What is the most kitschy city in the US not named Las Vegas? (hotel, houses)

[Heel82]

The answer is whatever place claims South of the Border. So Dillon, SC?

[Kmanshouse]

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Roswell NM was a good call.

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

No, I say it because there is a lot of 'kitsch' in all of them: Casinos, Goony Golf courses, amusement parks, cheap tourist traps on the boardwalk, overfried seafood, campy mid-century motels.

kitsch
/kiCH/
noun
1.
art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.
"the lava lamp is an example of sixties kitsch"
adjective
1.
considered to be in poor taste but appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.
"the front room is stuffed with kitsch knickknacks, little glass and gilt ornaments"
synonyms: tasteless, vulgar, tawdry, showy, gimcrack, gaudy, cheap; informaltacky
"the kitsch accessories are hilarious"

Wildwood, NJ has raised Kitsch to an art form.



https://wildwoods.org/wildwood-boardwalk/

See to me, any place where tourists are interested on a large scale, especially on the beach, that stuff is to be expected.

It's the places like Branson, Pigeon Forge, etc...that are smaller places, but the kitsch factor is suuuuuper over bearing.

[Vegabern]

Pigeon Forge, TN
Wisconsin Dells
Branson, MO

Three places that are the setting of many of my nightmares.

To a lesser degree
Mackinaw City, MI It exists solely as a stopping place for the Mackinac Bridge or Mackinac Island and to take tourist $$.

[mjlo]

Originally Posted by Vegabern

Pigeon Forge, TN
Wisconsin Dells
Branson, MO

Three places that are the setting of many of my nightmares.

To a lesser degree
Mackinaw City, MI It exists solely as a stopping place for the Mackinac Bridge or Mackinac Island and to take tourist $$.

For Michigan cities I'd add Frankenmuth. Every time my dad wants to go there for his birthday I turn into the First World Problems meme.

For national cities my vote would be Branson.

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by Desert_SW_77

When thinking of what defines kitsch, Las Vegas clearly takes the cake. What other cities in the US could be characterized as kitschy? Cities, tourist towns, or particular neighborhoods that could be considered garish but paired with nostalgia. Places littered with bric a brac, neon, and cheeky attractions. Reno and Atlantic City also come to mind but beyond that I'm just curious what other cities would you consider to be kitschy?

Just tends to show how little people actually know about Las Vegas. "Kitsch" does not fit at all. There may be a few places in say downtown but no the strip is not the least "kitsch".

And the vast majority of the city is simply a rather modern suburban southwest community.

So try again. And "kitsch" does not work for Orlando either.

[march2]

I'd say Branson MO, Myrtle Beach SC, and Gatlinburg TN come to mind for me. Some would say Orlando, and it can understand that to a point. But I lived in Orlando for a year and have visited since the 70's. North of the FL Turnpike in Orlando, there's really no sign of the tourist trappings. Pretty neighborhoods, nice parks/lakes, great downtown. Like any other growing city/metro. I really enjoyed living there. Though we loved visiting the theme parks, we would've hated to have lived in the Kissimmee/192 area. The tourist trap aura is overwhelming.

[Vegabern]

Originally Posted by march2

I'd say Branson MO, Myrtle Beach SC, and Gatlinburg TN come to mind for me. Some would say Orlando, and it can understand that to a point. But I lived in Orlando for a year and have visited since the 70's. North of the FL Turnpike in Orlando, there's really no sign of the tourist trappings. Pretty neighborhoods, nice parks/lakes, great downtown. Like any other growing city/metro. I really enjoyed living there. Though we loved visiting the theme parks, we would've hated to have lived in the Kissimmee/192 area. The tourist trap aura is overwhelming.

I was just coming back to add Myrtle Beach.

Gatlinburg looks down right quaint compared to Pigeon Forge.

[march2]

Originally Posted by Vegabern

I was just coming back to add Myrtle Beach.

Gatlinburg looks down right quaint compared to Pigeon Forge.

Yeah, you're right. I had actually forgotten about Pigeon Forge, lol.

[Wanderlove]

Branson,MO! Also Myrtle Beach SC.