Disappointments - Asheville (city proper but not outskirts),just not what I expected; Syracuse--nothing about it was attractive or interesting. Reno--worse than I expected. Salt Lake City - not much to it. <BR> <BR>Pleasant surprise - Knoxville, several interesting museums, good restaurants and lovely neighborhoods. Albequerque--thought it was just a town to fly into to get to Sante Fe but really liked it.

Disappointment: New Orleans, although some sections were nice and I enjoyed the food, I just thought there would be more to it. Surprises: San Diego was a pleasant, very livable city. Also New York City which I thought I would dislike, but found vibrant and exciting.

San Francisco -- a big NOTHING really! Beautiful from a distance when crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, but after you arrive, it's just like any other big, ugly, dirty city!!!

Los Angeles was my personal worst. Horrific traffic, pollution and power outages to boot! While I had fun overall, I certainly would not do it again. <BR> <BR>New Orleans was a surprise in a pleasant way. Prior to my trip I didn't know about the Garden District or the neighborhoods around the French Quarter which were very "walkable". I love the old architecture! (I didn't like all of the frat boys on Bourbon Street though)

EdC Have you even been to Dallas? Granted Boston has a lot more history but Big D is more than an office park and has a lot to do and see. We are working on our innercity and, while not perfect, it is getting better. At least we know what red means on traffic signals and our people are our greatest asset! I enjoyed my trips to Boston and was able to hear the Pops on the 4th--fantastic. We have different cities, but they are both excellent in their own ways.

I gotta say, my bigest disappointment was Charleston, SC. Maybe because I went there after visiting Savannah, GA and was totally and completely charmed by Savannah. I was turned off by all the big industrial wasteland you have to drive through to get into the city of Charleston, then the places we looked at staying were way more expensive than I would have thought. Pleasant surprise? Las Vegas. Had NEVER been interested in going there, but my hubby had a business trip there in March and I joined him. It was a great trip. Even won $35 on the nickel slots. :) <BR> <BR>I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts on this topic. And, thanks to Gina for nice words about Detroit. I live nearby and I really like it here.

I was most pleasantly surprised by Cleveland. I thought it was going to be very old, industrial, dirty. They really have done alot with it. My boyfriend and I were there before they built the stadium so I'm sure it's even nicer now. I didn't think there would be much to do but they have the Rock-n-Roll hall of fame, the science center, and the flats with alot of fun restuarants. You can see the lakefront from all of these places. It's a nice place to spend a couple of days. <BR> <BR>

Hi everyone, <BR> <BR> I'd have to say my biggest disappointment was Dallas. I moved from outside Philadelphia (one of my favorite cities) to Oklahoma. Got sent to Dallas on a business trip and thought great. I'll get to see a mid-western city. UGH! Dallas has every major drawback of a large city and absolutely none of the charm. One more I might add- Fort Lauderdale. It's OK, but I expected to love it and didn't. <BR> As for a pleasant surprise, I'd have to say Charleston, SC. We had one extra day after attending a wedding nearby and did a whirlwind tour of Charleston. I thought it was charming and would love to go back.

Here's yet another vote for South Beach. I was turning 40 so went on a women-only trip with a couple of friends to celebrate. The beach wasn't much to speak of, nobody wore much to speak of and everyone but us looked like models. We checked out the clothing stores and they didn't sell any clothes above a size 8 it seemed. Lots of young, beautiful folks drinking alot... If we were younger or single maybe it would have been better, but we felt really out of place here.

Chicago is a wonderful surprise. My husband and I traveled there and were pleasently pleased how friendly a big city can be. <BR> <BR>Full of cultural events, museums and great thing to do and see.

To Linda: <BR> <BR>Yes, I have been to Dallas. You are right, we just live in 2 different cities. Hopefully the next time I go I will be wowed by the Big D.

Richmond. We went there a few years ago for some soccer matches. A co-worker from Richmond told us all these places to go to, and made it sound like it was the most fabulous city in the country. I found it to be one of the most boring places I have ever been to. Reno was also horrid. One of the most pleasant surprises was Pittsburgh. We truly enjoyed ourselves there.

Disappointment: Phoenix. What's all the hype about? <BR> <BR>Pleasant Surprise: Minneapolis. People were great, prettier than I expected.

Worst - Denver. Overrated big time. <BR> <BR>Best - Portland, OR was tons of fun. Minneapolis also a pleasant surprise.

The worst trip of my life was in 1993 in Egypt. I had been to Turkey two summers before an absolutely adored it. I also have several friends that have gone to Egypt. I went with high high expectations and had the worst trip of my life. I was overwhelmed by the poverty and could not handle constant hageling always getting the worst rate on hotels as a single women traveling alone.It does not matter how terrible my trip was. I will go back again because Egypt houses many ancient wonders. Whatever your experiences are unless you were violated in an unlawful way and actually that almost happened to me on this trip. But a fresh eye and open mind would create a new look at a destination.

Ok I see I missed the initial question sorry I rarely travel domestically. You are asking to be disappointed there. Just kidding, I think the same rules apply I have a friend stuck in Indiana with his job. I tell him to seek out Americana type food, experiences. Look for that "Stuckeville" type bowling alley. You can find stuff that is indigenous to any part of the country you go to. I remember walking down a cheese isle in a supermarket in this teeny tiny town in Wisconsin. I later took a walk and happened into an old fashion auction. It was fun there was a very portly country kind of guy in overalls who called the items. Many items were 5-10 dollars. I bought an art deco clock for 5 dollars that would have cost me 40 in the city. Everyone in the room was staring at me as I was not from this small town. You just have to be open to the special qualities of each region. Every US destination is not going to be San Francisco or NYC. I don't know I also enjoy watching life everywhere.

Most disappointed with two areas of Wisconsin. We went to Madison, WI and the Wisconsin Dells. Ughh! Madison was still COLD in april and there was very little cultural activities. I had been told from the Chicago area, this would be the best place to go for a long weekend WRONG! The Dells area was a complete tourist trap and was one T-shirt shop/go kart trak after another. The river tour by boat was totally hokey. <BR> <BR>On the other hand we were pleasantly surprised by Baltimore as we had heard it was dirt, industrial, and had a high crime rate. We loved the Inner Harbor area and thought it was beautiful and plenty of fun things to do and not one bit unsafe. We were also surprised by Nashville, TN. I do not like country musi so I was afraid this trip would be a dud, but there are many noncountry music things going on. The opryland hotel with its fabulous gardens was a destination in itself!

Sarah, thanks for the tip, my next vacation will definitely be to Wisconsin's Cheese Isle. <BR> <BR>Wonder why you are a single woman traveling alone?

Ditto on the Dells. They are a beautiful natural area that has been overrun by go-kart tracks and waterparks. I normally find that with areas like that, you can drive 50 miles and still have the natural beauty without the crap. Devil's Lake State Park, south of the Dells, offers that. <BR> <BR>Which leads me to my biggest surprise. Went to Gatlinburg, TN. Got sick of the "strip" and the tacky shops, attractions. Drove 1 hour into the mountains, and found some of the neatest small towns and backwoods people I have ever met. Got a real tast of America. I am looking forward to going back, with nothing but a car, a map, and a week off.

I hope you are a prospective English teacher giving your students more time. Otherwise looks like your students will suffer.Noone is telling you to take a trip to the cheese isle, Einstein. The larger point was to appreciate your surroundings. <BR> <BR>Your thinking is very flat and one dimensional. It is the outlook that gives Americans a bad name abroad. <BR> <BR>And traveling alone is one of the greatest adventures life affords. Sorry that from your little bubble women don't do this. Open up English teacher life is too short, the world is too large and interesting, to be living in such a small way.