Travel stories have a way of grabbing our attention, especially when they come from someone who has seen more of the world than most of us ever will. When a person has spent years crisscrossing all fifty states, gathering impressions from every corner of the country, their verdict on the best and worst places tends to hit a little harder. That is exactly what happened when Jonathan Thompson, a seasoned travel journalist, shared his view of the American city he believes travelers should avoid at all costs.

His opinion did not just spark curiosity. It set off debates, personal testimonies, and a tidal wave of people sharing their own encounters with places that left them uneasy or unexpectedly charmed. Because when a traveler with ten years of on the ground experience says a city stands out for all the wrong reasons, people want to know what led to that judgment.

This viral story does not stop at naming the city in question. It dives into why he feels so strongly, what his years on the road taught him, how the city compares with others he adored, and what everyday travelers can take away from his warning.

A decade on the road that shaped a powerful opinion

Jonathan Thompson did not form his perspective overnight. His career took him across the entire United States, from remote desert towns to bustling coastal hubs. He spent ten years living, working, and exploring the landscapes, cultures, and communities that form the backbone of the country.

Over that period, he visited major cities known for their museums and nightlife, rural towns where everybody knows everybody, and overlooked municipalities that rarely, if ever, show up in travel magazines. With so much ground covered, his impressions were shaped by more than quick stopovers or passing glances. He stayed long enough to understand the personality of each place, the atmosphere that greeted him, and the small details that make a destination memorable or forgettable.

According to Thompson, many locations stood out as exceptional. Santa Fe in New Mexico impressed him with its art scene and mountain views. Cody in Wyoming offered the charm and rugged authenticity of the Wild West, complete with rodeos and campfire cookouts. Pensacola in Florida struck him as pleasantly off the beaten path, with wide sandy beaches and more sunshine than almost any traveler could dream of. Juneau in Alaska captivated him with glaciers, long daylight hours, and remnants of its Russian past. Chattanooga in Tennessee earned praise for its outdoor adventures and revitalized food culture.

Yet for every city he loved, there were others that left a very different impression. Some felt unsafe. Some felt forgotten. Some simply did not offer much for visitors to enjoy. One of these cities stood out so sharply in his mind that he declared it not only the worst place he had visited in America but a destination that travelers should avoid entirely.

The city that tops the do not visit list

When Jonathan Thompson is asked to name the worst city he has encountered, he gives one answer without hesitation. Gary, Indiana.

His description is blunt, vivid, and unforgettable. He characterizes Gary as post industrial and semi deserted. Roads marked by deep potholes. Neighborhoods dotted with abandoned properties. Signs of economic struggle visible in almost every direction.

Gary was once a thriving industrial hub fueled by steel production. The city was home to Gary Works, the largest steel mill in North America, and it offered enough jobs and economic opportunity to support a much larger population. But as the steel industry declined, jobs vanished, families moved away, and the city fell into a long period of hardship. Today, approximately seventy thousand residents remain, many of them fighting to keep their community alive despite limited resources.

Thompson is not the only traveler to express caution when it comes to visiting Gary. Local warnings about safety have circulated for years, particularly after dark. This caution became even more urgent following a horrifying incident involving a father and daughter who visited the childhood home of the Jackson family. The Jacksons, including Michael Jackson, are Gary’s most famous former residents, and fans from around the world still visit the property. On one visit, the father and daughter were approached by an armed attacker who kidnapped them, assaulted them, and left them traumatized. The perpetrator, Oasia Barnes, was later convicted on eighteen charges and sentenced to more than one hundred sixty years in prison.

Incidents like this create a ripple effect. They feed the perception that the city is unsafe and reinforce the concerns of travelers like Thompson.

What makes Gary’s story so complicated

At first glance, it is easy to summarize Gary as a struggling place. But the city carries decades of history that help explain why it looks the way it does today.

When industrial cities across America began losing manufacturing jobs, many experienced population decline, reduced tax revenue, and dwindling public services. Gary was hit especially hard. Abandoned houses multiplied. Infrastructure deteriorated. Businesses closed. Families relocated in search of better opportunities. These changes happened slowly at first, then more rapidly, creating a cycle that became difficult to stop.

This is not unique to Gary. Many post industrial communities across the Midwest have experienced similar declines. But Gary’s visibility in national conversations comes from its combination of large scale abandonment, high crime rates, and its connection to one of the most famous families in music history. The contrast between the global success of the Jacksons and the current state of their hometown creates a narrative that is both striking and troubling.

Still, it is important to remember that Gary is not just a headline or a cautionary tale. It is home to tens of thousands of people. Some residents have lived there all their lives. Others moved there intentionally, believing in its potential for renewal. Community groups, activists, and local leaders continue working to reshape neighborhoods, create safer spaces, and preserve the city’s cultural heritage.

Gary’s challenges are real and significant, but so is the resilience of the people who live there.

How other global travelers compare danger and discomfort

Thompson’s warning about Gary gains even more perspective when placed alongside the experiences of travelers who have ventured far beyond the United States. One traveler known online as SirJackson360 has visited all one hundred ninety five countries in the world, a feat accomplished by fewer than four hundred people globally. His reflections reveal a fascinating truth about how danger is perceived.

This world traveler has been to places affected by political instability, war, and severe unrest. Countries like North Korea, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan made him feel politically unsafe, while other regions carried risks tied to crime or terrorism. Yet one of the closest brushes he ever had with terrorism did not happen overseas. It happened in the United States on New Year’s Eve.

His experience puts Thompson’s view of Gary into a broader context. It underscores that danger is not always found where we expect it. Some of the most peaceful appearing places can surprise visitors with unexpected risks, while cities with rough reputations may still contain strong communities, friendly residents, and welcoming spaces.

Perception is complicated, shaped by individual experiences, timing, and luck. Two travelers visiting the same city can walk away with entirely different impressions.

The cities that earned praise instead

Part of what makes Thompson’s harsh verdict about Gary so striking is how passionately he speaks about the cities he loves. The contrast is sharp and highlights what he values in a destination.

Santa Fe earned the top spot on his list. With more than two hundred galleries and museums, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe blends art, culture, food, and history in a way few places can match. Its appearance in the Oscar winning film Oppenheimer added even more visibility.

Cody in Wyoming captures the spirit of the Wild West with square dances, horseback riding, campfire cookouts, and easy access to Yellowstone National Park. Thompson describes it as a brilliant taste of rugged Americana.

Pensacola in Florida drew him in with its relaxed vibe and miles of beaches. The city feels slightly off the mainstream tourist trail, offering a mix of museums, cafes, and sunshine that borders on endless.

Juneau in Alaska impressed him with its dramatic landscape. Mountains, glaciers, Russian influenced architecture, whale watching, and long summer days make it a destination unlike any other.

Chattanooga in Tennessee rounded out the top five. As America’s first National Park City, it offers outdoor exploration opportunities mixed with a renewed and growing food scene.

To Thompson, these cities represent what makes travel joyful. They are vibrant, welcoming, and full of experiences that feel authentic and memorable.

Additional places he advises travelers to avoid

Gary is not the only city Thompson approaches with caution. He also warns against visiting certain locations at specific times or for specific reasons.

Spring Break destinations like Miami Beach, Panama City, and Fort Lauderdale can become chaotic during March. Crowds of partying students fill beaches, bars, and streets, creating a louder, rowdier environment than some travelers enjoy. Visiting outside that season offers a completely different experience.

He also notes that many major cities have neighborhoods where caution is necessary. Baltimore and Philadelphia are two examples. These cities contain vibrant cultural districts alongside areas where crime rates are higher. Thompson’s point is not that these cities should be avoided entirely but that situational awareness matters.

Clovis in New Mexico and Pahrump in Nevada fall into his category of bottom of the barrel towns. These places lack engaging attractions and have struggled to maintain infrastructure or community investment. He suggests that travelers seeking interesting experiences may want to look elsewhere.

Why reputations can be misleading

A city’s reputation is almost never formed by a single moment. It develops through a mix of historical events, local conditions, media coverage, personal experiences, and economic realities. In Gary’s case, several forces came together over decades to shape the label it now carries.

Economic decline reduced job opportunities. Families moved away. Infrastructure deteriorated. Crime rose. Abandoned buildings multiplied. Each of these factors fed into the public perception of the city.

But reputations have limits. They rarely capture the full truth. They do not show the efforts of residents fighting to make their neighborhoods stronger. They do not reflect the pride people feel for their homes. They do not reveal the small businesses trying to survive or the community centers offering support.

Every struggling city has stories of resilience that outsiders may never see.

Understanding this complexity encourages travelers to view places through a wider lens. While some warnings are important and rooted in valid concerns, they do not define every experience a visitor might have.

What travelers can learn from these stories

There is a lesson buried in every travel opinion, whether it comes from a professional journalist or a person who has seen every country on earth. Thompson’s warning offers several takeaways that travelers can carry with them.

Research matters. Cities change quickly. What feels unsafe or unappealing one year can improve dramatically the next.

Experiences vary. Two people can walk the same streets and interpret the same neighborhoods in completely different ways.

Danger is unpredictable. It exists everywhere, not only in places with troubled reputations.

Communities evolve. Cities undergo renewal, investment, and transformation, often in unexpected ways.

Respect is essential. Even if a city is not enjoyable for some visitors, it remains home to thousands of people whose stories deserve recognition.

The human side of an uncomfortable warning

Jonathan Thompson’s verdict on Gary, Indiana, is harsh, clear, and unwavering. He believes it is the worst city he has visited in all fifty states, and he urges travelers to avoid it entirely. His opinion comes from firsthand encounters and a decade of experience exploring the American landscape.

Yet the story is not that simple. Gary’s struggles are inseparable from its history. Its people continue to work toward a better future despite the challenges they face. And its reputation, while shaped by hardship, does not erase the resilience living quietly beneath the surface.

Travel is never only about finding the most beautiful places. It is about understanding the forces that shape communities, even when those stories are difficult. When travelers take time to reflect on these complexities, they gain not only awareness but also compassion.

Whether choosing to follow Thompson’s advice or deciding to see Gary for themselves, readers are left with a reminder that every city carries stories that deserve to be heard, questioned, and understood.

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