Gary, Indiana: Birthplace of Michael Jackson

Gary, Indiana is unlikely to make anyone's list of the world's most idyllic vacation spots. But two enterprising Chicago entrepreneurs have convinced scores of music-loving tourists to undertake a four-hour peek at the bleak by booking a spot on their "King of Pop Hometown Tour."

I'm glad that that I went, although it's not a nice neighborhood. When I was there a handful of others were visiting as well. Later in the day, elsewhere in Indiana, I met a gentleman who told me that Mrs. Jackson still owns the house and the house next door, and visits every so often.

Underwhelming. Large stone memorial no longer there. The only way to tell it was MJ's home is because it's the nicest looking one in the neighborhood with a metal fence around it.

The house and yard are beautifully maintained as well as the garage next door, but the property is gated and can only be seen from the outside. The granite monument in the front yard is really interesting. Unfortunately, the rest of the neighborhood is nothing to look at. It's worth a short trip if you're in that area anyway.

The home now has a large granite memorial outside, and the windows are all shuttered. Property is kept up beautifully while many surrounding homes are burned out/condemned.