What’s a tourist trap? The definition can vary, but typically, one or more of the following applies: it exists for no real purpose other than to attract tourists, prices are high and quality is mediocre at best, the experience is massively underwhelming, and crowds flock to them.
In order, here are the 30 worst tourist traps in the United States, based on reviews by disappointed visitors:
South of the Border, South Carolina
The souvenir shirts and hats you see people wearing might make you think this place is something special. It’s not. It’s really a glorified rest stop with a Mexican theme and tacky souvenirs just below the North Carolina border.
The Original Starbucks, Seattle
Why are the lines always so long here? Is the coffee here extra-special? Nope. It’s just that people want to say they bought coffee at the original store.
Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts
First of all, the Pilgrims didn’t actually land here. Second, even if they did, it’s an underwhelming site. All that’s there is an unimpressive rock with “1620” engraved into it. At least it’s free to visit.
Southernmost Point, Key West
Get ready for a major letdown. For all the hype, what you get is a painted concrete buoy overlooking the ocean. It doesn’t cost you any money, though, and the rest of Key West is great.
Corn Palace, South Dakota
It’s pretty hard to get excited about this Mitchell building dedicated to corn. At least it gets a new look every season, and it has a nice basketball arena inside.
Navy Pier, Chicago
It’s just a bunch of overpriced shops and restaurants. There’s nothing really special about it. At least a place like Fisherman’s Wharf, further down this list, has natural beauty around it.
The Alamo, San Antonio
For starters, it’s a lot smaller than you probably expected, and the tall buildings around it make it seem even smaller. Then there are all the cheap souvenirs for sale. The real history that took place here seems so diminished.
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
There really isn’t that much to do here except look at the memorial carved into, some would say defacing, the mountain here. Just stop along the road and take a picture; it’s not worth going in and dealing with the crowds.
Times Square, New York
Times Square sounds like an exciting place to be, but being there is a different thing unless no elbow room and terribly overpriced stores and restaurants and stores are your thing. There’s a reason so many locals avoid it.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
There’s no doubt that you can have a blast here day or night any time of year. But it’s also crowded, dirty, and expensive. A lot of visitors leave having expected more.
Four Corners, AZ-CO-NM-UT
This is the only place where four state corners meet. For the privilege of standing in a long line to wait your turn to take a picture at the monument here, you get to pay an entrance fee, and it’s not just a couple bucks. The only redeeming part is getting to watch people twist themselves into amusing poses so that there’s a body part in each state at once.
Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles
“Dirty,” “crowded,” and “boring” are adjectives disappointed visitors often use to describe this location. It’s not even in a nice part of town, so there’s nothing good to do nearby. But it’s free, so that’s something.
Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Whatever authenticity this place once had is now all but gone. It’s crowded and overpriced and very touristy. You’ll have to go someplace else for the real San Francisco, and it won’t be what’s next on this list.
Lombard Street, San Francisco
Lombard Street is famous for a single block that’s so steep that it requires eight hairpin turns to navigate. It’s actually pretty neat to see, but it’s almost always mobbed. Many residents want the city to deter visitation by charging a fee nearly as steep as the street.
Dole Plantation, Hawaii
This was a 1950s fruit stand on Oahu that grew into what it is today. It’s really a pineapple-themed amusement park dedicated to pineapples. Unfortunately, it’s crowded and expensive. For example, a serving of Dole Whip, which really is very good, currently will set you back $7.50.
Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans
This iconic Big Easy landmark is supposedly the world’s most famous coffee shop. The food and drinks are actually really good, but the lines are long and the place often feels chaotic. But it does beat standing in a long line at the original Starbucks for a cup of coffee you can get at any other Starbucks.
International UFO Museum and Research Center, New Mexico
When a U.S. military spy balloon crashed in Roswell in 1947, conspiracy theories that it really was a UFO piloted by aliens took flight. People still believe the government has the bodies in storage at some secret site. Anyway, the town is now completely “alienized,” but there’s no actual research going on at this location. It’s just a gimmicky tourist trap, though it might be weird enough to be fun.
Empire State Building, New York
It’s still a beautiful building, but it’s no longer even close to being the city’s tallest (it’s 8th), so why bother going up it. The lines are long and the tickets are outrageously expensive. The best way to admire the building is to see it from somewhere else.
Rockefeller Center, New York
About 10 minutes from Times Square, the Rockefeller Center is a pretty amazing place around Christmas Time. But that’s the problem. It gets super-crowded, and you’re often getting shoved around. Plus, the famous ice skating rink is a lot smaller than you expect it to be.
Niagara Falls, New York
The falls themselves truly are an amazing site. Unfortunately, all the hotels, casinos, gift shops, and crowds have completely ruined the experience.
Wall Drug, South Dakota
During the Great Depression, the original owners advertised free water for thirsty travelers to get them to stop in and buy something. It wasn’t a bad idea at all. Now it’s a gimmicky bunch of expensive shops and restaurants with an Old West theme. Because it’s literally right across the road from one of the entrances to Badlands National Park, it attracts a lot of curious tourists. If you’re not going to the park, though, just keep on driving by. Don’t believe the hype all the billboards try to create.
Graceland, Memphis
Unless you’re a devoted fan of the King, you’re better off skipping a visit to his mansion. It’s really gaudy and ostentatious, there are Elvis impersonators all over, and it’s ridiculously expensive.
The Gum Wall, Seattle
Yes, there is actually a wall in Seattle where people stick their used chewing gum. To a lot of people, that’s just plain disgusting. It also smells bad and raises sanitary concerns. Locals say it attracts rats.
Space Needle, Seattle
It costs around $40 for a ride up to the top. Yes, the view is great, but is it worth the cost? This place is like the Empire State Building; better enjoyed from the outside.
The “Reagan McDonald’s,” Alabama
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan stopped by the Northport McDonald’s for a photo-op with a Big Mac. Now there’s a plaque that says “President Reagan ate here,” and it’s still a big deal. Really? Even if you admired Reagan, why would you care about where he ate one day? Here’s the best part: the original restaurant was demolished, and a new one was built in 2006.
Tombstone, Arizona
Boot Hill and the replica of the OK Corral are totally gimmicky. Still, the epitaphs on the tombs of cowboys and outlaws supposedly buried there are pretty fun to read.
Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas
This is supposedly the only diamond field in the world open to the public, and you can dig in the hard ground here in hopes of finding a diamond. Of course, no one ever does, and you end up paying the entrance fee to fill a bag with plain old rocks.
16th Street Mall, Denver
This is sometimes called the Times Square of Colorado. It’s mostly a bunch of chain stores and restaurants and has little authentic Denver or Colorado flavor. Avoid.
Fountain of Youth, Delaware
Are you looking to preserve or restore your youth? Well, you won’t be able to do it here. The supposedly magical waters in this Lewes well have dried up, so it’s just a hole in the ground.
Skunk Ape Research Center, Florida
A skunk ape is a fictitious Bigfoot-like creature that true believers say roams the wilds of Florida. No real research takes place here; it’s a gift shop and a small museum. Oh, and there’s an animal exhibit because that really has a lot to do with the skunk ape.
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