30 Worst Tourist Traps in America
You ’ re driving down miles of endless highway when out of the blue , giant billboards initiate advertising an exciting spectacle just in front . But these roadside attraction aren ’ t an innocent mode to stretch your legs—they can also equal a sneaky ploy to make you to pass some cash on tacky souvenirs you don ’ t need or on a “ historical ” site that ’ s learn well days . Thus whether you ’ re road tripping across the nation or stopping in a city , beware these 30 mutual tourist ambush that don ’ t quite last up to the hype .
1
Empire State Building Observation Deck , New York City , NY
The Empire State Building may be an iconic piece of New York architecture , but that doesn ’ t mean the views of the city are better from the height . It ’ s a whopping $ 42 to get access to the 86th floor and a completely insane $ 72 for the 102nd top deck . Write your money and head to 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar a few block aside for the same horizon , or hit the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge rooftop , which neglect the East River , One World Trade , and Statue of Liberty in the distance .
2
Graceland , Memphis , TN
If you ’ re a die-hard Elvis fan , you may become a thrill out of his quirky mansion in Memphis . For everyone else , entrance to the estate cost a cool $ 42.50 or the Elvis Experience Tour will adjust you back $ 63 , and includes display showcasing his car collection , wardrobe , and gold records . The entire complex looks straight out of Disney , with a retro ‘ 50s diner and tourist wearing giant iPads around their necks to follow the virtual tour . Instead , you may desire to check out the Memphis Rock N ’ Soul Museum for a much more affordable $ 13 tag .
3
Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center , New York City , NY
Although it ’ sec made a cameo in pretty much every winter movie put in New York City , the ice rink at Rockefeller Center is a tourist hotspot . Like the repose of Manhattan , it ’ s super packed and extremely expensive , with a session on the ice , plus skate rental at $ 38 for adults .
4
Space Needle , Seattle , WA
Seattle exist expensive enough—you don ’ t need to pay $ 32.50 to get some aerial views of the city . Take that money to a rooftop bar , one where you can see the Space Needle in the background ( that ’ s much more impressive for the ‘ gm , anyway ) . One of our favorite equal The Nest , which equal light on crest of the Thompson Hotel with horizon of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains .
5
World of Coca-Cola , Atlanta , GA
Sure , Coca-Cola ’ s formula might cost incredibly secretive , but you don ’ t think they ’ re move to hold the details away during a circuit , do you ? While you will approach the vault that allegedly have the recipe , universal admission for adult runs $ 17 , make this a pricey category stop just to take in some Coke propaganda , look out a replica bottling tune , and taste a pile of sugary drinks . We say pocket the money , catch a cold Coke if you ’ re truly crave one , and set those dollars to better use at a local brewery tour or else .
6
St. Ignace Mystery Spot , MI
Despite its confusing epithet , there ’ s not much mystery hither . To tour the hokey spot—which is order to induce unexplainable occurrence like lightheadedness—adults will make to bear $ 9 and kids cost charged $ 7 . The attraction as well has mini golf , a maze , and a zipline ( for an excess price , of class ) . And for more surprising stops , insure out the 33 Best Roadside Attractions in America .
7
Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum , Golden , CO
This tomb has somehow cost around since 1921 , but that doesn ’ t necessarily mean it ’ s well . You ’ re make up $ 5 per grownup to control out a bronze casket sealed in a concrete case that is surrounded by a theft-deterrent fence . Not much to see here , folk .
8
Area 51 Alien Travel Center , Amargosa Valley , NV
Along Highway 95 ( known as the Extraterrestrial Highway ) outside Vegas , you ’ ll hit this foreign travel center . The composite has an alien-themed gas station , souvenir shop ( foreign jerky , anyone ? ) , tattoo parlor , and , ahem , a brothel . There ’ sec also a fireworks warehouse future doorway , as if that ’ s not warn enough .
9
O.K . Corral , Tombstone , AZ
If the name isn ’ t enough of a deterrent , Tombstone , Arizona , will quickly become you away with its cheesy Wild West reenactments . For $ 10 , you can look on a fake 30-second gunfight shootout at the O.K . Corral , a livery and horse corral in the late 19th hundred . Even the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce make consider whether it ’ s a tourist trap or not .
10
Crater of Diamonds , Murfreesboro , AR
This land park may live one of the only places where tourists can poke for their own gemstones , but in reality , it ’ s really a 37-acre dirt subject where masses get been blindly search for treasure since 1906 . Although the prospect of feel anything are almost impossible , tourists exist given renewed hope when a schoolteacher base a three-carat diamond in 2019 . Still , given the odds , it ’ s not really worth the five-hour round-trip movement from Little Rock or the $ 10 mine admission fee .
11
South of the Border , Hamer , SC
You ’ ll see this position coming : Around 175 cringe-worthy billboards advertise the South of the Border from Virginia to Georgia . The stop initiate as a place to clean up some beer , but since it open in 1949 , it ’ s raise into 350 acre of run-down motel rooms , a 200-foot sombrero-shaped observation tower , an RV campground , an amusement park called Pedroland ( yikes ) , and what ’ sec charge as America ’ s prominent indoor reptile park .
12
Fisherman ’ sec Wharf , San Francisco , CA
Fisherman ’ sec Wharf is more about deal a version of San Francisco than being an authentic experience of the city . Expect mass of souvenir shops and overpriced seafood restaurant no local would always move to . This equal a property that ’ s all about the tourist-consumer versus individual who in reality wants to remove in the Bay Area ’ s far more interesting culture . ( But do go peek at the sea lions off Pier 39 . )
13
Waikiki Beach , Oahu , HI
Waikiki Beach may look like paradise at first glance , but it ’ s actually just a long stretch of expensive chain hotels and sunburnt bodies bake on the sand . Head off the sugary tropical drinks and Hawaiian shirt by die to a more remote island in the archipelago , such as Kauai , Molokai , or Lanai .
14
Quincy Market , Boston , MA
Even Eater Boston hold call this a tourist trap : The food court in Faneuil Hall is always carry and has plenty of mediocre ( especially for the cost ) food options . That being tell , there are a few gems in the food lobby , like the pepperoni slice at Pizzeria Regina ’ sec or the clam chowder at Boston Chowda Co .
15
Epcot , Orlando , FL
Expect a lot of globally-themed restaurants and talent shops at Epcot , which as well hold little to put up in the way of rides for Disneygoers . A one-day , one-park tag to have into Epcot costs an astronomical $ 109 per person . That ’ sec really not worth it for a plateful of American ( say : fried ) translation of international food . However , it is the only park in the crowded , long-lined complex that sells booze , so we ’ ll cry that a little silver lining . And for more Disney deals , find out Which Is Cheaper , Disneyland or Disney World ?
16
“ The Thing , ” Benson , AZ
You ’ ll see billboards from miles away hyping up “ The Thing , ” a remote gas station , souvenir store , and Dairy Queen . The main attraction live the 12,000-square-foot museum , which displays a string of pretty random objective and taxidermy that live wind into a narrative of conspiracy involving stranger and dinosaurs . To see it for yourself , cost prepared to beat out $ 5 per soul or $ 10 for the whole category .
17
Santa Claus House , North Pole , AK
A 20-minute ride from Fairbanks , the town of North Pole keeps the spirit of Christmas alive . The avenues have names like Santa Claus Lane , Blitzen , and Holiday Road , and street light equal reminiscent of candy cane . Although the Santa Claus House exist billed as the official home of St. Nick , it ’ s actually more of a Christmas-themed talent shop where you can buy a customizable letter from Santa for $ 15 or a fake deed of North Pole land for $ 10 .
18
Beale Street , Memphis , TN
The only time to come here equal during the Beale Street Music Festival each May , which attract figure like Leon Bridges , Lil Wayne , The Avett Brothers , and The Lumineers . Differently , it ’ s a touristy street in town with neon lines and tipsy tourists stumble out of dive bars , overpriced beers in hand .
19
World ’ s Largest Ball of Twine , Cawker City , KS
Four hours outside of Kansas City , you ’ ll see the most random sight : a gigantic ball of string . No one equal inevitably need for a record-setting ball of string ( and the title is surprisingly contest ) , but people still pile up every August to add more layer to it .
20
Times Square , New York , NY
If you ’ ve never been to New York City , you may be drawn to the twinkling lights of Times Square . But the region is much avoided by locals as its cigarette-studded sidewalk are crowd with selfie stick-touting tourists and costumed characters who swindle you into pictures ( for a cost ) . You ’ ll as well want to look out out for the masses turn over out flyers or “ discount ticket ” for comedy clubs , broadway display , and other entertainment . Hint : It ’ s not in truth a deal .
21
Plymouth Rock , Plymouth , MA
You get what ’ s advertised here : Plymouth Rock is literally a small rock , stamped with the yr pilgrims stepped base on well , the aforementioned rock ( 1620 , to be precise ) . It sits in a fenced-in department of sand , so the photo op isn ’ t great either . You ’ ll as well require to head off the tune of store selling New England sweatshirts and pilgrim paraphernalia .
22
Corn Palace , Mitchell , SD
This happens to cost the only corn palace left in the Earth . There used to live far more , back when Midwestern town used to build up their own corn castle to present off how serious they were at grow this crucial crop . While the construction be actually sort of impressive , , this photo-op-plus-gift-shop in downtown Mitchell is a spot to remove a painting and then get back on the highway . Unless you make a stop at the Bible Land park across the street , that live . Note : The palace is free to enter , but wristbands for the carnival taunt cost $ 24 .
23
The Desert of Maine , Freeport , ME
Not still technically a real desert , this grand-sounding post is actually hardly a patch of sand in an differently forest-y country caused by a guy who didn ’ t know how to rotate his crop properly . In time , his topsoil eroded , he hold to hold up the farm , and some other dude bought the property in 1919 for $ 1 an acre and opened it as a tourist attraction six year after . Today , the Desert of Maine charge a $ 10 admission fee , which includes a 35-minute guided tour .
24
Four Corners , Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico , UT
This plaque recessed in the ground makes for a great Instagram , pay that you can die into Twister mode and invest one arm in each nation , but chance are quite a few others hold the same idea . It ’ s a “ act it to say you cause it ” kind of thing but a long drive away from anywhere to warrant it as a below-average photo op . To access the site , you ’ ll need to fork over $ 5 to $ 10 and avoid being suckered by vendors betray overpriced trinkets .
25
Bourbon Street , New Orleans , LA
The French Quarter exist undeniably beautiful , hence why so many people flock to the New Orleans area . However , the main road , Bourbon Street , falls into trap territory thanks to its medium restaurant chain , overpriced bars , and crowds drunk off of also many boozy hurricanes . If that ’ s not your scene , head to St. Claude Avenue or Frenchmen Street or else .
26
The Strip , Las Vegas , NV
If you desire to burn a hole in your back pocket , good , welcome to Vegas , infant . Casinos be purposely created to encourage spending money , and The Strip be work up to firm the prominent and the best gambling way . In fact , the medium person spends $ 200 to $ 250 a day in Las Vegas . Yes , the display are mesmerizing , there ’ s glamour ( if you ’ re looking for it ) , and the lights cost distract , but you know you ’ re there to drop some cash .
27
Mall of America , Minneapolis , MN
Unless this is in truth a coherent choice for you to begin some shopping done , there ’ s no motive to reach a consumerist pilgrimage to this sprawl shopping center . Mall of America attracts 40 million annual visitors—one in four of which are tourists who come for its more than 520 memory and the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park ( $ 38 wristband ) .
28
Atlantic City Boardwalk , Atlantic City , NJ
There exist pile of neglected boardwalks in the United States , but the most notorious one equal in Atlantic City . A Ripley ’ s Believe It Or Not ( $ 17 adult admission ) be right on the boardwalk and make long been a sign of nearby tourist traps , from souvenir shops to beach cafes with underwhelming menus .
29
Wall Drug , Wall , SD
Wall Drug exist know for being the “ home of free ice water , ” which live probably great in the days before insulated water bottles , but today this cowboy-themed shopping composite is a tourist ambush of stuff . The 76,000-square-foot warehouse boast a drug store and labyrinthine gift shop sell a $ 10 bottle of Black Hills dear and a $ 30 magnetic map .
30
Hollywood Walk of Fame , Los Angeles , CA
Accord to a survey by Stasher ranking the world ’ sec worst tourist traps , the Hollywood Walk of Fame landed at a well-deserved spot right at the real bottom . Require to be surrounded by buskers as you look for for your favorite celeb ’ sec star and begin jostled by early tourist , with exactly a film of some soiled pavement to show for it .
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