Fodors says: The results for Fodor’s Summer Travel Survey are in! This summer, 87% of Americans are planning to travel and 70% of respondents are looking at domestic destinations. For the last two years, the U.S. National Parks have been the top attractions in the country and they’re likely to be filled with happy campers in the coming months. But there are some spots that aren’t winning the hearts of our readers.
We asked what readers felt is the most overrated attraction in the world. Answers varied wildly. Two people specifically highlighted the FRIENDS Experience New York, a recreation of sets from Friends, and three people really dislike Wall Drug, a kitschy drugstore in Wall, South Dakota. A handful of readers highlighted the Grand Canyon, with one writing, it’s just “a giant hole in the ground.” Another reader found the Sistine Chapel to be “a little dingy.” Meanwhile, some readers don’t like entire cities: 2% listed Los Angeles (“terrible,” wrote one dissatisfied visitor), another 2% wrote New York City (“too many people, expensive, too touristy”), and 4% find the entire city of Las Vegas to be overrated (“loud” and “kitschy”).

The 5 Most Overrated Tourist Attractions
Disney isn’t the only popular tourist site taking heat from our readers. Though it’s the least popular, it’s in good company. According to our poll, these are the most overrated attractions in the world:
1. Disney Theme Parks I don’t agree, since any family with young children would give their entire summer job earnings to go to the Magic Kingdom!!
2. The Leaning Tower of Pisa Yes, a total waste of time!
3. The Eiffel Tower This is a maybe, since it is in Paris, and if you are there, you might as well go!
4. Times Square At least once in your life, walk up and down, attend a show, take some photos.
5. The Louvre I can’t believe this is on the list!
Gerry’s worst five or ten:
- Machu Picchu
- Seattle Space Needle
- St. Louis Gateway Arch
- Anything in Texas or Florida
- Navy Pier in Chicago
- Wall Drug in South Dakota
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Mob Museum, Las Vegas
- Spy Museum, Washington, DC
- Legoland, San Diego
I am sure you have your own “secret” list.
