Photo by Box Lab at Shutterstock
The world is full of unique and magical places to discover. Many are in plain sight: no doubt Yosemite, Yellowstone, or Denali are always great options. And there are also countless popular attractions waiting to be found and explored.
Whereas there are also many places that might be famous, but in reality, they really don’t deserve a spot on your next bucket list.
That fun tourist hot spot turns into an overcrowded, not to mention overpriced, travel experience where you most likely won’t have half as much fun as you were hoping.
Unless you want to visit these popular attractions just to say you’ve been to them, we suggest you avoid them altogether. So instead of our usual “Must See” destinations, we’re listing popular attractions that are actually NOT worth visiting.
Most of these places are far too crowded and probably WON’T give you the experience you were looking for!
There’s nothing wrong with the Parthenon itself. Our problem with it is that it always seems to be in a constant renovating process. You go expecting to see some sort of ancient wonder, but instead, you’re greeted by unattractive scaffolding.
Another thing to consider: Most of the sculptures from there are now housed in the British Museum. Another thing to remember is that the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, the Greek goddess, was completed sometime back in 432 BC. So in recent times, efforts have been made to restore it.
What you’re really seeing is NOT from that far back. But if you can’t stand the thought of visiting Greece without seeing a temple, try the Temple of Poseidon instead.
It’s generally not jam-packed like the Parthenon is, but it’s just as stunning, thanks to its seaside location.
The Great Wall is known as an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It extends over 13,000 miles across western Asia. Nevertheless, don’t be fooled into thinking that once there, you’ll be greeted with what you see in the picture above.
No, it’s not a fake. But in peak season, you’ll be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with many unknown people, trying your best to snap a pic and capture the moment.
Visitors are only permitted on a very short section of the wall, so there isn’t anywhere to escape the stampede either. Our suggestion? Check out the Altai Mountains in Mongolia instead.
This extensive mountain range can be found on the border between China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. And the location has endless possibilities, and much fewer people, from trekking to climbing to even skiing if you wish.
Come springtime, there’s a lot of dense vegetation, like wildflowers, which makes the landscape even more alluring. But in Autumn, there is much less water, and the gorges are more accessible.
Don’t get us wrong! Disney World sounds fun on paper. But what you don’t see on tv or the internet are the tremendous crowds, grueling Florida heat, and bulky price tags on everything.
And if you want a chance to grab all the Fast Passes and dinner reservations you want, be prepared to start planning the details of your trip at least six months before your trip. So you go through all that just to walk around and wait in line all day in the humidity.
And even though the amusement park is enormous, there isn’t really much to do. There’s a lot of empty space and restaurants in the park and very few rides to get your kicks on.
But if the sunshine state is on your bucket list, the best reason to visit Florida is to experience its multiple, unique environments. There’s no place better to do that than the swampy Everglades.
It’s a natural region with an ecosystem unlike any else on earth. Everglades National Park is a can’t-miss destination for any nature lovers.
This is another case where you shouldn’t let the picture above fool you. The reality is a bit different. First of all, the tower itself isn’t that big of a big deal. Many buildings you’ll find around it will be much more impressive.
And another huge downfall is that you won’t get a clear view of it while there due to the hundreds of other people trying to get that cliched shot of “holding up/knocking over the tower.”
So if you want to be included in one of those pics, you’re probably better off just using photoshop! Now, on the other hand, only a four-hour drive away from Pisa is the beloved and ancient city of Rome, with its renowned ancient architecture and deep-rooted history.
While there, you can step back in time and check out the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St Peter’s Basilica, and many other historic sites. Just steer clear of the Trevi Fountain…it’s a little overcrowded.
Do you have your own experience with overcrowded popular attractions? Make sure to write about them in the comments so that our readers can learn about what to avoid!
And since we’ve probably bummed you out with all this negative talk about popular attractions, let’s get back to our normally scheduled stunning places! Check this out: 8 Beautiful AND Low-Cost Holiday Destinations in the US
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