marylander1940 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I saw an interesting feature about the most overrated & most underrated tourist attraction in each state. For example, Nevada's most overrated was the Las Vegas Strip & most underrated was Red Rock Canyon. I agree about the Strip, but my underrated pick would be the Valley of Fire - huge red rock formations in a valley of white silica sand. For my old home state of Massachusetts, most overrated was Plymouth Rock - 100% agree! I was expecting something substantial, maybe not the size of Gilbraltar but at least a good-sized boulder. Nope, they might as well call it Plymouth Pebble. The most underrated is the Berkshires, the mountains in western Mass. The Berkshires are nice, but my pick would be the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I thought it would be interesting if forum members posted their picks for their own state or city. Final thought: most overrated for New York was the Statue of Liberty. Again, totally agree! Don't ever climb the damn thing. The stairs are very long, steep & narrow, and when you finally get to the crown, the windows are dingy as hell & don't even face Manhattan. Their underrated pick was Niagara Falls. I'd nominate the Gaiety Theater, but it closed years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GpLwTBFOnE:89 I don't want to bring a subject from another forum but this is too funny and ironic not to be posted. + Charlie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ WilliamM Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Two suggestions for Massachusetts Walden Pond in Concord Statue of the minute man in Lexington Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousByNature Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Two suggestions for Massachusetts Walden Pond in Concord Statue of the minute man in Lexington Reminds me of one of Cliff Claven's little known 'factoids' on Cheers - that the Minute Men were very small individuals and the word 'minute' had been mispronounced as the word for 60 seconds, rather than the word for tiny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ WilliamM Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Reminds me of one of Cliff Claven's little known 'factoids' on Cheers - that the Minute Men were very small individuals and the word 'minute' had been mispronounced as the word for 60 seconds, rather than the word for tiny... I have driven by that statue in Lexington so often without realizing that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ Charlie Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Manhattan Overrated: Canal St. Why anyone wants to go there, I'll never understand. Underrated: The Museum of the City of NY. I have seen some awesome exhibits there. One of the best was the 200th anniversary of the development of the grid. One of my favorite places in NYC is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street, if you want to see how the other class lived in Manhattan in the 19th century. thomas, + JEC and + Vegas_Millennial 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BtmBearDad Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 One of my favorite places in NYC is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street, if you want to see how the other class lived in Manhattan in the 19th century. I agree - it really is a fantastic experience! Unfortunately the museum itself is in some very serious financial difficulties resulting from Covid. I believe they’ve laid off something like 80% of staff, with remaining staff taking significant pay cuts. I’d be very sad if this museum became a victim of Covid and shut down altogether. + Charlie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islesguy Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 One of my favorite places in NYC is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street, if you want to see how the other class lived in Manhattan in the 19th century. I keep meaning to go there but somehow I always forget. Might have to be my first outing once I feel I can take the train to the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Hagen Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Most underrated in SoCal Lunch or dinner at Avalon in the Fall (Catalina). Haven't been to Catalina in years. What restaurant(s) for dinner and what restaurant(s) for lunch do you recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Hagen Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 It's not underrated, but I'm put off by people who live in California for decades without visiting Yosemite or, and these people are much worse, don't want to return to Yosemite because of the crowds. Guess what? Beautiful places draw people. + tassojunior 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epigonos Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 The way to beat the crowds in places like Yosemite and Yellowstone is to stay in a hotel or lodge in the center of the park. Doing that one can get up early and get out before the crowds hit the road. If one is up and out right after sunrise they will have the place to themselves until around 10 a.m. One can then return to the hotel/lodge and have a leisurely breakfast while the crowds inundate the place. The same is true of the late afternoon. The day crowds usually depart around three or four and the parks become peaceful and wonderful again. + azdr0710 and + Vegas_Millennial 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ tassojunior Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 The way to beat the crowds in places like Yosemite and Yellowstone is to stay in a hotel or lodge in the center of the park. Doing that one can get up early and get out before the crowds hit the road. If one is up and out right after sunrise they will have the place to themselves until around 10 a.m. One can then return to the hotel/lodge and have a leisurely breakfast while the crowds inundate the place. The same is true of the late afternoon. The day crowds usually depart around three or four and the parks become peaceful and wonderful again. Another way is to come into Yosemite in the north from Tahoe/Reno or the south from Fish Camp where you can shoot direct up to Glacier Point. El Capitan is the only thing worth seeing in the valley and it's not worth the backups on El Portal/140. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cany10011 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 One of my favorite places in NYC is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street, if you want to see how the other class lived in Manhattan in the 19th century. I once dated a ballet dancer who lived in a tenement building in Alphabet City. The kitchen had an actual clawfoot bathtub. Way too bohemian for my taste, but the german ballet dancer made up for the inconvenience of staying in the walkup. + tassojunior and + Vegas_Millennial 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 Another way is to come into Yosemite in the north from Tahoe/Reno or the south from Fish Camp where you can shoot direct up to Glacier Point. El Capitan is the only thing worth seeing in the valley and it's not worth the backups on El Portal/140. There's no quick way to Glacier Point, not even from the valley. Coming in from either the north or from Fish Camp is quite a schlep. Obviously lots of people would disagree with your opinion of Yosemite Valley. Also, El Capitan is not visible from Glacier Point, although it can be seen via a fairly easy hike to nearby Taft Point, or Sentinel Dome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lchnsf Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 San Francisco: Overrated: The Golden Gate Bridge - don't ever go there, especially on a bicycle, it's just a bridge Underrated: Alcatraz - go there instead!!!! Or Sacramento Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ WilliamM Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 (edited) The way to beat the crowds in places like Yosemite and Yellowstone is to stay in a hotel or lodge in the center of the park. Doing that one can get up early and get out before the crowds hit the road. If one is up and out right after sunrise they will have the place to themselves until around 10 a.m. One can then return to the hotel/lodge and have a leisurely breakfast while the crowds inundate the place. The same is true of the late afternoon. The day crowds usually depart around three or four and the parks become peaceful and wonderful again. My brother Rick lives near the East entrance to Yellowstone National Park. There are several motels there as well, perfect for tourists who want an early start in the park.. Gardner at the West entrance has motels also. My brother writes about the wolves of Yellowstone. His first book included an introduction by Robert Redford Edited April 6, 2021 by WilliamM cany10011 and + Charlie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuriousByNature Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 My brother Rick lives near the East entrance to Yellowstone National Park. There are several motels there as well, perfect for tourists who want an early start in the park.. Gardner at the West entrance has motels also. My brother writes about the wolves of Yellowstone. His first book included an introduction by Robert Redford Yellowstone is definitely on my bucket list. I've been to Jellystone however, and it was alright. Except for this annoying bear that was wearing a hat, collar and tie, and who kept trying to steal my picnic basket. The arrogant bastard kept telling me he was smarter than the average bear. He finally left me alone after I gave a swift kick to his even more annoying bowtie-wearing little friend, and sent him flying. He may have ended up with a boo-boo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 .... He may have ended up with a boo-boo. Nils Allen "Booboo" Stewart Jr. (born January 21, 1994) is an American actor, singer and visual artist. He is known for playing Seth Clearwater in The Twilight Saga, Warpath in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Jay in the Disney television film franchise Descendants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Hagen Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 El Capitan is the only thing worth seeing in the valley Are you kidding? Epigonos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny-Darko Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 (edited) Overrated: Hawaiian Kona Coffee Underrated: 100% Puerto Rican Coffee Overrated: Netherlands, Israel and Brazil as Gay Tourist Destinations Underrated: Italy, Greece and Argentina as Gay Tourist Destinations Overrated: Day Trip to Tijuana, Baja California, MX Underrated: Day Trip to Victoria, Vancouver Island, CA Edited November 15, 2021 by Danny-Darko BSR, lonely_john, + Pensant and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ WilliamM Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 Overrated: Hawaiian Kona Coffee Underrated: 100% Puerto Rican Coffee Overrated: Netherlands, Israel and Brazil as Gay Tourist Destinations Underrated: Italy, Greece and Argentina as Gay Tourist Destinations Overrated: Day Trip to Tijuana, Baja California, MX Underrated: Day Trip to Victoria, Vancouver Island, CA I completely agree about Victoria Vancouver Island. On Brazil, on my first trip there in 1974, I saw and heard the great Baden Powell perform in a small club. Guitar and single Rod Hagen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrajee Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 San Francisco: Overrated: The Golden Gate Bridge - don't ever go there, especially on a bicycle, it's just a bridge Underrated: Alcatraz - go there instead!!!! Or Sacramento If I can add to this answer: Overrated: Visiting Alcatraz for its “haunted” history, no thanks in large part to those ghost hunting shows. Underrated: Visiting Alcatraz for its actual history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ SundayZip Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 Based on yesterday's press conference, Biden's brain fog, lack of awareness and weak appearance I doubt he will live to Christmas. Pure elder abuse! Overrated: Netherlands, Israel and Brazil as Gay Tourist Destinations Underrated: Italy, Greece and Argentina as Gay Tourist Destinations @Danny-Darko, As someone who's always updating his travel bucket list, I'm wondering about your reasons for Israel and Brazil being overrated as Gay Tourist Destinations. I'm also wonder why you think Italy, Greece and Argentina are underrated in this category. I'm not disagreeing with your assessment... just trying to be a smart traveler. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ tassojunior Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 (edited) Are you kidding? nope. standing at the base of El Capitan is great but most people would rather be on Glacier Point than down in the valley in traffic jams driving to crummy fast food in the village crowded with 100's of thousands of others. even the overlook halfway up glacier point road of half-dome and the falls is more stunning than the parking lots and shops in the valley Edited April 6, 2021 by tassojunior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Hagen Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 nope. standing at the base of El Capitan is great but most people would rather be on Glacier Point than down in the valley in traffic jams driving to crummy fast food in the village crowded with 100's of thousands of others. the overlook on glacier point road of half-dome is more stunning than the parking lots and shops in the valley. The overlook is wonderful. ADDITIONALLY, even though Beautiful places such as the Valley draw lots of admirers it doesn't justify trash talking the Valley as so many do. If you are looking for non-crummy (but not great) food revisit the Stunning dining room at the Ahwahnee (I presume you have). In addition to, not instead of, the Valley I recommend people visit Yosemite's Tuolumne meadows east of the Valley. I love rock climbing there and I love just being there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Hagen Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 I completely agree about Victoria Vancouver Island. On Brazil, on my first trip there in 1974, I saw and heard the great Baden Powell perform in a small club. Guitar and single Yes, and if you can, travel through the San Juan Islands to Victoria from Anacortes, WA. The San Juan Islands are amazing. Also, if you have time, visit Sooke Harbor just outside Victoria as well as the gardens of course. And if you have even more time Tofino, a few hours north west of Victoria, is gorgeous and very fun during storm season. If it's your cup of tea, have tea at the Empress in Victoria. One of the better Afternoon Teas I've experienced. (I know, so gay). + WilliamM, thomas, Bargara Leatherboy and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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