What are your most overrated tourist spots?

I recently came across this question online and it piqued my curiosity because I'm sure every traveler has at least one place they thought didn't live up to the hype. Then I saw this article showing the top 50 tourist traps in the world, and it got me thinking about what really makes a destination not worth visiting, and whether this is too subjective a question.

As I browsed through their list of places all over the world that tourists have said aren’t worth it, I realized that no matter how “touristy” a place might be — or how annoying some aspect of it is — I personally still find value in seeing them all. Even though there are places I wouldn't go back to, there's no spot I'd say that was never worth visiting!

So, what determines whether a place is overrated or not?

Hanging out in Times Square for my 45th birthday and then at Wall Drug in South Dakota.

The Mental Floss article mentioned places like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Times Square, and SeaWorld in Orlando, which were interesting choices, because we’ve been to the last two and thought they were great. And while we've heard the area surrounding the Hollywood Walk of Fame isn't the best place, I'd still love to see it at least once.

As for the list, only one was in the United States. Many are in countries we haven’t visited yet, but some were places we have been:

  • The Eiffel Tower in France
  • The Trevi Fountain in Italy
  • Niagara Falls in Canada
  • The Red Light District in Amsterdam

There are things at each one I didn’t love; however, I still enjoyed the experience of seeing them in person and immersing myself in the atmosphere. They are still tourist destinations you should have on your list.

What was the worst place to visit?

This was the biggest surprise for me! The #1 spot for the worst place to visit was a tie between Wall Drug in South Dakota and Fisherman’s Wharf in California. Both are located in the United States.

While James has been to Fisherman’s Wharf, I haven't, so I can't speak for it – though he would agree this place is overrated. Both of us have been to Wall Drug, and honestly, we thought it was a pretty fun stop.

Plymouth Rock - so small you wonder how this is such a thing.

My Surprising “Meh” Moment

If I could choose one tourist destination that underwhelmed me, it would be Plymouth Rock.

The area around it is beautiful, the town of Plymouth is charming, and there are plenty of cool things to see… but the first time we walked up to the rock itself, we were like — this is it? It’s so small! 🤏 😂 The portico surrounding it is massive compared to the rock!

Different strokes for different folks.

I guess it just goes to show that it takes all kinds of people to make the world go ’round, and that everyone has a different set of ideals for vacation spots. If you’ve ever read the negative reviews that National Parks get, you know what I mean.

Who visits a National Park and is surprised, or disappointed, by what they find? 🤷‍♀️

By the way, if you haven’t read Subpar Parks by Amber Share, I highly recommend it. It's an entertaining reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What about you?

I know there are plenty of places that don’t match people's expectations or get way too much hype. That’s fair. It’s all part of traveling!

So tell me… Which tourist spots have you visited that just weren’t worth it? Or do you think every place is worth seeing at least once?