you mean, "fat, old, glaringly white people" on the beaches in Florida? Do you think you'll stay young forever? Do you think your body will stay firm forever? And, please tell me, what's wrong with white skin? If people are coming to Florida for a vacation, they can't get tan right away and some people don't like to get tan; they like their white skin the way it is. Another thing, at what age should people stop enjoying themselves? When you start to get older you'll be grateful you have 2 good legs to walk to the beach, and not be so concerned about how you look in a bathing suit. Isn't the important thing to live life to the fullest while you still can? Your comment is shallow, and you sound like a very immature, thoughtless person. Remember, some day you'll be old, if you live that long. Someday you'll look in the mirror and see the signs of aging on your face and body. Are you going to stop doing the things you like to do and lock yourself up in the house? I think you're an idiot.
Dianne Jan 4th 2008 2:30AM
Screw the original comment the readers choices are far superpior!!! I have had the privledge of seeing quite a few of the places mentioned. I've lived in MN, so I've been to the Mall of America, it is pretty cool. you so have to like shopping however. I have lived in Biloxi, MS. and lived through hurricane Katrina, since I lived there for 14 yrs I have been from New Orleans to Miami FL. There are plenty of places in NO (New Orleans) that are BEYOND nasty (smell, looks, safty) and if yhou know the city, there are some great places to see and yes even eat. Some of the best chefs and resturants are from NO. I am not a fan of the city, but with all of its problems, there are still some great places to see. Gulf Shores, AL. is a unknown place for the most part, there is white sugar sand beaches, clear blue water, and a great boardwalk with fun bars and desent (not great, but descent) resturants. FL is FL. there is some fun places also, but mainly touristy. I now live in Las Vegas, there is more to the state than just casino's. If you have the chance go up to Mt. Charlston. it's just 40min. outside the strip, once there, there is a quaint challet ontop of about 8000ft up. there generally is about a 15-30 degree difference in temp. can be a nice break from the desert heat. strip will be 110 and the Mt. will be around 75!!! of course the Hoover Damn, and Grand Canyon's. Only 4 hours from Los Angeles, worth the drive. so many places to see. Not everywhere is for everybody, but I think everywhere is worth seeing at least once for yourself, make your own mind, and sometimes the worst places give you the best memories!!!!!!!
ty Jan 4th 2008 3:52AM
lazixx said the "entire State of Hawaii" is a tourist trap. Nothing could be further from the truth. The only place in Hawaii tourists should avoid is Waikiki. There are so many outside activities one can enjoy if you know where to go...hiking in mountains with breathtaking views, parasailing, hang gliding, jet skiing, dinner cruises, snorkeling, or just chillin' at the beach.
CATHY Jan 4th 2008 4:13AM
I love LAS VEGAS. For the weather, the cool casinos and luxury hotels. How can you fault a city that is constantly improving and renovating their buildings and structures. Everything is top notch and every hotel is trying to outdo the other. I'm talking about vacations, here. I don't know what it's like to live there and I know the traffic has gotten pretty bad, but it has tons of stuff to do for the vacationer, other than just gaming. You can always get away from the strip and enjoy the mountains, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, etc. I'm not wild and crazy, but I like the night life from time to time. For me, that means a night in a casino.
If you go to Las Vegas, make sure you visit the newer communities in Lake Las Vegas where the Ritz-Carlton is located. Everything around there is pristine and beautiful. (This is the area where Celine Dion lives.)
I also agree with "deya" about the experience of snorkeling for the first time. The first time I put my face into the water and looked below, I heard myself exclaim (under water, yet) "Oh, my God!" as I saw the same view I had seen on the nature shows for years. I never really thought I would be able to see it so clearly as the cameras show it. The Caribbean is a great place to go for water sports and enjoying the tropical life right about February or March.
I live in a nice golf course area in a nice part of Ohio and I haven't been anywhere that I would want to live year round. We plan to buy a house in a nice community in Nevada and spend several months a year there, but I don't plan on giving up my home in Ohio. I'm sure there are cool things in most states but you just have to seek them out.
Chris Jan 4th 2008 4:15AM
Las Vegas is basically a bunch of over-priced hotels stuckmin the middle of a desert. Each hotel has its respective casino where you can part with even more of your money. I could sat more but enogh said about Vegas for now...
Incidentally, I HAVE been to the top of the Eiffel Tower IN Paris, France AND to the Sistine Chapel in The Vatican City, Rome, Italy. You'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by the sheer beauty of each experience.
The one thing the US really has going for it are its large chunks of wilderness areas and nature areas in general. There are... the Rockies, Yellowstone, Adirondacks, Great Smoky Mtns., coastlines of Florida and California, Berkshires, and especially The Grand Canyon, among many other smaller state and national parks.
However, when I travel, I usually wait till the cheap airline tickets come out (before the prices go up again) and fly to Europe. There is so much more history and culture spanning centuries. There are excellent museums, ancient and historic sites, castles, cities with beautiful architecture (i.e. Paris, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, etc...) Amsterdam, for example (unless you go out to the bland suburbs) has many beautiful buildings and canals plus three of the most excellent places of historic/cultural interest. They are the Rijksmuseum, the Van gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House. Amsterdam is not just a place where you can smoke pot. We even made three wonderful day trips... one to some beautiful gardens (Keukenhof), one to a beach (Zandvoort) backed by huge dunes west of Amsterdam (with a view over the North Sea towards England), and one to an old, historic Dutch farm east of Amsterdam (Enkhuizen) which portrays rural life in the old days.
Europe, while much more developed than the US, still has beautiful areas for hiking, skiing, swimming and other outdoor activities (the Alks, the Pyrenees, the Greek Islands, etc...)
I've always thought my money would be better spent seeing historic Europe (even after you add the airfare) than on touring the US. Also, Europe (Western Europe at least) tends to be more liberal and open-minded than the US. Even the conservatives there are different from the ones here in the US.
I would like to do tours to different parts of the US eventually, but I find that I really enjoy Europe and its historic and cultural treasures (not to mention the far superior food, wine, and beer) a lot.
However, now that the dollar has become so weak against the euro...
Jerry Schlotter Jan 4th 2008 4:37AM
N. Myrtle Beach, S.C. is awful. I was forced to sit through a 5 hour timeshare presentation at Wyndham Resorts to get a $50 restaurant certificate. What's the point of this place anyway? Nothing there.
JAN WICKLINE Jan 4th 2008 4:34AM
what are you all the griswalds after wally world for crist sake grow up.go out and see the world. with all you doing is looking for the negitive you will never be happy might as well stay home and watch a movie and send me the money you save i know some great places to go.
Jerry Schlotter Jan 4th 2008 4:39AM
Orlando is also a good place to go to get murdered! It is ranked 10th in the nation for crime. Good place to buy crack and get ho's on Orange Blossom Trail
Loren Jan 4th 2008 4:45AM
The reason people think Graceland looks trashy is because it has been preserved as is since the 70's. The 70's were flashy and trashy. Paisley bell bottoms, afro's, Shag carpet was "in". I found Graceland interesting, but the rest of Memphis not. Even their barbeque is overrated.I've had better in Portland Oregon!. Yes, Vegas is overrated, but you should see it at least once. Reno is dead, but Virginia City is still an interesting day trip. New Orleans is overrated, but Cajun country 100 miles west is a fun visit. I recommend NYC. and the Jersey shore in summer. I too was dissapointed with Yankee Stadium. Dirty and unkempt, but oh what history!
Loren Jan 4th 2008 5:08AM
One thing I really enjoyed in Memphis was the STAX museum of American soul music. Being a musician, and a big fan of Booker T & the MG's, Otis Redding, The Staples Singers etc. It's also worth the trip, as is Graceland. Didn't feel safe in either neighborhood though. Lock your car doors, and look straight ahead until you get to each destination. Beale Street was a BIG disappointment. Sorry to dis on your city, but I was expecting more.
In the west, Seattle is a very fun city to visit. As is Vancouver and Victoria B.C.
Elaine Jan 7th 2008 1:47AM
OH MY GOD!Miriam C.,I would really like to know what you would find remotely romantic about Amish Country?Is it the many stores hawking hex signs,Amish hats & bonnets and many other kitchy souvenirs?Maybe it's all the outlet stores and restaurants lining the highway?Or maybe it puts you in the mood to ride behind a horse & buggy doing 10 MPH and breathing some big lungfuls of manure in the air?And let's not forget what Lancaster County is famous for,why it's the puppy mill capital of the world!How Nice!And the people are so bass ackwards it's almost like they're stuck in another era.Well,if this is what turns you on maybe you ought to move there.If there is a place that should be avoided,Lancaster County,PA.and good ole' Amish Country should be in the top 5 of the list!
Smith Jan 4th 2008 7:47AM
One man's trash is another man's treasure ... what's your point? Millions of people enjoy the places that you don't personally find interesting, so why do you feel driven to insult those places and the folks who visit them? How arrogant!
Cindy Jan 6th 2008 1:50PM
Well, that's real nice to know all the things said about Vegas considering I'm going there in 3 weeks and getting married. Well, everybody has their opinion. I'm sure I'll enjoy myself, it just might not be some people's ideal place to go.
ali Jan 4th 2008 8:51PM
confessions on a cruise ship:
why on earth would you print that article about
a gay dancer on a cruise ship, f...... everbody, thats
not what i want to hear.........then the crabs, everyone
got!! thats just gross.........i will never travel hollend
america........................................................
that is just trash, dont we have enough of that to
go around the world. please pick your articles
with some class
Becky Coke Jan 5th 2008 2:16AM
If you are not an Elvis fan, there is no explanation. If you are a Elvis fan, no explanation needed. Love the mountains in Northern Arkansas. Vegas was cool. Where ever you go you make your own fun.