Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Question Of The Week


When we were kids, my parents dragged us to San Antonio to see the Alamo. My mother LOVES Texas. I don't. Just one of many of our differences.

So, upon arriving, we 6 kids just stood there like, "Huh. There it is." We didn't grasp the significance. We didn't care. We were kids.

In addition to our lack of interest, the Alamo is significantly underwhelming. Agreed? I'm pretty sure rather than marveling at the size or structure or presence of this piece of history, we were quoting Pee Wee's Big Adventure, "There's no basement in the Alamo!"

I think you know by now, I like history. I like dragging our kids (and Blake, truth be told) to sites like the Alamo. I think it's important for kids to learn such things. But, some simply don't live up to the hype.

Grand Canyon - awesome

Mount Rushmore - impressive

Four Corners - lame

What? The (now suggested to be false) location where 4 states meet at one single point? We can all stand in a different state to take a picture? This wasn't fantastic?



Nope. I thought Blake was going to kill me upon arriving. We drove 400 miles out of the way on our Griswold Cross Country Trek of '09 to marvel at this location. It was a tourist trap, complete with tents selling all sorts of souvenirs. And, we paid to see it. Damn. All sorts of wrong.

I'm glad we went. It was hokey and touristy and definitely "my" kind of thing. But, did it impress? No way.


***What have you been disappointed by? What looked different in person? Movie.....book......historical site......what didn't live up to the hype?

36 comments:

If the shoe FITZ said...

Graceland. Kinda lame.

Snake Farm on I35...totally scray and very carny like...shocking! ;)

Oh and how dare you hate on the Alamo and SA. ;)

And you don't like Texas, what did it ever do to you?? ;)

Becca Jane said...

The Twilight movie and Books #2-4 were totally lame compared to the first book. I'm not even going to bother watching the 2nd or 3rd movie.

The Himalayas were totally lame...haha, KIDDING. It's the opposite...they were a million times more massive than I even imagined they'd be. Sorry, I guess that's not what you asked! :)

Moni said...

Why don't you like Texas?

Dee Stephens said...

The Alamo was lame. No lie. I'm kinda disappointed in Fitz. I LOVED Graceland! So worth it!
I was underwhelmed by Sedona, AZ. We literally left and went back to the Grand Canyon.
I was also underwhelmed by The Ponderosa Ranch that used to be in Tahoe. They filmed part of Bonanza there and it was the biggest tourist attraction EVER!

Sara said...

My main disappointment at the moment is that you don't like Texas?!?!?!!? WTF, Casey??

The Statue of David in Florence. It was okay. Nothing special. You stand there and look at it. It's a naked guy. Whatever. Not my cup of tea, but my mom insisted that we see it.

The Soladay Family said...

I have to agree on the lack of awe on sheer magnitude of the appearance of the Alamo, but being such a staunch Texan, I can't knock it and all the incredible history behind it.

I would have to say that Fossil Rim wasn't all we thought it would be. Like I said before, we paid $5,000 to get in and saw 15 animals. The company was great, so it made up for the lack of warm blooded inhabitants.

Unknown said...

Are your kiddos wearing shirts that say Montauk? As in, Montauk Long Island?
Montauk is definitely not a place that disappoints! 700lb tuna being dragged in by boaters-AWESOME.

Sorry about the suckiness of the 4 corners. I would have been fuming!

Unknown said...

Are your kiddos wearing shirts that say Montauk? As in, Montauk Long Island?
Montauk is definitely not a place that disappoints! 700lb tuna being dragged in by boaters-AWESOME.

Sorry about the suckiness of the 4 corners. I would have been fuming!

donatelli98 said...

I agree with the Alamo - underwhelmed, although in general I do like Texas. Agree with Sara about the city of Florence Italy in general (I think because I hated our hotel there). California beaches - the sand isn't the powdery kind like my homestate of FL - plus the water is too cold for me!

Pam Bowers said...

I've never been a huge fan of Texas. Not the people or the culture. It's more the vast nothingness. I hear there are amazing areas in Texas though.

Ober Gatlinburg, TN! Not impressed.
Tombstone, AZ! Not impressed.
Yuma Territorial Prison(my mom dragged me there over spring break). Not impressed.

The Biltmore Estate, NC...very impressive!
The Redwood Forest in northern CA...very impressive!
Yosemite...Love that place!

starnes family said...

Peeps. Calm down.

I said I didn't LOVE Texas. It's a fine state to live in.....the cost of living is far better than anywhere in the United States......quality of life is good.....it's a perfectly good place to live!

My adventurous side pushes me to find other options. I loved school in Louisiana. We loved Colorado. We love Kansas. Makes me wonder what we could love next?

No disrespect!

aunt caroline said...

We should have never watched Pee Wee before the Alamo. It ruined it!

Coco said...

Casey you are just EFFED up. I have nothing to say to you regarding your lack of love for the glorious state of Texas.

And if my dad EVER hears you say anything ugly about the Alamo.....I don't know what would happen but it wouldn't be good.

I am keeping my mouth shut about certain people also being Tx fans. I don't believe it.

FROGGITY! said...

one of the many reasons i love you: your pee wee and vacation references!!

i have NEVER been to graceland b/c i heard it sucked. BUT if you go to ole miss or live in the area, you are most likely aquainted with 'graceland too' in holly springs (holly SPRANGS). check it out online. there's a crazy old man there and ANY time of night or day he will show you around with great fervor. imagine being a college student at 3 am with lots of beer, a crazy man, and a 'graceland replica'... goooooood times.

i think nassau is underwhelming, as are many caribbean islands at first glance... EXCEPT for the hidden beaches, trails, caves, and resorts. then it's very wonderful.

FROGGITY! said...

acquainted. sorry, i just proofread my essay there.

also, i think it's hilarious that folks are gettin' kind riled up b/c you went there... you 'messed with texas'

ha!

The Potters said...

Completely agree re the Alamo. BORING! And I love Becca Jane's post re Twilight 2-4...completely agree!

Alcatraz was awesome, I thought. I expected nothing and got The Rock!

Tutus and Choo-Choos said...

The worst family vacation my parents took us on for me was to Colorado. I have a huge problem with the altitude and it makes me queasy and throws off my sense of balance. Dad insisted that we eat lunch at Pikes Peak in some restaurant and sit by the window. I could not even walk a straight line across the parking lot and I didn't eat my lunch because I thought I was going to throw up the whole time. Then they proceeded to take us to the Royal Gorge and thought I should look out the window of the car as we were driving over.

What were they thinking!!!

starnes family said...

Sami Joe - they are Montauk shirts.......the back says, "The End"....as in, "It's just the very end." Love that.

Unfortunately, they have not been......I'm dying to go. They were bought at Crew Cuts. :)

SASS said...

Giiiiirl you slightly dissed the wrong state...
I love this QOTW! They're always thought provoking, and I love reading all the comments in response. Keep em comin! No pressure.
Hollywood greatly disappointed me. Mind you, I grew up watching Laguna Beach and The Hills, and Hollywood seemed so glamourous and far away. WRONG. It's just like everywhere else. Tone took me for my 21st birthday and I thought I'd run into celebs dining at all the restaurants they do. Nothin! Squat! I did learn to surf, though.
I should post about that trip. It was fab.

SASS said...

P.s. The 4 corners story is hilarious. Though I love Jack's stance in that picture. Very sassy.

The Soladay Family said...

Did Sass just say she "grew up" watching the Hills and Laguna Beach? Holy shit, I feel old now!

Pam Katsiris said...

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
Sorry-sound like a spoiled brat, but the sand was ok-very grainy and hard on the feet, and the moment you stepped in the water it was coral and rock. Found out the sand was brought from Australia and just spread on the thin beach area. CROWDS OF PEOPLE. Tons of Asians taking pictures of every rock and their friends in front of every rock and tree and yelling at you to get out of the way! Not what I expected of paradise.

merrilee said...

Totally agree with the comment on Waikiki Beach--WAY to crowded! NOT disappointed with the North Shore of Oahu, all of Kauai, and Maui. Also, Newport Rhode Island was fantastic and unexpected. Totally disappointed in Manhattan--could not handle the crowds and was longing for some fresh air and open space. Seattle is an unexpected treasure--completely beautiful(when it isn't raining). Sarasota beach in Florida was gorgeous. . . .it felt like an island in the Carribean.....soft white sand, crystal clear water.

Kelly Beatty said...

2 Places:

1. I went to a Convent for a nursing school clinical...I was expecting Sound of Music (for real). Not at all. It was in the first floor of Mercy Hospital in OKC. Nuns (is that how you spell it?) were just dressed normally and it was a modern church with offices. I think the nuns lived in the offices, I don't know. It just was NOT Sound of Music.

2. Panama Canal - I was expecting more of like San Antonio River Walk or Venice, Italy with ships passing by with outdoor cafes and shops. NOT. It's like a shipyard, with locks and it's boring and you have to sit there and wait for each one to fill up. It takes forEVER for them to fill up. I would take the Riverwalk anyday.

On a positive note, the economic and historical significance of Panama Canal is interesting...just more interesting then the actual locks.

Brittny said...

ok, if that's the spot i'm thinking of, we've been there and my sister threw up on it. yup. all i remember about that.

let's see, brandon and i went to universal studidos last year b/c i went as a kid and loved it. not anymore. it's totally changed and i thought i was going to have a seizure from all the chaos they have going on around there and i felt like i was at a really bad rock concert b/c they have music blaring throughout the entire park.

also, a place in Canada that nobody has ever heard of. it was sad. even my dad made fun of it.

loved hawaii. loved Hilton Head. loved NYC. LOVED Chicago. loved san antonio. LOVED san fran. yeah, i think most of my trips have been good.

not going to go into other bad things. will spare you all.

Shannon said...

I'm mostly disappointed in the comments. The Texas lovers remind me of traveling to other countries and being around other Americans who insist that the US is the best ever. Uhhh, no. Other places have far more charm.

I don't know that I've ever really been disappointed going somewhere. I read so many reviews and do so much research ahead of time that I usually have a good idea what to expect. I guess cruising was maybe a disappointment. We aren't cruisers.

The Lenzers said...

geez there has been a lot said, so i guess i don't have to rag on you for your whole tx comment!! but the alamo...its a building, big deal! my imagination and reality dont always match, but i cant think of any place where i have been totally disappointed. i will probably think of 20 tomorrow....

Sara said...

Just thought of another one. We honeymooned in Maui and did the Road to Hana. Waste of time. The road is so curvy that we both got car sick and had to switch out driving every 15 minutes. By the time we got to the end of the road, it was pouring down rain, there was 1 restaurant and a black sand beach. Not impressed. The waterfalls were cool, but that's about it.

Malinda said...

Yes, Fitz the snakefarm on I-35 is scary. My brother once begged my parents to stop there so they did. I think it actually burned down at one point.

Also, once in Washington state Phillip and I drove miles out of our way to see the Petrified Forrest. It ended up being a couple of stump-like formations that were fenced in little boxes. Not impressive at all.

Kristen said...

Hmmmm... good question. I am trying to think and cannot come up with a thing. Perhaps because it's 2:00 in the morning and I am exhausted... yet can't sleep. What DID impress... Paris. I went as a kid and I will never, ever forgot seeing the Eiffel tower for the first time, or walking down the Champs-Elyses, or seeing the Arc. Took my breath away, even then. Also loved the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center... I found an amazing picture of me and my cousin and sister when we were little, on a boat taking us back from the Statue of Liberty, and the World Trade Center and the skyline are behind us. Great memory to have captured... I'm sad my kids will never be able to see that. Okay, as I ramble, here's one. The Book Depository in Texas. I appreciate it more now, because of the history but the building itself is just a building. I don't know why I expected more. Wow- longest comment ever? Why am I still talking? Do I get some sort of prize for the length of this thing... and I'm still talking. Wow.

timmonstimes said...

I went as a kid (like everyone else in Texas) to the Alamo and remember being bored and not being able to wait for Sea World. However, Scott and I went right before we got pregnant with Corinne and it was not as boring to me at all as an adult. I taught 4th grade and so had a better knowledge of Texas history so maybe that is why! :)

Live.Love.Eat said...

I can't recall right now what didn't live up to my expectations but I agree that Grand Canyon and Mt. Rushmore were awesome. Loved them both.

Hah, these comments and Coco's about TX is hysterical.

Hattie said...

Ooooooo, ummmmmmm, You said you didn't love Texas. As soon as I read that I knew you were going to catch a lot of crap for that. Ha!

You know what your problem was w/ the Alamo...you didn't drink enough margaritas before you went there. See the best thing about going to see the Alamo is that Texas has the best margaritas in the world!!!

We went to that 4 corners place when I was a kid and I too remember it being lame. I haven't been to too many places other than TEXAS, but Alaska is way cool!!! We went there when I was 12. I loved it & it was so beautiful!

Merry Mack said...

The Mona Lisa was a little 'this is IT?'. I love Pee Wee.

Jillian Bennett said...

Roswell, NM was a bust! Pretty lame... but the people were worth the drive.

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