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Visited a friend in San Francisco in 1987. Forgot to stop by Haight-Ashbury while we were sight-seeing. I didn't know who Joshua Norton was then, so didn't know to visit his grave.
There's one place that squarely falls into the scenario in the OP. My husband and I went to San Francisco on our honeymoon. I really (really, really) wanted to get over to Sausalito but there just wasn't enough time. I was pretty bummed for some time after coming home, but I know we'll get out there again (live on the east coast). When we do, Sausalito will be first on my list, followed by Golden Gate Park. We drove through it, but I'd love to stop at various areas within the park, perhaps picnic there, etc. Make a day of it.
As for places I skipped because I wanted to, we were in London last June and we bypassed the palaces and Tower of London. We walked around outside Tower of London, but I didn't want to have an entire day taken up with waiting in line to get in and then going through and dealing with all the crowds. Also not much of a royal watcher, so I didn't care about Buckingham or Kensington. Instead, we went to the Churchill War Room, which many visitors don't get to (or even know about) and it was amazing.
I went to LA recently for the first time and didn't visit Sunset Boulevard, any of the studios, and most of the other major attractions. I just focused on the beaches.
Had a cruise stop in Hallifax, Nova Scotia and ended up visiting the cemetery where the city graciously buried the unidentified dead from the Titantic disaster. There was a light drizzle and the cemetery was old and beautiful. I sat on a bench with them and had thoughts. Turned out to be the most memorable day of my trip.
To the poster wanting to know more about the Black Hills use Trip advisor for a start to your research. It's a good site but not always the least commercial. The fun is truly endless there and it's a beautiful place which is relatively inexpensive. Ask locals too.
Most people just go to the Black Hills for Mount Rushmore, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and/or Crazy Horse.
The latter is a major rip-off IMNSHO. They've been working on it for more than 70 years, and they nickel and dime you to death to see it.
The Black Hills also has two extensive cave systems - Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument.
Custer State Park - Largest state park in South Dakota. There's a large bison herd on-site and every year they round them up and auction several hundred of them off. The roundup is pretty awesome to see.
Deadwood - it's not just an HBO series. Granted today it's mostly a kitschy town full of casinos, but Mount Moriah Cemetery is worth a visit to check out Wild Bill Hickok's and Calamity Jane's graves.
Lead - Home of the Homestake Gold Mine. It was one of the deepest and most productive gold mines in the world prior to its closure. Nowadays it's a scientific research site.
Spearfish Canyon - A beautiful scenic byway, especially in the fall during fall color season.
Iron Mountain Road - Another scenic byway between Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. There are a few single-lane tunnels designed to frame Mount Rushmore perfectly as you drive through them. The road also has a few "pigtail bridges" that are engineering wonders.
A little east of the Black Hills is Badlands National Park. The geography of the park is breathtaking.
Just outside the Badlands is Wall Drug, one of the biggest tourist traps along the Interstate Highway System.
In Eastern Wyoming (still inside the Black Hills) you'll find Devils Tower. Ever seen "Close Encounters of the Third Kind?" Devils Tower was featured prominently in the move, and is where the spaceship landing takes place.
There are a lot of somewhat hokey/touristy things along Highway 16 between Rapid City and Keystone (near Rushmore). Bear Country USA, the Reptile Gardens, the Cosmos Mystery Area are a few things that come to mind.
I wouldn't say we "missed" it but we didn't go to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville when we were in town a few weeks ago. .
I lived in Nashville, but circumstances cut my stay short so I never got to the Opry, which was still in the old Reiman Auditorium then. Also didn't get a chance to see a ball game in the infamous Sulphur Dell.
I love the glass artwork of Dale Chihuly, but I didn't know he had a ceiling at the Bellagio in Vegas, so I missed it. A week later, I read he had a display at the Phoenix botanical garden, but I couldn't get tickets.
Since then, I've been to his museum in Seattle and seen his chandeliers at the Mayo Clinic, so I'm doing ok.
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