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The Ricochet Travel Guide
Jay Nordlinger has an interesting Impromptus up at NRO today where he reveals the results of the following survey:
The other week, I had a journal from Istanbul. I said I had been wowed by the Topkapi Palace. And maybe a little less wowed by Hagia Sophia, by which the whole world is wowed. In a separate blogpost, I quoted an old colleague of mine, Christopher Caldwell. He once said, “The least overrated place in America is the Grand Canyon. The most overrated place is Yankee Stadium.” I then had a question for readers, a question in two parts: What places have you found “least overrated”? And what places have you found “most overrated”?
My answer to that question (talking strictly domestically): one of the least overrated places (in fact, I’d call it woefully underrated) is Zion National Park in Utah. It never seems to crack that first-tier stratum alongside Yellowstone or Yosemite, but it’s possibly the most breathtaking landscape I’ve ever seen. Photography fails to give you any sense of the scale of the place. You practically expect to see a T-Rex around every blind corner.
Most overrated? I’d go with Vegas (as did a lot of Jay’s readers). First things first: it’s in the desert — and deserts are where things go to die. Second, if you’re not in the market for depravity, you’re basically limited to buffets and hack comics or magicians (and if you are in the market for depravity — trust me on this — you’re way better off with New Orleans). Third, I’ve never been able to get over the city’s oddly postmodern quality. What other major city’s skyline consists primarily of replicas of other city’s skylines? There’s a Chrysler Building, an Eiffel Tower, an Arthurian castle, and a pyramid. Also, it bears noting that Vegas — in a not-so-subtle metaphor — looks a whole lot better at night than during daytime hours.
How about you? Least and most overrated travel locales?
Published in Culture
Please send me here to die:
I think this entry demands that you give us a follow up post on The Big Easy – trust but verify.
Doesn’t Gabriel live in the desert?
Troy,
I think this is a nice attempt to drag people out of Claire’s thread but the thumb tacked, call-for-questions post above keeps people from seeing that something new has been posted. Perhaps a side bar like the polls?
oh, and IMO: that Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert is it’s only redeeming quality.
The Sonoran Desert of central Arizona is wonderful, but the Mojave Desert of Vegas is miserable.
>>How about you? Least and most overrated travel locales?
Most overrated: San Francisco, with Boston a close second. Both are difficult to move around (SF in particular), even on foot, and I found the people to be ridiculous snobs and quite unpleasant. For a visitor, the restaurant scene in SF does not make up for the vibe that city gives off. Boston’s is even worse, with very poor service. Give me Chicago restaurants and its nicer people.
Least overrated: It’s hard to beat the Big Island. More of a “real” place, especially Waimea. On the mainland, I love New Mexico.
Another best-kept secret in my (current) home state of Utah is Capitol Reef National Park. Interesting petroglyphs there and fascinating rock formations.
Sonoran is too humid; Great Basin is too cold; Mojave is just right!
And, Jon, if you look on the map, Phoenix is well south of the center.
Of course I’m dividing it into halves, not thirds.
Least overrated – Hawaii. I had low expectations the first time I went and was blown away.
Most overrated – LA. Way, way too crowded and it’s just a desert by the ocean!
Overrated: Florida. Granted, I lived in the landlocked city of Orlando, but I doubt I’d choose that state as a vacation destination or retirement option. I’m sure there are lovely areas on the water, but most the state seemed hot, humid and swampy. Besides, I like the Pacific better than the Atlantic.
Underrated: Great Lakes region. For summer vacations, I prefer cooler places and you can’t beat Mackinac Island, Traverse City and other nearby destinations with bright white beaches, dark green trees and deep blue waters. Also, the trees are just the right height.
Yes, that is important.
I don’t get it.
You should try Sanibel Island, FL in the fall, Jon – the place is magical.
You are spot on with your underrated choice, However. That Mackinac Island meet up last June was awesome!
Least overrated: Maine in the summer. Glacier National Park. New York City.
Most overrated: The Tower of London (internationally). Southern California beaches.
I have to agree thet NEW Yankee Stadium is overrated. Its a nice ballpark but that’s all.
Now OLD Yankee Stadium was a whole different thing. The sky was never so blue, the grass was never so green as when one emerged from a dank, dark tunnel into the stands at the old Stadium! The place was a dump. So what? It was Magical. Squint just so and look out of the corner of your eye and you could still see Ruth, Gehrig, Maris, Mantle, DiMaggio and Munson etc. Why oh why did they ever tear it down?
To quote Anthony Bourdain : “…you will never understand New York, or New Yorkers, until you have eaten too many bad hot dogs and drunk too much piss beer at a night game at the (old) Stadium.”
Underrated….Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Really. There’s baseball, football, college basketball (and hockey in Pittsburgh). Thriving colleges, so there are always things happening. University of Cincinnati has a good Conservatory of Music and Theater department so there is young talent in music and theater venues. ( At one point recently there was at least one UC graduate in every production open on Broadway ) Fun, quirky neighborhoods. Nice, friendly, unpretentious people. Good food. Every time I’ve been to either place I’ve had a great time. Underrated? You bet.
Oh, if we’re going international, I gotta toss some love to Belgium. Very easy country for an American b/c they really DO all speak English. Terrific food and drink to be had there. Easy to move around.
I also can’t say enough nice things about Vancouver BC.
I loved London much more than I’d expected to. I was fortunate to have great weather and a local (friend) as a guide. I even managed to have some good meals there.
Allen Neuharth in Confessions of an SOB said the NY Times was both the best and most overrated newspaper. I think the same can be said of the city.
And California in general is terribly overrated.
Least overrated city is Chicago. And Sedona is spectacular.
Finally someone’s talking sense!
Overrated: The Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival. I expected that there would be cheese vendors galore and food stands with all kinds of cheesy things to sell. Bah. Just visit your local supermarket and you’ll see more cheeses.
Least Overrated: I think the Black Hills of South Dakota. Everyone knows about Mount Rushmore, and maybe the Crazy Horse Memorial but there is so much more. There are caves, waterfalls, twisty fun-to-drive roads, wild life, rock formations and more.
Do you have plans for mid-August? We’d love to have you join us for the weekend-long Ricochet Meetup in Charlevoix, Michigan.
Favorite destination for a short trip (3 nights)?
I love Scottsdale during Spring training and the Scottsdale Arts Festival. We try to go every couple of years. Sometimes stay in Scottsdale; sometimes Tempe.
Maui (Kaanapali), every thing is so easy there. Never leave the beach.
Vancouver BC for a long weekend. Again, you can do everything you need to on foot or with public transport.
I had a pretty good time in New Orleans once. I think.
Let’s see… we started in New Orleans…
Dang it, Randy! I really liked the Black Hills area. Spent 2 days there and could have spent a couple of weeks. Such a pleasant surprise after Yellowstone, which was good, but they made it hard to stay there – only 3 nights per campsite. Custer State Park has plenty of camping and it even has an airport! I wanted to go back in August for my wedding anniversary, but it was the same time as the Harley rally in Sturgis.
Most Overrated: Las Vegas
The place/trip that far exceeded my expectations was rafting through the Grand Canyon, spectacular from the rim but there isn’t enough adjectives for what down there. Second would be Hawaii, the big island. Overrated, San Francisco, great setting but don’t get up close. Internationally underrated I would pick New Zealand overrated I pass.
Least overrated:
Most overrated:
San Francisco is a great place if you’re 25 years old and your conscience allows you to walk past a dozen homeless people on your way to buy a $9 apple.
Overrated: Munich, Germany. Dull and boring.
Underrated: Far Northeast California. Wild, diverse terrain, few people.
Underrated, virtually unknown, the most beautiful place on Earth:
Cambridge, England
Most overrated:
Venice – interesting but one gigantic tourist trap
San Francisco- I 2nd (or I guess 4th this motion)
Underrated:
Savannah,GA – very beautiful old city, great food
Smokey Mtns (TN, NC) – camp there in the fall during the leaves changing color, wow
Overrated:
Vegas, baby!
LA
Seattle
Under-rated
Sequoia/King’s Canyon NP – the ‘other’ Sierra Nevada park
Redwood NP & adjacent SPs – NW CA
Eastern Washington wine country
Jasper/Banff, Canada