Most overhyped: Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
Don't get me wrong, Yellowstone is a fantastic park. I could spend a month there and not get bored. Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic, Mammoth Hot Springs, etc. are otherworldly. But Old Faithful is supposed to be the star attraction and really, it's just a 2 minute show of hot water blasting out of the ground in a really plain part of the park and then nothing. It draws huge crowds though because of its reputation. I've been there twice and both times the crowd has given it a collective "meh" when it ended. I get that it's iconic and that you probably have to do it once just to check that box, but's it's incredibly underwhelming.
Most underhyped: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, Montana
Made a late route change this past summer when driving through the US to stop by the Little Bighorn Battlefield in the Crow Agency, about an hour east of Billings, MT. As a fan of stories of the old West, I was interested in seeing the place where so many iconic figures came together. General Custer, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Chief Gall, Lame White Man, etc. all in the same place at the same time.
We weren't expecting much but had a terrific experience. It wasn't crowded, maybe 100 people, which made for a casual, stress-free visit. One of the park rangers was a descendant of one of the natives that fought against Custer. He spent about 30 minutes walking us through the lead up to the battle, the initial engagement, and finally Custer's arrogance and errors in judgement that led to the massacre then left us to wander the battlefield at our own pace. I had no idea the battle site was so massive, but the park has done an amazing job of constructing a road through the battlefield that respects the places where US army and natives were killed and allows visitors to see the whole battlefield in one visit. Along the road you can stop, get out of the car and read a description of the significance of each location in the battle.
In each spot where someone was killed they have placed a headstone to commemorate the death. I was struck by just how many headstones there were, and how scattered they were over so many miles. You could stop anywhere along the road and spot a solitary headstone off in the distance no where near the main battles and wonder about the circumstances of their death. The hill on which Custer's last stand took place was really the only spot where there was a large collection of headstones, with Custer's the only one in black (photo below). It was incredibly sobering to see it first hand. I noticed several visitors overcome with emotion at the scene.
Anyway, maybe it's just me but while the battle has certainly been studied to death in so many books, I had never seen the actual site promoted as a tourist attraction before and was completely surprised at how respectful it is of both sides of the conflict. A terrific, understated gem. If you're venturing out to Montana some day I'd highly recommend you spend a few hours here. It's well worth it.
It's not just the Empire State Building.
Central Park? Sure. Let's go to see NY'ers scale model of the world the rest of us already live in.
Times Square? Naked cowboys. Pass.
Rockefeller Center? An office building with a skating rink.
Statue of Liberty? Yup. Just like the pictures.
Broadway Shows? Unless it is Hamilton, pass.
South Street Seaport? I don't know, I guess if its 1985.
I enjoyed working there three years, and I dig being there. But there is no reason for a tourist to go there.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
We have THE Museum Of Sex.
Fifth Ave, the hookers, the blow, everything you mentioned, great bars and eats, all on one tiny island?
It’s the shit my boy.
For that matter, across the globe - hyping is the name of the game. Economics or money grubbing. That being said, not every attraction is for everyone. The Empire State Building would stand for me as overhyped. Outside of it being an interesting building architecturally there’s no other reason to visit it; yet it is mobbed every day by tourists.
Under-hyped - The Allagash Wilderness Area in Maine. This makes me happy. I like the 110 miles of peaceful canoeing.
(no message)
(no message)
... aspect by outsmarting the masses and having good intel ahead of time, -- to avoid crowds, etc.
For example, I wouldn't think about being anywhere near Times Square on New Years Eve. Yet, Central Park (always fabulous) on New Years Eve is a great spot to ring in the new year.
For example, Waikiki is for tourists. Yet, Oahu has many hidden gems if one knows the island (e.g., Lanakai). Big Island > Maui. Not even close.
US National Parks are terrific, arguably one of our nation's greatest treasures.
US coastline is filled with great spots.
Niagara Falls is spectacular, as a wonder of the world. Would never stay there for vacation. Again, one has to know the vest vantage points.
(no message)
Hard to pick one...
Overhyped
Old Faithful
Wall Drug
Coronado Island
Key West
Las Vegas Strip
Door County Wisconsin
Zoos (every single one of them)
Crazy Horse Memorial (if you just stop outside the gate before the pay gate, you've seen it all)
Branson, MO
Disney Parks
Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz
Mackinac Island
Fisherman's Wharf SF
Everglades NP
Most caves
Underhyped
Yellowstone NP
Grand Teton NP
Rocky Mountain NP
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Pictured Rocks (and the UP in general)
Legoland (for kids)
Sea World
Soo Locks
Muir Woods
Hoover Dam
Cedar Point Ohio (for kids)
(no message)
Maybe underhyped would be the entire YS park along with the Grand Tetons.
I can't say the hyped ones are over hyped. It is a matter of what you enjoy. For me Disney World is overhyped but many of my friends would not miss a chance to visit. Many think Vegas is overhyped but I always find things to do there that I enjoy (blackjack, food, hiking in Red Rock or Valley of Fire, day trip to Grand Canyon, tour of Hoover Dam, shooting .50 BMG).
Pittsburgh??? It is not hyped at all which makes it under-hyped. But here are a few of the reasons to tour it:
- close to East Coast population
- an hour's drive from two great golf courses, one nice easy course and one lighted par three and horseback riding at Oglebay resort
- an hour's drive from Nemacolin Resort with spa, two great golf courses, hiking, horseback riding, clay shooting sports, fishing
- An hour's drive from ski resorts
- Cultural district with theater, music
- Wonderful baseball park with opportunity to visit Andy Warhole Museum, Carnegie Science Center, National Aviary, watch a game, and then visit the Casino
- Great food all along the Strip District
- Decent food and great views from Mt. Washington restaurants
- Oakland with great Universities, Cathedral of Learning, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art , Phipps Conservatory
- Pittsburgh Zoo
- Safe city
(no message)
Over: Times Square, NYC. Just horrific.
Under: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. It gets overshadowed by CO's many other gems. I can't do it justice, but it is truly a wonder. Massive sand formations tucked against the backside of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range.
(no message)
New Year's Eve in Times Square is an awesome experience.
...shops selling phony ID's.
Oh, it was truly a grand sight then!
(no message)
(no message)
Niagra Falls is a dump on the American side, and its a waterfall. Cool to look at for ten minutes....
DC has a lot to do and see in general, and their subway system is excellent, making getting around a breeze. It is not often thought of as a tourist destination inside the US (except for middle schoolers studying government), but I really enjoy visiting there.
I do not believe it is overhyped at all. Going on the ferry was a pretty awesome experience for my children and the fireworks show was good as well. Now, it's not a week destination but an overnight is definitely worth the trip.
I also feel that the Grand Canyon is actually more impressive in person than in pictures... and that's hard to do.
...I have heard.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)