Overrated and Underrated Cities-The Sequel
 

One of my favorite threads from a few years ago. Someone mentioned it in a recent thread and I enjoyed reading it. Times have changed so I thought I'd start it again. Just remember-overrated doesn't mean good and underrated doesn't mean bad. Someone listed Detroit as overrated, which is impossible if you think about it.


Underrated

Portland,Maine-Really cool vibe in a city where people are trying to please themselves rather than tourists. Great brewpubs and restaurants. Still has a gritty edge to it, and although a lot of out- of- towners have moved in, it hasn't been completely raided
by Boston and New Yorkers just yet.

Asheville,NC- Maybe its just me but I rarely hear people talk about Asheville. Cool town and stunning scenery.

Overated

Cleveland- Yes we all know that Cleveland was in bad shape in the 80's and made a nice comeback in the 90's when it went from terrible to mediocre, but it has lost its momentum. Except for a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I don't see any reason to go back. Especially when so many other cities are going through urban renewal. A pretty nice place but overrated.

Charlotte-Just too much new development and sterile. Feels like a giant suburb with guys who transferred from Jersey for the cheaper golf.

Good question, Celfan.

I'd have to say Grand Rapids, MI (where I live) is both overrated & underrated.

Underrated because, for a smaller-sized midwestern city, there really is a lot to do. We have three very nice museums, a growing downtown area, a cool historic district, a new and very large convention center along with a decent-sized arena that seats 12,000. (I'm going to see Eric Clapton there in a few weeks!) We're situation on the Grand River which, although a little dirty for swimming, is a nice backdrop to the city. We have almost a dozen good colleges around here, lots of good restaurants, and it's still a pretty safe place to live.

Overrated because many people here think we're becoming the next 'Chicago'. We're not. And because there are quite a few people around here who can't possibly open their minds even wide enough to let a little air in, let alone a different viewpoint than theirs. :D

You've missed the boat on Asheville.

Real Estate prices have skyrocketed because it has been over run.

I assume the question is in regards to travel? A city may be overrated in terms of travel but still be a great place to live. For example, I don't think Cincinnati even makes the radar for travel, but I've found it underrated in terms as a place to settle down.

I think Savannah is underrated for travel. I know lots of people who travel to the general area but don't take the time for a quick trip to Savannah and it is really a beautiful city.

I should clarify. This is a travel site so I'm looking at cities through the eyes of a traveler, not someone looking to live in a city. A city may be overrun by by outsiders, and that often takes away some of the local charm, but still may offer a nice vacation. For instance, Ashville has such beautiful scenery that I still consider it a great destination, regardless of who owns the land.

Had a laugh over this one:

>>Charlotte-Just too much new development and sterile. Feels like a giant suburb with guys who transferred from Jersey for the cheaper golf.<<

Asheville could be considered overrated. Look at the questions people here ask about coming to see the mountains, they only tend to be interested in Asheville. There are lots of pretty, scenic towns in western NC. If Asheville wasn't overrated, the real estate might be more affordable.

So true, snowrooster, the travel versus the liveability features- quite different all around, IMHO.

You know, I have had some plans implode, and I think instead I am going to take 2 days to see Grand Rapids in more depth this Fall- maybe in Oct. (9th week).

travel addict, look for a post elsewhere as I don't want to hijack the thread.

IMHO, there's nary a mid-size city in the USA that I can't find some cultural plus surprises, so I would be hard set to say underrated about anyplace. But I am easy to please, and require authenticity more than fashion. I keep seeing- "sprawl" and "all the same" but find that outside the basic shopping malls etc. this hasn't been true in all my baseball city travels.

I had a great time and found fun things to do, cultural/historic as well, in Detroit just a month ago.

Once in awhile I'll come across a Traverse City, MI, or a Prescott, AZ, or even a Valparaiso, IN and wonder why no one ever mentions them.

Lots of times, not just in Europe or USA either, the hype and marketing get us all to the same places. Of course some are SO unique, but actually many others have their own undiscovered uniqueness, as the ones I mentioned, and you seldom hear about their pluses or beautiful architecture etc.

There are some really lovely cities in the population range 50,000-400,000 out there. And not just in the USA.

What are some of the other nice towns in western NC. I'd love to get the insight from someone who knows the area.
Small towns with nice shopping b and b's etc.Thanks

Excuse me while I interrupt this thread... (imagine Jimi Hendrix singing that!)

JJ5 - please e-mail me at heidi623 at gmail dot com when you get a chance... Thanks! :)

Underrated- Blowing Rock North Carolina- it is the epitome of a mountain retreat.

Underrated and Overrated (or maybe just overrun)- My husband and I love to get away to this hill country spot- Fredericksburg Texas.

Underrated: Oklahoma City. It was MUCH more interesting and colorful that I had expected. Nice art museum, terrific zoo, historic homes, Bricktown, and the Cowboy museum all very enjoyable. It was a pleasant surprise.

(I know I will get slammed for this one)over-rated - Portland, OR - seems like it would be a really nice place to live, but not all that interesting to visit.

Gail,
Portland is a good place to live -- and visit. There's quite a bit to do, sightseeing-wise, and it's got great restaurants. Plus, it's a good base for day trips to the coast, Mt. St. Helens, the Columbia Gorge/Mount Hood.

I love Portland OR! But fortunatly we don't all love the same place or it should would be crowded!

One place that I don't enjoy as much as I use to is Santa Barbara although I love the surrounding areas.

Underrated:

Washington, D.C. (another thread made me think of this). Is there a more varied, more inspiring collection of museums & monuments & history in such a small, walkable area as the Mall?

Silver City, NM . . . definitely off the beaten path, but that's what makes it special. A real city, not a tourist city, lots of neat quirky shops, galleries & restaurants for such a small town. Beautiful mountain country all around.

Overrated:

I honestly can't think of a city in the U.S. that I've traveled to on vacation that really surprised me in a negative way.

I think that Fredericksburg, Texas and really, the entire Texas "hill country" is overrated. Everyone gushes about how beautiful it is....and it is, by comparison to the flat, brown Texas suburb in which I live. But compared to other locations, the scenery isn't much. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to have a tin roofed, limestone cottage in the Hill Country, but I think that if outsiders came there to see "great scenery" they'd be disappointed.

I agree wholeheartedly about Fredericksburg. I just don't "get it". The last of the good shops just closed its doors making there now absolutely nothing but perhaps a good German sausage and beer to draw me there after hiking Enchanted Rock.

I wouldn't come from CO to see the Hill Country, but as Texas goes, it's certainly the most beautiful part I know of. I've even got the tin roofed limestone "cottage"...but if I had my druthers, I'd still be in FL, on my boat, in a nice breeze with the sails sheeted in, skimming along about 6 knots across a stretch of bluegreen Gulf of Mexico...with dolphin at our side! LOL (sigh)

We enjoyed visits to Portland OR so much we now live here! :)

Overated: Boston- not a ton to do, not very friendly, not what I expected from a top city in the U.S.
Overated: CHarleston- I think maybe it was built up too with everyone's super postive input so I had nowhere to go but down with my expectations. A cute small city, didn't see too much special. Liked Savannah much better for it's charm and squares.

Underated: because it's not on many radars: Couer D'Alene Idaho. Just went here and what a pretty place with plenty to do for a few days. Plus not far from Glacier!

I've heard the exact same about C. D'Alene from three different people.

Must get there for sure.

Eroz--We have driven thru Coeur d' Alene quite a bit, but never spent any time there. So planned to go next summer, but the Canadian Rockies won out. We will stop on our way though. It really is such a beautiful area!

I am glad to hear someone say that Portland is overrated;) Don't get me wrong, I love it here...but I just don't want it to become another big city mess with tons of people moving in. So I am glad that people have different taste!

In that same thought...Seaside, OR is way overrated in my book. But, that way there is room for people who enjoy it because I wont go near it.

That's how I feel about Lake Geneva Wisc., mms. So I'll tell people to go there so that my Michigan wetlands and beauty remain real lakes and not groomed into part of a golf course or something.

I voted with my feet, but nuestro pueblo magico is both: especially this fiesta-filled month with plane, car and bus loads of tourists.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

Let me start by saying that I judge cities by street life and vibrant neighborhoods, as much as I enjoy museums and sporting events, the best cities are just fun to hang out in, walk the streets, enjoy the cafes..etc....They are places where you don't need a plan or a car, where tourist and locals share the same places.

I fully agree with your criticism of Charlotte and Cleveland, I hate sprawl and Charlotte made my head spin. I walked 2 miles through dowtown Cleveland in the middle of the day and didn't walk by a soul.

I would add to over-rated San Antonio, which is wonderfully friendly to tourist in the riverwalk area, but otherwise I found little to enjoy and the sprawl away from downtown seemed endless.

As much praise as Chicago gets, I still think it is underrated. I would put downtown up against DC as far as places to walk to and museums. No other cities has as much life on its waterfronts, not even NYC.

Philadelphia's narrow active streets are just a joy to walk around, as well as a vibrant arts and music scene and great restaurants. It is close to Boston, which I put slightly ahead of Philly because there appear to be more interesting neighborhood outside the city core than in Philly.

I love Charleston, but you have to go expecting a fun restaurant culture with pleasant walks, not big city activities.

I will be alone in saying I found Savannah over-rated, food was good but not great-too heavy for me. Didn't find much night-life for over 30 crowd and whoever allowed parking lots to be built next to those beautiful small parks should be found and shot.

I would make Austin under-rated, although it is praised it is not talked about much here. Great place to just hang out, the parks along the river are great, love the vibe.

I thought Santa Fe NM was totally over-rated. Spent close to a week there over Christmas. Overpriced shops & restaurants. Went to 5 movies & read several books during my visit.

cobbie, I think Sante Fe was much better about 10 years ago when the art community was more central to the town's vibes. This is just my opinion, but I had the exact same reaction to a Sante Fe 5 day that you did. The people I know from Sante Fe say it changed immensely with over-growth and large influx of retirement populations.

I don't know the reasons- truly, but I was expecting the kind of more vibrant interaction that I found, for instant, in San Diego.

austin is a nice town but when i was working there it was really overrated (not sure what it's like now). this was back around 2000. there was so much hype it was ridiculous. the city should have just relaxed and enjoyed itself for what it was rather than to try to be NYC, san francisco, boston and everything else rolled into one.

i have worked/lived in a lot of places around the world and have never been in a place that was so wrapped up in itself.

related to this area, i do agree on fredricksburg and the hill country. gruene is nice though. everyone was moving to round rock to be with dell...i hated RR and it is certainly in the overrated category...along with all the clowns obsessed with dell stock and house price.

Thanks for the info on Austin. I always enjoy hearing about how a city looks at itself, I like hearing what's underneath.

Overrated-
Boston....great place for college students and sports fans but not for tourists. Especially tourists in a car!

Las Vegas...the city has not kept up with the growth. Lots of traffic nightmares such as intersections with no traffic-lane markings. Filth along the streets and highways due to not-enough-city-employees. The precious strip is well maintained and policed, the rest of the huge city a mess.


Underrated-
Los Angeles...very affordable for a big BIG city (outside of Bev Hills luxury choices), lots to do, easy access to other great cities, plus traffic is manageable on weekends. And the only big city where you can rent a car without 40% in added fees and taxes!

JJ5,
Many moved from Santa Fe two or three decades ago and settled here: most are now dead or have moved on.
None ever ceased complaining about new arrivals.
M

Underated:
ITA on Austin. My daughter lives there, and it's great for music and the parks. And great day trips like to Fredricksburg, New Braunfels/ Gruen and the overated but I still like it, San Antonio.
Also, Sacramento, CA. It has a lot going for it in it's oldtown (railroad museum is great) and downtown.

One more underrated: Milwaukee. Great food, and again fun day trips like to Cedarberg. :-)
Not sure about Overrated. Maybe Houston, although I haven't spent enough time there to put it on the list.

Houston overated? by who? or is ith whom? :) I made my hubby go back for my high school reunion and he found all these travel websites saying things like "only to go Houston for business or family visit. For fun and tourism consider San Antonio, Austin or Dallas". Eek! But I agree- Houston doesn't have much to do thoughI had fun seeing old friends. And it's a fine place to raise a family. San Antonio has the river walk and a day trip to San Marcus. Dallas is really all suburbs these days. Austin is about all that's left to visit in the grand ole state of Texas.

Boston! Not sure what all the fuss is about????

Boston??
History.
Art.
Seafood.
Ethnic neighborhoods.
Presidential Library.
Architecture.
Ivy League. UNDERRATED IMHO!!

You know what I love about Portland OR besides the beer, coffee, arts etc? People take their dogs into the high end department stores. Not to mention lots of mutts:)If I was a dog I'd find Portland vastly under-rated.

Celfan was asking about other towns in Western Carolina and I would have to recommend Brevard, Cashiers, Highlands. If you want to splurge for a romantic getaway try The Greystone Inn at Lake Toxaway - close to all of the above and absolutely breathtaking.

I second Milwaukee. It's not just beer and brats (although the microbrews are awesome!)
From June through September there is a festival at Maier Festival Park on Lake Michigan every single weekend.
Much of the lakefront consists of parks, not privately owned land and everyone had their favorite spot.
We have a friend from New York who comes here for Summerfest nearly every summer.

I like MIlwaukee too, but I'm sad to see so much of its middle class is bailing out to Waukesha area. Its such a great history with wonderful heritage.
While most cities are experiencing a revival, Milwaukee seems to be going downhill. Except for Pabst/Lakefront Brewery area which is being reovated nicely, the rest of the city is getting worse. I guess since Milwaukee went downhill later than most cities, its revival will be later.

Reminds me of Chicago, when everyone went west. Chicagoans didn't have the option to go North because the neighborhoods are so expensive. Milwaukeeans could go North and still be on beautiful Lake Michigan, but opt for the land of Applebees and new strip malls???

Milwaukee has wonderful dining, arts and theatre. In many ways they do things much better than Chicago-without the hassles. I go there whenever I can.

For Western NC try Black Mtn. or, if you are more the adventurous type, Hot Springs.

celfan - thanks lots of our friends in the Chicago are like to visit here (although I like visiting Chicago too!)

I'll never move out that far. Waukesha and western suburbs are having water problems. They cannot access Lake Michigan because they're beyond the watershed.
I live about 10 minutes from downtown in a very old suburb (looks like city anyway) and love living that close. The near south side has undergone much revitalization in the part 10 years. Walkers Point and Bay View are my favorite areas.