The alleged "Old Town Alexandria" in Alexandria, Virginia gets my vote. What is old-town about a Banana Republic and a Restoration Hardware? And, oh yeah, an Ann Taylor and a Crate and Barrel outlet? The wait for a mediocre restaurant on a summer evening isn't worth it, and the cobblestone sidewalks lead you from one uninteresting "antique" store to another. The view across the Potomac overlooks the Blue Plains Treatment Facility. I live nearby, and cringe when visiting family and friends want to see Old Town.

I am a sports junkie. Go to all the venues I can when I travel. But I must say that Chicago, for being the home of the great Wrigley Field, has a horrible place to watch hockey and basketball. The United Center might be my least favorite sporting venue in the country.

New Orleans. Bourbon Street no longer offers great jazz and blues. The French Quarter and, to a lesser extent, the Garden District are worth a look but don't plan a visit to NOLA just for Bourbon Street.
Miami-to-Key West. The drive is tedious and scenery just average. Fly into Key West and enjoy one of the more unique destinations in the U.S.

Please forgive the whiney post but...

How did anybody manage to travel to Gatlinburg, TN or Cherokee, NC or Branson, MO without knowing they were headed for a hillbilly hellhole?

and...

The rooms are roped off at the Biltmore House for the same reason they don't let you touch the paintings at an art museum. Duhr.

San Jose, don't bother.

Meteor Crator in Arizona, DON'T BOTHER,
after visiting the Grand Canyon and Sedona we figured we would check this place out. First of all it is in the middle of NOWHERE, second it's a privately owned place, don't remember what it cost to enter (think it was $10) and it
is just a big hole in the ground. Even if it was free it's a total waste of time. There is only one outside observation point and again it's only a big hole in
the ground. They have some old NASA stuff inside to make the place resemble a museum but again bogus. Then the have the typical gift shop selling garbage.
I've traveled all over the U.S. and this is without a doubt the biggest waste of time I've encountered........

This is too much fun not to comment.Pigeon-god-awful-Forge unless you are into wife-beater t-shirts, beer guts, tatoos and Jerry Springer. Ditto for Gatlinburg, unless you rent a little cabin WAY up on a mountain w/hot tub and lots of alcohol
What about CRACKER BARREL?
Please throw in Daytona Beach, ugh.And Ft. Myers Beach. They have ruined Florida- read some Carl Hiassen novels/articles please.

I'd say Orlando and all of Florida, 'cuz it's people like me that go there and whine about the humidity and how much everyting costs. I must be livin under a rock, cuz I had no idea it was a touristy, over-priced place!

Then there's the Biltmore House in Asheville. There's all these dumb white-bread Northeasterners who think it's all historic and fancy, when in fact it's only one hundred years old and only built to appear old. And if you think Asheville is the place to be, then obviously you've never been anywhere at all. No, not because of the rednecks, it's just a slightly industrial town (see Northern towns).

And, Patooty.

If you're coming through Houston and decide to come down to Galveston for the day, you've just wasted your day. I LIVE here and I hate it. Too dirty and run-down...and who likes brown sand & water? This town leaves up dilapidated buildings forever. It wouldn't look as bad as it does if the city would condemn and tear the buildings it needs to. Of course, then the island would be desolate! Ha! The train museum used to be a neat place, but ever since some guy bilked them out of a bunch of money the place is a dump. And I mean A DUMP. If you like to stroll and shop, the Strand area ia ok...ok for about an hour or so and then you're done. Moody Gardens is ok for a short visit, but I don't think it's worth going out of your way for...not to mention it's WAY over-priced. And the Grand Prize for tackiness on this island goes to The Flagship Hotel that sits out over the water. The one with the ugly mermaids on the side. Gawd, exactly WHAT was someone thinking? The city is trying to unload that property and they can't GIVE it away!!! If you go south on I-45 out of Houston, you are DEFINITELY headed in the wrong direction. Yes I know about Nasa, but that's not the same anymore after the terrorist attacks (can't see as much). Oh, and by the way, what exactly would bring you to the 2nd worst city in Texas (Houston)?

From someone who can't wait to move later this year!

Dear Galvestonian...

I was in Galveston for 6 years, then Houston for 5. I am gone from there now and I understand how you feel.

Oh, and why didn't you mention the "tar removal stations" at the entrances to the beach hotels. You know, where you use that solution to get the tar/oil from the beach off of your feet so it won't soil their carpeting. We can thank all of the Bush's and other cronies for the beautiful oil rigs you can see off in the Gulf.

Glad they decided against Dubya's proposal of drilling for oil along the Florida Gulf Coast, and the Great Lakes. I think Alaska is still on the drawing boards though.

Just my two-cents worth.

Happy Trails,
Paul

Paul, you better hope we drill for more oil in our own country or you will pay $5 a gallon for gas pretty soon the way things are going in the middle east. Oh, and I hope you live in texas where you won't need any heat because you won't be able to afford it any more. You liberals idiots will be the first ones wanting the government to subsidize your oil consumption when it gets too expensive, but OHHH, don't drill for oil in the US!

Dear "Need Oil" - *HA*

Perhaps you should read your response you wrote me again and listen to what an idiot you sound like. "Left" or "Right" thinking plays no mind when we are conversing on a travel forum regarding beache quality. Wonder why Florida and Michigan both put up a stink and said "no" to drilling in their fine water coasts.

Perhaps the budget cuts in Bush's (Spence Abraham's) energy policies regarding research and development of alternative energies were in response to his friends and family members own "personal interests." Also, Spence lost his congressional seat last year, and so that qualifies him to be energy secretary, I guess.

I'll remind you of this next year when Japan (once again) is ahead of the Big 3 with their fully functional/affordable hydrogen fuel cell automobiles. Look for them next year at your local dealerships.

BTW - I live in the Detroit area and KNOW what is going on. You need to read up or shut up!

Happy Trails,
Paul

First, of course, not everything appeals to all people. I've seen some things mentioned that I enjoyed (Disney World, Rocky Mountain Park to name a few). Also, I feel like distance travelled and money spent matter. A lot of people are knocking Salem, but I think it could still be OK for a daytrip, but if I planned a week long trip and took a plane to get there I would be disappointed.

So, my contributions:

I agree with Plymouth Rock - very small and disappointing.

I agree with the Cheers bar in Boston. Fans of the show won't see a thing that looks like Cheers and I found the staff rude to bbot.

Hot air balloon ride in Napa - took forever to get up in the balloon. Was fun for the first 10 mins., then boring. Spent way too much money.

Sorry, this isn't US, but the Eiffel Tower. You wait in an hour line to get in the elevator. After the elevator ride that only goes halfway up you have to wait in another line to take a different elevator to the top. All the while the people are rude and trying to cut in line. Very disappointing.

I don't like cruises. Once was enough - to anywhere!

I agree totally, Happy.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess, huh.

Wisconsi Dells-hands down-is one of the tackiest places I have ever been to. I've been there several times since my dad owns a condo north of town. Developers took a beautiful area and with no regards to trying make it a somewhat classy place to visit instead slapped as many junky tourist traps as possible along the main strip. Plus, we have yet to find a decent restaurant. How many times can you eat burgers and chees curds?

A Broadway play at full price. Get your tickets at the ticket booth in Times Square day of performance. For some shows, they can't give them away!

Not in the US, but the Acropolis in Athens. YOU CAN'T GET CLOSE TO IT because it's decaying. Crowded, a difficult climb, can't take pictures because of the crowd. Save the money and aggravation. Look at it from anywhere you may be in Athens. It's high on a hill and can't be missed.

New Orleans---for all the reasons stated above.
Plymouth Rock--what a laugh!!!

Gastown in Vancouver BC!

It's not in the States but we get tons of visitors from Seattle and the Alaskan cruise ships so I want to warn you about Gastown.

It's a "heritage" redesign for the tourists. The architecture is pretty but the souvenir shops are overpriced and lousy. Nothing opens before 10 am, not much stays open past 6, the restaurants are terrible except the expensive Continental ones that do dinner only. And what's with the famous steam clock?? I get such a laugh watching the tourist hordes videotaping this thing - which by the way is usually broken. Gastown really isn't very interesting. Locals don't go there because it's just for tourists. One good store if you are there. Yes Vancouver has tasteful tshirts, bags etc and good quality too.

Oh, and don't cut through Gastown to get to Chinatown. You have to cross Hastings Street West where all the junkies are adn you'll get mugged for you tourist trappings. A little something your guide book doesn't tell you.