When a friend insists we travel to certain cities because we would "just love it," they're setting the bar pretty high.
And a city can also boast a rich history or an attraction that makes us curious enough to find out what makes it so appealing.
But, alas, when we finally reach the destination, it's never exactly what we thought it would be.
Curious to hear from strangers online, Redditor tshirtguy2000 asked:
"What city is overrated?"
These are not officially real cities but they do have a rotating population.
It's Always A Party There
"Party city."
"As a former slave associate at party city. I 100% agree."
Lotsa Crime
"Cabot Cove, the murder capital of the world."
"Sure, the murders are all solved, but would you really want to live in a city with that much, easily solved, crime?"
– Andvare
Neighbor To Springfield
Shelbyville. Those f'kers steal trees from neighboring cities.
the simpsons episode 25 GIFGiphyThese were once considered destination cities but their popularity eventually took a nose dive.
Not Pair-A-Dice
"Atlantic City. Venture a few blocks off the boardwalk and it's incredibly depressing. Very clearly an area exploited by the big casinos while the locals have been driven to absolute poverty, while they still force a smile to work the shops that are required for the tourist traffic."
– juanzy
Lots Of Water
"Niagara Falls, Canada. I grew up there. Mayor pumps most of tax $ to casinos and tourism with flashy vegas-esque attractions."
Meh Beach
"Myrtle Beach. I'm not even saying that it has a good reputation, I'm just saying that any shred of positive thinking about it makes it overrated."
Where A Creek Is An Exciting Attraction
"Lamb's Grove, Iowa. It's not the paradise on earth that people always say it is. Don't get me wrong, it's got great Chinese food but the motel 6 is meh at best."
– shah357
Impressions for these cities fell far below expectation.
Do-Bye
"Dubai. It's the clickbait of the world. 'We have the biggest/tallest/most expensive YOU WON'T BELIEVE when you see THIS...' It's hot as f*k, everything's a man-made tourist trap; labor exploitation and racism are rampant, and they try so hard to prove to the world how modern and Westernized they are. Really, it's just government propaganda."
Truth be told, many cities can be overrated.
It just depends on a person's experience, or a resident's perspective about what it is about the location they live in that is nothing worth writing home about.
If I had to choose, I would say Las Vegas is overrated, but that's because there is nothing in Sin City that is of personal interest to me.
I may be severely judged for my opinion, but that is a gamble I'm willing to take.
Stereotypes suck.
Crime, unfortunately.
That's what it's known for on TV and movies and video games but it is so much more than that. It's amazing communities and small businesses and sh*tty roads and a lot of diversity ... I just love it so much and it makes me cringe every time I hear a flippant joke about my beloved home.
I guess if you're not from here you probably don't notice it, but we're the butt of a LOT of jokes.
Yikes.
Hitler was born there.
Sorta similar, but my town is known for the "Hitler Dad".
https://www.nj.com/news/2008/12/child_named_after_adolf_hitler.html
Atlanta?
Coca-Cola.
I think I had a layover there once.
I thought the joke was if you ever flew in the US you had a layover there.
Sounds delicious.
GiphyA plate of food that one would think was the hot item at a raccoon restaurant.
Long shot but Rochester? I'm thinking of the garbage plate.
Honestly, this could be a lot of places.
Chlamydia and Ice.
Sounds like most of rural Australia.
Australia's koalas have taken additional steps to cope with the bushfires.
How wholesome!
Jelly Belly Factory!
I got to go there in 2005! I was disappointed we didn't get to see the jellybeans actually being made, though. Just a tram tour around the perimeter of a warehouse.
I just recently found an old jellybean container full of dried-out jelly husks, it was the most fascinating thing. I'd never seen a jellybean rot and leave this porous exoskeleton behind.
Houston!
GiphyWe're the place you call in the cliche when you say "we have a problem".
I love calling my dad (ex Mission Control) every so often and saying this.
What a kind city.
Helping people who Come From Away when they're stranded.
Gander! The whole world owes you a debt of gratitude.
What's going on in Milwaukee?
Two girls stabbing a third girl because they wanted to meet Slenderman...
Greater Milwaukee area. Also home to the Making a Murderer guy and Gypsy Rose's boyfriend.