The US is a tourist haven, with many cities offering museums, parks, excellent restaurants, and welcoming residents to go with it. However, not all places in the US are like this; in fact, these 17 cities are especially known to be either dangerous, frustrating, or unfriendly to foreign visitors.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
There are many must-visit attractions in Colorado Springs, but the problem is that the city is known for having accessibility issues. Public transit systems aren’t as good as in many other cities; walking is a no-no, too, and Colorado Springs’s reputation for delayed flights only makes matters worse.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis has significantly higher crime rates than the national average, making it to the top of US News’ 2011 list of the most dangerous US cities. You’re advised to avoid visiting as a solo tourist, especially as a woman, in areas north of Delmar Boulevard. No wonder it has a bad reputation!
Miami, Florida
Miami is known for its beautiful beaches and the equally enticing lifestyle residents enjoy there. However, with the influx of foreign visitors comes petty property crimes concentrated in tourist areas. Foreigners also face a rampant risk of scams when it comes to accommodation, making Miami a disappointment for many tourists.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas residents are very friendly, and there’s a general tolerance for diverse cultures that foreigners love. However, like Austin, the experience of visiting Dallas as a foreigner has been made terrible by stringent immigration laws, and there are no exceptions for students or intending retirees. It’s getting out of hand!
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit isn’t just known for its violent crimes, which have been at rates higher than national averages year-on-year; its residents are also known to be some of the rudest in the entire US! We find this hard to believe, but perhaps we need to see it to believe it.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is like Colorado Springs in that it’s difficult to access the city. Walkability and public transit are bad, and driving is dangerous, especially during the holiday season. However, unlike Colorado Springs, there aren’t many attractions here to keep tourists or foreigners entertained, so what’s the point!?
Chicago, Illinois
Murder, robbery, and assault are what foreigners, understandably, cry home about after visiting Chicago. The crime here is so bad that Fox reports the city’s violent crime rates to be 701% higher than the national average! It’s still worth a visit, but we can see why Chicago has a bad reputation.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle has a diverse population, but it isn’t the most friendly city, as it’s filled with busy people. Alongside residents who many claim come off as snobbish, you’ll also have to deal with scams concentrated in tourist areas. It’s a shame because otherwise, Seattle has a lot going for it.
Providence, Rhode Island
Crimes do occur in Providence, but they’re too low for foreigners to be worried about. The problem here is that residents are often unfriendly, suspicious about strange faces, and can apparently be rude. Brown University is also the only attraction for foreigners, so visits are often disappointing.
Memphis, Tennessee
Foreigners flock to Memphis because of its attractions, which consist of the Memphis Zoo, the East Coast Music Festival, and the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum. Despite this, Forbes ranks it as its worst city for holiday travel, as Memphis has the highest crime rates in the US. Yikes.
New Haven, Connecticut
Home to the prestigious Yale University, New Haven isn’t known to be violent, but the city’s property crimes aren’t particularly friendly to visitors. Cities like Fair Haven and Newhallville have a reputation for being targeted, and the Yale campus is deemed the only place foreigners are truly free.
Baltimore, Maryland
If you’ve ever watched The Wire, you’ll know why Baltimore made this list. Baltimore’s absurd crime rate, mostly drug-related, has made its residents particularly wary of strange faces. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting alone or even as a group; Baltimore is dangerous, which scares away many tourists.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is surprisingly one of the safest US cities to live in, but there are complaints about the city’s travel experience. Driving here is terrible due to unfavorable weather conditions and traffic, and the public transport system is relatively poor. Getting around the city can be pretty nightmarish for foreigners.
Austin, Texas
Austin residents (and Texas residents in general) are some of the friendliest you’ll find in the US, but the government, specifically its stringent immigration policies, isn’t so friendly. The border crisis is to blame for this, and the Washington Post shares that laws are so stringent that even US citizens’ rights are affected.
Jacksonville, Florida
Alcohol and drug-related crimes run rampant in Jacksonville, with its midwest areas and downtown being particularly dangerous. The restaurant experience here isn’t as fulfilling as most would like either, and residents in Jacksonville also love to keep to themselves. Sadly, this all contributes to the city’s bad reputation.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Foreigners find it frustratingly difficult to secure US citizenship while living in St. Paul. Application processes keep getting more time-consuming, and wait times in Minnesota are now at an average of 18 to 24 months! This may not bother tourists, but St. Paul has a terrible reputation with immigrants.
Fresno, California
Finally, Fresno, California, is at the top of our list of US cities with bad reputations. There’s little green space, the air quality sucks, and general neglect has caused the poverty rate to rise to a staggering 22%! We hope Fresno can get some TLC because, under the thorns, there’s a lot of love in this city.
Up Next: 19 American Foods that Are Not Allowed in Other Countries
We can debate all day about who has the safest food supply in the world. Though, I’d bet you would be surprised at how many everyday American foods are banned in other countries. Most are due to chemical additives and pesticides, which, in places like the EU, cannot be approved for use unless proven safe. Let’s take a look at 19 of them.
19 American Foods that Are Not Allowed in Other Countries
19 Things That Will Happen When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
Whether you identify as an alcoholic or a casual drinker, alcohol can have a significant negative impact on your health. This is why more and more people are choosing to go cold turkey for the sake of their well-being. If you’re considering going sober but need a little more convincing, we’ve got you covered. Here are 19 things that will happen when you stop drinking alcohol.
19 Things That Will Happen When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
17 Things Guests Actually Notice Right Away About Your House
Inviting people into your home is a big deal. You may be very house-proud or house-conscious, and if you are either, you’ll likely get anxious about hosting. If this sounds like you, stop worrying and focus on the following 17 things that guests actually notice right away about your house.
17 THINGS GUESTS ACTUALLY NOTICE RIGHT AWAY ABOUT YOUR HOUSE