If your summer plans include trips to any of these hot spots, you may want to make a few itinerary revisions.
If your summer plans include trips to any of these hot spots, you may want to make a few itinerary revisions.
Here are 10 of the world’s most overrated attractions according to USA Today.
Number 10. Stonehenge, England. Thanks to some past tourists who took pieces of it home as souvenirs, visitors are no longer allowed to get close to the site. Add that to the heavily trafficked roads on either side, and it’s just not the profound experience sort of place that it’s cracked up to be.
Number 9. Times Square, New York. At one time it was probably cool to travel a great distance and experience an overcrowded place packed with big screens and a plethora of bland, greasy food options. Nowadays, that sort of thing is everywhere.
Number 8. Pyramids at Giza, Egypt. Not only can tourists no longer touch the Sphinx, views of the great statue are compromised by previous tourists’ trash. On the upside, with all of the American fast food restaurants surrounding it, you’re unlikely to go hungry.
Number 7. Hollywood Walk of Fame, California. Between television, the Internet, and grocery store checkout magazine racks, indirect brushes with celebrities are easier to have than ever before. It is, however, a great place to pick up low-quality Hollywood-themed merchandise and maybe even get pickpocketed.
Number 6. Prague Astronomical Clock, Czech Republic. It may be the oldest one ever built, but it only does something cool on the hours. If you’re too early or too late you’ll have to stand there and literally watch time go by until it self-activates again.
Number 5. Blarney Stone, Ireland. Kissing it is supposed to give you great eloquence, but rumor has it that pranksters sneak in at night and urinate on it. Ending up with your lips on this ancient stone may leave you with nothing but germs.
Number 4. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy. Let’s be honest – most people go to the attraction for one reason – to get a picture of themselves either holding up or pushing over the tower. Technology being what it is, you could easily make one at home and spend the day exploring other places.
Number 3. Manneken Pis, Belgium. Trips to see the statue of the little boy peeing are not completely wasted if timed right. On some days, a city employee puts clothes on the statue, which is at least different. Also, there are times when the water in the fountain is replaced with free beer.
Number 2. Equator, Ecuador. This tourist site was established pre-GPS, so the provided photo opportunity is technically in the wrong place. The actual equator is quite a ways back and mostly impossible to get to.
Number 1. The Little Mermaid, Denmark. Not only is it a copy, it’s often the target of vandalism and typically not much to look at.
“That is a little mermaid. I am so disappointed. I am going home now.”
Which one in your opinion is the most overrated travel attraction?