Most overrated southwestern city (moving, racist, Wal-mart)

[poolgirl51]

Sedona is completely surrounded by National Forest. Yes the town is a tourist town with all that goes with that but the outdoor life here is wonderful. You have more hiking than you could do in a lifetime, natural beauty that is beyond compare, Oak Creek Canyon and just a 2 hour drive to the Grand Canyon. Sedona is within a days drive to many other beautiful areas and attractions. It does not claim to be more than it is. We love it here!!!!

[metro223]

LV is the most overrated on this list from what I've seen.

[desert sun]

When I first visited Phoenix I was very dissapointed,it seemed like I was in a spread out Albuquerque or Tucson but with more freeways,It just dosent look like a city of 4 million people.The downtown was dead and small and there wasnt anything interesting that smaller cities dont offer.I just dont see why so many people flock to live in Phoenix.

[newmover99]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Since we seem to be on a southwestern kick, I figured Id start a new thread. What city in the SW did you visit, with high-hopes from all the hype surrounding it, that you ended up being disappointed in?

Im gonna say that one southwestern city that truly disappointed my on my first visit was Sedona, AZ. The red rocks are nice and all, but beyond that? YAWN. There were a few decent restaurants, and the Slide Rock state park was pretty cool, but nothing else about the town stands out. It felt like Wisconsin Dells (minus the waterparks) set amongst Gallup, NM-ish red rocks. Didnt do a thing for me. Ive been back 2 more times since then, trying to explore a little more and figure out what the hype is all about, but I still leave there disappointed.

Sedona is the "Center" of all energy in the world; You didn't feel it?

[WildWestDude]

Although Santa Fe is very nice, but its too expensive and over commercialized.
Taos, NM would be more like what Santa Fe once was.

[Duderino]

When I visited Arizona, I found cities like Flagstaff and Sedona charming, but once you go more south into Maricopa County, you get into pretty bland sprawl of the Phoenix area. I honestly don't see the appeal there, either.

[Her]

I live in New Mexico and I honestly didnt know that there was enough hype about those cities to make them considered overrated. lol. its all pretty boring. Sure, it has nice scenic views but its there are better places to be. When i see people on the forum recommending albuquerque to people by way of saying "great job opportunities" "great place to raise kids" "great place for college"...it all brings to mind the saying "misery likes company".

[marmac]

I agree with everything WildWestDude posted about Santa Fe

Probably would have been more appealing to me in the 1960's before they turned it into an art mecca ( or, I should say-------wannabe art mecca)

[irwin]

Phoenix by a mile.

The area is not a nice place to live but can be very deceiving, especially if you visit during the winter. But the schools are terrible, crime is bad, sprawling ugly architecture, no big industry or jobs...the list goes on. I hated it there.

[motuorg]

With Sedona it has grown into love/hate. I first went there in the mid-80's when nobody had even heard of it. I absolutely loved it, and loved hiking there, it was a piece of heaven. I have gone back about 10-12 times since and each time it has degenerated.

In 1987 or thereabouts, some idiot named Jose Arguelles wrote a book and started the whole Sedona Vortex thing...this had a few negative effects. There are Vortexes there alright, they suck in all the New Age idiots from California. Sedona has become New Age heaven. Vortexes!!! what a load of crap. If I want to believe it enough, I can find Vortexes right here in my living room in NY. Unfortunately, Sedona has become overpopulated and over visited (4 million visitors a years). I saw Circle K's perched on the Red Rocks. There's a good one. 250 million years of geologic history brought to its knees by a convenience store. And while your visiting one of the most geologically exquisite places on the planet, be sure to try the new outlet stores. Recently, the whole town is under construction. they are installing traffic circles everywhere and removing the lights. It was nightmarish getting around. Why not do a piece at a time .. NO KIDDING THE WHOLE TOWN IS UNDER CONSTRAUCTION. Sedona has become a glorified theme park, a caricature of what it was and it saddens me greatly. I have come to realize by visiting, that I am like 4 million others that have come to trample it, build on it, and turn it into what every otheretourist trap town is about. For this reason, I shall not return. Hell...I can do all my shopping right here on Long Island.

Oh yeah...the town planners should be shot. And if they are not dead already, they should be exhumed and shot.