Looking for a new vacation travel destination? Wondering which holiday spots don’t get the credit they deserve, and which ones receive too much? Here are some tips on a few of the most over- and underrated places.

Underrated:

South Dakota/Black Hills. Beautiful oasis of pine and mountains, and plenty to do with Mount Rushmore, Native American sights, Hiking, scenic drives, waterfalls, tons of wildlife to view, national parks,camping, fishing, and even wild horses and bison roaming free.

Idaho

Upstate New York

Tennessee

National parks in Southern Utah.

South Carolina

Gulf Coast of Florida

Washington DC. A wonderful city with lots of places to explore.

Northern Wisconsin

The city of Athens

Oslo, Norway

Louisville, Kentucky. Not just for horse racing, this city has lots of small-town charm, a diverse art scene, a theme park for coaster lovers, lots of great restaurants, and much more.

Portland, Oregon.

Overrated:

Miami/South Florida. Hot, humid, crowded. Good shopping though for sure. The beach is fun but there are much better beaches in Florida.

Los Angeles. Too crowded on the highways, terrible smog, obstructed views of the surrounding scenery, unimpressive downtown surrounded by graffiti-covered neighborhoods.

Costa Rica

Stonehenge

Disney World at Christmas. Way too crowded to be able to enjoy yourself.

Yosemite National Park. You need to hike to enjoy the beauty of this park. Otherwise you may be disappointed.

Isle of Capri

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Cloudy water, no fish, not much to see.

Bali. Open sewers run under the sidewalks.

Atlanta

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Visitors agree it is interesting but say it is not worth the time.

Sante Fe, New Mexico

Blarney Stone in Ireland.

Although these places have been called underrated or overrated by some, one can usually find things to like and appreciate no matter where you go. Use this list of travel destinations as a guide and be sure to thoroughly research your vacation plans so that you won’t ultimately be disappointed. What one traveler finds to dislike, others may find to be the best part of their trip.

Senior travel is growing in popularity. Instead of relaxing at home, a large number of senior citizens are making the decision to get out and travel. If you are a senior citizen and you are interested in taking a summer vacation, you may be wondering which vacation destination is best.

All around the world, there are millions of vacation destinations. With a large selection of destinations, attractions, and activities, you may be wondering how you could ever narrow your choice down to just one place. The first step in deciding on a destination is by determining which activities you would like to participate in while on vacation.

Senior citizens enjoy a wide variety of different activities. If you enjoy golfing, a golf resort may be an ideal location for your next vacation. If relaxing by the beach is more your style, you have a large number of beaches to choose from. In addition to on land vacations, you may enjoy taking a summer cruise. Deciding what you would like to do while on vacation is the best way to find the perfect destination.

While the activities that you’d like to participate in on your vacation are important, so are the activities that you’d like to avoid. Unfortunately, a large number of popular vacation destinations are targeted towards the younger crowd. If excess loud music, late night partying, and excess drinking is not on your “to do list,” then you may want to consider avoiding destinations that promote these activities.

Due to their price, domestic vacations are often the most sought after for seniors. If you are able to afford the cost of overseas travel, you may want to consider an overseas vacation. These vacations are ideal for seniors who want to see the world, but have never had the opportunity to before. The preparation and travel required to have an overseas vacation is often long and large. You may want to examine your health and ability to withstand a long journey before booking an overseas vacation.

If an overseas vacation is possible and sounds ideal, you have an unlimited number of destinations to choose from. Popular destinations include France, Italy, and Spain. Many of these destinations are famous for their rich history. While vacationing overseas, you can visit a number of well-known tourist attractions. You can explore many of these attractions by yourself or with a tour guide.

If domestic vacations are more your style, you can often find fun, but relaxing vacations at, the above mentioned, beach and golf resorts. Myrtle Beach, located in South Carolina, is a well-known beach that caters to visitors of all ages. In addition to sunbathing and swimming, you may find a number of activities designed for individuals of your age.

Most of the golf resorts found in the United States cater to mature crowds. While children may be allowed to stay, there are a limited number of golf resorts that have onsite activities for children. The lack of onsite activities for children often provides a fun, safe, and relaxing environment for seniors. In addition to golfing, golf resorts are often equiped with private cottage rentals, fine dining restaurants, and onsite spas.

Once you have found the destination of your choice, you may want to book your reservations right away. Before making a reservation, you are encouraged to search for travel discounts. If you are a member of AAA or AARP, you may be able to receive valuable discounts on your next vacation.

With a large number of destinations designed with seniors in mind, you are sure to find the perfect location for your next vacation. Whether you choose to spend your vacation at the beach, travel overseas, or stay at a well-known golf resort, you are sure to make an unlimited number of memories.

Even if you’re not a gambler, you will enjoy a trip to the country’s most popular vacation destination – Las Vegas. Around 36 million people visit Las Vegas every year and enjoy the spectacular shows, dining and shopping. In recent years, Las Vegas has become more of a family destination; it is also relatively inexpensive in terms of accommodation and dining. The casinos slash prices for many items assuming the cost will be made up at the slot machines and the card tables.

Florida is one of the country’s most visited states, largely due to the weather as well as the lasting popularity of Disney World. The Orlando area also boasts around 100 other attractions and theme parks. Disney World is a great place for families; however in recent years, it has successfully appealed more to couples without children. It’s easy to find a hotel room here. The Orlando area has well over 100,000 hotel rooms to suit all tastes and budgets.

Almost as popular as Orlando is Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. More than 100 golf courses make this one of the best golfing destinations anywhere; although Myrtle Beach also offers plenty of family activities, outlet shopping and live shows. It’s also relatively inexpensive to vacation here; and if you have had enough of the crowds, the beautiful and historic city of Charleston is within easy reach.

Three of America’s largest and most well known cities are among the most popular vacation destinations – New York, Chicago and San Francisco. All three of these cities have world class tourist attractions, shopping and cultural attractions. Some of the best museums in the world can be found here, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum which attracts over 4 million art lovers every year.

America’s most visited National Park is the Great Smoky Mountains Park, which straddles the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. The park attracts around 10 million visitors every year who come to hike, bird watch and camp or simply enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere. Gatlinburg is the biggest resort in the Smokies, offering a wide range of family themed activities, casual dining and reasonably priced accommodation.

Some of the other most popular national parks that should be visited for their unique and wonderful scenery are Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. The island of Puerto Rico contains the only tropical rain forest in the US national park system. If you really would like to escape the crowds, visit the Southwest United States. This sparsely populated area contains much of the country’s most dramatic scenery.

The Caribbean has always been popular with US vacationers. It’s close enough to be easy to reach, but different enough to be considered exotic. There are plenty of Caribbean islands to choose from; whether you want night life, a European ambience, a variety of outdoor activities or just miles of secluded beaches. Also, it’s easy to get there, many US airlines offer nonstop service to several islands.

Hawaii has the appeal of being far enough away to feel different – but still offering all the conveniences of home as well as no language barrier. The Hawaiian Islands still retain much of their culture and traditions; although many people visit there simply for the beautiful beaches, almost perfect year round weather and the chance to get way from it all for a few days.

Mexico is a popular vacation destination – and not just because it’s so easy to get to. Around 30 million people travel “south of the border” every year to experience not only the country’s beautiful beaches and resorts, but a vibrant and fascinating culture as well as some spectacular Mayan remains. Also, no trip to Mexico would be complete without sampling the country’s unique cuisine.

Outside North America, France is the most visited country in the world, attracting around 90 million tourists every year. It’s no mystery, France really does have something for everyone, including historic cities and towns, beautiful countryside, great works of art and, of course, some superb food and wine. You could spend your entire vacation in Paris without seeing everything the city has to offer. This multitude of activities gives you an excuse to return someday, especially with that special someone.

Once considered off-limits to all but the most adventurous, China has quietly become one of the top few destinations for tourists. China hosted the 2008 Olympic Games which gave the country’s popularity a big boost. A trip to this country is a unique and unforgettable experience. The country offers some of the world’s most dramatic scenery, vibrant cities, world famous sights and one of the oldest cultures anywhere. Not to be missed is China’s famous Great Wall.

Everybody will have their own idea as to what makes a good vacation. With so many options, the hardest part is deciding where to go.