worst tourist trap in nebraska

Tourist traps to avoid in every state

There are few things more American than a good old-fashioned roadside attraction. After all, they’re at the heart of almost every road trip. But just because they exist doesn’t mean they’re all worth seeing.

While most states have quirky, unique attractions that are worth your while, it’s all too easy to get suckered into a veritable tourist trap, a waste of time and—even worse—money. To avoid that dilemma on your next road trip, Stacker scoured online reviews and feedback on each state’s most popular tourist attractions to find the ones that you should avoid.

ALSO:  Locals share the most overrated and underrated tourist attraction in every state

Alabama: The World's Largest Brick

This oversized ad for Jenkins Brick & Tile Company calls Montgomery, Alabama, home. The “world’s largest brick” is actually constructed from many small bricks, not one giant brick, and secondly, it can’t even boast the title anymore. In 2007, a larger clay brick, made by ACME Brick Co. in Denton, Texas, stole the honors.

Alaska: Santa Claus House

The Santa Claus House is a largely self-explanatory establishment that capitalizes on its home in North Pole, Alaska. Now, this town of 2,000 people has no relation to the real North Pole, and it’s mostly home to generic Christmas knick-knacks you can buy anywhere. Although it does have a 900-pound statue of jolly old St. Nick himself out front.

Arizona: The Thing

Anyone who’s taken a southwest road trip has probably seen mysterious billboards advertising “The Thing,” outside of Dragoon, Arizona. If the nearly 250 billboards along I-10 aren’t enough to pique your curiosity, Stacker will cue you in: “The Thing” is nothing more than an odd collection of antiquities, the centerpiece being a mummified mother and child of ambiguous origin. Save your $1.

Arkansas: Crater of Diamonds State Park

If playing around in a field of dirt appeals to you, you’ll love Crater of Diamonds State Park. As the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public, Crater of Diamonds draws in loads of tourists who want to spend $8 for the minuscule chance of digging up a precious stone of their very own.

California: Venice Beach Boardwalk

It’s been immortalized in movies and TV shows for decades, but the Venice Beach boardwalk is mostly an overcrowded stretch of street performers, meatheads, and other eccentrics who hope to make a quick buck off an unsuspecting tourist. If you want an authentic L.A. beach experience, hit up Santa Monica Pier or drive up to secluded Malibu instead.

Colorado: Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

The tiny town of Fruita, Colorado, hosts a two-day festival each year to commemorate Mike, a Wyandotte chicken who met his untimely death in 1945 and proceeded to live for another 18 months—without a head. While Mike’s story is remarkable, the festival itself is not.

Connecticut: Wild Bill's Nostalgia Store

Wild Bill's is particularly creepy on the outside—thanks to a giant clown head. This Middletown, Connecticut, attraction is home to the world’s largest jack-in-the-box and store akin to a small-town flea market.

Delaware: Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

Once you've seen one boardwalk, you’ve seen them all. While Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach is scenic, it’s boardwalk is not—unless you’re a fan of overpriced logo T-shirts and other tourist memorabilia.

Florida: St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Florida’s famous for gators, but once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm has been in existence since the late 1800s, but we’re not entirely sure. Save your time and money, unless you’re absolutely dying to zip line over a pool of the hungry reptiles.

Georgia: Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue

No disrespect to one of America's past presidents, but there are few reasons to stop at this landmark, which consists of a 13-foot statue of a smiling peanut. It was erected by the Indiana Democratic Party during Carter’s 1976 campaign, but it now lives in the former president’s hometown of Plains, Georgia.

Hawaii: Dole Plantation

Dole’s famous Hawaiian plantation is popular with those who are curious about how pineapples grow, but it’s become even more famous thanks to a sweet whipped treat called a Dole Whip. Lines for this pineapple-flavored treat can grow extremely long, so next time you’re in Hawaii, skip the Dole and try truly authentic Hawaiian shaved ice instead.

Idaho: The Spud Drive-In

While a drive-in movie theater sounds quaint in theory, they don’t work nearly as well in practice. However, this Idaho theater does boast a giant sculpture of a potato sitting on the back of a flatbed truck.

Illinois: The Super Museum

What do you get when you combine the small Illinois town of Metropolis with a rabid Superman fan? A 100,000-piece homage to the superhero. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the fictional superhero, keep on driving.

Indiana: The Largest Ball of Paint

What was once a humble baseball is now the world’s largest ball of paint, with more than 25,000 layers and weighing more than 4,000 pounds. It’s among the state’s most-visited roadside attractions. If curiosity gets the better of you, you can make an appointment to view the ball for yourself.

Iowa: The Field of Dreams

The beloved movie was filmed here—and that’s about it. Since then, it’s hosted a baseball exhibition game and a film screening, but it’s still basically a baseball diamond surrounded by cornfields. 

Kansas: The World's Largest Ball of Twine

Yes, it’s a real thing. This Cawker City, Kansas, attraction is more than 40 feet in circumference and weighs almost 15,000 pounds.

Kentucky: Ark Encounter

This biblical theme-park opened in 2016, boasting a life-size, 510-foot-long ark among other religious exhibits. While the exhibitions might be interesting to many, the ticket price is tough to swallow. Ticket prices are $48 for adults, and between $15 and $25 for kids, so bringing the whole family here will be a pricey endeavor.

Louisiana: Bourbon Street

Louisiana’s Bourbon Street is unfailingly popular in a city with so much else to offer. There are much more interesting things to do in the Big Easy than walk down a stretch loaded with strip clubs, loud groups of partiers, and tacky drink offerings.

Maine: The Desert of Maine

In a state with so much natural beauty, why would anyone care about seeing a desert? This sandy 40-acre attraction is the result of exposed glacial silt in the middle of what was once a working farm. Admission costs $12.50 for adults to visit what is basically a sandbox.

Maryland: God’s Ark of Safety

Kentucky beat Maryland to the punch with their Ark Encounter, but at one time, Marylanders, too, wanted a life-size replica of the ark. While the project kicked off with a bang in 1976, it quickly fizzled out, leaving a steel-and-concrete skeleton alongside the interstate that nevertheless still draws curious visitors.

Massachusetts: Plymouth Rock

Want to see where the original pilgrims landed in Massachusetts? Prepare to be disappointed. While there is indeed a Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, disappointed visitors will discover it’s nothing more than an average-sized rock with a plaque next to it.

Michigan: Mystery Spot

This famed area was discovered in the 1950s by surveyors who discovered their equipment had mysteriously stopped working. Since then, it’s been regarded as, well, a mysterious spot that defies the laws of gravity. Now, it’s nothing more than a few shacks built into hillside, a mini-amusement park with a maze, mini-golf, and zip lines. Like one TripAdvisor reviewer wrote, “the only mystery is ‘where did my $9 go?’”

Minnesota: Mall of America

It’s large and has every store imaginable, drawing in more than 40 million visitors each year. But in the era of Amazon, there are better ways to spend your time and money than shopping at this chain-store conglomerate. Even a visit to some of the more unique attractions, like the aquarium or Nickelodeon Universe, will cost you, with ticket prices of $25—or more.

Mississippi: Mammy's Cupboard

This restaurant, which has its dining room set within the skirt of a 28-foot black woman, has its roots in an offensive stereotype that existed for decades in the South. While the Natchez restaurant was repainted during the Civil Rights era, it’s still hotly debated in Mississippi.

Missouri: Silver Dollar City

Branson's Silver Dollar City is no Disney World—but you still might be floored by the prices to get into this wannabe amusement park, where tickets for adults run nearly $70. With just 40 rundown rides, there are better places to spend your hard-earned money. 

Montana: Lincoln’s World Famous 50,000 Silver $ Bar

“Montana’s largest gift shop” also boasts a motel, free RV parking, and a casino. But the real attractions here are the 50,000 silver dollar coins affixed to every surface. 

Nebraska: Carhenge

Imagine that the builders of Nebraska’s Carhenge said, “Imagine Stonehenge, but with cars.” Thirty-nine painted cars are arranged to resemble the famed English monument. Instead, consider checking out some of Nebraska’s natural wonders, like the famed sandhill crane migration.

Nevada: The Las Vegas Strip

Impressive by night, this iconic stretch of Las Vegas looks more like a strip mall during the day. Hoping to get a selfie with the namesake sign? Be prepared to wait in a long queue, likely with no shade and scorching heat—this is Vegas after all.

New Hampshire: Ice Castles

Man-made ice caverns sound impressive and they are in fact beautiful, but like many roadside attractions, these just aren’t quite as breathtaking in person as they sound. If you like bitterly cold temperatures and crowds — you’ll love it.

New Jersey: Atlantic City

Natives of the Garden State won’t be surprised by this addition to the list. Atlantic City’s boardwalk is full of unsuspecting attractions that lure tourists into spend money. If you want to visit the Jersey coast, stick to the charming houses and quaint seaside in Cape May.

New Mexico: Roswell

The Land of Enchantment is also supposedly the site of a 1947 alien crash landing, which sent the town of Roswell into a frenzy. Now, the southern New Mexico town has turned the alleged event into a tourist attraction, building a museum, the International UFO Museum and Research Center, kitschy gift shops, and more.

New York: Times Square

A plaza of flashing lights and Disney characters might sound appealing on your first visit to New York, but real New Yorkers generally avoid the place. At its crux, Times Square is just a plaza surrounded by bright billboards and overpriced chain restaurants. 

North Carolina: The World’s Largest Chest of Drawers

High Point, North Carolina, holds the distinction of Home Furnishings Capital of the World, drawing interior designers, media, and manufacturers annually for its namesake festival. But the town has one other curious draw: a 38-foot statue of a dresser built in the 1920s.

North Dakota: The Center of North America

A stone obelisk marks the center of North America, located near a town aptly-named Center, North Dakota. For years, nearby Rugby claimed the title, until a geographer updated the previously used calculations. 

Ohio: Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen

This restaurant-gift shop serves hearty Amish food that is purportedly homemade, but some online reviewers report being served canned green beans and frozen dinner rolls. While the temptation of a filling country meal can be strong, Mary Yoder’s is best skipped.

Oklahoma: Blue Whale

Catoosa, Oklahoma’s blue whale won’t be seen in the ocean anytime soon. The derelict 80-foot-long replica of a sperm whale was originally part of a public swimming hole, but it quickly became a popular Route 66 attraction. Today, the whale remains in the pond, alongside a summer concession stand and, naturally, a souvenir shop.

Oregon: Sea Lion Caves

It sounds cool in theory: the world’s largest sea cave. Then, you enter a crowd freight elevator that drops to the bottom, prompting the aforementioned sea lions to dive into the water. At $11, you should keep driving.

Pennsylvania: Hershey's Chocolate World

Hershey’s Chocolate World is essentially a theme park dedicated to average chocolate. While admission for the trolley tour is free, the end-goal here is to get visitors to make purchases from the overwhelming, sugar-fueled gift shop.

Rhode Island: Newport Mansions

Rhode Island’s coast is lined with breathtaking mansions that are well-worth the visit—but you don’t need to pay to get inside. While a ticket to tour the Newport Mansions’ interiors will run you about $25, you can instead take in the opulent homes from the adjacent Cliff Walk, free of charge.

South Carolina: South of the Border

This bizarre rest-stop-meets-theme-park might lure you in with its bright colors and promise of an easy attraction to satisfy restless kids, but once you’re here, you’ll find a kitschy, dated complex with a Mexican restaurant, a reptile exhibit, and a truck stop all in one. Combined with the racist bandito mascot and you’ll see why you should keep driving.

South Dakota: Wall Drug

Like Arizona’s “The Thing,” if you’ve driven through South Dakota, you may have seen a billboard for Wall Drug—after all, there are more than 300. Back in the 1930s, the drugstore served a valuable purpose, serving up free ice water to thirsty drivers. But today, it’s nothing more than a hodgepodge of stores and a random snake pit.

Tennessee: Graceland

Warning: Elvis Fans might find this addition blasphemous. “The King” left the building decades ago, but this tourist trap still rakes in the big bucks, charging nearly $40 for adults to tour his Memphis home.

Texas: Cadillac Ranch

It's hard to miss this long-standing Texan tourist trap while driving toward Amarillo, Texas. Consisting of colorful Cadillacs embedded in the sandy soil, there’s not much to see here, yet thousands of visitors stop their cars each year. Don’t waste your time at the nearby Big Texan either, a kitschy steakhouse that’s lured in unsuspecting road-trippers for years.

Utah: Hole N The Rock

While this attraction can be given credit for being more than just a “hole n the rock,” it doesn’t mean it’s worth your time. Located outside of Moab, Hole N" The Rock consists of a multi-room cave-house, gift shop, and small zoo.

Vermont: Rock of Ages

For fans of giant holes in the ground, stick to the Grand Canyon. Don’t be one of the hapless tourists who’s fallen for the Rock of Ages, a giant granite quarry you can pay to see, alongside a tacky gift shop selling granite goods, natch.

Virginia: Dinosaur Land

Opened more than 50 years ago, Dinosaur Land is home to many slightly dated fiberglass models of ferocious dinos—as well as a random shark and octopus for good measure. While charming for small kids, there’s not much that you can’t see at your neighborhood mini-golf course.

Washington: Seattle Gum Wall

One word comes to mind when describing Seattle’s gum wall: gross. For years, locals and visitors alike have stuck their gum to this unsuspecting wall, creating a colorful canvas of saliva and the sticky stuff. The wall was cleaned for the first time in 2015.

West Virginia: Mystery Hole

Like so many mystery attractions, West Virginia’s Mystery Hole is not so much dedicated to one hole, but instead a hodgepodge of random oddities, similar to Michigan’s Mystery Spot. Save $7 and let this mystery remain.

Wisconsin: Mars Cheese Castle

If there’s one thing Wisconsin’s known for, it is cheese, and the Mars Cheese Castle takes cheese to a whole new level. While mildly amusing—the building does look like a castle—it’s not necessarily worth a visit unless you want to buy some average cheese that you can probably get from the local grocery store at home.

Wyoming: Frontier Prison

This depressing stop might appeal to some with a mean streak, but for most visitors, the thought of paying money to sit in a defunct gas chamber in Rawlins, Wyoming, doesn’t sound appealing. The prison closed in 1981.

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Don’t waste your money at these worst tourist traps in every state.

The United States has a treasure trove of attractions, cities, and a multifaceted landscape that attracts millions of local and foreign tourists every year.

But like all places where visitors flock , tourist traps are far from uncommon, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and, in some cases, vehicle tours.

See: 7 Biggest Ways You’re Wasting Money While Traveling Find Out: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

Below is a list of some of the top tourist traps in every state in the U.S., with some perhaps raising an eyebrow or two. While everyone has a different opinion, this list factors in pricing, amenities, and overall customer service based on reviews, pricing, ratings, and overall vibe.

( You might be better off checking out these underrated tourist destinations. )

Alabama: Point Mallard Park

During Alabama’s sweltering summer months, you may want to take a mini waterpark vacation to cool down. But if you’re thinking of going to Point Mallard Park, it might be a better idea to visit one of the state’s beaches instead. While the park does have a lazy river and a few slides, admission prices are not worth what you pay for, especially given the park’s size and amenities. There are no refunds or cancellations, and the park may stop operation during stormy or rainy weather.

Alaska: Red Onion Saloon

The Red Onion Saloon is a brothel museum and restaurant where visitors can — briefly — learn about the history of the Klondike Gold Rush brothel scene and the saloons that opened to accommodate weary fortune seekers. The guided tour, aptly named the “Quickie” Brothel Museum Tour, takes just about 20 minutes.

Food portions are small and don’t come cheap, either — especially if you plan on grabbing a few drinks. If you’re not into theatrics, costumes, and saloon culture and want less of a touristy vibe, you can find better dining and bar experiences in Skagway.

Arizona: Any Off-Road Jeep Tour in Sedona

Sedona’s gorgeous scenery and natural attractions are one of the top reasons why people in the U.S. and around the world flock there every year. While the scenic landscape is breathtaking, there is nothing on these tours that you can’t see yourself. Prepare to spend at least $80-$110 per person for a trip that’s two hours or less, depending on the company you choose.

While you have private options, others will include lots of bumps and jumps in vehicles with others on board. If you want to experience the stunning landscape with a more personal flair, you can do it for much cheaper yourself without the added cost.

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Arkansas: Crater of Diamonds State Park

Crater of Diamonds State Park is a 37-acre field where people can dig for diamonds, gemstones, and minerals. The site claims that it is one of the only diamond-producing sites in the world where people can look for diamonds from a volcanic source. While the idea may seem tempting, it’s difficult to find these precious stones if you have no experience, and you may leave with not much of anything after your stay.

Adults pay $13, and admission for children is $6.20. You can rent equipment and tools or bring your own, but some restrictions apply. Unless you are a diamond-mining buff and have experience, it may be quite challenging to spot a valuable find.

California: Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a popular tourist destination where people take pictures of the embedded stars dotting 6644 Hollywood Boulevard. But the influx of visitors makes the Walk of Fame a prime target for scammers .

Con artists will go to elaborate lengths to get your attention. While it may make for a fun outing, never accept any trinket or CD handed to you by a stranger.

Colorado: Four Corners Monument

The Four Corners Monument in Colorado has an intersection where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. It takes quite a while to get there, with no accommodations, and the nearest gas station, according to the official park site, is 30 miles away.

Due to the long wait times, lack of electricity and water, and park closures due to inclement weather, it may take quite a while to arrive, wait, and take a coveted picture, which ends the experience after the first few clicks.

Connecticut: Olde Mistick Village

The Olde Mistick Village is an open-air venue made to look like a village, with peak visiting times during the autumn months. The site is essentially a shopping mall that gets immensely crowded during peak times, making it a hassle to navigate and go through the long lines.

But it’s not just about the crowds — the vastly overpriced shops and less-than-desirable food quality make Olde Mistick a place to avoid on your next trip to Connecticut.

Delaware: Boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach is a popular tourist destination with plenty of crowds every year that flock during the summer months. While it has a sizable stretch of beach, the boardwalk’s overpriced items make it a quintessential tourist trap for families.

If you don’t mind greasy, overpriced food, the boardwalk can be a fun place for a quick bite before heading off for a walk. But to sample local cuisine and homemade goods, you can find less pricey and higher quality options elsewhere.

Florida: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

The Ripley’s Believe it Or Not Museum in Orlando may seem like a fun place for the family, but it falls short of expectations in every way. The museum is small, with mediocre attractions and extra charges for different experiences. The fee for the Odditorium alone is $28.99 for adults and $19.99 for children.

With so much to do in Orlando, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not experience is not worth the inflated admission fee, especially if you have a large family and want to spend more than an hour visiting an attraction.

Georgia: Savannah City Market

The Savannah City Market is a busy place to spend a night in the town if you don’t mind the large crowds and the overpriced shops dotted throughout the area.

While it can be fun to walk around and explore the promenade, shops, and stores, expect to spend more than usual on trinkets and dining.

Hawaii: Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is a popular tourist destination for people around the world seeking fun in the sun and a relaxing view of the ocean. The truth is that you can neither relax nor find a spot to yourself as the massively overcrowded beach is full of people, litter, and microplastics galore.

With headache-inducing traffic mixed with loud and large crowds, Waikiki Beach is no place for a relaxing vacation, even in the more expensive — and similarly crowded — resorts.

Idaho: Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a park in Southern Idaho with cooled lava and sagebrush landscapes that look like the moon’s surface. But if you want to see them, you need to pay a separate fee besides the entry fee, with visitors griping that it’s not worth the long drive times for the limited attraction.

After the initial wonder at the landscape, you’ll find that there isn’t much to do, and complaints of litter dotting the park decrease the quality of the experience.

Illinois: Navy Pier

The Navy Pier in Chicago is the perfect place to go if you enjoy heavily industrialized areas with large crowds, overpriced food, and tourist traps galore. Like any pier in a big city, it’s most popular when the weather is mild and when families can travel with their children without worrying about school.

The pier is for tourists first and locals second, which means prepare to pay more for products, services, and food items that you can find for much less elsewhere.

Indiana: NCAA Hall of Champions Indiana

The NCAA Hall of Champions in Indiana celebrates collegiate athletes and their achievements. While it does offer mild entertainment for sports buffs, it disappoints many visitors due to its relatively small size and outdated aesthetics.

Some customers allege that many of the interactive attractions do not work, frustrating visitors who look forward to a complete and uninterrupted experience.

Iowa: Antique Archeology

The Antique Archeology store in Le Claire, Iowa, is a small store that opened with much fanfare and then steadily regressed into a visible tourist trap over the years. There are very few antiques in the store, with many overpriced items and some placed just for show.

If you have a genuine love for antique items, this is not the store to score significant deals or finds. Fans of reality TV may find the store charming, while others see it as no more than an overpriced tourist trap.

Kansas: Oz Museum

The Oz Museum is a Wizard of Oz-themed museum in Wamego, Kansas. The museum heavily capitalizes on the movie’s fame, and its small size is a disappointment to visitors who expect a more in-depth immersive experience. Or, at the very least, a satisfying yellow brick road to walk on.

Unless you are a staunch Wizard of Oz fan, forgo the limited attractions and the gaudy overcharged merchandise for a more exciting afternoon in Wamego.

Kentucky: Ark Encounter

The Ark Encounter, in theory, sounds like an interesting place to visit with a life-sized Noah’s Ark based on the Biblical story and a museum. In reality, the large crowds limit the way you can interact with the exhibition, making it a hassle and pain for families looking for a structured experience.

The main gripe seems to be the signage issue, where if you cannot see the signs, you may not get the whole experience and understand what you are seeing. When the crowds are particularly large, signage viewing is nearly impossible.

Louisiana: Souvenir Shops on Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is a thrilling and exciting place to visit during your trip to Louisiana. What isn’t as fun is navigating through the many souvenir shops that sell overpriced, cheap items at top dollar and the lengths scammers may go to ruin your experience.

If you want to enjoy the experience and your time on Bourbon Street with minimum hassle, avoid the souvenir shops and the potential scammers that can turn your experience sour.

Maine: Red’s Eats

It’s no surprise that many Maine eateries cater to the seafood and lobster hype, charging ridiculous amounts for mediocre lobster rolls that you can get for significantly less elsewhere.

One example is Red’s Eats, famous for its massive lines, overhyped food, and, as of 2023, its $36 lobster rolls A family of four eating one roll each sets you back $144.00, not including drinks or other items.

Maryland: Ocean City Boardwalk

Ocean City Boardwalk in Maryland is famous for its shops, restaurants, and arcades. But like most popular boardwalks in the US, these attractions overcharge tourists and sell low-value trinkets and souvenirs.

Summer crowds are loud and overwhelming, with some vendors employing aggressive sales tactics to sell their wares.

Massachusetts: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in Massachusetts is a commercialized representation of one of the most significant events in American history.

The interactive exhibits and reenactments are more entertaining than historically accurate. While certainly not a traditional experience, the museum caters to tourists and may not offer the best educational experience.

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Michigan: Mystery Spot

The Mystery Spot in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has optical illusions and displays that make for a fun, yet lackluster, short stay.

Keep in mind that the attraction is not easily accessible for those with mobility issues. Some visitors also complain that the Mystery Spot often closes without warning.

Minnesota: Mall of America

The Mall of America in Minnesota, just like the one in Jersey, is a tourist trap that promises to drain your finances and leave a lackluster impression.

In short, the destination is an oversized mall with seemingly much to do. However, there isn’t much to offer besides an aquarium and a few rides, with shops and dining options that aren’t much different from the thousands of other, smaller malls dotted throughout the country.

Mississippi: Elvis Presley Birthplace

Hey, it’s not as commercialized as Graceland. And the two-room house where Elvis grew up in Tupelo is certainly an interesting roadside stop for fans and curious travelers.

But you may be left wondering whether it’s worth the $10-$20 admission.

Missouri: Branson

Branson attractions are neither unique nor particularly thrilling. Standard prices for show tickets, dining, and hotel accommodations are pretty high, especially during peak season.

Since it is a tourist hotspot, expect generic merchandise, a formalized entertainment experience, and tons of restaurants and shops that cater to tourists.

Montana: 50,000 Silver Dollar

The 50,000 Silver Dollar Inn along Interstate 90 showcases an extensive collection of silver dollars. While it does have a unique display, the next-door giftshop completely overshadows the attraction with its high prices and mundane merchandise.

The bar offers food, drinks, and refreshments for weary travelers. But with not much to see or do, you can forgo the attraction as you won’t miss much.

Nebraska: Carhenge

As its name suggests, Carhenge is a place that mimics Stonehenge but uses vintage cars instead of stones. The site is missing genuine historical or cultural depth, making it more of a roadside pitstop for pictures than a meaningful destination.

If you happen to pass by, it’s not a bad idea to stop and take pictures. But wasting time and gas exclusively on the destination is not the best idea, especially with small children.

Nevada: Adventuredome

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas is an indoor amusement park with a circus-meets-slightly-steampunk feel and vibe.

Although it is one of the few family-friendly attractions in the city, it is in need of sprucing up as some of the rides and attractions do not work properly, and admission charges are high for the experience.

New Hampshire: Story Land

Story Land is a fairytale-themed, family-friendly attraction that boasts large crowds and fewer entertainment options compared to other theme parks.

While it is not Disney World, the prices in the souvenir shops may remind you of it. Moreover, many of the attractions close without warning, and prices for some items are pretty inflated.

New Jersey: Atlantic City

Atlantic City, New Jersey, is a popular tourist destination with over 27 million annual visitors. While in the past it enjoyed high-quality attractions, casinos, and dining options, it is quickly becoming a trap meant to keep people indoors and spending instead of enjoying their time.

Unless you explicitly want to visit Atlantic City, making the trip to Las Vegas is more worthwhile and has plenty of other attractions in comparison.

New Mexico: International UFO Museum and Research Center

The International UFO Museum and Research Center, located in Roswell, New Mexico, capitalizes on the infamous 1947 “UFO” incident. But the dates exhibits, news articles, and aesthetics make it a prime tourist trap with very little value, not to mention the overly-inflated merchandise.

New York: Katz Delicatessen

The iconic eatery located in the Lower East Side, known for its famous pastrami sandwiches, has a rich legacy in the city and tastes as good as they say it does. But due to its fame, tourists and locals continuously flock in, with long lines and inflated prices that don’t reflect the authentic New York deli experience.

A pastrami sandwich costs $27.45 sans toppings or carving preferences. Those cost extra ($5.00 for an extra lean cut), and if you have a family of four, it’s not worth it when you can get similar — and for some — better sandwiches at other local delis.

North Carolina: The Biltmore

The Biltmore Estate, dubbed America’s largest home, may be charming for some. Still, you can easily forget to enjoy them due to the upsells, additional costs, and pricey merchandise.

Besides the entry fee, expect to pay extra for some tours and other interactive experiences. While the architecture is impressive, you won’t miss much if you decide to forgo a visit.

North Dakota: Enchanted Highway Gift Shops

The Enchanted Highway, known for its curious metal sculptures, has more than one tourist trap along its stretch.

Since many people visit to take pictures and experience the art, gift shops dot the highway with pricey merchandise, souvenirs, and trinkets.

Ohio: Cheese Haven

Cheese Haven in Port Clinton, Ohio, has an impressive cheese selection and a staunch following of cheese lovers. But prepare for a more retail-oriented experience as opposed to an interactive one if you decide to visit.

Expect to pay higher than average prices for similar products at other retailers and be in and out relatively quickly.

Oklahoma: Route 66 Museum

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum pays tribute to the famed Route 66 Highway. The museum tries hard to immerse you in the aesthetic, but there isn’t much to do.

If you enjoy a nostalgic look into the lore and history of the highway, you may enjoy your time at the museum. Otherwise, skip the attraction for one that you enjoy.

Oregon: Tillamook Cheese Factory

The Tillamook Creamery used to enjoy a more educational-oriented reputation among cheese enthusiasts and tourists. Nowadays, the experience feels commercial, and the emphasis is on the gift shop as opposed to the process.

If the cheese-making process interests you, visiting the Tillamook Creamery may be worth your while. You can get quality dairy products from artisanal, less-known shops for less.

Pennsylvania: Betsy Ross House

The Betsy Ross House is allegedly the place where Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. However, these claims are dubious, as there are no documented historical accounts that this event occurred.

While it may be an educational experience to visit the home, the contesting history and the gift shop souvenirs give the Betsy Ross House a more materialistic feel as opposed to a place where a significant event happened.

Rhode Island: Thames Street

Thames Street in Newport combines historic architecture, shops, eateries, and a gorgeous waterfront with common tourist traps. One glance shows many souvenir and gift shops with inflated prices that cater specifically to tourists.

Thames Street is a great location to visit for a night out. Still, try to avoid scammers and shops that sell merchandise, food, or experiences for unreasonably high prices.

South Carolina: Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation is a popular tourist trap with many places to take pictures and get a small taste of the aesthetics of architecture in the Antebellum South.

You can take one of the many available tours for an extra cost besides paying the steep entrance fee. Still, the experiences leave much to desire, with long lines, large crowds, and average customer service.

South Dakota: Crazy Horse Memorial

If you are visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial, expect to pay over $120 to see the attraction up close. Near the memorial are eateries, museums, and gift shops with overly inflated prices.

The contested history and ethics of the monument’s location, coupled with the high prices, make this tourist attraction more of a hassle than an experience.

Tennessee: Hard Rock Café

When you are in Music City, avoid the tourist trap that is the Hard Rock Café. The iconic Hard Rock does not offer an authentic Tennessee experience. It has about the same vibe as other chains in the U.S.

Texas: The Big Texan

The Big Texan is a popular restaurant and brewery in Amarillo, Texas, with Instagrammable décor that embraces the “everything is bigger in Texas” vibe. But during peak times, your experience may not be entirely positive due to the long wait times and average food.

With seemingly more emphasis on how the restaurant looks as opposed to quality and taste, other options are more worth your while.

Utah: City Creek Center Shopping Mall

City Creek Center Shopping Mall is one of the default shopping destinations for tourists visiting Salt Lake City. Prices are noticeably higher in many of the stores compared to other venues.

While it may be somewhere to visit on an odd night out, skip the shopping from here and make your way out to venues further away from the city center for lower prices and a more authentic Utah feel.

Vermont: Shelbourne Farms

Shelburne Farms in Vermont is a gorgeous estate, but it doesn’t come cheap and includes multiple upsells and add-ons.

If you want to explore the grounds or participate in tours, prepare to pay extra. The gift shop also has limited local items, and the selection is quite pricey.

Virginia: Virginia Beach Boardwalk

Virginia Beach boardwalk has plenty of attractions, restaurants, and things to do. However, while some vendors have niche and interesting products, they cost significantly more when buying them on the boardwalk as opposed to getting them at a local shop.

Enjoy the scenery, take in the crowds, and grab some snacks. To make the best out of your visit, keep the inflated prices in mind and avoid the souvenir shops that have little to offer.

Washington: Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market has an overly touristic vibe that experiences significant crowds during peak times. Vendors who once sold items reminiscent of the local vibe now cater more to the tastes of their customers, many of whom are tourists.

The overpriced restaurants, peak-time crowds, and areas that need better sanitation and maintenance take from their charm and can dull your experience.

West Virginia: Mothman Museum

The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant pays homage to the alleged Mothman myth and caters to fans of the supernatural creature. If you are a fan, prepare for a less-than-thrilling experience as the space is relatively small. Besides the overpriced merchandise, you won’t remember much after your trip.

Wisconsin: The ‘Top Secret’ Attraction

The “Top Secret” attraction in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, presents itself as an upside down house replete with optical illusions and some places to take photos.

The outdated attractions are a stark contrast to the impressive exterior, and you can tour the entire attraction relatively quickly, with not much to do after an initial glance.

Wyoming: Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel & Restaurant

The Irma Hotel takes the name of Buffalo Bill’s daughter, with a restaurant and gift shop dedicated to the history and legend. Customers, primarily tourists, complain of long wait times, lackluster service, and average food.

With its steep prices, perhaps stop by for a quick bite if you’re curious. However, you may find that, like most tourist traps, the experience does not match the hype.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Don’t Waste Your Money at These Worst Tourist Traps in Every State

The Most Boring Tourist Trap in Every U.S. State

Tourist traps come in all shapes and sizes. Some are free, and some cost way more than they’re worth. Some are roadside attractions that exist solely to lure in unsuspecting travelers, while others are once-enticing fixtures that have lost their luster over time. But all share one common trait: Their very existence is fueled by continued visits against all reason.

We've scoured the U.S. to find the least interesting and most skip-worthy destination in each state and Washington, D.C. We’re prepared for the fact that we’ll anger many locals, and we mean no offense with these choices. It’s likely we included many folks’ favorite detours. But just because you have a fond memory of a place doesn’t mean it’s worth anyone else’s time.

And you can be sure that if it claims to be the world’s “largest” or “best” of anything, it made the list.

Alabama: Point Mallard Water Park

Location: Decatur Claim to fame: World’s first wave pool

Water parks are suspect to begin with, as cleanliness is a constant concern, but hanging your star on a “world’s first” claim that can be easily disputed by another water park is pretty weak. Apparently the actual waves down at Alabama’s slice of the Gulf Coast just aren’t enough.

Alaska: The North Pole

Location: North Pole Claim to fame: World's largest fiberglass statue of Santa Claus

This village outside Fairbanks was named in the 1950s for the sole purpose of attracting a toy manufacturer. That never happened, and now Christmas never stops here, which sounds like a 24/7 nightmare.

Sad features include a tiny pen crammed with reindeer who no doubt wish Santa could save them.  

This is also the place where all those letters to Santa addressed simply to the “North Pole” end up every year. 

Arizona: Tombstone

Location: Tombstone Claim to fame: Gunfight at O.K. Corral

The town of Tombstone is supposedly the quintessential example of the Old West American frontier, but there really isn’t much to it — basically just an old theater and courthouse, some shops, and Wild West reenactments (which, to be fair, can be kind of fun).

Tombstone claims to be where the Gunfight at O.K. Corral took place, but in reality that famous shootout happened at an empty lot nearby.

Tourism is the only thing keeping Tombstone alive these days, but you’re better off exploring the unmatched natural beauty of Arizona.

Arkansas: Mount Ida

Location: Montgomery County Claim to fame: More crystal than anyone will ever need

Ouachita National Forest and the crystal deposits there were sacred ground for American Indians. Nowadays they serve the needs of tourists desperate to dig up some earth. 

All you need is a shovel to mine in the self-proclaimed "crystal capital of the world," but we’re not sure why anyone would.

California: "Full House" House

Location: San Francisco Claim to fame: Used as the exterior of the Tanner house in the opening credits of the cheesy-classic ‘80s TV show

California is a gigantic state with a ton of tourist traps, but we can’t think of any one more polarizing than the “Full House” house. It’s mobbed by fans on a daily basis, and that really annoys the locals. It also creates traffic and safety issues, and you can’t just waltz inside because it’s a private residence. ( It hit the market in 2019 for a cool $6 million. ) 

Even getting an exterior shot is tricky, because you have to stand in the middle of a busy street. At best, you’ll get a blurry selfie and a ton of dirty looks from neighbors. How rude!

Colorado: Four Corners

Location: Intersection of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico Claim to fame: Where the aforementioned states meet

We could’ve pinned this “attraction” on any of the states that make up the Four Corners, but we chose Colorado because the state as a whole is so magnificently beautiful that it’s a wonder why anyone would trek to this remote destination simply to stand atop a plaque.

Connecticut: Holy Land USA

Location: Waterbury Claim to fame: An amusement park dedicated to God

We’re certain God wouldn’t be impressed with this false idol, and visitors shouldn’t be either. Holy Land opened in 1955 and had a good run for about 30 years, but eventually closed as an unfinished homage to Christianity. 

Efforts to resurrect the park since then have largely been half-baked, but intrepid travelers still inexplicably show up to check it out. 

Also not working in its favor? It was tragically the site of a gruesome murder in 2010.

Delaware: Air Mobility Command Museum

Location: Dover Air Force Base Claim to fame: Only museum dedicated to airlift and aerial refueling history

It’s hard to imagine a more boring (if totally important) mission than airlifting supplies to soldiers during wartime and refueling aircraft mid-flight, which means it’s hard to imagine a museum more banal than one dedicated to these essential military functions. That must be why there’s only one of them.

Florida: City of Live Mermaids

Location: Weeki Wachee Claim to fame: “Half-fish, half-human” performances in an underwater theater

It should come as no surprise that this attraction featuring a popular male fantasy (all the “mermaids” wear appropriately skimpy bathing-suit tops) peaked in popularity in the 1960s. If “Mad Men” taught us anything, it’s that the ‘60s were wholly a man’s world. 

But even though its popularity has waned over the years, the City of Live Mermaids is still very much kicking, or rather swimming, today.

Because...Florida.

Georgia: Lunch Box Museum

Location: Columbus Claim to fame: Houses all 450 “official” collectible lunch boxes

People collect some weird stuff and also some stupid stuff. Lunch boxes fall somewhere in between. 

But an entire museum dedicated to the 450 lunch boxes released between 1951 and 1985, featuring character designs like Mickey Mouse and Popeye? We’d rather just get lunch.

Hawaii: Spouting Horn

Location: Koloa, Kauai  Claim to fame: A trapped lizard monster spewing water skyward

If the local legend mentioned above were actually true, this would be the coolest destination in Hawaii (if not the world). 

In reality, however, visitors to Spouting Horn have trekked all that way to see ocean water pushed up through a lava tube. Seriously, you came to the paradise that is Hawaii to see water spew from a small opening?!

Idaho: Center of the Universe Manhole

Location: Wallace Claim to fame: Duh, it’s the center of the universe

In a town of fewer than 800 residents in a state known for one thing and one thing only — potatoes — it’s probably difficult to attract a lot of tourist dollars. And that’s made 1 million times harder when the water supply is so toxic that your entire town is a Superfund site , managed by the U.S. government because of its hazardous contamination. 

If you’re the mayor, what do you do? Why you conjure up probabilism and declare a manhole cover to be the center of the universe, that’s what. 

Actually, this is kind of genius.

Illinois: Busy Beaver Button Museum

Location: Chicago Claim to fame: World’s only museum of pinback buttons

As we’ve learned, when you’re the “world’s only” of anything, that isn’t necessarily a good thing or selling point. Take this museum, which is simply an endless collection of buttons. That’s right, buttons. The kind that are pinned onto stuff. What more is there to say?

Indiana: Ball of Paint

Location: Alexandria Claim to fame: World’s largest ball of paint

How do you turn a 5-ounce baseball into a 2.5-ton tourist attraction? Cover it in more than 24,000 coats of paint. 

That’s what an Indiana father and his son started doing in 1977. Today, their creation lives in a barn on the family property and is readily available for viewing by anyone who barely values their own existence.

Iowa: Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan

Location: Sac City Claim to fame: The name says it all

In Iowa, we found an enormous garden gnome, an even bigger bull and a popcorn ball that will give you nightmares, but we settled on this frying pan for the least interesting tourist trap because of its humility.

It doesn’t need to be the biggest frying pan in the world. It’s the biggest frying pan in Iowa and apparently, that's enough. 

Kansas: Ball of Twine

Location: Cawker City Claim to fame: World’s largest of its kind, obviously

To ensure this ball of twine never loses the title of world’s largest — even though there are no known competitors — it receives twine anew every August. It was started in 1953 and there is no end in sight.

Kentucky: Colonel Sanders Grave

Location: Louisville Claim to fame: The chicken man’s daughter carved the bust

Anyone with an unhealthy obsession with KFC might find something of import at this gravesite. But for the other 99.9 percent of you, it’s really just a memorial to coronary artery disease. And there isn’t even a KFC nearby!

Louisiana: Nicolas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb

Location: New Orleans Claim to fame: Purchased by the actor and hated by everyone else

Leave it to Nic Cage to piss off the locals, and not with his questionable acting abilities. That’s what the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola did by securing space in the ultra-exclusive St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 for when he kicks the proverbial bucket. (The structure is inscribed with "omnia ab uno," which is Latin for "everything from one." Deep!)

Cage isn’t from New Orleans, he just owns property there, making it all the more odd that he chose this as his final resting place.

Maine: Desert of Maine

Location: Freeport Claim to fame: A “desert” among the pines of one of the greenest U.S. states

It’s not a real desert, just 40 acres of glacial silt exposed some 100 years ago by the poor farming practices of the Tuttle family. It rains here often. The camel is made of fiberglass. If you’re craving a desert excursion but decided to visit Maine, we really can’t help you.

Maryland: Peep Show at Carroll Arts Council

Location: Westminster Claim to fame: Sculptures made entirely out of crappy candy

This attraction features massive sculptures made out of the world’s most disgusting candy product that somehow never molds: Peeps. 

Its dad-joke title is cute, but we think a better name is “Creep Show.”

Massachusetts: Plumbing Museum

Location: Watertown Claim to fame: Complete history of plumbing and sanitation

Want to know everything there is to know about toilets and what happens after they’re flushed? We didn’t think so. 

Plumbing is vitally important to any functioning society, but there’s a reason everyone who's not a plumber spends exactly zero time thinking about it on a daily basis.

Michigan: Edison's Last Breath

Location: Dearborn Claim to fame: The final breath of the vaunted inventor

There’s some serious hot air blowing through the Henry Ford Museum. The story goes that Ford was so obsessed with Thomas Edison that he convinced Edison’s son to sit by his dying father’s bedside and capture the inventor’s final breath in a glass tube, so that Ford could have something to remember his dear friend by. 

We’re just glad it wasn’t another kind of post-death emission.

Minnesota: Mall of America

Location: Bloomington Claim to fame: 4.3 miles of consumerist America

America has a problem with buying stuff, and this building featuring no fewer than 520 shops is the mecca of that obsession. Minnesota’s population is about 5.6 million, but 40 million people visit this consumerist monstrosity annually.

If that doesn’t haunt your nightmares...it should.

Mississippi: Birthplace of Elvis Presley

Location: Tupelo Claim to fame: The two-room shack where the heartthrob entered the world

They say a king was born here, but really Elvis Presley was just a Southerner with an iconic voice and a penchant for bacon. Elvis was born during the Great Depression and lived here for only two years before the family was forced to move after the home was foreclosed upon.

Diehard fans only need apply, and even then, it ain’t great.

Missouri: World's Largest Fork

Location: Springfield Claim to fame: Name says it all

True, it’s fun to have a silly excuse to repeatedly say “stick a fork in it!” But once that novelty wears off, all you’re left with is a giant eating utensil. And it's not even actually the largest in the world! There’s one outside a restaurant in Colorado that’s 40 feet long, trumping this wannabe by 5 feet.

Montana: Smelter Stack

Location: Anaconda Claim to fame: Tallest free-standing masonry structure in the world

Black smoke from a copper-extraction operation once poured out the top of this 585-foot tower, but now it simply sits there unused as the anchor of Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the stack — and we’re using “interesting” liberally — is that the Washington Monument could fit inside.

Nebraska: Panorama Point

Location: Pine Bluffs Claim to fame: Highest point in Nebraska

If it’s nothingness you desire, this is the place to be. Panorama Point is an extremely remote area next to the meeting point of Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. And although it’s not on a mountain, but rather the high plains, it’s nearly a mile above sea level. 

Its top features are a view of the Rocky Mountains in the far distance and roving bison — both of which are also available in way less boring parts of the state.

Nevada: Dig This

Location: Las Vegas Claim to fame: Where adults can pretend to be heavy-machinery operators

Las Vegas is known for some stupid things, but we can’t think of anything dumber than shelling out hundreds of dollars to dig a hole in the ground with a massive Caterpillar excavator. But plenty of people disagree, and that’s why Dig This exists. 

New Hampshire: Redstone Rocket Replica

Location: Concord Claim to fame: None we could find

About an hour’s drive north of this replica is an actual Redstone Rocket, the first vessel to carry Americans into space, making it somewhat baffling why anyone would be interested in seeing the fake one.

New Jersey: Lucy the Elephant

Location: Margate City Claim to fame: National Historic Landmark (somehow)

What started as a ruse in 1882 poking fun at P.T. Barnum’s Jumbo elephant is now a permanent display, and an awfully lame one at that. Lucy is nothing more than an elephant-shaped building that currently houses a small museum dedicated to its history.

America is weird, y'all.

New Mexico: International UFO Museum and Research Center

Location: Roswell Claim to fame: Repository for all things related to the Roswell UFO crash

An alien spaceship may or may not have crashed near Roswell in 1947, but since this museum’s opening in 1992 the town has been doing everything it can to capitalize off the legendary story. The problem is there’s not much here beyond kitsch designed specifically to lure in believers and non-believers alike.

Until this museum starts housing real live aliens, we’re not interested!

New York: The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Location: New York City Claim to fame: As iconic as anything in the Big Apple

You thought it was going to be Times Square, but at least that’s free and spectacularly gaudy at night. The problem with The Rink is that it’s one of the activities singled out as a must-do on every single New York travel guide, even though it’s only open for part of the year. It also costs a pretty penny to get in ($37 to $40 per adult unless you have your own skates), the lines are epic and, as it turns out, trying not to fall alongside throngs of people toppling over beside you isn’t actually all that fun.

North Carolina: Land of Oz Theme Park

Location: Beech Mountain Claim to fame: One of Dorothy’s 10 original blue dresses was destroyed by a fire here

“The Wizard of Oz” is a timeless children’s classic. Alas, the same cannot be said of this amusement park, which primarily touts a faux Yellow Brick Road that, as one critic put it, has “faded to a jaundiced hue.” 

In its prime this park was a huge draw, but that was decades ago, and it's never fully recovered from a 1980 fire that did significant damage. Now it’s reopened a few times a year and is mostly a vandal’s playground.

North Dakota: W'eel Turtle

Location: Dunseith Claim to fame: A “turtle” made from thousands of wheel rims

When this work of art was first unveiled in the 1980s, no one had any idea what exactly it was depicting. If not for the giant welcome sign that now announces what it is, that might still be the case today.

Ohio: "A Christmas Story" House and Museum

Location: Cleveland Claim to fame: The home from the movie that’s always rerun during the holidays

It’s bad enough that this embarrassingly dated movie is a fully ingrained feature of American winter holidays; the fact that the entire house set and a museum attract thousands of visitors each year is worse than canned cranberry sauce. To borrow from a true holiday classic, bah humbug.

Oklahoma: Pops

Location: Arcadia Claim to fame: A giant soda store

Don’t fool yourself, this self-proclaimed “futuristic” pop shop is selling the same sugary swill as any other roadside gas station-restaurant. It does, however, set itself apart with a 66-foot tall LED-lit bottle (it’s on Route 66 after all).

Oregon: Chocolate Waterfall

Location: Portland Claim to fame: Recycling chocolate for longer than is appropriate

Chocolate fountains are usually a fun and delicious feature at a big soiree, but the one inside the Candy Basket shop has been re-circulating for so long that the store would probably get sued by anyone who tasted it. Thanks for making chocolate gross.

Pennsylvania: Big Mac Museum

Location: Erwin Claim to fame: Shrine to the world’s most iconic fast food item

The problem with this museum isn’t the fact that it exists in the first place, though its "exhibits" — including a 14-foot-tall Big Mac and a display examining the evolution of the burger wrapper — are indeed pretty weak.

It’s that the Big Mac was actually invented at a McDonald’s outpost in a Pennsylvania town about 40 miles away. Why not worship this gut punch at its actual birthplace?

Rhode Island: Newport Tower

Location: Newport Claim to fame: It was actually built by Vikings

For some reason, the remains of a 17th century windmill have been mistaken for a Viking structure that proves Columbus wasn’t the first non-native to step foot in America. Carbon-dating technology proved the notion wrong , yet the legend lives on.

South Carolina: Kazoo Museum

Location: Beaufort Claim to fame: Features 200 examples of the instrument

Is there a more annoying sound than that which emanates from a kazoo? Perhaps the sound that 200 of them make when blown into simultaneously. Thankfully that doesn’t happen here, but it turns out being forced to look at hundreds of kazoos is also pretty irritating.

South Dakota: Wall Drug

Location: Wall Claim to fame: The ice water destination for early Mount Rushmore visitors

There’s actually nothing awful, boring or uninteresting about Wall Drug, but we had to include it here because, since its start in 1931, it’s spawned countless awful tourist traps looking to make a quick buck. With its odd assortment of fiberglass jackalopes and its world-famous ice water, Wall Drug attracts some 2 million visitors a year to, literally, the middle of nowhere.

Tennessee: Concrete Parthenon

Location: Nashville Claim to fame: Athens of the South

It’s hard to imagine a worse travel experience than visiting a full-scale replica of an actually amazing ancient site, but that’s exactly what thousands of people do every year in Nashville. There’s even a 42-foot Athena statue at this knock-off poser. Both were built for the 1897 Centennial Exposition.

Texas: Stonehenge II

Location: Ingram Claim to fame: What the real Stonehenge originally looked like, at 60 percent scale in height

We don’t understand the fascination with replicas of famous sites, but they certainly abound across America. The worst part about Stonehenge II is that it wasn’t enough to make a plaster and wire version of the prehistoric monument — the creators had to throw in fake moai heads like those found on Easter Island too.

Utah: Gilgal Garden

Location: Salt Lake City Claim to fame: Kind of meaningful to Mormons, maybe?

If you've ever thought to yourself, "You know what'd be cool to see? A creepy stone sphinx modeled after Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism," then do we have the place for you!

Honestly, it's hard to imagine even religious diehards finding much reason to make a pilgrimage here.

Vermont: Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour

Location: Waterbury Claim to fame: Where the unique flavor combos are made

We love Ben & Jerry’s ice cream as much as anyone, but the last thing we’d do is visit the factory. The ice cream is available just about anywhere ice cream is sold — what’s the point of slogging through the crowds to get your hands on something that you can find at the local 7-Eleven?

Virginia: Dinosaur Land

Location: White Post Claim to fame: A dinosaur version of Disneyland, sorta

You know what would be awesome? A park full of fossilized dinosaur remains. You know what wouldn’t be awesome? A park full of fiberglass dinosaurs. The best part of this roadside attraction is that the original owner copied the Disneyland font, and that’s us being generous.

Washington: Gum Wall

Location: Seattle Claim to fame: Where used gum goes to never die

We used to think that if we swallowed our gum it would stick to our stomach for seven years. Now we know that’s not true, because obviously it ends up on the side of a building with thousands of other chewed pieces of gum in an alley near the much more famous and fun Pike Place Market.

In a word: E w.

West Virginia: Mystery Hole

Location: Ansted Claim to fame: Where gravity defies all explanation

Many of these so-called gravity hills or magnetic hills still exist across the U.S., and all of them are the same campy illusion. The buildings are simply constructed at a significant enough tilt that it appears as though people are standing sideways or that balls roll uphill.

Sorry, but that’s just boring old science, folks.

Wisconsin: World's Largest Six-Pack

Location: La Crosse Claim to fame: Beer tanks made to look like beer cans

In a state known for its light lagers, it’s fitting that a brewery has disguised its fermentation tanks to look like a six-pack. It’s estimated that if this was a real sixer, it would supply a six-pack a day for over 3,300 years.

We'd much rather partake of some of that brew than stare at this underwhelming attraction.

Wyoming: Intergalactic Spaceport

Location: Green River Claim to fame: Landing site for residents of Jupiter

If you were hoping to meet residents of Jupiter while visiting Wyoming, we’re sorry to let you down. The Intergalactic Spaceport is nothing more than a dirt landing strip encouraging aliens from Jupiter to land there, if and when they ever feel like leaving their faraway gas giant. 

To date, no known landings have occurred. Or have they?!

Washington, D.C.: Presidents Gallery

Location: Penn Quarter Claim to fame: Lifelike wax sculptures of all former presidents

Madame Tussauds is rarely a good idea, and in a city with so many free museums and attractions (all Smithsonian locations and the National Zoo, the National Gallery of Art, etc.) there is absolutely no reason to pay an entrance fee so you can take a selfie with a George Waxington.

This Is The ONE Tourist Trap You're Missing Out On In Each U.S. State

Lifestyle Editor, HuffPost

It's a fine, blurred, and fuzzy little line that separates our nation's most-visited cultural sites from its trashy tourist traps .

Of course, any "tourist trap" can be a "cultural site," depending on how you look at it. And any "cultural site" can feel like a "tourist trap," if it's crowded enough and sweaty enough.

With road trip season upon us , we've pinpointed some places that might get bad raps as "tourist traps" but actually deserve a visit, because they're actually awesome.

Together, these offbeat, off-road places are one big celebration of America in all its kitschy, historic, lip-smacking roadside glory-- and they're definitely worth a veer off the Interstate.

Before You Go

51 U.S. Attractions & Facts

From our partner, huffpost shopping’s best finds, more in life.

The 28 worst tourist traps out there

by Dan Miller | Jan 1, 2024 | all , in the news | 22 comments

a tourist trap is an establishment, or group of establishments, that has been created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money.

Some of the biggest tourist traps I’ve been to

Looking through that list, I definitely had to agree with some of the tourist traps in the list, starting with #1 on the list – Plymouth Rock

Not to mention that there is a decent amount of skepticism as to whether the Pilgrims even landed at Plymouth Rock .  We visited Plymouth Rock back in 2001 and you get there and it’s pretty much like “Yup, that’s a rock”.  You can’t even get anywhere close to it as it’s under glass in an enclosure.

A couple of other of the tourist traps on the list that I’d been to (and agree with) were #3 Hollywood Walk of Fame,and #5 Salem, Massachusetts, which they described as “This town was basically invented to separate tourists from their money. If you really feel like being cursed with the spell of ‘ moneyus spengingus’ go in the off season; Salem is a nightmare from September through October” – something I totally agree with.  We visited Salem back in 2001 (on the same trip as Plymouth Rock) and it was pretty lame.  #25 The Tower of London was something we visited when we were in Europe last year and I’m glad we just checked it out from the outside.

We also just got back from #10 The Space Needle

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dan @ Points With a Crew (@pointswithacrew)

And of course, I’ve already written about #11 Four Corners

(SEE ALSO: Four Corners: Bucket list worthy or total ripoff? )

Branson, Missouri is not on the list but is another place for tourists that is famous for…. having a lot of tourists.  But when we were there a few months ago, we ended up having a lot of fun at the various things to do in Branson .

Still, a couple of places on the list seemed like they weren’t very tourist trap-py – things like #13 Times Square, #15 the Taj Mahal, #16 the Great Pyramid of Giza

How many of these 28 tourist traps have you been to?  What’s the biggest tourist trap you’ve ever been to?

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More from points with a crew, 22 comments.

Times Square not a tourist trap? You’s a tourist!

Ha! You’re probably right. I’ve actually never been to NYC (though my daughter and I are going next month)

You’ve never been to NYC yet felt compelled to comment on Times Square?

While I agree with some of these, many seem to have been put on the list simply because there are lots of tourists there. To me, being crowded does not make something a tourist trap. I have been to the pyramids of Giza and would absolutely disagree that it is a tourist trap. It is an astonishing accomplishment that stood as the worlds tallest structure for 4 and a half millennia. Can people even conceive of building something today that would still be in existence in the year 6500, never mind still the worlds tallest structure? On the other hand, I have been to the Tower of London twice, once in 1984 or 85 and again two years ago, and it was definitely changed in between those visits to be more of a tourist trap. It went from gritty and honest and at least a little bit scary, to sterile and basically a display case for the Royal jewels meant to separate tourists from their money. I have also been to the forbidden city, which is indeed pretty much always crowded and wasn’t all that exciting for my family and I, but is not really set up to separate tourists from their money and a visit is a vital part of some Chinese people’s understanding of their country. Not my cup of tea, but not a tourist trap either. To me, a tourist trap has to be false in some way and specifically designed or redesigned for tourists, specifically to get them to spend their money. Even then, places like Branson, Disney, and Vegas (which, bizarrely, did not make the list), which are honest about being just for tourists, would not be on my list of tourists traps, because they are not traps, they are up front about what they are about.

Great points – that is what how I felt about things like the Pyramids of Giza, or the Taj Mahal.

The fellow who wrote that article is #1 on my list of Worst Travelling Companions.

LOL. But at least he’d know 28 places you shouldn’t visit 😀

Been to 6. I’d agree with Niagara Falls from the Canadian side but we spent almost all our time in a state park on the NY side, surrounded by the river. There weren’t many people there and it was very relaxing and beautiful. Plymouth Rock I’d agree with but it’s free so not as bad as say Four Corners. Walk of Fame does have places to eat and if you (or your children) have a favorite celebrity that is there, it’s not all bad for them to enjoy a few moments at that particular person’s star. I’d nominate the cable cars in San Francisco. The ride is nice but a 2 hour wait and $7 to go a couple of miles screams tourist trap to me more than a few things on this list.

That’s true – I forgot about the $5 “cover charge” for 4 corners (payable in cash only)

I have seen more tourists in the last couple of years, so more to trap. Disneyworld is the biggest tourist trap. Yet, I have been many times and will continue to go.

Christ the Redeemer in Rio

I disagree completely with this “Central Tokyo” being a tourist trap. First off, I have no idea where this is supposed to be. Tokyo is actually huge with many centers of activity. I assume they are referring to Shibuya, as this appears to be a picture of same. Well, Shibuya is actually an amazing place, with the largest cross-walk ever (crazy to see thousands of people crossing the street in all directions), and the lights are quite beautiful at night. Japanese people just can’t get enough light at night. Also, the people watching is unsurpassed, with the Cos-players and other inexplicably dressed denizens patrolling the streets.

I walk around various metro centers in Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, and maybe a couple others) until late at night and love it. And as Tokyo is pretty safe with an excellent subway system, this is a fairly low-stress thing to do.

Yes…Tokyo is a major city. And there are a lot of people there. I guess by that definition, every major city is a tourist trap? Well if you are are a hick from the sticks that is afraid of concrete or being touched by someone, here’s a tip. Don’t go the one of the biggest cities in the world, and don’t whine about it being a city!

The Pyramids at Giza are not well-maintained and there are very pushy salespeople trying to unload junk on anyone who has a little bit of money. Still, it’s interesting to see, doesn’t cost much, and the Sphinx is right next door.

After Plymouth Rock, I’d put listening to Big Ben in London strike at noon or midnight right up there, particularly if you’re a little bit hard of hearing.

Anywhere you travel, be sure to talk with the locals and get suggestions. I lived in Salem, MA for eight years. It is a great little city with a lot of great places to visit (and a lot of bad places), but if you had talked to a local, you could have gotten the inside scoop and would have a completely different experience.

Wow – this list is …. really sad. What Negative Nancy’s you are. A lot of these locations have local and historical significance and if a tourist decides to “part with their money” that’s their choice. What do you think Disneyland is? THAT’S the biggest tourist trap of them all.

Well I have been in Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Extremly costly time for eaters that left us with lighter wallets and a taste of burnt coffee in our mouths.

You did Salem wrong, sure the witch stuff is cheesy, but the city has a lot to offer, I recommend going in the summer, when the willows are open, and you can take a harbor cruise from the wharf to Boston. Additionally, if you went downtown, but you didn’t visit the Peabody Essex Museum then you wasted your time. Even the cheap halloween stuff can be fun if you’ve got the right attitude, and the people a great

I’m going to Salem/Boston etc in September. Can you give suggestions of places to go, things to see that are “touristy”?

Hard to believe this blog post is 8 years old.

Pure clickbait. I visited most of the places on this list including Graceland and loved them.

A real list would include Disneyland, Las Vegas and all other fake places.

why is this Clickbait from 2016 listed with a date of 2024?

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The 10 worst tourist traps in America, according to disappointed travelers

They came, they saw and they complained because these sites are pretty lame.

There’s so much build-up surrounding a vacation. Where will you go, what meals are you most excited to eat and which magnificent sites will you see? Even if you’re not the attractions type, there’s no way to avoid specific tourist sites, no matter how off-the-beaten-path your trip might be, and you may not want to. Did you really go to Paris if you didn’t visit the Eiffel Tower? Not in our book. Though for every worthwhile Mona Lisa, there’s a Corn Palace you will absolutely want to skip. The people of Reddit have some strong opinions about tourist traps, specifically the ones you should absolutely avoid the next time you find yourself sightseeing in America. These are the spots you’ll want to leave off the itinerary, according to Reddit users.

1. South of the Border | Hamer, SC

This over-the-top rest area in South Carolina sits just below the North Carolina border (hence the name) and marled the halfway point between Florida and New York back when people drove between these two cities. It’s still fun for kids who marvel at the massive sombrero and can sneak in a ride at the amusement park, but most adults grumble at the thought of stopping here for a photo underneath the giant Mexican hat or a souvenir.

2. The original Starbucks | Seattle, WA

The first Starbucks store along the cobblestone street near Pike Place Market is a mecca for coffee lovers patient enough to wait in line for basically the same coffee they could have at any other Starbucks. In fairness, this one carries limited merchandise available for purchase and serves pour-over coffee of a special proprietary roast. But, there’s still the issue of the line, which can snake around the block during peak hours.

3. Plymouth Rock | Plymouth, Massachusetts

One of the more disappointing monuments on this list, Plymouth Rock is nothing more than a disenchanting boulder, says one Reddit user. The supposed site of the disembarkation of the Mayflower is a popular tourist attraction and is also frequented by nearby students on field trips. Apparently, feeling totally let down by this historical landmark is a rite of passage for most elementary school kids in New England.

4. Southernmost Point | Key West, FL

The southernmost point in the continental U.S. is an unimpressive concrete buoy overlooking the ocean. It’s a necessary photo opp if you’re in Key West, but not worth seeking out if you’re in the Upper Keys. You’ll also see “90 miles to Cuba” written on it; the southernmost point is closer to Cuba than to mainland Florida.

5. Corn Palace | Mitchell, SD

The world’s only corn palace gets a new look with every crop season, decked out in corn and grains from the area and themed murals. The agricultural landmark showcasing the region’s bounty is also one of the finest basketball auditoriums in the country.

6. Navy Pier | Chicago, IL

Perhaps this is worth visiting after you’ve seen and done absolutely everything there is to see and do in Chicago. There’s nothing of note, says one Reddit user, citing similar places like Fisherman’s Wharf at least have sea lions and other wildlife to redeem them.

7. The Alamo | San Antonio, TX

Complaints about The Alamo compare to most bad reviews of places you’ve already seen on TV: it’s much smaller than expected. The historic Spanish mission is where the 1836 battle between Texas revolutionary forces and the Mexican army occurred. A significant site that some Reddit users still consider a tourist trap.

8. Mount Rushmore | South Dakota, SD

People visit the South Dakota site for its massive sculpture depicting U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The roughly 60-foot-high granite faces are a sight to behold…but also something you can Google. You might want to think this one through.

9. Times Square | NY, NY

This one was up for debate as some defended the overrun region of New York City for its incredible theater and twinkling lights—quite a spectacle to behold at night. Sure, the souvenir shops are crap and the street performers can be shady, but there’s definite magic to the Great White Way.

10. Bourbon Street | New Orleans , LA

The debacharous strip is not for everyone, and several Reddit users consider it filthy and overrated. Still, if you’re looking for an epic party scene year-round—and on a grand scale come Mardi Gras—and massive frozen cocktails, there’s no better place than Bourbon Street.

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The one 'tourist trap' that's actually worth visiting in every state

• Famous tourist attractions don't always live up to expectations — but when they do, they're truly spectacular. 
• The Spud Drive-In Theater in Idaho is gimmicky, but delightful.
• You won't find a more whimsical stretch of road than the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

Nothing kills the holiday-high quite like squandering your precious time — and cash — waiting to see a hyped-up tourist attraction that ends up being an unmitigated let-down .

However, sites across the US have undeservedly been called tourists traps for becoming too crowded or too expensive, though many of them remain must-sees.

From the natural wonder of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the admittedly tacky neon lights illuminating the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, these are the tourist attractions actually worth visiting in every state.

ALABAMA: US Space and Rocket Center

Occasionally billed as Earth's largest space museum, the US Space and Rocket Center boasts a slew of notable artifacts , including a national historic landmark Saturn V moon rocket, an Apollo 16 command module, a Skylab orbital workshop, and an Apollo 12 moon rock.

ALASKA: Iditarod Trail Headquarters

Each year, a uniquely Alaskan tradition called the Iditarod , an annual long-distance sled dog race that spans   over 1150 miles,   takes place. The race's headquarters, located in Wasilla, Alaska, have long drawn both fans and critics of the race.

Many — especially animal activists —  take issue with the race's use of dogs, so a visit to the headquarters offers activists a rare opportunity to actually   meet members   of the Iditarod founder's family, and converse with them in person. The HQ also features trophies, displays, photos, and videos.

ARIZONA: The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is Arizona's most well-known natural beauty, and for good reason: between its immense size and breathtaking views, this natural phenomenon is a must-see... despite the crowds .

ARKANSAS: Whitaker Point

Whitaker Point is one of the most easily recognizable landscapes in Arkansas, and what's more, it's easily accessible. While you may need to wait your turn for that perfect Instagram shot on its ledge, you'll get instantly rewarded with scenic vistas, prismatic wildflowers, and glimmering waterfalls.

Here are some of the  best waterfalls to visit in the US .

CALIFORNIA: Alcatraz Island

Al Capone, Whitey Bulger, and a slew of other criminals were once imprisoned in Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary , which is located on an island in the San Francisco Bay. Sure, tours are around $50 , but checking out the infamous penitentiary and its stunning views is worth it.

COLORADO: Great Sand Dunes

More than 4.5 million people  visited Colorado National Parks in 2016 alone, and those visitors spent nearly $300  million  in and around the park. Considering that the Great Sand Dunes have a reputation of being consistently too hot , windy, or dangerous to comfortably explore, that's a lot of cash to drop.

But when the weather is just right, the dunes are worth it.

After you get over the sheer size and wonder of the Great Sand Dunes — they can span up to 750 feet tall — go sand sledding or sandboarding through them for an unforgettable experience.

CONNECTICUT: The PEZ Candy Factory

We all have a soft-spot for PEZ; the candy is interactive, it's fun, and a visit to the factory gives you a  behind-the-scenes look at how it's made. Plus, it's bright and engaging.

DELAWARE: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery has grown significantly in popularity since it first opened in 1995; in fact, readers on the website 10Best just voted the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery tour as one of the best in the nation for 2018.

FLORIDA: St. Augustine Alligator Farm

One of Florida's oldest running attractions, the slightly gimmicky St. Augustine Alligator Farm, which opened in 1893, allows visitors to view hundreds of native alligators . While many complain that it's overpriced, there's a zipline, obstacle course, and live feedings!

GEORGIA: Ponce City Market

As long as you don't mind rubbing shoulders with hordes of other hungry tourists, a trip to the Ponce City Market will no doubt satiate foodies in search of the most creative fare Atlanta has to offer. Even Zagat gives the market its seal of approval , noting that the PCM's new amusement park makes battling the crowds a worthwhile venture.

HAWAII: Punaluu Black Sand Beach

Punaluu Black Sand Beach has been noted for being  crowded and noisy , which means that tourists hoping to relax and catch some peaceful rays will likely hate it.

But for those of you in the mood to witness a truly unique location (and catch sight of some endangered turtles), Punaluu is a must-see spot.

The sand on Punaluu Black Sand Beach gets its inky hue from crushed lava rock , but that's not the only reason to visit the famous beach;  endangered Hawksbill turtles and green turtles are often spotted on the shore . 

IDAHO: The Spud Drive-In

There's something delightfully kitsch about how this  potato-farming region's entrance sign to their drive-in theater  features a gargantuan potato on the back of a cherry-red flat-bed truck.

ILLINOIS: Wrigley Field

Baseball fans will jump at the chance to visit Wrigley Field , home of the Chicago Cubs and  host to Major League Baseball for the 104th season in 2018.

INDIANA: Marengo Cave

Marengo Cave is one of Indiana's most-visited natural and National Landmarks, likely because a pit stop there offers something for everyone. History buffs can explore the five-mile long cave, which allegedly started to form  approximately one million years ago ; there are gemstone mining bags for children; camping grounds for outdoorsy folk; and families can even opt to take a family canoe trip on Blue River, nearby.

IOWA: Grotto of the Redemption

The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa, is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world; not only is it one of the largest man-made grottos on the planet, but it also boasts a staggering collection of precious stones and gems, such as rose quartz, crystals, and jasper, which are embedded in the grotto's walls.

KANSAS: Dorothy’s House

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

If you were wondering where in Kansas Dorothy was referring to when she uttered those iconic words in the movie "The Wizard of Oz," here's your answer. You can take a tour through the Land of Oz and chat with costumed guides at Dorothy's House, which resides on the same land as Kansas'  Coronado Museum .

KENTUCKY: Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Back when Kentucky was still a part of Virginia, one of the region's original counties was called " Bourbon County" — and bourbon has remained a rich part of Kentucky's history, considering 95% of the world's bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky's Bourbon County today.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail features 24 distilleries for bourbon aficionados to visit.

LOUISIANA: Gardens of the American Rose Center

Located on a 118-acre wooded tract in Louisiana, the Gardens of the American Rose Center is the nation's largest park dedicated to varieties of the world's most romantic flower — the rose. Visitors can check out more than 65 individual rose gardens, as well as 20,000 rosebushes on the premises.

MAINE: Lobster Shack at Two Lights

Yes, you'll have to wait in line forever — especially since the Lobster Shack at Two Lights has been featured in some prestigious guides, including  Serious Eats ,  Bon Appetit , and  The Food Network  — but the views, the BYOB policy, and the to-the-point, no-frills menu, make the stop worth it.

MARYLAND: American Visionary Art Museum

The American Visionary Art Museum  seeks to highlight  the work of self-taught artists, prioritizing unique, eccentric art over traditional pieces of work — which means every new visit to the museum will likely feel fresh and different than the visit before.

MASSACHUSETTS: USS Constitution

Named by President George Washington after the United States Constitution, the USS Constitution is the oldest wooden-hulled , three-masted frigate — one of six — commissioned in the United States Navy.

Construction on the USS Constitution started in 1794 in the North End of Boston, and she launched on October 21, 1797.

MICHIGAN: Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island harkens back to a simpler time, before the automotive industry underwent its massive boom in the US, and has been a tourism hotspot since the late 19th century.

The sweet seaside town, known for its fudge, takes the whole old timey-ness to a new level, and visitors can explore the island in horse-drawn carriages (although drive-your-own-buggies are available for vacationers who prefer to self-direct).

MINNESOTA: The Jolly Green Giant

He's jolly, he's green, he's a giant. What more could you ask of a tourist attraction?

MISSISSIPPI: Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park is the fifth national military park  created by Congress; the park, which was established in 1899, commemorates  the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg.

The park boasts a vast collection of historic cannons , reconstructed trenches, and more along its 16-mile route , but some have criticized that the large size of the site makes it hard to find specific monuments and relics you're looking for; however, the problem is easily fixed by exploring it by car.

MISSOURI: Gateway Arch

The tallest man-made monument in the US, the Gateway Arch is a 630-foot structure which you can access via a tram-ride, allowing you to drink in the views of Missouri from up high.

MONTANA: Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is losing its namesake glaciers due to climate change , which has driven a huge spike in traffic and tourism to the park, rendering it much more crowded than usual.

However, between Glacier's  700 miles of trails through rugged mountains and its immaculate lakes, the natural wonder remains worth a visit.

NEBRASKA: Chimney Rock

One of the most  iconic landmarks  in the entire state of Nebraska is the 480-foot high geological rock formation known as  Chimney Rock .

The formation represented a landmark for pioneers heading west in the 19th century, and is said to be around  24 to 25 million years old .

NEVADA: The Las Vegas Strip

The strip is a classic for a reason, and if you're going to make the trek to Sin City, you might as well take advantage of the casinos, nightclubs, upscale eateries, bars, and nightlife available to you.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Cathedral of the Pines

Every US President since Truman has left a stone to commemorate  Americans who have served America at the   Cathedral of the Pines  in Rindge, New Hampshire.

NEW JERSEY: Atlantic City Boardwalk

When  Americans picture summertime on the Jersey Shore , the Atlantic City Boardwalk, with its variety of confection shops, amusements, restaurants, and views, inevitably comes to mind, and for good reason.

NEW MEXICO: Roswell

While it may seem like an unusual choice to designate an entire city as a tourist trap worth visiting, Roswell isn't just any city — it's the so-called "land to the aliens." Legend has it that an alleged UFO crashed near the city, and in honor of the myth, most everything in Roswell is alien-themed, to an exultantly ostentatious degree.

The street-lamps lighting the roads at night? Alien-shaped. If you buy a game of " Operation " in Roswell, you'll find yourself "operating" on an alien , rather than a human. Roswell is the ideal destination for folks with both a sense of humor, and a penchant for the zany.

NEW YORK: Times Square

New York is brimming with popular and historically significant tourist attractions: there's the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park, to name a few. And then, of course, there's Times Square.

Locals will avoid Times Square like the plague, but if you're just passing through the city, a visit to the bustling, bright hub is akin to a rite of passage — if you can make it through those streets unscathed, you can make it anywhere.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Biltmore estate

With 33 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms spread over 175,000 square feet, the Biltmore is billed as America's largest home , so if you want to feel bad about your living situation while marveling at a palatial estate, this is the place to go.

NORTH DAKOTA: The Enchanted Highway

The Enchanted Highway,  a 32-mile stretch of two-lane roads studded intermittently with whimsical roadside art — such as giant metal birds , and a tin family — more than  lives up to its name.

OHIO: Cedar Point

The 364-acre Cedar Point is known as the roller coaster capital of the world, and boasts  a handful of world-record breaking attractions. For instance, it has a  world-record 72 rides, and is the only amusement park in the world with six roller coasters taller than 200 feet.

OKLAHOMA: Route 66

Route 66 was one of the original highways within the US highway system, running from Chicago ,  Illinois , through  Missouri ,  Kansas ,  Oklahoma ,  Texas ,  New Mexico , and  Arizona,  before ending in  Santa Monica ,  California.

It has been mentioned in countless novels , movies, lyrics, and other works of art, so you'll feel the weight of US history around you while traveling upon its hallowed gravel.

OREGON: Crater Lake

Yes, visitation rates to Crater Lake have been skyrocketing over the past few years, but don't let the threat of long crowds deter you from visiting, mostly because you'd be hard-pressed to find a more intensely blue body of water in such a unique location. Nestled  within a giant volcanic  caldera, it is  the deepest lake in the US at 1,943 feet .

PENNSYLVANIA: Reading Terminal Market

You could easily spend all your time in Philly ping-ponging between the city's  two cheesesteak mavens , but if you want to sample some of the other 54 national cuisines the city offers, the Reading Terminal Market is a fine place to start — just be prepared to wrestle your way through many fellow gourmands.

RHODE ISLAND: WaterFire Providence

Several times over the spring, summer, and autumn, Rhode Island citizens gather together on the four-acre Waterplace Park and Riverwalk, and send 100 bonfires down the Woonasquatucket River, making for a spectacularly enchanting show .

While outdoor festivals swarming with vendors, street entertainers, and tourists can be overwhelming, if you can withstand the chaos, the fire-lighting ceremony is truly bewitching.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Fort Sumter

The bombardment on Fort Sumter was the result of an ongoing tension between the existing US government and the Confederate government over ownership of the South. Seven states had seceded from the Union, and when then-President Abraham Lincoln declared his intentions to resupply Union forces at South Carolina's Fort Sumter, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard decided to bombard it on April 12, 1861 .

Nobody was killed in the fight, but the battle is said to mark the beginning of the Civil War.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Mount Rushmore

Opened in 1941, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive granite sculpture which depicts the stone visages of past US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Some claim it's underwhelming, others complain about crowds, but this piece of US history is worth a visit.

TENNESSEE: Dollywood

The US is home to a profuse number of theme parks worth visiting , but Dollywood, named after entertainer Dolly Parton, is in a league of its own: not only can you enjoy classic Southern-style dining, but there are more than 40 rides and 15 shows to choose from while there.

TEXAS: The San Antonio River Walk

One of the most visited places in San Antonio, the Riverwalk attracts tourists of all walks of life because it embodies the spirit of Texas excess: it just keeps getting bigger and better.

You'll have to wait in line, but tickets are relatively affordable , and once you hop aboard a water taxi, you can explore all the restaurants, shops, museums, and sights San Antonio has to offer.

UTAH: Bryce Canyon National Park

The  largest collection of hoodoos   — tall, skinny, and protruding pillars of rock that form over thousands of years due to different types of erosion — in the world can be seen at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, which means that during the daytime, every view point is jam-packed with throngs of rude tourists blocking the views of the iconic rocks.

Tear your gaze away from the hoodoos and venture out to the park during the night instead: it's dark enough at Bryce that you'll be able to view 7,500 stars on a moonless night. 

VERMONT: Ben and Jerry's Factory

Not only will you learn all about the ice-cream making process during your 30-minute tour at the Ben & Jerry's Factory in  Waterbury, Vermont, but you can taste-test an assortment of flavors at their full-service Scoop Shop.

VIRGINIA: Virginia Beach

Skip the grossly overpriced attractions in Colonial Williamsburg, and head over to Virginia Beach, which was dubbed one of the top 25 beaches in the US this year by TripAdvisor. The boardwalk, while sometimes crowded, has something for everyone. 

WASHINGTON: The Ape Cave

Formed over 2,000 years ago, the Ape Cave is  the  longest continuous lava tube in the continental US; legend has it that some people have claimed to have spotted Bigfoot on their way to the cave.

WEST VIRGINIA: Archive of the Afterlife: The National Museum of the Paranormal

All things witchy and paranormal are currently in vogue, and there's no shortage of haunted attractions all over the US.

But for travelers who are nonetheless still drawn to otherworldly paraphernalia — and for fans of spooky ghost stories — West Virginia's Archive of the Afterlife: The National Museum of the Paranormal is a destination worth scoping out.

Full of eerie oddities you won't find elsewhere, travelers have praised the museum's owner for his authenticity and energy.

WISCONSIN: The House on the Rock

The mad and bizarre vision of recluse Alex Jordan Jr., the House on the Rock in Wisconsin is a dark, 14-room home perched on — you guessed it — a rock. The interior is dark, and will make you feel as though you're wandering through a fever dream, which is probably why the location makes a cameo in the television series, "American Gods," based on a Neil Gaiman novel.

WYOMING: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park — the first national park in the  world , let alone the US — was officially established by  President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. The park, which spans over 3,000 square miles, boasts a variety of natural wonders, as well as over 2,000 campsites , and is absolutely worth a visit, even if that visit entails having to witness crowds of tourists and other disappointments .

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8 ‘tourist traps’ that are truly worth a visit.

8 tourist traps worth braving the crowds for

Story highlights.

Rio's most famous landmark, Christ the Redeemer, is usually heaving with visitors. So what?

It's worth booking a couple days at the Grand Canyon rather than peering over the edge and leaving

Choosing a weekday over weekend or early morning over midday can spare you crowds at big attractions

Tourist traps – overcrowded, overhyped and, of course, overpriced. Yet we keep going. By the millions.

Because however one bad experience may make us feel about them, they’re awesome. That’s why they get overcrowded in the first place.

That’s why, as Yogi Berra supposedly once said of popular St. Louis restaurant Ruggeri’s: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Professional globetrotter Gary Arndt perhaps sums it up best when he says, “I had a horrible time at the Pyramids, but I’d go back and recommend people go because … they’re the Pyramids. Some places you just have to suck it up and go visit.”

Here are eight popular places well worth a visit anyway despite the “tourist trap” label. And we’re also passing along a few tips for avoiding crowds.

1. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

It’s one of the most popular sights in India , attracting 3 million visitors a year – which automatically puts it on many tourist’s verboten list. More fool them: they’re missing a World Heritage Site that really lives up to the hype. At sunrise or sunset the crowds are slimmest and the building is at its most photogenic.

Travel writer Jodi Ettenberg picked the dawn hours of a rainy day for her visit, when most tourists would stay in bed.

National Geographic Traveler of the Year Shannon O’Donnell took a different approach.

“I went on a sunny day and still had a wonderful visit,” says O’Donnell. “The site is just as popular with Indian tourists, so it was fun to interact with the families.”

2. The Acropolis (Athens, Greece)

Ruggedly modern Athens may be a culture shock to those expecting white marble and togas at every turn, but for many the most jarring experience awaits at the ticket barriers to the Acropolis, complete with security guards and a sea of visitors.

The climb up is hot and crowded – but at the top, you’ll see why a million people do this every year. This is Athenian culture refined and placed on a pedestal 150 meters high – in every sense, it’s the heart of Athens and maybe even of Greece .

The country’s monuments have endured thousands of years of warfare, stone theft, punishing heat and, in one dramatic incident, an exploding ammo dump – but they’re still here. Be inspired by that, grit your teeth and brave those crowds. It’s worth it.

Alternately:

If you’re looking for the best view in the city, head northeast and climb Lykavitos Hill.

From its peak (at 277 meters, the highest point in the city), you’ll be looking down onto the Acropolis, and the rest of the view will punch the breath out of you.

Which Greek island should you go to?

3. London Underground (United Kingdom)

Canned sardines would gloat if they ever saw the twisted, conjoined bodies scrapping for pockets of air during rush hour on London’s Tube service. During tourist season, it can get spectacularly horrible.

There are tricks and shortcuts to avoid bottlenecks, including going up to street level and walking to the next station. Alternative Tube maps have become an art form (like the incredible Wonderground map) and the network’s history is fascinating. If you need an excuse to explore, there’s the Tube Challenge – visiting all 270 stations in 24 hours.

Destination: London

4. Khao San Road (Bangkok)

Online reviews of Khao San can be damning: “Meh, lots of drunk backpackers, tacky, noisy and crowded.” Dubbed by Susan Orlean as The Place To Disappear , it’s usually raucous and requires a particular mindset to enjoy.

It’s a tourist trap – but not an unwelcome one, according to the average review on TripAdvisor . People visit Khao San because it’s thrillingly chaotic – the noise and the crowds are the price of that excitement. They’re usually a bargain.

Too much chaos for you? Look to the surrounding streets.

While food on Khao San itself has a reputation for being underwhelming and overpriced, writer Mark Piano found a wealth of Lebanese and Israeli food nearby, including the well-reviewed Shoshana , the “cheapest and best hummus I’ve found in town.”

Destination: Bangkok

5. Sacre Coeur (Paris)

Acting as Paris’ own Acropolis is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, better known as Sacre Coeur, high above the city on the hill of Montmartre.

Consecrated less than a century ago, it’s the city’s must-see symbol of unity and renewed confidence – and yet the approach to it is plagued with Paris’s worst tourist scams, including the Paris String Trick .

Disheartening? Of course. Avoidable? Absolutely.

“Most visitors take the same route,” says travel blogger James Feess . “They get off at the Anvers metro stop, walk through the gauntlet of tacky souvenir shops on Rue de Steinkerque, take the funicular up to Sacre Coeur, walk to the Place du Tertre to see the artists selling their original paintings and finally walk back down the hill to see the underwhelming Moulin Rouge.

“Venture outside these few areas and you’ll find a whole different world of quintessential Parisian cafes, tree-lined streets, private gardens, hidden alleyways and boulangeries that most tourists never see.”

Destination: France

6. Stonehenge (United Kingdom)

These days you’re unlikely to step between the stones unless you’re allowed special access (say, you’re Doctor Who). Most visitors have to walk around the outside – and yet that’s enough.

It’s the crowning monument in a staggeringly archaeology-rich landscape. It’s also changing dramatically.

A £27 million ($45 million) visitor center opened in December 2013 , and as with many new arrivals ,it’s suffered a few teething problems. This is the most famous prehistoric monument in England, perhaps in the world – and we still don’t know what it was for.

Twenty miles to the north, Avebury’s stone circles has no admission fee and gets a quarter of the annual visitors. The stone circles are a short walk from West Kennet Avenue and other stunning prehistoric monuments.

7. Christ The Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)

It’s the most famous sight in Brazil, it’s stunningly beautiful and it has a remarkable history. Of course, you need to go.

Even if the area around the 98-foot-tall statue is almost always heaving with visitors.

“Most of the photos you’ll have seen are likely to have been taken by photographers in helicopters who can find the space they need for the shot without the crowds,” says travel photographer Laurence Norah .

“If you want to avoid the crush, go on a weekday rather than the weekend and perhaps pick a day that isn’t totally clear. The morning is better for photos of the statue, as the light is on him, whilst the afternoon and evening offers better light across Rio.”

8. Grand Canyon (Arizona)

If North America’s Natural Wonder of the World is your destination, don’t waste your visit on a whistle-stop trip to the edge. That’s how most people experience it, and it’s a poor way to do this 17-million-year-old landmark justice.

To avoid the beaten track do as the wisest local guides suggest – book a few days and venture below the rim – best to go out of season, as the canyon floor can be unbearably hot (39C/102F) during summer.

Destination USA: 50 states, 50 spots

31 must-see places around the world

Doh! 20 biggest travel mistakes

Show all

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The Worst Tourist Traps In America

Just because everyone has visited a place, doesn’t mean it’s worth going. Some of the worst tourist traps in America are named this for a reason: they’re traps. The point is to lure you in so you spend your money, even if it isn’t worth one penny. We’ve curated a list of some of the worst tourist traps in America, so you can save your money and spend it elsewhere. Even if you’re on a road trip and happen to pass by one of these attractions, it’s best just to take a quick picture and not waste any more time on it.

The Venetian, Las Vegas

Not only is The Venetian a complete Italian rip-off, but it’s as fake as any tourist trap can get. If you head to the City of Sin, you should certainly skip this part. As the price is well over a hundred bucks for this sad ride, you could fly to Italy and ride in a real gondola instead.

The Venetian gondolas are based on the real ones from Venice. But it’s more akin to floating through dyed water for a whopping fifteen minutes, and you’re gazing out at other buildings and gondolas. In general, all of Vegas is a tourist trap and it’s best to avoid this part of America altogether (via Reddit ).

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Epcot, Walt Disney World

Even though Disney World has some of the best attractions in the world in terms of theme parks, Epcot does not. There are two sections in that part of the park, Future World and World Showcase. The World Showcase part displays different countries and their food and drink. There aren’t rides, and it seems like they try too hard to fit the stereotype of each country instead of capturing what it is.

According to Reddit, the news account MSN said, “Of the four Disney parks in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Epcot is easily the most underwhelming. Unless you’re a college student looking to to “drink around the world” (for hundreds nonetheless), this theme park offers nothing. The experiences at each country in the park focus only on the most basic stereotypes of each culture, and the few rides this park has are disappointing to most children.” You could use that money and visit each country in person (via Reddit ).

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The Liberty Bell, Philadelphia

Even though the Liberty Bell symbolizes America and is something almost every American has heard about, it doesn’t mean it’s spectacular. It was rung after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1752, and during the 19th century, developed a large crack. It’s so underwhelming, that looking at a picture will do enough justice.

There was a tie you could even touch the bell, which isn’t allowed now. If you do decide to visit, you might find long lines of people just to snap a simple selfie with a bell that’s smaller than you’d expect. It’s best to skip this and explore other things the city has to offer (via Reddit ).

Mysterious Viking Tower, Rhode Island

You might have heard of Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, which is a spectacular display of large stones with a mysterious history. In Newport, Rhode Island, there’s also a tower made from stones, which might sound as enticing as Stonehenge, but we’re here to tell you not to bother.

The name is alluring, as it’s called the Mysterious Viking Tower, but there’s nothing else to gawk over. No one truly knows who built the structure, and it’s said that Vikings may have been involved. Either way, it’s best to skip (via Roadside America ).

The Biggest Ball of Twine, Kansas

If you like twine, and we mean, really, really like twine, then you should probably head to Cawker City, Kansas. But if you’re like most people, who would never give a second thought about twine, then you can skip this tourist trap. Kansas is home to the world’s biggest ball of twine, and it’s been around since the 1950s.

Citizens tend to add more and more twine. According to Reddit, “It’s located in the exact geographical center of the USA. People used to dare each other to lick it, which is gross because everyone knows that locals would go piss on it (it’s a fairly open secret).” It’s probably one of the silliest tourist traps in America and serves as a mere distraction if you’re driving across the states. It’s a good pit stop, but don’t go out of your way to see it (via Reddit ).

Washington’s Market Wall, Seattle

While Seattle is full of wonderful attractions, like Fremont Troll and Space Needle, it’s also home to one of the worst tourist traps in America. If you’re a germaphobe, stay far, far away from here. There’s a wall covered in chewed gum. If you’re worried about catching any sort of disease, then you need to stay far away from here.

Even Reddit users despise the place and say, “I don’t care about the history of the gum wall, it’s just trash stuck onto a wall and disgusting too. Everywhere else gum is an eyesore but at this one place, it’s a tourist destination.” The tradition began back in 1993 when theatergoers stuck coins on the wall. Even though it’s colorful, it’s pretty disgusting (via Reddit ).

Indiana’s NCAA Hall of Champions

To get anything from Indiana’s NCAA Hall of Champions, you’d have to be a pretty big fan of college sports. And even then, there’s still nothing remotely interesting unless you know what you’re looking at. It’s a pretty boring attraction that many people visit, surprisingly enough.

It takes 20 minutes to walk through, without reading everything, which is likely the case. It’s been named Indiana’s worst tourist trap by Insider. There are way better tourist destinations to visit, even regarding college sports, and this isn’t one of them (via Business Insider ).

The Marvelous Gas Station, North Carolina

At South of the Border station is a famous gas station, in addition to a gift shop and restaurant. We’re not sure what gas station would ever deserve its very own gift shop, but it exists. It lies just south of the North Carolina border, and while it’s a functional gas station, there’s not much else to it. Tourists on Trip Advisor are quick to comment about the monstrosity that is South of the Border.

One wrote, “Driving down I95 in either direction, you are accosted by the billboards. South of the Border, they scream at you in the bright yellows, oranges, reds, and greens… The attractions were closed. The campground was closed. There were several smaller shops in this combined open, with no more than two cars at each. And each building had two employees, so go figure. We went into the gas station and searched for a restroom. It was outside we were told. Nothing in the souvenir-style shop grabbed my attention… We left not knowing any closer to the secret as to what exactly this place was. Other than a tourist trap that offers nothing touristy…” It’s best to avoid this and go, literally, to any other gas station (via Trip Advisor ).

The Shell Service Station in North Carolina

It seems like North Carolina prides themselves on their gas stations. This one in particular has a bright yellow and red shell-shaped service station that’s a part of the National Register of Historic Places. Simply put, it’s a gas station in the shape of a shell. It’s mainly used as a satellite office for Shell, and there’s practically nothing else to do here.

According to Atlas Obscura, “It wasn’t easy to make shell-shaped gas stations. The office and bathroom area were boxed in, surrounded by a bent wood and wire frame, and then covered in stucco. This last station remained open until the 1950s and housed a lawn mower repair business in the 1970s and 80s.” Inside, you can find framed newspaper clippings dating back to its opening and a calendar (via Atlas Obscura ).

Moqui Cave, Utah

There’s a huge branding issue with the Moqui Cave, which is why it’s such a sneaky tourist trap. This is an underground network thanks to erosion. It’s not a place with a natural opening. And it’s not some ancient landmark either, it’s a recent attraction where you can buy a souvenir and take photos.

The users of Trip Advisor hate it, and one even wrote, “You walk into an impressive cave that was at one time a bar (the bar and barstools are impressive) and there are many interesting rock and crystal formations displayed. Where they lost me is in the neon paint-sprayed diorama and then the obligatory visitor souvenir shop.” It’s best to skip this and head to a place in the USA that’s a gorgeous natural attraction (via Trip Advisor ).

Carhenge, Nebraska

While we already mentioned Stonehenge on this list, the USA is not short of Stonehenge lookalikes. One of the most famous ones is called Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska. But this isn’t made of impressive stone, it’s made of vintage cars and was designed by Jim Reinders in memory of his father.

Its sole purpose is a roadside attraction. If you already happen to be driving past it, then you might as well stop, but there’s no reason to go out of your way to see it, though it might be the most exciting thing the state of Nebraska has to offer tourists. And even though it’s a tourist trap, it is pretty strange. The users of Reddit poke fun at their tourist traps. One wrote, “I was raised in Nebraska. I can tell you that yes, there is so little to do that someone decided to make a car hinge. Now I live in Kansas, and I can tell you that yes, there is so little to do in Kansas that someone decided to create the world’s largest ball of twine.” At least there’s something to do, right? (via Reddit ).

Graceland, Tennessee

If you’re someone who’s a huge fan of the King of Rock and Roll, then you might have Graceland high on your list of places to visit. Keep in mind that this tourist trap is just not worth it unless you happen to be driving right past it on a road trip. Elvis Presley’s mansion is beautiful, but there are tons of other places to visit unless you’re a diehard fan.

The users of Trip Advisor are quick to mention how expensive it is. One wrote, “My family of four (2 adults and 2 students) spent $124 for admission (the least expensive tour package offered) plus $10 to park. The audio tour is good but the time spent in the actual house is about 10 minutes. You cannot see any of the second floor at all. The area where you park and board the bus to the house is loaded with tons of tacky souvenir shops and restaurants. My husband and I were there twenty years ago when it was much cheaper. We only went this time because we were in town and our children wanted to see it. That’ll be the last time I’ll donate that much money to make Elvis’s heirs more rich.” If this isn’t convincing enough to skip it, we don’t know what is (via Trip Advisor ).

This Quarry in Vermont

Even though the Rock of Ages sounds enticing, it doesn’t mean it is. If you travel to Vermont to get a first-hand look at the Rock of Ages, you better keep your distance. It’s a dangerous quarry that’s good for a few minutes look, but that’s about it. The bright blue pools might look good on camera, but they’re not safe to explore.

The company is a euphemism for enduring art, which is another meaning for headstones. To visit the site, adults have to pay $9. You’re better off saving that cash and putting it towards something else, like gasoline to get far away from there (via Cheapism ).

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

Even though this tourist trap has a name that might sound enticing, it doesn’t mean it is. It’s little more than a landscape of volcanic rock. Keep your expectations low with this one. There are certainly more beautiful places to visit in Idaho. And unless you’re a big fan of volcanic rock, you won’t want to make this a must-see destination.

To get the most out of the destination, it’s best to visit with a local. There are underground tunnels and nice hikes in the surrounding area, which you wouldn’t know about unless you were with a local. They aren’t marked, so it’s easy to walk right past them and miss them during your tour (via Reddit ).

The Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois

Visiting one of the biggest shopping centers in the US and the entire world might sound like a fun tourist destination to cross off your bucket list. But even though it has famous restaurants, high-end shops, museums, and five-star hotels, it doesn’t mean it’s a rather enjoyable experience.

It’s pretty much a more expensive version of any other shopping center in the USA. You could easily make a quick stop to see it but don’t spend hours wandering around here. Everything is overpriced, hence the tourist trap title. The Windy City certainly has a plethora of other things that are way more enjoyable to visit than this shopping mall. The Mag Mile is a shell of what it used to be, anyway (via Reddit ).

Times Square, NYC

To many tourists around the world, NYC is equal to Times Square. The bustling, flashy, colorful lights of Times Square draw people in so much, that they believe that’s what New York City is. But all it is is a hectic tourist trap. If you’re a local New Yorker, you wouldn’t be caught wandering down the streets of NYC.

The users of Reddit agree, and say, “It’s crowded, the people there are d**ks, (which gives the impression that all of New York is like that) and there are giant ads on the sides of buildings. Some unlicensed weirdos dress up as Elmo or Micky Mouse take pictures with unsuspecting tourists and then pocket-pick them. (That isn’t a joke, some of my friends who went to visit me lost a wallet from this).” This area features people dressed in costumes, huge glowing advertisements, and overpriced restaurants serving mediocre food. But these restaurants aren’t special for Times Square, you can find them pretty much anywhere in the States (via Reddit ).

The Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota

Since its opening in 1992, the Mall of America is the USA’s biggest mall. With over 500 stores, an indoor theme park, play places, food courts, and an aquarium, there’s a lot that could keep you entertained for days. There are daily events and other sensory overload that might make you dizzy. Even the Leggo store is an experience within itself.

But because it’s a tourist trap, it also means the prices are jacked up and just not worth spending money on. Reddit users agree that it’s a good place to take a lap, but that’s about it. One wrote, “I feel like it’s worth making a lap just to see it if you’re here for another reason – the aquarium is surprisingly good for such a compact space – but I feel like it should not be the primary reason you come to visit the Twin Cities.” Don’t go out of your way to visit this spot (via Reddit ).

Atlantic City Boardwalk, New Jersey

This original tourist attraction was once full of casinos, shops, and restaurants, and was one of the most fun and buzzing parts of the state. But high crime rates drove people far away from the area, and the shops and casinos are now expensive and quite tacky.

It’s not a family-friendly place, and the users of Reddit express, “Teens are easy targets. Unfortunately, it’s a fact that AC is a high crime (as are most tourist areas). The difference between AC and somewhere like Point Pleasant is that AC caters to adults. And with that comes higher risks. It’s not a family-friendly destination. AC also is a low-income area which again tends towards being riskier.”Nowadays, it’s full of panhandlers and is practically a ghost town. It’s referred to as the poor man’s Las Vegas, and for anyone who wants to experience the glitz and glam of Vegas, it’s better to just head there (via Reddit ).

UFOs in Roswell, New Mexico

If you love sci-fi and all things alien, you might have heard of Roswell, New Mexico. Back in 1947, there was a weather balloon crash, where theories of alien UFOs and experiments were born. Now, the town is a huge tourist trap that lures people in because of its alien history.

The Reddit users are disappointed with Roswell, and even said, “Aside from the UFO museum and some murals and signs about aliens, the town felt kinda bland and was nothing like what’s shown in the show. I did do a bit of research, so I already knew there wasn’t a real-life Crashdown Cafe, but there wasn’t even a real local restaurant I could get dinner at on a Sunday evening. All they had were the usual chains. I was hoping it was more of a cute small-town vibe, but was surprised to see there was an actual tall building in the area but then again, their main street was super wide like a typical us highway and wasn’t very pedestrian-friendly and hadn’t had much to see or do.” Everything in the town is space-themed, which can get pretty annoying if it’s your hometown. There’s a ton of grays and greens thanks to classic science-fiction stories (via Reddit ).

The Hollywood Sign

Even though snapping a photo with the Hollywood Sign is iconic, it doesn’t mean it’s necessary. The sign is privately owned by a non-profit and it’s illegal to get too close to the sign, no matter how much you probably want to. You can hike up to it and take photos, but that’s it. But considering how much else there is to do in the area, it’s not even worth it.

Even Reddit users agree that visiting the sign isn’t worth it. They write, “They didn’t even try to make it look level; It looks like a high school theatre company made it. The font’s ugly, they didn’t even try to make the support structure look good at all, it’s self-aggrandizing and cheap, and I hate it.” You can just gaze at it from afar and get your photo that way (via Reddit ).

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

It’s best to avoid this beach in Hawaii altogether. While there are tons of great spots in the state of Hawaii, this just isn’t one of them. Waikiki Beach is a famous stretch of white sand that’s ruined with pricey shops, chain restaurants, and luxury hotels.

The users of Trip Advisor also agree that this beach is horrible, and write, “This beach has picture-perfect sunsets – if you can get a picture without people in it. It is crowded and loud and difficult to find a place to put down your towel…. I highly recommend renting a car and driving around the island – find your perfect beach – it is there!” It’s better to visit other spots in Hawaii to get the most the state has to offer (via Trip Advisor ).

The World of Coca-Cola, Georgia

If you’re a huge fan of Coca-Cola, then visiting this spot in Georgia might sound appealing. But many fans that do make it there have nothing good to say. They believed it was a bit more than a prolonged commercial, others were unhappy with the history, and the tasting room had tons of crowds. Even the gift shop is disappointing.

Those at AJC say, “The tickets aren’t too costly, with adult prices at $17 and children’s at $13, but battling the overwhelming crowds and long lines just to walk through what is essentially a huge advertisement, is downright silly.” You’re better off just drinking a Coke and enjoying it that way (via AJC ).

Diamonds State Park, Arkansas

Digging around for diamonds might sound appealing, but only if there are diamonds. Which is what makes Diamonds State Park such an overrated tourist trap. People show up to this park in Arkansas expecting to find diamonds and make millions. But it’s nothing more than a huge dirt field full of people and no diamonds. Since the park has been around for so long, all of the diamonds are certainly gone.

According to those on Trip Advisor, it’s a sham. One woman wrote, “​​According to the Arkansas.com official State Park website, more than 28,000 diamonds have been found at this park in the last 40 years. Some of the nation’s biggest, best, and most expensive have been found here. Even big names like Tiffany’s have been involved with this site and books and stories abound about finding diamonds here. Except….that isn’t how it is.” If you want to search for gold, go where no one else is (via Trip Advisor ).

Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee

While it might seem like a significant stop to visit the birthplace of blues in Memphis Tennesee, this street has become overrated. It’s all thanks to the clubs and restaurants, and the fact that it’s turned corporate. If you want a more authentic experience, head to Overton Square or Cooper-Young.

Those on Trip Advisor agree, saying, “We went to Beale Street, walked the few crummy blocks, and turned around and went to Main Street instead. We were there in the middle of the afternoon, and I can only imagine that it’s much worse at night. Everything was filthy, and it seemed more like a place for binge-drinking cheap beer. Not sure why this place is so hyped up.” Just avoid it altogether and spend your money elsewhere (via Trip Advisor ).

The Four Corners Monument

It might sound cool to stand on the corner of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, but it’s not all it’s hyped up to be. While this is the only spot in the USA where all four pieces of these states meet, it’s nothing more than that. There’s no cell service, nothing else to see, and it’s said that the monument isn’t accurately placed on the corner of the four states. It’s a sham.

Over at Trip Advisor, visitors are saying, “The idea is pretty cool, and perhaps it may be a bucket list for some. However, there isn’t anything there. We paid $5 a person to look at a plaque on the ground. There’s no view, no historical or cultural information. It’s pretty much a gimmick to get you out there to spend $. During the summer, they may have several booths set up with Indian artifacts and gifts, but in November it was pretty much dead. The worst part of our visit was how rude and unhelpful the staff was. Thankfully I have my picture and can say I’ve been there, but I definitely will never go back.” It’s not even worth going for the first time (via Trip Advisor ).

Corn Palace, South Dakota

No matter how much you like corn, there’s simply no need to visit Corn Palance in Mitchellm South Dakota. This spot is a museum for corn, with facilities for concerts, exhibits, spots, and more. There’s not much else to do there. You might get some nice photos, but that’s about it. You only need about ten minutes there.

Trip Advisor people say, “It’s one of those places that when you’re passing by, you just have to stop and see what it’s all about cause if you don’t, you’ll alway wish you did. If you are there when it’s all covered with corn it is impressive. Then you go inside and find out it is all commercialized and it becomes just another tourist trap. If you have kids, there are a couple of things that can be fun for them, but as an adult, all you can do is buy something. One good thing is that it is easy in and easy out so it wasn’t bad.” At least it’s not a full-day waste of time (via Trip Advisor ).

The Mars Cheese Castle, Wisconsin

No matter how much you love cheese, you can never love it this much. Never. This palace is nestled right next to the freeway, so there’s nothing romantic about its surroundings. You’re in Wisconsin, yes, so you’ll get your fix of cheese. But this isn’t the only spot in the entire state to find cheese. It’s best to give this one a pass and instead visit a local cheese shop.

Trip Advisor reviewers say it’s overpriced, and that, “Used to stop here for cheese once in awhile when traveling back home from Milwaukee. Haven’t stopped in quite some time since we found a Woodman’s Grocery down the road that has a huge selection for reasonable prices.” Support your local community and shop elsewhere (via Trip Advisor ).

The Hollywood Walk of Fame

We’ve saved the best for last! This is probably the most overrated tourist trap in all of America. It seems that everyone knows about the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and it’s a must-see for those visiting Hollywood. We’re here to tell you that you can just skip it all together. There’s nothing about it that’s worth it. Plus, it’s only two blocks long.

According to NBC Los Angeles, “Stasher’s survey says the Walk of Fame scored just 3.42 out 10 in an assessment of the world’s best and worst tourist attractions. Among the criteria were distance from the nearest international airport and tourist safety.” It’s one of the most crowded places in Los Angeles, brimming with scammers and pick-pockets, and other seedy people there to steal your money. Make it quick if you must see it (via NBC Los Angele s).

31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community

E ven in our crazy and constantly changing world, there is one constant thing - people's passion for travel. Since the end of the pandemic, tourism, both domestic and international, has been growing for the third year in a row. No wonder - people want new experiences.

Today, almost the entire globe is available to travelers - the only question is money and the right choice of destination. Moreover, you may realize that some incredibly popular places of interest are actually greatly overrated. The corresponding online threads come to help tourists. Such, for example, as this thread in the AskReddit community .

More info: Reddit

Image credits: No_Signal_6969

Image credits: KevinDean4599

Be a traveler, not a tourist.

Image credits: ProtNotProt

It will soon be two hundred years since Thomas Cook from England organized the first event that could be called a full-fledged tourist trip, and since then there have been many people who make money not only from organizing tourism, but also from rating various attractions and hotels, restaurants and other places that surround them.

Image credits: trainwreck42

Image credits: tighto

Example New Orleans: tourist trap - Bourbon Street. Local spots - magazine, garden district, Frenchman (though tourists are starting to find it).

Example Orlando: tourist trap- I drive, the parks, basically anywhere south of downtown. Local - milk district, Mills, winter Park, etc.

Example Dublin Ireland: tourist trap- Temple bar. Local- Stoneybatter, kilmainham, etc.

You get the point

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“People have always loved travel stories, which were often incredibly detailed in the smallest detail,” says Valery Bolgan, a historian and journalist, editor-in-chief of Intent press agency in Ukraine , with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. “After all, the famous travel notes of the great travelers, starting from Marco Polo or Ibn Battuta, contained not only descriptions of unknown lands and customs of other peoples, but also detailed stories and assessments of lodgings and cuisine at inns.”

“Today, almost any popular place on Earth can, to one degree or another, be considered 'a tourist trap'. Firstly, because people tend to try to take advantage of the slightest opportunity - so any beautiful or memorable place will soon be surrounded by numerous cafes and souvenir stalls, like the bottom of the ship is overgrown with shells and algae."

“Secondly, people’s tastes and opinions differ greatly, so if one of your friends or some popular blogger didn’t like this or that place, it’s far from a fact that you won’t like it either. In the end, many Parisians literally hated the Eiffel Tower for several decades and sought its immediate demolition - and today it is the true pride of all of France. So the best thing is to form your own opinion about everything, to see with your own eyes. If, of course, the budget of your trip allows it," Valery summarizes.

Edit: thanks folks, I was off a state. It’s still horrible

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Yes, many popular places on our planet today are totally overcrowded , but that, in the end, is the price to pay for popularity. Unfortunately, the level of service around such attractions sometimes decreases - because some owners and staff are often guided by the principle “you will still come here and visit us!” However, market competition also does its job, and over time, negligent business owners will be forced out of the best places.

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Be that as it may, the list of places and locations in this collection is truly worldwide - from small towns to huge metropolises (although some do not agree that an entire city can be dubbed 'a tourist trap'). However, this is also a reason for additional discussion, so please feel free to join the comments section, but not before you scroll this list to the very end. Perhaps some of the opinions expressed here will be useful to you, saving you time and money, and maybe your own opinion will help someone too.

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Take everything fun out of Vegas and put it in the middle of nowhere midwest. It’s a magnet for old people and f***y pack dads.

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That place is a tourist hell-hole. Good luck actually finding historical buildings and monuments.

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Istanbul is amazing but not a place for solo travel! Beware and mind your surroundings. Trust no one.

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Thousands of better things to do in San Francisco than see this unremarkable stupid wharf of pointless shopping.

Edit: Fisherman’s Wharf not Pacific Wharf.

And yes the seals/sea lions are def it’s only saving grace

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You can tell who isn’t from the city because they are all heading to the store to buy hoodies and jackets half way through the game when the cold/fog/rain rolls in after it’s been warm and sunny all day.

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Go to nicer quieter areas outside of Paris where you can chill and breathe.

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Here Are 11 Overrated Tourist Activities To Avoid In Hawaii

Megan Shute

With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.

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When visiting Hawaii – whether you are from the mainland, or simply exploring a neighbor island – you might want to avoid what many would call “tourist traps.” You know, the attractions the guide books boast about, but are actually just overrun with so many tourists that you leave slightly disappointed and confused as to why everyone talks about how amazing it is? Well, these 11 Hawaii tourist traps are, quite frankly, overrated.

I understand that I may have previously touted these activities as mandatory for island residents, but this is meant to be a fun piece that offers memorable alternatives to those activities that are a little too “safe” for anyone planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. After all, you only have so much time in paradise and you want to experience the best of the best, don’t you?

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Have you gotten stuck in any of these Hawaii tourist traps? Which ones? Let us know in the comments below!

Now that you know what tourist attractions to avoid, please check out these 15 tourist activities locals love , as well as the 13 lies the guidebooks tell you about Hawaii .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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More to Explore

Hawaii tourist traps.

Are there a lot of tourist traps in Hawaii?

With 4.7 million tourists coming to Oahu alone, you are guaranteed to find a few tourists traps on the islands. There are plenty of places that grab the eye of a traveler, and provide more of a surface experience of the islands instead of delving deep into what makes Hawaii truly special.

Is Hawaii itself considered a tourist trap?

Because Hawaii is one of the most well-known vacation destinations in the world, much of the islands caters to tourists as its their number one economy. But it doesn’t take much to travel outside of the overdone areas and see the true beauty Hawaii has to offer.

What is a tourist trap?

A tourist trap is a place that attracts and then exploits tourists. It’s usually overpopulated and no longer reflective of the culture or area the way it once originally may have been.

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