[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima]
The Alamo. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a HUGE history nerd, but I was so utterly underwhelmed. I suppose part of my disappointment came from the fact that this cool historical landmark is completely in the center of town, not 20 feet from 15 crappy souvenir shops, etc. Plus, it was just so small, I guess I expected it to be bigger..
[/QUOTE]
Apparently they didn’t let you see the basement. That’s the best part.
The Alamo. (As DiosaBellisima said, small–and dwarfed by surroundings.)
In that same vein, the OK Corral. (All right, I wasn’t expecting that much from the OK Corral. I was driving through Tombstone anyway so I didn’t go out of my way. If people do go out of their way, I’ll bet they’re disappointed.)
[QUOTE=bump]
FWIW, today’s “Alamo” is only the chapel & a few of the adjoining buildings, while the mission in 1836 was much larger.
See the picture about halfway down the page for a sketch of what the complex looked like in 1836.
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I’ll fully admit my weakness in the area of- in particular- that sect of history, so maybe someone can help me out (unless this is a huge hijack, but I don’t think it is). I figured that at some point the mission itself was much bigger, like many of the California missions once were. So what happened in the case of the Alamo? Was it destroyed during the battle? Destroyed later? Fell to decay and was taken over by the city for development?
It was just so striking to me how it was in the middle of everything. . . I guess it just really took away from the history of it for me (I know that sounds silly).
The arch in St Louis. I saw it many years ago while passing through. I remember thinking, “meh”.
[QUOTE=Asimovian]
The Grand Canyon. And I’m sure I’m in a very small minority on this one. I’ve visited, briefly, on two occasions. Both times, my reaction was, “Wow…that is one huge hole!” And three or four minutes later, I was done. Didn’t have any real interest in exploring or seeing it from other angles or anything like that.
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No, no, go back and give it a fair chance. The Grand Canyon can be under-whelming at first, from the paved tourist-engorged overlooks right outside the hotels. You have to hike or ride down into it–and soak up the atmosphere for a few hours–to get a feel for its grandiosity, beauty, and variety. Really, give it a chance!
For me, I found the Sphinx to be under-whelming. It looks puny after the Pyramids. Anything would look puny after the Pyramids. Anywhere else, it would look huge. Location is everything.
Next week I’m going to see the Great Wall of China. I hope, hope, hope it isn’t under-whelming! But you never know.
The Grand Canyon is most impressive from the bottom of it.
The Mall of America.
The Travel Channel makes it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread. In reality, it was only marginally cool.
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy]
I won’t say it’s overrated, but when you walk into the Sistine Chapel, the first impression you get is how small it is. Somehow, literature & history give the impression of this cavernous space, but it’s nowhere as large as you might think. The frescoes are still stunning, though.
[/QUOTE]
Gotta agree with you there. I expected to be in a huge cavern, when in actuality, it seemed like I was in a space the size of my junior high school boys’ locker room.
The Old Man of the Mountain. I can’t see a face there at all.
Stonehenge for me too. I looove semi-mysterious prehistorical wonders and early British/Irish history in general, so I was absolutely psyched to see Stonehenge. The actual site is kinda underwhelming. I do think the fact that you can no longer get close to it and the stupid tunnel under the road setup do it no favors. Overall, it kinda went away thinking it was just some big rocks that people had stood on end.
Chitzen Itza, on the other hand, wow! Doubly impressive because they built it in what can charitably called a steaming hellhole of a jungle not fit for human habitation, where its hard to immagine anything lasting a few years, let alone a thousand.
I also agree about the Statue of Liberty. When I was a kid I always imagined it was as big as (maybe a small) skyscraper, and I thought those windows at the top were like regular windows from a house, so there was a big room where you could walk around. Instead, you have the two staircases and in the head is just a little semicircle platform where a few people can stand.
Also Old Faithful. Now, as a whole Yellowstone is spectacular, but Old Faithful is one of the lamest geysers there, aside from the fact that it’s sorta big and it goes off often. There’s at least one bigger one right there in the same basin, that I saw. There’s all sorts of geysers, springs, cascades, and mud pots, and most of them are better than Old Faithful.
The Great Salt Lake is absolutely horrible, at least the shore is. There are millions and millions of little flies on the beach, and as you walk a wave of them arises in front of each foot. Also it stinks.
[QUOTE=riker1384]
The Great Salt Lake is absolutely horrible, at least the shore is. There are millions and millions of little flies on the beach, and as you walk a wave of them arises in front of each foot. Also it stinks.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, Utahns never go there. It reeks and is covered in brine flies. There’s the cool novelty of “hey, I float in this water!” but the novelty lasts about ten minutes - in other words, half the length of the shower you need afterwards to get all the damn salt off you. 
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig]
Next week I’m going to see the Great Wall of China. I hope, hope, hope it isn’t under-whelming! But you never know.
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It’ll probably look puny. I read somewhere that everything looks puny after you’ve seen the Pyramids.
I was underwhelmed by the Piazza San MArco in Venice. I’m not a big fan of pigeons.
The Washington Monument. Easily the most skippable of all D.C. monuments. To me it’s just a big pointy stick.
[QUOTE=SaharaTea]
The Washington Monument. Easily the most skippable of all D.C. monuments. To me it’s just a big pointy stick.
[/QUOTE]
On its own, I’ll agree with you. I will say though that as part of the whole Mall, it does work. It’s a neat halfway point between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building.
[QUOTE=SaharaTea]
The Washington Monument. Easily the most skippable of all D.C. monuments. To me it’s just a big pointy stick.
[/QUOTE]
Well, the view from outside and below is underwhelming. The view from inside, at the top, is spectacular.
[QUOTE=gigi]
The Old Man of the Mountain. I can’t see a face there at all.
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I liked it when I saw it several years ago but I hear it has really gone downhill since then.
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig]
Next week I’m going to see the Great Wall of China. I hope, hope, hope it isn’t under-whelming! But you never know.
[/QUOTE]
I doubt you will be disappointed. I recommend against going to the Badaling section of the wall because it is the most touristy and crowded section of the wall. I went to the Jinshangling section of the wall and it was just stunning.
[QUOTE=Hampshire]
SanteFe New Mexico.
I’ve always heard how it is a jewel in the desert and a beautiful artist mecca.
We were stuck in Albuquerque waiting for a flight and had a rental car so we checked it out.
Nothing but a little tourist trap town with overpriced antique shops and stores selling desert art. I could have bought the same stuff in Gallup.
Wasted drive.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, Santa Fe is unique in that most of the reasons behind its current look and configuration are tied, entirely, into promoting tourism.
You can add another vote for the Statue of Liberty from me. Growing up in NJ, I was always unimpressed by the site of the Statue on our drives into and out of the city. It looked tiny compared to buildings even on the NJ side.
Now one landmark that I think went for overrated to underrated is the Empire State Building. You could barely get me to glance down to that part of the island when the Towers stood but after they fell it looks even more impressive than before. Especially when you consider that it was completed in 1931.
I really can’t stand those stupid “historic” wharfs. (I’m looking at you San Francisco, Baltimore and New York) They all have the same boat and quite frankly I do not see their merit outside of overpriced food and street performers. And if I recall correctly, the number and quality of performers at South Street Seaport has gone down since I was a child. Bottom line, these places are hardly a “must-see” on your visit to these cities but people will always direct you there.
[QUOTE=HeyHomie]
The Mall of America.
The Travel Channel makes it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread. In reality, it was only marginally cool.
[/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t even rate it that high. It’s just a mall, and it’s not really all that impressive as malls go. It’s just like any other big mall, and it’s not as nice as the Galleria in Houston, or as cool as the West Edmonton MAll.
