Most overrated tourist attractions in the world
#151
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I think what you mean to say is there is nothing to do there that *you* enjoy. For instance, I love Hawaii because there are lots of things for me to do there that I enjoy. I enjoy hiking the Waimea Canyon, I like hiking the Na Poli coast, I like running inland with views of the ocean, I like eating freshly caught tuna, I like eating pulau pork, and so forth.
So you are undoubtedly wrong that there is nothing to do in Hawaii; though you may be right to say that you don't enjoy any of the activities that Hawaii presents.
So you are undoubtedly wrong that there is nothing to do in Hawaii; though you may be right to say that you don't enjoy any of the activities that Hawaii presents.
#152
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I've heard hiking to the Hollywood sign is also quite fun, albeit illegal.
Nice. Lobbing out an obviously inflammatory statement and then crouching behind the "... but let's not get all PR here" defense.
#153
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I'll add in another: The San Antonio Riverwalk. Give me a break.
#154
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We don't do "palaces" for those in power in the US. Palaces were built for royalty and we don't consider our President to be royalty. Also, palaces tend to be built to excess while the White House is built for function.
It's the residence and offices of the most powerful politician in the world and his wife.
It's the residence and offices of the most powerful politician in the world and his wife.
Anyway, I think I've managed to avoid over-rated tourist attractions, or I've blanked them from my mind. Jorvik Museum in York - it's expensive, but it's actually very small. What is there is interesting, but it seems to be over very quickly and so goes into the 'over-priced' category for me.
Oh, the friendliness of the Balinese people. Everyone went on about it, I thought it was much an attitude assumed to extract money from the tourists than something that was genuine in most interactions I had with the Balinese.
#155
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New Orleans.
Dank, with a slight but pervasive whiff of sewer. Many street musicians and bar acts of marginal talent. Terrible corruption and poverty. Beaucoup opportunities to be separated from your cash for limited returns.
Dank, with a slight but pervasive whiff of sewer. Many street musicians and bar acts of marginal talent. Terrible corruption and poverty. Beaucoup opportunities to be separated from your cash for limited returns.
#156
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I've always thought the San Jacinto Monument near Houston is far more interesting: the grounds are very well-kept and placid; the museum exhibits aren't overdone, yet quite informative even to those already familiar with TX history; the view from the top of the monument delivers far more than one would expect; and there's lots to do there that is uncommercial and self-paced.
#157
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#158
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We are straying far away from the original topic, which is "Most overrated tourist attractions in the world." I've never heard of anyone praising Hawaii for its art museums, or Times Square for its restaurants, or New Orleans for its cleanliness, so Hawaii's pallid art scene, Times Square's chain restaurants, and New Orleans' squalor are irrelevant to the thread, however true they may be.
Now, if someone were to argue that Hawaii's natural beauty is overstated, that Times Square is not especially glitzy, or that New Orleans was not much of a party town, that would be in the spirit of the thread.
Now, if someone were to argue that Hawaii's natural beauty is overstated, that Times Square is not especially glitzy, or that New Orleans was not much of a party town, that would be in the spirit of the thread.
#159
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We are straying far away from the original topic, which is "Most overrated tourist attractions in the world." I've never heard of anyone praising Hawaii for its art museums, or Times Square for its restaurants, or New Orleans for its cleanliness, so Hawaii's pallid art scene, Times Square's chain restaurants, and New Orleans' squalor are irrelevant to the thread, however true they may be.
"Yosemite sucks, you can't even get a decent brioche there."
#161
Join Date: Apr 2005
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I don't mind so much the roadside attractions -- they're really just a diversion while you're on your way somewhere else. You'd be nuts to make a special trip to Wall, SD just to see Wall Drug.
One thing I do expect is that they be relatively cheap to correspond to the small-time experience. The Thing on I-10 in southern Arizona is only a buck. Some (like Wall Drug) are free, apart from whatever merchandise/snacks you choose to buy.
On the other hand, Meteor Crater off I-40 is insanely expensive -- $15 a head for what's at most an hour visit.
For other underwhelming attractions, I didn't really care for the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. It's not even a factory tour. The only interesting part was the tasting room with international flavors not sold in the US.
I agree the Mona Lisa is overrated. What's crazy are the hit-and-run tours. They just see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, then it's off to the next stop. Cause, y'know, there's nothing else to see at the Louvre.
One thing I do expect is that they be relatively cheap to correspond to the small-time experience. The Thing on I-10 in southern Arizona is only a buck. Some (like Wall Drug) are free, apart from whatever merchandise/snacks you choose to buy.
On the other hand, Meteor Crater off I-40 is insanely expensive -- $15 a head for what's at most an hour visit.
For other underwhelming attractions, I didn't really care for the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. It's not even a factory tour. The only interesting part was the tasting room with international flavors not sold in the US.
I agree the Mona Lisa is overrated. What's crazy are the hit-and-run tours. They just see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, then it's off to the next stop. Cause, y'know, there's nothing else to see at the Louvre.
#163
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Also of Dubious Infamy!
Hands down, way over-rated!
http://www.americanbanjomuseum.com/
Be sure to go there after here:
http://www.asasoftball.com/hall_of_fame/index.asp
And here:
http://nationalcowboymuseum.org/
The last is actually quite nice, but be sure to "git yer redneck on" before going.
http://www.americanbanjomuseum.com/
Be sure to go there after here:
http://www.asasoftball.com/hall_of_fame/index.asp
And here:
http://nationalcowboymuseum.org/
The last is actually quite nice, but be sure to "git yer redneck on" before going.
#164
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Oh you joke, but the number of places I have read reviews that go along the lines of 'The hotel is (foreign country) was real nice, but they didn't have a proper American breakfast just funny foreign stuff' is getting higher and higher!