I have a love/hate relationship with these sorts of  lists…let’s face it, “top visited” translates to touristy, crowded, and littered with souvenier shops. And yet, there is usually a reason people want to visit these places—the reason is often great natural beauty. Sometimes these spots are loved to death, but  you can find your quiet spot, or an off-season moment to discover  just what makes a place so popular.

I’ve seen 19 of the 25 top visited American  tourist spots, and have found something to love about most of them. The  two most appalling misses on my list are  the Smokey Mountains and Niagra Falls. I’ve also missed Busch Gardens in Tampa, but I feel as though I’ve seen more than my share of theme parks, so I feel no pang of regret there.