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Trash everywhere? Stench coming from sewers? Where did you visit ... a land fill in the Bronx? Surely you're not talking about Central Park, 5th Avenue, Park Avenue, the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts, the World Trade Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty, Bryant Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, the Cloisters ...
In fairness, walking around parts of Manhattan on trash pick up days can be challenging. Mounds of trash bags hanging out on the curb isn't terribly appealing to tourists who are used to their trash being collected from neatly enclosed trash bins or dumpsters. Not that there are many other options for collecting trash in NYC. And exhaust fumes? Yeah, can't deny that one.
I love NYC, but there are definitely some drawbacks.
In fairness, walking around parts of Manhattan on trash pick up days can be challenging. Mounds of trash bags hanging out on the curb isn't terribly appealing to tourists who are used to their trash being collected from neatly enclosed trash bins or dumpsters. Not that there are many other options for collecting trash in NYC. And exhaust fumes? Yeah, can't deny that one.
I love NYC, but there are definitely some drawbacks.
Actually the exhaust fume problem has been greatly reduced by the new idling laws and clean diesel emission requirements. On a diesel engine put into service since 2010 the air coming out is cleaner that that going in within the largest urbanized areas in the US.
Niagara Falls (Canadian Side). As a Canadian, that place is ugly as sin.
Completely disagree with that. Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The gardens and world class attractions like the butterfly exhibit are second to none.
HOWEVER, One street of attractions is the tackiest place I have ever seen. Clifton Hill is so tackey that it's irresistible to millions of people. It's tacky in a good way though. It's not dirty or grungy, full of lowlife or hucksters. It's just good clean tacky fun. It's everything Atlantic City wished it was but isn`t.
Here's one from my state - Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox:
I confess. I stop for them all - The Corn Palace, The World's Largest Ball of Twine, The Vortex, Wall Drug, Cadillac Ranch.
There's a little Iowa amusement park about ninety miles from where I grew up called Arnold's Park that's about a hundred years old and was the stuff of dreams in my childhood. Vintage rides, vintage shops, vintage treats. The last time I was there they'd moved out the old and built a McDonald's on the lakefront. Tsk.
A trip across country sixty years ago was a montage of regional quirks and oddities reflective sometimes of get-rich-quick schemes, sometimes born of local legend or one lone soul's greatest aspirations. It was amusing, colorful, thought-provoking.
Now you can drive coast-to-coast on the same highway, stay in the same motel room every night and eat in the same fast food place. Ho-hum.
Possibly tackier: the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Lots of grossly overweight people in skimpy bathing attire, salt water taffy shops, kitschy souvenir stands, Philly cheesesteak sandwich joints, and Chinese foot massage parlors!
Moulin Rouge in Paris. Massive disappointment, lost all cultural/historical meaning, and became a small Disney tourist trap. Luckily we didn't purchase tickets to go in or anything but just seeing it from the outside I knew it became hyper commercialized.
There are many caves and viewpoints along or near the Blue Ridge Parkway that are tacky.
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The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most beautiful highway in the United States, and its CCC-constructed overlooks (which are what I assume you mean by "viewpoints") offer spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and valleys far below.
What caves are you referring to? Luray Caverns in Virginia? They are close to but not part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but have been a major tourist draw for many years, and are rather low-key in comparison to other places mentioned in this thread.
Casa Bonita in Denver. It is insanely tacky, with awful food and worse performances (the "cliff divers" are ridiculous). Everything is overpriced and cheesy.
But it's kind of glorious. We went for my birthday and had a blast laughing at everything.
It has legendary status in the Denver area and a whole South Park episode was built around it.
Moulin Rouge in Paris. Massive disappointment, lost all cultural/historical meaning, and became a small Disney tourist trap. Luckily we didn't purchase tickets to go in or anything but just seeing it from the outside I knew it became hyper commercialized.
Though at least if you go a block away from there and clear the obligatory sex shops, the neighborhood around it is pretty classic Paris and the view from Sacred Heart hill is awesome.
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