If you're like me, when it comes to summer (and it's true - hooray!), you're always after a very special kind of vacation: the kind where you can truly explore the place as a person. Local, but you can also see all the famous hotspots. You want to know about the most overrated tourist destinations, but just to avoid them during peak season (visiting them without crowds is acceptable as long as you don't carry a travel guide with you, right?). You want to stay away from the tourist traps, but you don’t want to be too far away from the tourist attractions – because there’s literally nothing worse than the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) when traveling (I feel that way all the time . Thanks social media). Of course, you want to socialize during your trip, but without feeling like you're in the middle of the hustle and bustle of too many other travelers with the same accent as you, or that you're ruining the locals' place with your loud accent. , fat carbon footprint.
I got you. It seems increasingly difficult to travel responsibly in your own unique way. That’s why it’s useful to ask your friends, if not the internet, for the most famous and overrated attractions. Luckily, a recent AskReddit thread discussed this topic, so I dug out the most helpful responses; then I dug a little deeper into what we should check. You’re welcome, travel fanatics. May your hotel always be comfortable and your flight never delayed.
1. New Orleans Bourbon Street
Perhaps the most famous street in New Orleans' iconic French Quarter, where the famous Mardi Gras takes place every February, the area has been completely ruined by overpriced booze and dirt, according to one Reddit user. If it's not the holiday season, avoid Bourbon Street entirely and head to Jackson Square, home to fortune tellers, St. Louis Cathedral, the Louisiana State Museum and the famous City Hall.
2. Madame Tussauds London
As a Londoner, I can attest that there are things more exciting than paying $34 a ticket to queue up to see celebrity wax figures. Totally avoid this tourist trap, but if you do want to do some sightseeing, the London Eye is pretty cool at night or on a clear day. Alternatively (weather conditions permitting again), a boat trip along the Thames is a great way to learn more about the city and see the landmarks from a different perspective.
3. Paris Mona Lisa
You can admire some of the world's most famous paintings at the triangular Louvre Museum in Paris. But by "seen" I mean a glimpse through the gap between 40 heads, 12 feet away from the actual painting (which was much smaller in reality). If you go to the Louvre anyway, you should check out these other amazing works of art. Or, if you want a free dose of culture, visit the stunning La Marais, one of the oldest and coolest districts in Paris, filled with small art galleries.
4. Times Square, New York
Times Square seems like a must-see for people new to New York, and I get it; I mean, it's a bright, brash, and mesmerizing display—all in all, for only 10 minutes. Then you find yourself surrounded by hundreds of people who also want to take the perfect Insta photo and spend $5 on a stale pretzel. If you really want to check it out, though, you can head to the Midnight Hour art exhibit at midnight; Times Square displays a selection of local artists' creative work on billboards, which is pretty cool.
5. Mall of America, Minnesota
America's largest and most famous mall remains just that—a mall, one people. Instead, rent a car and drive along Minnesota's North Shore. Or, take a walk around beautiful Canal Park, also close to Lake Superior, another great spot for a walk. Minnesota has many great outdoor activities. Don't confine your trip to the mall.
6. Oktoberfest
The annual 16-day folk festival is famous for its beer, traditional German costumes and, of course, drunken antics. As this Reddit user suggests, why not skip Munich's festival entirely and travel elsewhere in the region? The Bavarian countryside is incredibly beautiful and fairytale-like; you can sail, walk and windsurf in the Starnberg region known as the Fünf-Seen-Land ("Land of Five Lakes") south of Munich, or Hike or ski the Zugspitze, the country’s highest peak. Basically, the whole area is beautiful and you can go drink anywhere, right?
7. Bondi Beach, Sydney
A few years ago, nearby Manly Beach was rated a better place than Bondi - so you can check it out instead of competing for sunbathing spots in the summer, which isn't your thing.
8. Chicago Navy Pier
This 3,300-foot-long pier on Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline sounds a little overrated, doesn't it? Aside from some fireworks, a Ferris wheel, and a movie theater, Navy Pier doesn't seem like an overly exciting place for tourists. If you're in the Windy City in the summer, though, it might be worth checking out the world's largest food festival. After all, who doesn’t love celebrating the beauty of food?
9. Manneken Pis, Brussels
The Manneken Pis is a famous small bronze statue in Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating in a fountain basin. It was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder around 1618 . But if the thought of seeing it doesn't ignite your inner cultural fire, check out a trip to the antique flea markets at Mont de Arts or Place du Jeu de Balle. Since Brussels (the capital of Belgium) is so small, you can probably see a lot in one day.
10. Hollywood, California
Hollywood has received its fair share of criticism on Reddit, with users stating that trash, overpriced everything, and an element of squalor give the tourist attraction a bad reputation. Still, California is a place filled with laid-back beauty (and beautiful people, of course); you just have to know where to go. So why not head north? Instagram-worthy sights include the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley and Yosemite National Park; plus, some of the state's best beaches are in Northern California, where there are fewer tourists.
Image; flok85, Martijn_vp, Treptowralex34 /Pixabay
