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The US is a vibrant and exciting country that hosts various popular events yearly, attracting visitors worldwide. But not all places are created equal.
Must See Places took note of your comments over the years, and here’s what we learned: there are many boring US destinations that some folks claim you shouldn’t visit. But hey, who said boring can’t be intriguing?
So join us as we unravel the mystery of what makes these cities snooze fests. From seemingly uneventful landscapes to sleepy towns, we’ll explore every nook and cranny to find out what makes these places… not tick!
Continue reading as we shine a light on 12 seemingly boring US destinations, and tell us if you agree!
Located in one of the dullest and least exciting states in our nation, Cheyenne is considered one of the most uninteresting cities in America. Primarily consisting of a conservative and older population, only 6 people per mile live in this city.
According to locals, the city lacks entertainment and job opportunities. But all that aside, should you visit? We think it looks pretty!
Indianapolis is one of the top 5 biggest cities in the Midwest and home to the Indy500. So what’s not to love? Apparently, much like a lot of the Midwestern cities, it’s pretty dull.
The capital of Indiana, Indianapolis has one of the most bland downtown areas among big metro cities in the nation, consisting of only a handful of restaurants and bars, and that’s really where the entertainment ends.
In fact, due to the boring atmosphere, the city has gotten a reputation for winning the nickname: “Naptown!”
Mesa is an Arizona city with a population of roughly 500,000. So, you would think that with so many people, there must surely be lots of things to see and do in this city. Well, apparently, that’s not exactly the case.
The area has a small population of kids and basically no nightlife. Also, there aren’t many options for dining and entertainment, and the nearest beach is approximately a 6 hours drive from Mesa.
Who would’ve thought The Sunshine State would show up on this list? And as far as we know, Cape Coral is one of the largest retirement cities in the nation. So what’s the problem? The city doesn’t have much to offer for younger generations in terms of entertainment.
So, if you’re not a retiree, you’ll probably be bored here. It has a few expensive restaurants that are closed by 8:00 pm, and the bulk of its citizens, which are seniors, tend to vote in favor of extra bocce fields rather than youth programs.
But hey, at least the views are unbeatable!
Aurora is the 3rd biggest city in this state. But it doesn’t come close to the big two cities, Colorado Springs and Denver, in terms of entertainment. If you want to live in a city with peaceful, serene surroundings, then Aurora is the place to be.
But if you’re looking for excitement, this isolated city doesn’t have any large entertainment hubs, theatres, or arenas to keep you busy while on vacation.
The city of Lubbock has one of the lowest arts per capita rates, and also the lowest rate of music venues among Texan cities. Also, when it comes to non-fast food restaurants, this city is one of the worst places in the United States.
So, with restricted dining options, the city is also famous for being rather dull. Sorry Lubbock! But even though you’re not that popular, we still think you look lovely!
We get it! When most people think of Nevada, they think of Vegas. So Henderson, being a city with minimal gaming zones, nightlife, and arenas, usually means it’s a city with no recreation.
Since the city is located so close to Las Vegas, its residents mostly go to Sin City to party and let loose on their weekends, leaving the people in Henderson with not much to do in their own metropolis.
Seeing one of the biggest cities in Alaska on this list might surprise you. But sadly, we think it might be because it’s also considered the most boring state in the United States.
Apparently, apart from recreational activities like fishing and skiing, there really isn’t much to see and do in this city. And even though it’s such a large city, it doesn’t have any sports arenas or entertainment hubs.
Geez, what do people have against this state?!? Fort Wayne is a city with a population of roughly 268,000, which hosts a few festivals each year. But other than that, there really isn’t much to see and do here.
The population of Fort Wayne is mostly seniors, and there are minimal options for a nightlife or non-fast food restaurants. Also, this area barely has any music venues or stadiums.
California is home to some of the most exhilarating cities worldwide, but according to our readers, Stockton is definitely not one of them. It’s considered one of California’s most boring cities and possibly the entire nation.
It’s a farming city with low scores when it comes to culture and arts. In fact, watching TV is the most popular activity in the town apparently… Harsh! Have YOU been here? What do you think?
To begin, there aren’t many nightlife and music venues in Chesapeake. There are equally few arts amenities and only a fair amount of active life options to make matters worse. So, this isn’t an exciting spot to plan a vacation.
That is unless you’re into birdwatching, swamps, or taking naps. If so, be sure to pack a good pair of binoculars for bird peeping on your adventures!
And another thing: this city is home to a huge part of the Great Dismal Swamp. Yes, that’s what it’s called, and we think it might be fitting.
Plano is a relatively pleasant and calm location to live, but calm hardly equals an exciting travel destination. The nightlife of this city was ranked 93rd in the US and 97th regarding most music venues per person here.
Things could be better regarding art centers and fine dining options as well. And even though this city is indeed located in an affluent state with excellent schools, it lacks a lot of entertainment most look for when planning their vacation.
Final note from Must See Places: Even though most of the cities on our list are wealthy cities in big states, they aren’t exactly outstanding options if you’re looking for entertainment.
This just goes to show that a city can be developed socioeconomically, but that doesn’t mean it’s an exciting place to visit too.
What are YOUR thoughts. Do you agree with the cities mentioned in our list? Please let us know in the comments section below.
And if you ARE planning your next trip, Must See Places has ALWAYS got you covered! For example, check out the 9 Incredible Shoulder Season Travel Destinations in the US for Your Bucket List!
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I've lived in Henderson, NV for most of my life and don't quite know why it's on this list. My son, his wife and I went for a walk last night in an extremely interesting park/trail in a wash with abundant desert vegetation and amenities such as sports courts, amphitheaters, dog parks etc. Henderson has many urban parks for all sorts of activities including mountain biking and climbing. And, truthfully, you can't separate it from Las Vegas for entertainment. Of which, Las Vegas calls itself the adult entertainment capital of the World. This fact is arguable, of course, but can be justified.
Dismal Swamp/Chesapeake VA is the ABSOLUTE BEST! You just need to do it by boat. We’ve done it 4 times, and loved every minute! Stop at the Welcome Center and the State Park buildings for cool info. Amazing to find this next to Norfolk VA.
It's had that name for at least 50 years. I grew up in Kokomo 50 miles due north of Indy and moved to Denver Colorado only to return a few years ago. Culture shock is putting it mildly and not a lot has changed in the 45 or so years I was gone. Being bored isn't even the worst part, it's the crappy weather no matter what time of year. It's humid and hot all summer with 2 weeks of autumn that is nice and then gray and ugly til spring for 6 windy weeks then it rains
We do have a lot of fairs and festivals and car shows though, might be the DIY/craft capital of the nation.lol
I'm surprised not to see Plymouth Rock in Plymouth MA. Soooooo underwhelmed to the point of laughable.
Been to Anchorage and thought it was a very funky place, with its own vibe. Like a Greenwhich Village in the arctic. Beautiful up there, they have outdoor markets, freshest salmon on earth - you can catch 'em with a net. Bring it in to decent restaurant and have them cook it up. This is the best place imaginable for this. About 20 years or more I went there and although I would never buy one (remember this is 20 or more years), there were animal furs of all sorts that were very, very expensive. I had to touch some of them, as they were hanging in shops or stores all over the place. It was the agony and the ecstasy combined. Also, you can take a boat and try to sail the fjords.
I have been to about half the locations on the list and agree they were boring.
Seems that judging whether a place is boring or not depends on the number of music venues and restaurants. There is so much more to life than just those two things.
I agree, Ft Wayne is boring x 10. In addition the downtown area at night has quite a few people of questionable character panhandling.
Cheyenne, WY? I've spent lots of time there. Nice people, great food, and tons of stuff to do.
Went to the World's Greatest or Biggest Rodeo in Cheyenne the first time I was in the west with my family many years ago. Now approximately 40 years later, I still remember specific details from that event. I was shocked that city was first on this list. I've driven through Wyoming many times since, and I always look forward to the drive. The state as a whole is much more interesting than Nebraska, the state I drive through to get to Wyoming.
Fort Wayne, Indiana was the most racist of the cities you have listed.
There is an African American population there, but according to the elderly white lady who was the docent for a tour of the city, "They stay on their side, but we occasionally enjoy their night life and restaurants. I went to Fort Wayne for a convention and took my then partner along because he lived there in the past and had some friends he wanted to visit while I was attending my convention. A good friend of his offered to take us to dinner one evening to the Fort Wayne Country Club and he would pick us up at our hotel that evening. When his car pulled up to the front of the hotel, he did a "double take" when he saw that I wasn't caucasian. "
"Ah, there's a change of plan" he told us as we were driven to some local steak house. After arriving to that destination, he excused himself to make a phone call after we were seated to our table.
(Obviously, he went to cancel the reservation at the Country Club) I thought this was curious but offensive and so did my partner. These things gave me a very negative reaction to the city of Fort Wayne, a city I would never visit again.