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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Petrified Forest National Park is Arizona's least visited national park. </li><li>I stopped at the park on a recent road trip across America's Southwest. </li></ul><p>Just over two years ago, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/visiting-national-park-first-time-surprising-things-2021-10">I visited my first national park</a>.</p><p>The towering mountains and glacial lakes that fill Rocky Mountain National Park amazed me. While it was my first trek to a national park, I knew it wouldn't be my last.</p><p>Since then, I've hiked under arches in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/arches-national-park-disappointing-photos-what-its-actually-like-2022-5">Utah's Canyonlands National Park</a> and wandered through fields of cacti in Joshua Tree National Park in California.</p><p>By the end of 2023, I checked 14 national parks off my list.</p><p>There are plenty more I aim to see. The enormous Red Woods in California are calling my name. On the other side of the country, I'm itching to hike the coast of Maine's Acadia National Park.</p><p>But until recently, the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona wasn't on my radar. While its name sounded vaguely familiar, I knew nothing about the park.</p><p>I'll never pass up an opportunity to hike, so on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/essential-packing-items-road-trip-van-life-2023-12">recent road trip</a> passing through the area, I stopped at the park. Thankfully, an unfamiliar name didn't stop me from visiting because, after just one day inside, it became a new favorite.</p><div type="image" title="Badlands at the Petrified Forest National Park." height="1536" width="2048" msid="106455749" hostid="261" sizebytes="555110"></div><h2><strong>While the Petrified Forest National Park isn't as popular as other parks, I thought it was worth a visit</strong></h2><p>Arizona is home to three national parks, and when it comes to visitors, the Petrified Forest National Park has the fewest visitors in the state.</p><p>Grand Canyon National Park had <a target="_blank" href="https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Recreation%20Visitation%20(1904%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)?Park=GRCA"><u>4.7 million visitors in 2022</u></a>, while the Saguaro National Park had <a target="_blank" href="https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/National%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Ranking%20Report%20(1979%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)">908,000 visitors</a>.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Recreation%20Visitation%20(1904%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)?Park=PEFO"><u>505,000 visitors</u></a> explored the Petrified Forest in 2022. Across national parks in the US, the Petrified Forest National Park ranked <a target="_blank" href="https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/National%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Ranking%20Report%20(1979%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)"><u>39th out of 63 for visitors</u></a>.</p><p>While the park may not lure as many visitors as the Grand Canyon, it is home to something that doesn't exist in most parts of the world: copious amounts of petrified wood.</p><div type="image" title="Petrified wood in the national park." height="2048" width="1536" msid="106455751" hostid="261" sizebytes="602164"></div><p>Across the 221,390-acre park is petrified wood from the Triassic period, which dates more than 200 million years ago, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm">national park's website states</a>.</p><p>These fossils ended up in northeastern Arizona after logs washed into an ancient river more than 200 million years ago. The logs were buried under the river's sediment, which blocked off oxygen and slowed down the tree's decaying process, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/pefo/learn/nature/petrified-wood.htm">park's website</a> states.</p><p>After that, minerals like iron and silica replaced the trees' organic matter and produced the petrified wood visitors see today.</p><div type="image" title="Desert landscapes in the Petrified Forest National Park." height="1536" width="2048" msid="106455846" hostid="261" sizebytes="547578"></div><h2>Inside the park, I saw 200-million-year-old fossils firsthand</h2><p>As I entered the park, it was challenging to conceptualize 200-million-year-old trees — much less how they turned into granite. I headed to one of the best places in the park to admire the petrified wood: the half-mile giant logs trial.</p><p>Petrified wood was around every corner. But from a few feet away, the exterior of the logs looked just like real wood.</p><p>Upon closer inspection, they were granite. I grazed my fingertips along a cross-section of a fossilized log and could still see the former tree's rings. However, the concentric circles were now varying shades of purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, and white.</p><p>I continued exploring the park and its diverse landscapes. Beyond the fossilized wood, the Petrified Forest National Park is filled with badlands, a type of desert terrain; ancient petroglyphs, wildlife, mesas, and buttes.</p><div type="image" title="A trail in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona." height="1536" width="2048" msid="106455847" hostid="261" sizebytes="652038"></div><p>The park has a handful of shorter trails, which means visitors can experience diverse landscapes in less time. After wandering through the path of fossilized logs, I headed to Blue Mesa, which is a set of badlands striped in unusual colors.</p><p>Beyond the incredible blue badlands and crystalized fossils, the Petrified Forest National Park has connections with a handful of Native American groups.</p><p>A short walk to the Puerco Pueblo takes visitors back 600 years. Here, I viewed the remains of a 100-room pueblo, which was once home to the ancestral Puebloan people. Nearby petroglyphs also shed light on the population's history, culture, and life.</p><div type="image" title="A view of a former 100-room Hopi structure." height="1536" width="2048" msid="106455848" hostid="261" sizebytes="736966"></div><h2>I've seen incredible mountains and lakes across the country, but I've never seen petrified wood</h2><p>The park isn't home to towering mountains or striking canyons like many of the more popular national parks, but it does have a natural phenomenon I had never seen before.</p><p>The petrified wood amazed me and stepping back in time to learn about the Pueblo people isn't something I have the opportunity to do often.</p><p>Between the impressive mesas, colorful fossils, and history, I left feeling thrilled by my decision to stop. And I left with a new favorite park.</p>

I've visited 14 national parks, and this under-the-radar one just became an all-time favorite

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amber Share takes one-star reviews of national parks and turns them into colorful illustrations.</li><li>The negative reviews, which range from "totally overrated" to "bunch of rocks, big deal," are juxtaposed with Share's bold, beautiful illustrations. </li><li>Share has completed 52 of the 62 national parks in the US, and she told Insider she plans to illustrate international locations next.</li><li>"I think the biggest impression it's left on me is really appreciating how diverse the US geography is," Share told Insider. "It's not this homogeneous collection of mountain drawings."</li></ul><p>It's hard to imagine someone visiting one of America's greatest <keyword id="5605" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="outdoor">outdoor</keyword> treasures and leaving unsatisfied, yet buried in countless positive reviews for <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-scenic-drives-through-national-parks-2020-6">national parks</a> are a few negative ones. </p><p>The Petrified Forest <keyword id="18638" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Park">National Park</keyword> in Arizona is "basically a desert with some dead trees," according to one review. </p><p>A visitor to the Everglades National Park in Florida felt there were "miles and miles of nothing."</p><p>"The only thing bad about these lands is the entire experience," someone wrote about <keyword id="9575880" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="badlands-national-park">Badlands National Park</keyword> in South Dakota.</p><h2>Amber Share, a graphic designer, decided to put a humorous spin on these negative reviews of national parks</h2><p>Share takes one-star reviews and uses bold colors, artistic lettering, and engaging imagery to create <a href="https://www.instagram.com/subparparks/">posters for each park</a>.  </p><p><div type="image" title="subpar parks yellowstone national park" height="1200" width="966" msid="76965892" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Share has illustrated 52 of the 62 <a href="https://www.insider.com/national-parks-america-virtual-tours-3d-visit-2020-3">US national parks</a>, and quickly gained nearly 200,000 Instagram followers.</p><p>The graphic design professional told Insider the response has been overwhelming.</p><p>"I think there's so much negativity in the world right now," Share said. "And I get a lot of messages that people love how I'm turning a negative thing on its head a bit."</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/wales-urging-people-to-stay-home-through-sassy-postcards-2020-4">The posters</a> started as a passion project last fall. Share's love for nature and her desire to create a name for herself in the outdoor industry inspired her to illustrate <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-hotels-near-national-parks">national parks</a>.</p><p>"I didn't want it to be straight national park illustrations because that's been done a lot and I felt like it would really just be white noise," she said. "I wanted there to be a humorous angle to it because I'm just a very snarky person in general."</p><h2>After stumbling upon a Reddit post where someone had rounded up a few bad national park reviews, the idea clicked for her project</h2><p>"It was just a lightning bolt moment," the 31-year-old said. "That's it. That's what I'm doing."</p><p><div type="image" title="subpar parks arches national park" height="1200" width="966" msid="76965894" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Her first design was inspired by a review of Arches National Park in Utah that claims it "looks nothing like the license plate."</p><p>Share said she looks at photographs from the national parks to gather the "core essence" she's trying to depict. Her style is minimalistic and she employs shapes and shadows to create depth within each image. She told Insider that each design takes around five hours. </p><p>What had started as a passion project last fall is now Share's full-time job. She said her account really took off after she shared her work with Reddit groups, national park accounts, and other park rangers.</p><p>With her wide reach, Share has also released <a href="https://ambersharedesign.com/collections/frontpage">postcards, prints, and stickers</a> with the designs. </p><p>The graphic designer has just 10 US parks left, but she doesn't plan to stop her illustrations. Once she's completed those, she said she plans to illustrate international parks.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/artist-turned-shuttered-diner-into-art-gallery-2020-5">An artist turned a closed diner into an art gallery during lockdown by hanging her colorful paintings in the windows</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/instagram-artists-black-lives-matter-2020-6">Meet the artists behind the powerful Black Lives Matter artwork being shared across social media</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wales-urging-people-to-stay-home-through-sassy-postcards-2020-4">People in Wales are creating witty travel posters encouraging visitors to stay away</a></li></ul>

A graphic designer takes one-star reviews of national parks and turns them into works of art

<ul class="summary-list"><li>High <keyword id="11994710" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gas-prices" source="Orion">gas prices</keyword> have some Americans <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Famericans-start-summer-travel-season-beset-by-record-gas-prices-11654037695">reconsidering</a> their summer <keyword id="11899226" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="road-trip" source="Orion">road trip</keyword> plans. </li><li>In a viral <keyword id="11894125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tiktok" source="Orion">TikTok</keyword>, Lexi Laube recorded the cost of her 54-hour road trip from Minneapolis to <keyword id="11918419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="colorado" source="Orion">Colorado</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Record-breaking <keyword id="11955852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gas" source="Orion">gas</keyword> prices across the US haven't killed the summer road trip. At least not for 22-year-old Lexi Laube, a part-time barista and content creator from Minneapolis. </p><p>While inflation has forced <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Famericans-start-summer-travel-season-beset-by-record-gas-prices-11654037695">some Americans to reconsider their summer travel plans</a>, Laube set out on a week-long road trip in early June to visit <keyword id="11921607" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="national-parks" source="Orion">national parks</keyword> in Colorado and <keyword id="11920875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="utah" source="Orion">Utah</keyword> with her younger brother and friend.</p><p>When they returned, she posted a TikTok breaking down the total cost of the trip. It currently has 158,000 views and 18,000 likes. </p><p>"In college, I wanted to <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword> a lot more than I could afford to, so I just learned how to travel cheap," Laube said in an interview with Insider. "I didn't know there would be this much interest in it."</p><p>Laube, who shares cheap travel tips with her 423,000 followers on the video-sharing app, grew up going on road trips with her mother. She said the no-frills trips helped inspire her to push back on the idea that traveling is only for the wealthy.</p><p>"I still think road tripping in many ways is cheaper than flying somewhere," she said. "Especially if you're trying to travel really cheap ... if you want, you can tent out or stay in your car."</p><h2>How much money they spent during a week-long road trip</h2><div type="image" title="Courtesy of Lexi Laube" height="879" width="1170" msid="92705793" hostid="261"></div><p>Before hitting the road, Laube knew she wanted to keep the trip under $400 each and that gas would be the biggest expense by far.</p><p>In order to put a limit on how many miles the trio could afford to drive, she estimated that her friend's car could drive 350 miles for every $50 spent on gas. For food, Laube said they packed a cooler full of groceries and only ate out at restaurants twice. </p><p>They were able to save the most money by camping out or sleeping in the car at night, Laub told Insider. She found most of the campsites through the app <a href="https://freeroam.app/">FreeRoam</a>. </p><p>"I definitely think the key is traveling with other people," she added. "This wouldn't have been nearly as doable if I wasn't in a group."</p><p>Here's the breakdown of Laube's personal expenses totaling $371.66, according to iPhone notes and bank account screenshots shared with Insider. </p> <p><strong>Day 1 &amp; 2: Overnight drive from Minneapolis to Great Sand Dunes and Zapata Falls in Colorado</strong></p><ul><li>Gas: $50</li><li>Groceries: $14</li><li>Dining out: $24</li><li>Total: $88</li></ul><p><strong>Day 3 &amp; 4: Drive three hours to Garden of the Gods and six hours to Arches National Park </strong></p><ul><li>Gas: $50</li><li>Groceries: $10</li><li>Dining out: $9</li><li>Park entrance fees: $10 per person </li><li>Total: $79</li></ul><p><strong>Day 5: Drive five hours to Zion National Park </strong></p><ul><li>Food and coffee: $9 each</li><li>Park entrance fees: $35 per car ($11.66 per person) </li><li>Parking: $10 per person</li><li>Total: $30.66</li></ul><p><strong>Day 6: Drive 16 hours to Badlands National Park</strong></p><ul><li>Gas: $100</li><li>Groceries: $24</li><li>Total: $124</li></ul><p><strong>Day 7: Drive 7 hours back to Minneapolis</strong></p><ul><li>Gas: $50 </li></ul><p><strong>Total: </strong>average of $360 per person </p>

TikToker breaks down the total cost of her 54-hour drive from Minnesota to Colorado as record gas prices threaten the summer road trip

<p>A&#xa0;US National Park deleted several tweets on Tuesday highlighting the effects of climate change amid an apparent crackdown on federal agencies&#xa0;issued by President Donald Trump barring them&#xa0;from publicly sharing information.</p><p>Hours after Trump green-lit the construction of two pipelines and said separately&#xa0;environmentalism had "gone too far," Badlands National Park&#xa0;tweeted, and subsequently&#xa0;erased, a number of tweets highlighting facts that showed the effects of climate change.&#xa0;</p><p>The deletions came after&#xa0;several agencies ordered their communications staff&#xa0;to halt external communication, in some cases with lawmakers and the public.</p><p>The Huffington Post <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-communication-freeze_us_58878b3ae4b0441a8f7114e2?p0jpp58ohp6ekx1or">reported</a> that Department of Health and Human Services employees were barred from sharing information with public officials. The Environmental Protection Agency also issued a memo ordering staff to halt&#xa0;tweeting and sharing press releases, while several divisions within the Department of Agriculture<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-communication-freeze_us_58878b3ae4b0441a8f7114e2?p0jpp58ohp6ekx1or"> also received</a>&#xa0;similar directives requesting employees halt sharing&#xa0;information with the public.&#xa0;</p><p>On Tuesday, Democrats lamented the deleted tweets.&#xa0;</p><p>"Vladimir Putin would be proud," Democratic National Committee spokesperson Adrienne Watson said&#xa0;in a statement.</p><p>Environmental activists widely decried Trump's moves on Tuesday.</p><p>NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer characterized Trump's&#xa0;executive actions as putting "corporate interests ahead of American interests," saying the pipelines would harm the environment, while eschewing long-term green energy infrastructure that could create renewable energy jobs.</p><p>"For us to spend money to build, improve, and lock us into fossil fuel infrastructure - it is going to be bad from an environmental standpoint and a greenhouse gas standpoint, which is also going to raise our costs and make us less competitive," the billionaire environmental activist <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/activists-incensed-by-trumps-revivival-of-dakota-access-and-keystone-xl-pipelines-2017-1">told Business Insider&#xa0;</a>in a telephone interview. "It's really stupid."</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/president-barack-obama-morning-routine-2017-1">Here's how President Obama starts every morning</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="9weDl1czrZHZflgF7tKxKEBGnOyKlnZO" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

National Park deletes factual tweets about climate change amid Trump crackdown on agencies

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">Me at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>I have a confession to make: When my parents first started bringing my brothers and me on family vacations to National Parks, I wasn't thrilled. </p><p>Like many kids, I longed to run wild at Six Flags or Disney World - not spend hours hiking through the woods and posing for dorky pictures at the park's entrance sign, like my mom always wanted us to. </p><p>During drives through National Parks, my brothers and I played Pokémon on our Game Boys rather than looking at the awe-inspiring landscapes right outside the car window. (That is, until my dad forcibly removed said Game Boys from our bratty hands.)</p><p>Now, as an adult, I understand the mere ability to go on vacation with my family was a rare privilege. Visiting eight National Parks during my childhood was an even rarer one. </p><p>It's a privilege that I'm especially thankful for today, on the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/index.htm">100th birthday of the National Park Service</a>. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">Me and my brothers posing at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>National Park-hopping made me appreciate America in a way that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or watching July 4th fireworks never did. </p><p>In elementary school, we learned and sang songs about our country's natural diversity. But all those iconic images -  purple mountain's majesty, amber waves of grain, shining seas - didn't feel real. They were only words. </p><p>Seeing that diversity with my own eyes was entirely different. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">A snowy road at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><a href="https://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm">Haleakala</a>- a 10,000-foot-tall dormant volcano - looked like the surface of Mars. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm">Yellowstone</a> (the country's first National Park) was more like a desert, but with hot springs so brilliantly turquoise they almost hurt your eyes to look at. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm">Glacier</a> had <em>real</em><em> </em>glaciers - and frigid lakes just tenths of degrees away from becoming ice. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm">Bryce Canyon's</a> spindly orange rock spires were like something out of Alice in Wonderland. </p><p>We made dumb jokes about buttes in the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm">Badlands</a>. We saw snowbanks taller than my six-foot-two dad at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm">Rocky Mountain</a>. We hiked along snaking, narrow canyons in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm">Zion</a>. And we gazed out at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm">Grand Canyon</a> stretching all the way to the edge of the horizon. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">Hiking in Glacier National Park, Montana.</p></div><p></p></div></div>And as I got older, I noticed how many tourists from other countries were strolling along the paths of the Parks we visited. I began to realize that all these breathtaking scenes existed here, in my home country - and that people were traveling across the globe just to see them. </p><p>Because of what I saw at National Parks, I became proud to live in such a beautiful place. Seriously <span>-</span> we are up to our eyeballs in natural beauty. There are 59 National Parks covering 51.9 <em>million</em> acres of land. That's almost the same size as the entire state of Kansas.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">The eerie landscape at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Yes, our society faces plenty of problems. The National Parks themselves <a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/national-parks-issues/">face major threats</a>, too, from climate change and invasive species to human development and overcrowding. </p><p>But it's nice to know that America still boasts 59 pockets of pure, protected beauty.</p><p>This fall, I will visit my 10th National Park: Acadia, on Mount Desert Island in Maine. I won't be with my parents, but I'll be thinking of them when I turn off my phone (no Game Boy this time) and absorb everything around me. </p><p>And, at my campsite, I'll raise a glass (or maybe a water bottle) to wish the National Park Service a happy 100th.</p><p>Here's to many, many more. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Caroline Praderio/INSIDER</span></p><p class="caption">Me and my brothers making regrettable hat choices at Glacier National Park in Montana.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><em>Learn more about the National Park Service Centennial (and the many ways to celebrate it) <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/index.htm">right here.</a> </em></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-narrows-hike-in-zion-national-park-2016-8">One of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park goes right up a river</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="BkZGRpNTE67S5ehLhxQ_bavjvlxr5VAq" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

My parents brought me to 8 National Parks - and it showed me how beautiful America really is

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Madi Lee is a 24-year-old who moved to the tiny town of Medora, North Dakota, after college.</li><li>The year-round population of Medora is less than 150 but the town explodes with tourists in summer. </li></ul><p><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Madi Lee, 24, about her experience living and working in Medora, North Dakota — a summer tourist town with a year-round population of less than 150 people. Lee said the remoteness of Medora can be challenging at times, especially during the winter, but she loves the tight-knit community and nearby nature.</em></p><p>Medora, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-living-in-bismarck-north-dakota-2023-10">North Dakota,</a> has always been one of my favorite places. As a kid, I visited a few times on family trips and had such a good time. It's a unique place, located in the North Dakota Badlands at the entrance of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-underrated-states-what-to-do-been-to-all-50-2024-2#north-dakotas-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-is-excellent-2">Theodore Roosevelt National Park</a>. It's a historic little town with lots of Teddy Roosevelt history.</p><p>When I was in college at the University of Minnesota Duluth, I spent my summers working for the Theodore Roosevelt Foundation in Medora as a seasonal employee. After graduating in spring 2022, I came back to Medora for the summer and started inquiring about full-time positions.</p><p>The year-round population of Medora is somewhere between 100 and 150 people. It's really small. But in the summer, the town explodes. We have thousands and thousands of people come through Medora to get to the national park.</p><p>Our main business is tourism and hospitality. The town has a main attraction called the <a target="_blank" href="https://medora.com/medoramusical/">Medora Musical,</a> which happens every night during the summer and has been going on since 1965. It's a good ole' American West-type show in an outdoor amphitheater built into the natural landscape, comparable to a smaller version of Red Rocks. I work as a ticketing and reservations manager for the foundation.</p><p>We have the best combination of natural beauty, history, and great people. Those three things make Medora a really special place.</p><div type="image" title="Madi Lee poses for a photo in a cowboy hat/Madi Lee enjoys the snow" height="1500" width="3000" msid="109649903" hostid="261" sizebytes="216530"></div><h2><strong>There can be challenges during the winter</strong></h2><p>We don't have a grocery store in town; we just have a small gas station. They have the basics, but I have to drive 35 minutes to Dickinson, which is the closest large town, every time I need groceries. That can be challenging in the winter, given the weather. You have to be prepared if they close the interstate because of snow.</p><p>A year ago, we had a really intense, snowy winter. We were snowed in for a good portion of the season. The climate of Medora is nothing new to me, having come from Northern Minnesota, but what was new to me was being cut off from getting groceries or filling up my gas tank.</p><p>We definitely depend on each other in those times and help each other out. The fact that it's such a small town means it's a very tight-knit community.</p><p>The housing situation in Medora is another challenging aspect. There's pretty much no housing in town outside what my company owns. When I first became a full-time employee, there wasn't any housing available, so I ended up living in a dorm for a short period. Then, I moved into a small apartment that didn't have a full kitchen, so I had to depend on a hot plate and sink, which was challenging during that first winter.</p><p>Thankfully, my company built a new apartment building, which opened last June, and I was able to move into that. It's a really nice brand-new building.</p><p>I pay $850 a month for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Since it's owned by the foundation, we don't have to pay for utilities other than WiFi.</p><p>A lot of my co-workers live in the same building, which I think is a positive thing because it's a really supportive community. Our employee base is very young. Quite a few of us are all <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/genz-moving-10-states-midwest-mountains-dakotas-idaho-iowa-utah-2023-10">around the same age</a>, which is definitely a plus. It almost feels like a college setting.</p><h2><strong>We have to get creative during the winters</strong></h2><p>There are only two restaurants in Medora that are open year-round. There's not a whole lot to do in the winter other than outdoor activities, so having a few good friends around my age really helps because we end up hanging out together.</p><div type="image" title="A photo of the Northern Lights" height="768" width="1024" msid="109649904" hostid="261" sizebytes="14724"></div><p>The winter is actually one of my favorite times to go into the national park because of the lack of tourists. The wildlife seems a lot more active during the winter, too. We often go into the park at nighttime. If the stars are out, it's an absolutely incredible place to stargaze. We've even managed to see the Northern Lights a few times, which are spectacular.</p><p>But my favorite part of Medora is the summer. I just love the people. It's so fun to work in tourism. It's almost like a small-scale version of Disneyland because everyone who comes through town is having an exciting day of vacation. A lot of people are experiencing the Badlands for the first time, and everyone's so happy. I love experiencing that with them and being able to help make that happen for them.</p><p>The atmosphere is just the best. I definitely see myself staying in Medora for the foreseeable future.</p>

I'm a 24-year-old who lives in Medora, North Dakota, which has a population of less than 150 people. We don't have a grocery store in town but we do have the Northern Lights. 

If we want to keep America from collapsing, we have to do the unthinkable

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Monday, President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> tweeted that the idea of adding his face to <keyword id="397216" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mount-Rushmore">Mount Rushmore</keyword> "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mount-rushmore-trump-denies-carving-request-sounds-like-good-idea-2020-8">sounds like a good idea to me</a>!"</li><li>His comments came after The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/us/politics/kristi-noem-pence-trump.html#click=https://t.co/pTPfdX6b2o">reported</a> that the White House asked South Dakota's governor whether new carvings of presidents could be added to the monument.</li><li>A spokesperson for the monument has said that there are two reasons why a fifth president won't be added to the sculpture: There's no usable rock and it goes against the artist's vision. </li><li>Logistics aside, Americans polled in 2010 said the president they'd most like to see added to Mount Rushmore is John F. Kennedy. </li></ul><p>President Donald Trump appears to have a fixation with getting his likeness added to Mount Rushmore, but there are a couple reasons why that wish is unlikely to come true.</p><p>Last weekend the president vehemently denied a report in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/us/politics/kristi-noem-pence-trump.html#click=https://t.co/pTPfdX6b2o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>, which said that a member of his administration had contacted the governor of South Dakota last year to inquire about the process of adding another president to the sculpture. </p><p>However, Trump tweeted that it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mount-rushmore-trump-denies-carving-request-sounds-like-good-idea-2020-8">"sounds like a good idea to me"</a> based on his accomplishments in his first term in office. </p><p>It's not the first time that Trump's apparent fascination with having his face on Mount Rushmore has surfaced. </p><p>In a 2018 interview, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said the president talked about wanting to be on Mount Rushmore during their first meeting in the Oval Office, according to the <a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2018/04/24/president-donald-trump-mount-rushmore-trumpmore/544597002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Argus Leader</a>. </p><p>Trump also brought up the subject during a <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?431659-1/president-trump-holds-rally-youngstown-ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 2017 rally in Youngstown, Ohio</a>, saying: "I'd ask whether or not you think I will someday be on Mount Rushmore, but here's the problem: If I did it joking, totally joking, having fun, the fake <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> media will say 'he believes he should be on Mount Rushmore.' So I won't say it, OK? I won't say it."</p><h2>It's probably not happening</h2><p>While adding presidents to Mount Rushmore has been a topic discussed by the public over the years, the National Park Service's stance has always been clear: it's not going to happen. </p><p>Maureen McGee-Ballinger, chief of interpretation and education at Mount Rushmore, told the <a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/06/26/south-dakota-mount-rushmore-national-memorial-national-park-service-can-add-face/3243967001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Argus Leader</a> in June that there are two reasons why more presidents aren't likely to be added to the monument. </p><p>The first is that the rock surrounding the faces is unusable.</p><p>"When Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore died in 1941, his son Lincoln Borglum closed down the project and stated that no more carvable rock existed," she said. </p><p>In fact, Borglum originally intended to place Thomas Jefferson's face to the left of George Washington's, but had to squeeze Jefferson in between Washington and Teddy Roosevelt when the original rock was deemed unstable.</p><p>Abraham Lincoln's carving had to be pushed further right as a result, and the sculptor had to cut a planned inscription. </p><div type="image" title="mount rushmore" height="1541" width="2000" msid="77562479" hostid="261"></div><p>The second reason, McGee-Ballinger explained, was that it would defeat the original intention for the sculpture, which was to honor the first 150 years of US history. </p><p>She said that Borglum chose the four presidents depicted — Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt — not to honor those men specifically, but to "represent the principles of our present form of government." </p><p>"It is one man's artistic interpretation, and a tribute to that period of our nation's history," McGee-Ballinger said. "The National Park Service takes the position that death stayed the hand of the artist and the work is complete in its present form."</p><p>"Thus, to maintain both the integrity of the structure and the artist's concept, there is no procedure for adding another likeness, the sculpture is complete."</p><div type="image" title="gutzon borglum" height="1560" width="2000" msid="77562481" hostid="261"></div><h2>But new technology could make it possible</h2><p>Though Mount Rushmore officials seem to have ruled out adding any more to the sculpture, one stone carver told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/26/how-to-put-trump-on-mount-rushmore-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a> in 2017 that he could still do the job. </p><p>The Post had contacted Stuart Simpson after Trump first mentioned the idea of adding his face to Mount Rushmore at the Ohio rally in 2017.  </p><p>Simpson estimated that he could add Trump's face with a team of 25 designers, 30 trained stone workers, and 125 laborers, all for the price of $64 million — more than three times the cost of the original sculpture. </p><p>"Technology these days is way more advanced," Simpson said. "I think a lot of it will still have to be sculpted and removed off the mountain in the same manner that it was in the past, but with the new computer abilities and 3D scanning, I would think there's much more equipment that could be used to make it a more accurate and easier process." </p><h2>Most likely contenders</h2><p>Even if it were possible to add another president to Mount Rushmore, Trump likely wouldn't make a cut.</p><p>He could be described as the most unpopular president in modern history, because his approval rating has only ever been as high as 49%, according to <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gallup</a>.</p><p>Logistics aside, Gallup conducted a poll in 2010 asking Americans which president they would most like to see added to the sculpture, and the resounding answer was John F. Kennedy, who got 85% of the vote, according to the <a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/06/26/south-dakota-mount-rushmore-national-memorial-national-park-service-can-add-face/3243967001/">Argus Leader</a> and <a href="https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/blog/2013-11-17/mount-rushmore-great-places-five-faces">Black Hills and Badlands</a>, a South Dakota tourism website.</p><p>Of course, Trump wasn't an option in the poll, since he had not yet been president then.</p><p>There have also been movements started in the past to get former Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan's faces added to the sculpture, the Argus Leader reported.</p><div type="image" title="barack obama mount rushmore" height="1597" width="2000" msid="77562482" hostid="261"></div><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/mount-rushmore-is-small-disappointing-photos-2020-7">Disappointing photos show how small Mount Rushmore is in real life</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announced-national-garden-of-american-heroes-2020-7">Trump announced a 'National Garden' to honor 'American heroes.' Here's who he wants to memorialize.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-statue-protesters-want-to-end-america-mount-rushmore-speech-2020-7">Anti-racism protesters who campaign to take down statues want to 'overthrow the American Revolution,' says Trump in Mount Rushmore speech</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facts-didnt-know-about-mount-rushmore"></a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/secret-room-facts-mount-rushmore-presidents-south-dakota-inaccessible-tourists-lincoln-2017-1">There's a secret room behind Mount Rushmore that's inaccessible to tourists</a></li></ul>

Trump has mentioned having his face carved on Mount Rushmore multiple times. Here's why that is unlikely to happen.

<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>The <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> Summary:</strong></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>  Jason White&#xa0;left his waitress a $450 tip, along with a heartwarming message, in a Washington, DC, restaurant.</strong><br><strong>  She said that it&#xa0;reshaped her perspective and gave her hope.</strong><br><strong>  At a time when the country seems divided, small acts of kindness can go a long way.</strong></br></br></p><p><span><br>Jason White, 37, left a</br></span> hopeful&#xa0;message for his&#xa0;waitress in a Washington, DC, restaurant - along with a generous tip.</p><p>He and two friends, all&#xa0;Trump supporters, were in town from&#xa0;Texas to witness the inauguration, and stopped into Busboys and Poets for a bite to eat. The restaurant, decorated with African-American art and photos, is known for promoting social justice causes.&#xa0;Their waitress, 25-year-old Rosalind Harris, noticed one of them wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat.</p><p>White, who, along with his friends, is white, suggested that he might want to take it off.</p><p>White is also a dentist. He complimented Harris' smile, and they continued chatting.</p><p>When White and his friends received the bill for $72.60, he added a $450 tip along with a message to Harris:</p><p>"We may come from different cultures and may disagree on certain issues, but if everyone would share their smile and kindness like your beautiful smile, our country will come together as one people," they wrote. "Not race. Not gender. Just American. God bless!"</p><p>White didn't even tell his friends what he'd done. He just wanted to do his part to bring healing and respect into the deeply divided political climate.</p><p><span>"As I sat there I thought about the entire weekend and I thought I don't know her, she doesn't know me, but if most Americans have a preconceived perception about people then we're never going to get better," he told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/01/24/not-race-not-gender-just-american-these-white-men-left-their-black-waitress-an-uplifting-note-and-a-450-tip/?utm_term=.bfe4f7458c1c">The Washington Post</a>.</span></p><p><span>Harris&#xa0;heard the message loud and clear.</span></p><p><span>"This definitely reshaped my perspective," she told The Post. "Republican, Democrat, liberal are all subcategories to what we are experiencing.&#xa0;It instills a lot of hope."</span></p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-badlands-tweets-protesting-trumps-gag-order-2017-1">Here are the deleted tweets from Badlands National Park protesting Trump's social media gag order</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="djc2U3OTE6MnUQ-kVYOafEhejhIGyv_k" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div></hr>

A Trump supporter left his waitress a $450 tip and a heartwarming message about unity

<p>English writer G.K. Chesterton said that the traveler sees what he sees, while a tourist only sees what he came to see.</p>
<p>And sometimes, those tourist attractions aren't worth seeing at all.</p>
<p>Inspired by this <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-most-disappointing-travel-places-2014-12">Reddit list of overrated tourist destinations</a>, we wanted to round up some of the biggest tourist let-downs in the world, and suggest some alternative places to go instead.</p>
<p>We're not saying you should never visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo or view the art in the Louvre. We're just saying that you should also get off the beaten path - it will lead you to something even better. &#xa0;</p>
<h3>Instead of seeing NYC from the top of the Empire State Building, go to the Top of the Rock</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>Waiting to get to the top of the Empire State Building is a pain. It's expensive, there are long lines, and the views of New York City are only so-so.</p>
<p>A better option is to go to the Top of the Rock in Midtown. Sure it's just as expensive, but your view will include the iconic Empire State Building (which you miss by going to the Empire State Building itself) as well as views of Central Park.&#xa0;</p>
<h3>Instead of touring the ruins of Pompeii, visit the lesser-known ancient Roman city Herculaneum</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>Because Pompeii has become so massively well-known, it's always crowded with tourists and many of its frescoes have been removed to be housed in museums around the world.</p>
<p>Herculaneum was also buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, but unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum retained many of its wooded objects like building beams, beds, doors, and even food. Plus it was a wealthier town than Pompeii and there are more lavish homes and frescoes to view.</p>
<h3>Instead of seeing the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, spot the real celebs where they actually hang out</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a rude awakening for tourists - the street is dirty, littered, and not at all glamorous.</p>
<p>A better option (if you can afford it) is to go to the real locations where celebrities hang out. Beacher's Madhouse, the restaurant Nobu, and the Staples Center are all good options.</p>
<p>If you're on a budget, go hiking at Runyan Canyon where many celebs go to walk their pets and burn off some calories.</p>
<h3>Instead of taking a tourist shot at the Great Pyramids, drive to the Pyramid Fields of Dahshur</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The Great Pyramids of Cairo may be the most well-known pyramids in the world, but that doesn't mean they're the best. In fact, they can be so overrun with tourists and the view marred by modern Cairo that some say it's not even worth visiting.</p>
<p>If you love history but hate the crowds, head to the Pyramid Fields at Dahshur. It's not a far drive from Cairo, but far enough where not many tourists venture out. Plus, the pyramids there are just as awe-inspiring as those in Cairo - perhaps more so.</p>
<h3>Instead of braving the heat in Athens, take a trip to one of Greece's gorgeous islands</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>After you visit the Acropolis in Athens, give yourself a palate cleanser from the heat and scaffolding by exploring the beautiful and exotic Greek islands.&#xa0;</p>
<p>We especially recommend Rhodes, which has gorgeous beaches as well as its medieval Old Town, the Temple of Apollo, the Acropolis of Lindos, the Governor's Palace, and more. For history buffs, Rhodes is unmissable.</p>
<h3>Instead of walking around Stonehenge with all the tourists, go out of your way to see the Callanish Standing Stones</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>Stonehenge has long been made into a tourist must-see, but the endless crowds and designated walkway can make it seem less than extraordinary.</p>
<p>For a dramatic alternative, Scotland's Isle of Lewis has its own standing stones that are breathtaking as well as less visited. Plus, you can get a lot closer to the Callanish Standing Stones than at Stonehenge.&#xa0;</p>
<h3>Instead of battling crowds ogling the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, see the impressionist works at the Musée d'Orsay</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The Louvre is spectacular yet overwhelming, and the same can be said for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The tiny work of art is constantly surrounded by tourists trying to snap a picture of the famous painting.</p>
<p>Instead, head to the train-station-turned-museum Musée d'Orsay. It has gorgeous impressionist works and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. Fans of Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh will love this museum.</p>
<h3>Instead of making a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, meander over to the Piazza Navona</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>While the Trevi Fountain may be beautiful, it's overrun with people, which makes it next to impossible to appreciate the grandeur of the fountain.</p>
<p>When you're sick of trying to take a picture there, go to the Piazza Navona, which is not only less crowded, but it also has a pretty fountain with sculptures by famed Italian sculptor Bernini.</p>
<h3>Instead of downing a pint at the Guinness Factory in Dublin, spend an evening in a genuine Dublin pub</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The Guinness Factory tour may sound like a good idea, but for all your trouble you're rewarded with a single pint of Guinness and a sub-par view of Dublin.</p>
<p>Skip the tour and get directly to the Guinness at a nearby Dublin pub. A historic option like The Brazen Head (Dublin's oldest pub) will not only give you a more genuine Irish experience, but it'll also get you buzzed a lot faster.</p>
<h3>Instead of wandering through Times Square, head uptown to Museum Mile</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>While most tourists come to New York City and head directly for Times Square, it's incredibly disappointing. Times Square is dirty, crowded, expensive, and overwhelming - walk through it once and you'll never want to go back.</p>
<p>A much lovelier walk can be had on New York's Museum Mile on 5th Avenue. It stretches from 82nd to 104th street with well-known museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. You'll also get gorgeous views of Central Park.</p>
<h3>Instead of staying at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas like everyone else, check out a resort in the Exumas&#xa0;</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>Everyone stays at Atlantis Resort, but hardly anyone seems to actually enjoy it. The rooms need updating, the food is expensive, and the attractions are only so-so.</p>
<p>Honestly, anywhere else in the Bahamas is better. Try a resort on a smaller island in the Exumas which is more low-key with its pristine coastlines and cool attractions like the&#xa0;"domesticated" swimming pigs that live on Big Major's Spot.</p>
<h3>Instead of staring up at Mount Rushmore from a tiny viewing platform, take a drive through South Dakota's Badlands National Park</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>Mount Rushmore is an American cultural icon, but standing on a viewing platform and looking up at the real thing may make the presidents' heads look rather tiny - and disappointing.</p>
<p>Instead, go to South Dakota's Badlands National Park. With nearly 243,000 acres of protected land, visitors can view the incredible rock formations and wildlife you can't see anywhere else in the world, including mountain goats, rabbits, bobcats, antelope, and even bison.&#xa0;</p>
<h3>Instead of seeing the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, walk over to the nearby Gefion Fountain</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen is a major tourist attraction on the&#xa0;Langelinie waterfront despite its diminutive size.</p>
<p>There's a more interesting attraction close by, however - the Gefion Fountain. Sculptor Anders Bungdaard designed the fountain showing&#xa0;Norse&#xa0;Goddess Gefion&#xa0;who was offered as much land in Sweden as she could plow.</p>
<p>So she turned her sons into oxen and plowed enough land to create Zealand, the island where Copenhagen is located. Gefion was pretty badass and her fountain is, too.</p>
<h3>Instead of going to a wax museum, go literally anywhere else</h3>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The world is a huge place with plenty to see and experience. Why would you waste your time looking at wax replicas of famous people?</p>
<p>If you don't believe me, go once and you'll never want to go again.</p>

14 Overrated Tourist Attractions Around The World - And Where To Go Instead

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Knowing which tourist attractions are worth seeing and which aren't can help you save valuable time and leave you feeling like you saw the best of the area on a trip.</span></p><p class="p1">Inspired by this <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-most-disappointing-travel-places-2014-12">Reddit list of overrated tourist destinations</a>, we wanted to round up some of the most disappointing tourist traps in the US, and suggest some alternative places to go instead.</p><p class="p1">Here are some alternatives to 10 popular US tourist attractions that will take you off the beaten path.</p><h3 class="p1">Instead of seeing New York City from the top of the Empire State Building, go to Top of the Rock.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock and Daniel Goodman/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">You'll get better views of the city.</p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">Skip the long lines at the Empire State Building and head to the<a href="http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/"> Top of the Rock</a> instead, where you'll get better views of New York City, Central Park, and of the Empire State Building itself. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Go during dusk or dawn to get an even more stunning view of the city. </span><span class="s1">"Watching the sun set or rise over the New York skyline is amazing," Reddit user <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3l678w/which_popular_tourist_destinations_are_not_worth/cv3julv">jesiman</a> wrote.</span></p><h3 class="p1">Instead of waiting in line for an overpriced Philly cheesesteak at <span>Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia, try a cheesesteak from another local spot<span>.</span></span></h3><p><span class="s1"><span><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia Commons/Bobak Ha'Eri and Flickr/steve lyon</span></p><p class="caption">Locals say the Philly cheesesteaks here are authentic and delicious.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></span></span><span class="s1">Getting a Philly cheesesteak - a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced sautéed rib eye beef and melted cheese - is a must when visiting Philadelphia, but knowing where to get it from makes all the difference. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While Pat's King of Steaks is one of the most popular, many locals believe that their sandwiches are mediocre and overpriced.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead, try another cheesesteak joint that's popular with locals. </span><span class="s1">Reddit user <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3l678w/which_popular_tourist_destinations_are_not_worth/cv41c2f">Bar_Jude</a> recommends going to <a href="http://www.jimssouthstreet.com/about/">Jim's Steaks South St.,</a> where you can choose from American cheese or Provolone, a mushroom-smothered sandwich, or one stuffed with sweet peppers.</span></p><h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead of going to Walt Disney World, go to Universal Studios for a theme park experience. </span></h3><p><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Associated Press and Flickr/Jeremy Thompson</span></p><p class="caption">You'll have a much more relaxed experience.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">It might be dubbed the "Happiest Place on Earth," but thanks to incredibly long lines and overbearing crowds (especially in the summer), the Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, can be more overwhelming than pleasant. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Universal-Studios-Florida.aspx">Universal Studios Orlando</a>, the movie and TV-based theme park in Orlando, tends to have shorter lines than Disney. </span><span class="s1">"</span><span class="s1">Universal Studio is much better...single rider lanes, so every seat is filled," Reddit user <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3l678w/which_popular_tourist_destinations_are_not_worth/cv434br">swiddie</a> wrote. </span></p><h3>Instead of Plymouth Rock, go to the Pilgrim Monument for a piece of history and great views.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbarrison/3863858066/">Wikimedia Commons/jjron and Flickr/Harvey Barrison</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">While Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is historically important as the site where the Mayflower Pilgrims landed, it's just a rock and the experience of seeing it can be pretty underwhelming. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">If you're looking for a way to connect to the historical past of the Pilgrims, check out the <a href="http://www.pilgrim-monument.org/overview-faq#.Vg2Q_Z3BwXA">Pilgrim Monument</a> in Provincetown, Massachusetts, instead, where you can climb 252 feet to its top and be rewarded with spectacular views of Provincetown.</span></p><h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead of going to Bourbon Street, go to Frenchmen Street for a true New Orleans experience. </span></h3><p><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Flickr/Bart Everson and Flickr/Infrogmation of New Orleans</span></p><p class="caption"> Frenchmen Street offers great live music. </p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While Bourbon Street has become a crucial part of experiencing New Orleans for some, the iconic street tends to be expensive, touristy, and extremely crowded. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Frenchmen Street, on the other hand, has become a popular alternative and is located in New Orleans' French Quarter. The street is home to plenty of short-order places, BYOB venues, quirky shops, and music venues with live jazz and blues.</span></p><h3>Instead of staring up at Mount Rushmore from a tiny viewing platform, take a drive through South Dakota's Badlands National Park.</h3><p><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock</span></p><p class="caption">Explore the breathtaking scenery of the national park.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span>Mount Rushmore is an American cultural icon, but standing on a viewing platform and looking up at the real thing may make the presidents' heads look rather tiny - and disappointing.</span></span> </p><p>Instead, go to South Dakota's<a href="http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm">Badlands National Park</a>  With nearly 243,000 acres of protected land, visitors can view incredible rock formations and wildlife they won't see anywhere else in the world, including mountain goats, rabbits, bobcats, antelope, and even bison. </p><h3 class="p1">Instead of going up to the Willis Tower for views of Chicago, go to <span>The Signature Room restaurant at the 95th floor of the <span>John Hancock Center.</span> </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-signature-room-at-the-95th-chicago-2?select=9uhyUzGq7uoUgEVBLJ8dug">Wikimedia Commons and Yelp/Phuong T.</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Signature Room gives you dinner with a killer view.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span><span class="s1">While the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois, does boast impressive views of the city's skyline, tickets cost $20 and you might have to wait in line for hours before you're able to go up. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead, go to the <a href="http://www.signatureroom.com/">The Signature Room</a> restaurant on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center for magnificent views of the Chicago skyline.</span></p><h3 class="p1">Instead of getting lost in the crowd at Hollywood Boulevard, go to West Hollywood.</h3><p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p class="caption">Enjoy the Los Angeles nightlife in its historic music venues.</p></div><p></p></div></div><span>The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a rude awakening for tourists - the street is dirty, littered, crowded, and not at all glamorous.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead, head to West Hollywood, where you'll come across famous music venues like Whisky a Go Go and The Viper Room, authentic shops, outdoor cafes, and fine-dining options.</span> </p><h3 class="p1">Instead of simply looking at the White House from outside, check out the amazing artifacts at the the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.</h3><p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p class="caption">The Smithsonian has 19 museums to explore.</p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">Don't get us wrong, the White House is a crucial monument and is great to see if you are able to <a href="http://washington.org/DC-faqs-for-visitors/how-can-i-tour-white-house">schedule a tour</a> but otherwise you'll find that you can only look at it from a distance, which can be greatly disappointing. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead, head to the<a href="http://www.si.edu/"> Smithsonian</a>, which includes 19 different museums and the National Zoo in Washington, DC. It is the world's largest museum and research complex.</span><span class="s1">From learning about the origins of man at the <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/">National Museum of Natural History</a> to the future of space <keyword id="6354692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> at the <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/">National Air and Space Museum</a>, you'll leave with a much wider knowledge of the country's history.</span></p><h3 class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Instead of waiting in long lines to see Alcatraz, take the ferry to Angel Island.</span></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock/cdrin</span></p><p class="caption">You'll get gorgeous views of the Bay.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The foreboding island of Alcatraz is a popular attraction for tourists visiting San Francisco. However, since it attracts such a large amount of people for daily tours, lines to get on its boats are long and tours aren't cheap at around $30 per person. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Instead, take the ferry out to the nearby Angel Island, where you'll get gorgeous views of the Bay and plenty of island terrain for biking and hiking in stunning scenery. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">For history buffs who want to experience the prison, take a <a href="https://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/pprog-evening-programs.aspx">night tour</a> instead to avoid some of the crowds.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gunnar-garfors-safe-traveling-tips-2015-10">How to stay safe while traveling abroad</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="UwYmh2dzpsukhpk3H1UV6u1q_COu2ovO" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

10 overrated tourist attractions in the US - and where to go instead

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque</span></p><p class="caption">U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while signing executive orders at the White House in Washington January 24, 2017.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Donald Trump's administration, which is strongly pro-fossil fuels and questions the reality of climate change, has been quick to change government websites to align with its views.</p><p>Mere hours after Trump took office, all <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-energy-idUSKBN1542JT" target="_blank">mentions of climate change were gone</a> from Whitehouse.gov, replaced with a page about Trump's "<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/america-first-energy" target="_blank">America-first energy plan</a>" that favors oil, gas and coal and does not mention the climate or renewable energy. Within days, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tells-epa-to-remove-climate-change-website-2017-1">climate change section of the EPA</a> had disappeared, though it was put back up a few hours later. (Doug Ericksen, a spokesman for the team now in charge, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-epa-idUSKBN15929S" target="_blank">claimed</a> they're "scrubbing it up a bit, putting a little freshener on it, and getting it back up to the public.") The EPA page that used to have answers to frequently asked questions about climate change, however, is still gone. </p><p>For those wondering what the pages used to say, the <a href="https://archive.org/" target="_blank">Internet Archive</a> has debuted a new browser extension that allows you to scroll back in time through different versions of a single page, and save current versions of a page for others to see in the future.</p><p>The extension, which is <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wayback-machine/fpnmgdkabkmnadcjpehmlllkndpkmiak" target="_blank">available for Google Chrome users</a> or as an <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/wayback-machine-search/?src=search" target="_blank">add-on for Firefox users</a>, essentially gives users access to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine with one click. The Machine has been around for 15 years (and the non-profit Archive for 20), and previously let anyone who visited the Internet Archive website view past versions of millions of websites by looking up a key word or URL. With the browser extension, you can automatically scroll through all the previously captured versions of the specific site you happen to be visiting.</p><p>Mark Graham, the director of the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive, tells Business Insider that the extension debuted a couple of weeks before Trump took office, and the group was planning to release it no matter what. But he admits the tool has gained new attention and importance because of Trump's changes to government webpages.</p><p>"It really just highlights the ephemerality of the web," Graham says, noting that disappearing content has always been a risk of the cultural shift away from printed material - which is why the Internet Archive started working to save webpages two decades ago. "This is getting a lot of attention right now because we're seeing it up close and personal," he says.</p><p>The Chrome extension has three simple buttons. The first, "save page," allows you to save the site you're on and put it into the Internet Archive's enormous database, so that future visitors can look back to see what the page looked like at the moment you captured it. (The pages are saved with working links.) The "recent version" button takes you to the last version the Wayback Machine has in its archive, and the "first version" button takes you to the earliest version the archive has saved. Once you click either of the second two options, a bar appears on the top of the browser window, giving you the option to scroll back through all the captured versions of the page that exist.</p><p>Take the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/climate-change" target="_blank">White House's climate change page</a>.</p><p><strong>When you visit the site now, this is what it looks like:</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Whitehouse.gov/Screenshot</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>The Internet Archive's browser extension can detect that the page's content is not available, and will automatically ask if you'd like to see a recent version of that site instead.</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Whitehouse.gov/Screenshot</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>The most recent archived version of the site looks like this, since it was last saved on January 20, after Trump's inauguration:</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Internet Archive/Screenshot</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>But if you scroll back, you'll see the website looked like this just before the transition:</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Internet Archive/Screenshot</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>By clicking on the number of captures in the top bar, you can even see a calendar of all the times that site was saved, and select the version you'd like to see (many are identical, since many pages aren't updated daily).</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Internet Archive/Screenshot</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>After Trump's election, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-archiving-government-data-trump-2017-1">many scientists started worrying</a> about what would happen to government webpages and the reports and data sets they contain, which lots of researchers rely on for their work. A group called the <a href="https://envirodatagov.org/" target="_blank">Environmental Data and Governance Initiative</a> (EDGI) started downloading data and saving webpages to the Internet Archive, an effort that proved prescient.</p><p>"It certainly was alarming but we do feel like we've done enough of the grunt work," says Andrew Bergman, a PhD student at Harvard and member of EDGI's steering committee. "We feel quite good that within those EPA sites we have all the reports downloaded, and we're tracking those websites through a few different means."</p><p>But Bergman says the work isn't over, and it's likely pages have been missed, especially on sites the group deemed less at risk of immediate changes. With the new Wayback Machine extension, anybody can join the effort to preserve government websites. Mark Graham says thousands of new people have been downloading and using the extension every day.</p><p>"The fact that people are using our service is inspiring, and is also reminding us that we have to pay attention and use the tools that are available to us to emphasize that facts matter," he says. "We're grateful for the opportunity to help strengthen our democracy and give people tools to hold politicians and other people in positions of authority accountable."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-badlands-tweets-protesting-trumps-gag-order-2017-1">Here are the deleted tweets from Badlands National Park protesting Trump's social media gag order</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="djc2U3OTE6MnUQ-kVYOafEhejhIGyv_k" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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