20 US Tourist Traps Rate From Overrated To Just Plain Awful

We all dream of that utter holiday photo or unforgettable experience—until we notice ourselves stuck in a crowd , overheating , overpriced churro in hand , wonder what went wrong . The truth ? Not every “ must-see ” is really worth seeing .

After yr of crisscrossing the U.S. , I ’ ve make up burned by more than a few overrated attraction . Some seat be just fine but not worth the chaos . Others ? Let ’ s simply say I wish I hold pass that time ( and money ) elsewhere .

In this honest roundup , I ’ 1000 breaking down the American tourist traps that lead me scratch my head—and suggesting better alternatives that actually present on the magic . Ready to sidestep the duds and make your future trip genuinely memorable ? Let ’ s dive in .

1 . Hollywood Walk of Fame

Stars on a dirty sidewalk – that ’ s essentially what you ’ re getting hither . The famous Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches on Hollywood Boulevard , where tourists crowd around to take photo with their favorite celebrities ’ stars .

What they put on ’ t display in the glamorous photos ?The overwhelming smell of urine ,belligerent street performers require money for photos , and overpriced souvenir store at every number . You ’ ll spend most of your time evade pushy tour salespeople .

I spend more or less 15 minutes hither before deciding I ’ d seen enough celebrity names imbed in dingy concrete . Save yourself the disappointment and drive by slowly instead of be after a special trip .

2 . Pier 39 in San Francisco

Imagine paying triple the normal price for mediocre food while surround by thousands of other tourist . Welcome to Pier 39 ! This San Francisco attraction offers chain restaurants , generic gift store , and sea lions that frankly smell severe up near .

The position of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge are nice , but you can get those same view from numerous other place around the city without the crushing crowd . Street performer create bottlenecks along the walkways , making it almost impossible to go during peak hours .

Did you know locals actively avoid this field ? That should order you something about its actual value as a cultural experience .

3 . Times Square

Bright lights , massive bunch , and perfectly nowhere to seat – that ’ s Times Square in a nutshell . This iconic New York intersection bombards visitors with sensory overload while deliver real little authentic experience .

Chain restaurant appoint astronomical prices for the same food you could get at your local mall . The famed costumed characters aggressively pursue tip after quick photo . I once paid$ 25 for a basic hamburgerjust because it do with a Times Square view .

New Yorkers navigate around this domain like it ’ s radioactive , and for good cause . If you want a actual NYC experience , spend your time in neighborhood where masses actually endure or else of this commercial playground .

4 . Four Corners Monument

Driving hr through desert landscapes for what ? A humble concrete slab with a metal disc marking where four province meet . Four Corners Monument represents one of America ’ s most disappointing geographical attractions .

Visitors melody up to awkwardly position themselves across Arizona , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado at the same time for a photo that ’ s honestly not worth the effort . The remote location means you ’ ll pass most of your day travel to and from this underwhelming spot .

Add insult to hurt , late view suggest the monument isn ’ t yet positioned at the exact quadripoint ! Salvage yourself the extended detour and notice more impressive natural wonders throughout the Southwest instead .

5 . Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Historic implication become completely overshadowed by commercial exploitation at Boston ’ s Faneuil Hall . What cost once an important Revolutionary War meeting seat today function as an outdoor shopping mall filled with chain shop you ’ ll get in any suburban area .

Food options in the Quincy Market department thrilloutrageous prices for mediocre fare .The same meal price half as much just a few block away . Street performers make such dumb bunch that moving through the marketplace turn a contact fun during summer month .

If you ’ re really concerned in Boston ’ s story , you ’ re effective off walk the Freedom Trail or impose the actual museum nearby kinda than this commercialized version of story .

6 . Bourbon Street

The flavor hits you first – a biting variety of spilled drinking , vomit , and who know what else . New Orleans ’ famous Bourbon Street predict authentic jazz and Southern appeal but delivers a sticky-floored nightmare of overpriced drinks and tourist-targeted scams .

Most bar blast recorded music or else of featuring alive performers . Drink prices mysteriously double compare to establishments only a block away . The genuine culture of New Orleans exists in neighborhoods like Frenchmen Street , where locals actually go to enjoy music .

I watched countless visitors go down for the “ I bet I can tell you where you become your shoes ” scam during my visit . Spoiler alert : “ You begin them on your feet ! ” Then they demand payment for this amazing insight .

7 . Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Make up virtually $ 40 to take selfies with inanimate objective that vaguely resemble celebrities seems like a foreign conception when you guess about it . Yet Madame Tussauds locations across America proceed drawing crowds for this exact experience .

Many number facenoticeably different from their real-life counterparts ,creating an weird valley effect that ’ s more unsettling than impressive . The museums are typically small plenty to complete in under an hour , making the steep admission price even harder to justify .

Want to learn literal celebrities ? You ’ d have well luck hanging around upscale restaurants in LA or New York than gaze at these waxy approximation that never quite capture the center of the real person .

8 . Plymouth Rock

Perhaps America ’ s most underwhelming historical marker , Plymouth Rock sits in a humble cage-like structure that makes it face like a prisoner . This meek stone supposedly note where the Pilgrims first land , though historian debate its authenticity .

Visitors much stand silently , seek to manufacture some impression of historical implication while staring at what amounts to an ordinary rock about the size of a coffee table . “ Cost that it ? ” is the most mutual phrase overheard at this location .

The nearby Pilgrim Memorial State Park offers pleasant position of Plymouth Harbor , but the stone itself hardly justifies a particular trip . I ’ ve seen more impressive rocks in my garden , and none of them necessitate paid parking or talent store visits .

9 . Niagara Falls ( American Side )

The falls themselves be undeniably impressive , but everything surrounding them on the American side feel designed toextract maximum money for minimal value .Niagara Falls State Park make transformed natural curiosity into commercial spectacle .

Overpriced restaurant with mediocre food line the approach . The observation sphere become so packed during summer month that glimpse the literal descend requires strategic elbowing . Meanwhile , tacky souvenir shops deal plastic trinkets construct nowhere close New York .

If you ’ re ascertain to see Niagara Falls , the Canadian side offers superior scene and somewhat less commercialization . Better yet , search out less famed but equally stunning waterfalls like Tahquamenon in Michigan or Multnomah in Oregon for a more peaceful experience .

10 . Seattle Gum Wall

Mass move specifically to see…used chew gum ? The Seattle Gum Wall constitute perhaps the almost unhygienic attraction in America . Place in Pike Place Market , this alley features thousands of pieces of used gum stuck to brick wall .

The tone only should dissuade visitors – a sickly sweet scent of artificial flavors mix with decades of bacteria . Yet tourist tune up to lend their own contributions or take selfies edge away from strangers ’ saliva-covered remnants .

Pike Place Market bid thus many logical attraction – fresh seafood , local crafts , and the original Starbucks . Skipping the disgusting gum show costs you nothing while preserve you from potential impinging with countless source that have no business exist tourist attractions .

11 . Ripley ’ s Think It or Not ! Museum

Faded exhibits , questionable fact , and steep admission price do Ripley ’ s museums among America ’ s most disappointing attraction . These collection of oddities promise amazing discovery but deliver dusty display that haven ’ t make up updated in decade .

Many display trust onoutdated shock value kind of than educational content .The “ authentic artifacts ” much come with faint provenance information that cause you query their authenticity . I visited the 1 in San Francisco and noticed multiple items labeled as “ replica ” in tiny print .

Modern skill museum bid more fascinating display with actual educational value for like price . If you ’ re interested in genuine oddities , seek out smaller local museum center on specific unusual collections quite than these generic tourist traps .

12 . South of the Border

Billboards anticipate excitement look for hundred of mile along I-95 , building anticipation for South of the Border . What wait ? A dated , borderline offensive collection of Mexican stereotype packaged as roadside entertainment in South Carolina .

The massive sombrero tower overlooks aging souvenir shops selling cheap trinkets and questionable fireworks . Restaurant serve Americanized translation of Mexican food that would make actual Mexican chefs weep . Most attraction come out bind in the 1970s with minimum maintenance since then .

Bathrooms rank among the sporting feature here , which says everything about this fading roadside attraction . Unless you desperately need a toilet pause while push through South Carolina , observe driving and see a more worthwhile stop .

13 . Wall Drug

Hundreds of billboards across multiple states create expectation that Wall Drug simply can not meet . This South Dakota roadside stop began as a clever selling campaign offering free ice water to travelers and evolved into a sprawling tourist trap .

Walking through Wall Drug feels like navigating a maze of gift shop sell identical South Dakota souvenirs at inflated cost . The famous free ice water remain available ,but you ’ ll salary premium prices for everything else . The dinosaur statue and backyard area provide momentary amusement that scarcely rationalize the extended detour .

If you ’ re already occur through Wall on your mode to Badlands National Park , a quick 15-minute stop might fulfill your curiosity . Otherwise , those hundreds of billboards be deal a destination that can ’ t possibly bear on its promise .

14 . Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show

Florida ’ s Weeki Wachee Springs State Park boast performer in mermaid costume swimming underwater while visitor see from a submerged theater . Sound magical in theory , but the world go down disappointingly short .

The dated show features simplistic choreography visible through increasingly cancel viewing windows . Seating arrangements mean tall visitor block the view for everyone behind them . During my visit , murky water consideration make it difficult to see the performers clearly despite the show ’ s hefty additional cost beyond park admission .

The natural leap itself offer beautiful swimming opportunities , but the mermaid performance feels like a relic from another era that continues only because of nostalgia quite than literal entertainment value . Savor the spring but hop the display .

15 . Mystery Spot

“ Defying the police of physics ” exist how attraction like The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz market themselves . In world , these tilted hut expend mere visual illusion and forced perspective to create the impression that balls roll uphill and mass endure at impossible angles .

Tours thrill visitors through basic illusions while guides recite scripted explanations about gravitational anomalies that any physics pupil could debunk in moment . The gift store , predictably , receivesmore square footage than the literal attraction .

Like “ mystery spot ” exist across America , from Oregon to Michigan , all use identical tricks while claiming unique supernatural properties . Save your money and see visual illusion picture online or else – you ’ ll see the same impression without the long drive and admission fee .

16 . Salem Witch Museums

Salem , Massachusetts capitalize on its tragic witch trial history with museums that range from misleading to entirely construct . Most Salem witch attraction feature mannequin display with dramatic lighting rather than historically accurate information .

The Salem Witch Museum , despite its official-sounding name , present outdated display with questionable historical accuracy . Wax figures in dated dioramas tell a simplified version of events while escape the complex social and religious factors behind the witch test .

If you ’ re concerned in literal story , inflict the Peabody Essex Museum instead , which comprise actual historical papers . The commercialization of innocent mass ’ s deaths through tacky souvenir workshop sell witch-themed merchandise makes Salem one of America ’ s most exploitative tourist destinations .

17 . Roswell UFO Attractions

Aliens get land in Roswell , New Mexico – or at least alien-themed talent store receive .This small town milks its 1947 UFO incidentassociation through numerous museum and memory deal identical green stranger merchandise .

The International UFO Museum and Research Center sound impressive but consist mainly of newspaper clippings , blurry photograph , and testimonials expose on poster plank . Most display haven ’ t cost updated in decade , give the entire experience a time-capsule quality that ’ s not intentional .

Street lamps shape like alien center and storefronts decorated with inflatable extraterrestrials produce a carnival atmosphere that undermines any serious discussion about unexplained phenomena . The literal historical interest become lost beneath layers of commercialization and tacky souvenirs .

18 . The World ’ s Largest Thing

America ’ sec highways are dotted with attraction claiming to be the “ World ’ s Largest ” something – from ball of twine to rocking president . These roadside oddities typically portion common characteristic : they ’ re settle in remote field , require significant detours , and test disappointing upon arrival .

The World ’ s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City , Kansas exemplifies this phenomenon . After driving hours through farmland , visitor find… a large chunk of string sit down under a gazebo . Photos require more or less 30 minute , leaving traveler wondering why they allocated half a day for this experience .

Similarly underwhelming “ largest ” attractions exist across the country , from Minnesota ’ s giant prairie chicken to Illinois ’ massive catsup bottle . Salvage yourself the detour unless you ’ re specifically collecting roadside attraction photos .

19 . Graceland

Elvis Presley ’ s early home thrill premium cost for a surprisingly special experience . Graceland itself is a lot small than most visitors expect , with solely a share of the mansion clear to the public .

The basic circuit rushes visitors through rooms featuring dated 1970s decor while audio guides provide minimum context . Want to see Elvis ’ s airplane or car collection ? Those expect expensive circuit upgrades . Gift shop outnumber actual display ,selling everything from Elvis-shaped salt shakersto $ 300 replica jumpsuits .

Most disappointing be the cemetery visit , where tourists snap selfies at Elvis ’ s grave while staff hasten them along . True music account buffs would see more authentic experience at Sun Studio or the Stax Museum of American Soul Music for a fraction of Graceland ’ s cost .

20 . Bubblegum Alley

San Luis Obispo ’ s Bubblegum Alley manages to be even more disgusting than Seattle ’ s Gum Wall . This 15-foot high ,70-foot long alley control thousand of pieces of used gumbind to brick walls , some dating back decades .

The nauseating feeling hits you before you even meet it – a sickly sweet mixture of artificial tone and bacterial increase . Health official receive repeatedly raised worry about this unsanitary attraction , as yet tourists continue adding their own chewed contributions to the revolting show .

What do this particularly dreadful be that San Luis Obispo put up genuinely charming attraction hardly abuse away – a historical mission , lovely creek-side restaurant , and vibrant farmer markets . Skip the germ-covered alley and enjoy the city ’ sec legitimate charms instead .