15 Biggest Tourist Traps in the US To Avoid
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Traveling is about adventure, discovery, and soaking up local culture. Still, some destinations, heavily promoted and crammed with visitors, offer less than meets the eye at steep prices.
Overwhelmed with crowds and costly attractions, tourist traps in the US lack authenticity, making it difficult for visitors to engage in the experience.
We’ve compiled a list of popular tourist destinations in the United States that, while noteworthy, are not all they’re cracked up to be. Follow along to see which tourist attractions in the US often underwhelm tourists and fail to meet expectations.
Times Square (New York City)
All spectacle and no substance best describe this central commercial hub in midtown Manhattan. Oversized billboards, overpriced chain restaurants, aggressive crowds, and enterprising street performers looking for tips make Times Square the ultimate tourist trap.
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Not a genuine reflection of New York City history and culture, Times Square is not for visitors seeking bona fide Big Apple moments. Venturing to neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Gramercy Park, the Lower East Side, Hell’s Kitchen, and Harlem can offer tourists a more legitimate Gotham experience.
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Fisherman’s Wharf (San Francisco, California)
Home to the Golden Gate City’s iconic sea lions, Fisherman’s Wharf is packed with touristy restaurants, pushy boat and bike tour vendors, panhandlers, and expensive parking.
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Attractions like Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, the Cartoon Art Museum, and Madame Tussauds make Fisherman’s Wharf one of the top tourist traps in the nation.
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Bourbon Street (New Orleans, Louisiana)
The history behind this French Quarter street dates back to the 18th-century reign of the French royal family, the House of Bourbon.
Today, the name is often associated with the street’s nonstop whiskey-induced party atmosphere, bursting with Mardi Gras revelers, overserved college students, and the entourages of brides and grooms-to-be.
Primarily a pedestrian-only thoroughfare, Bourbon Street hosts vehicles at certain times to maximize foot traffic to its 60-some-odd bars and restaurants.
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To avoid overpriced drinks, expensive meals, and tacky gift shops, visitors should venture outside this 13-block stretch to discover the real NOLA.
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The Hollywood Walk of Fame (Los Angeles, California)
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Over 2,600 brass stars line this downtown LA walkway, honoring entertainment luminaries like Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg, and Walt Disney.
A magnet for celebrity-obsessed visitors, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was established as a tribute to film, television, music, radio, and theater icons. Today, it’s also home to pushy street vendors peddling overpriced merchandise and memorabilia.
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International UFO Museum & Research Center (Roswell, New Mexico)
Sensationalist tourists and alien enthusiasts are drawn to this New Mexico museum that capitalizes on the 1947 Roswell UFO incident.
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Exhibits at this attraction are more kitsch than educational, and the town of Roswell has embraced its alien theme so much that it overshadows other aspects of the area’s history and culture.
Read also: Quirky US Towns
Plymouth Rock (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
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A symbol of colonial America, Plymouth Rock is precisely what its name entails—a rock. Its historical weight as the landing site of the Pilgrim Fathers has not been fully proven, and the site is often said to leave visitors questioning the hype.
Read also: US Hidden Treasures
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Keystone, South Dakota)
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A symbol of American heritage, this national landmark depicting presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt can disappoint tourists expecting a more substantial experience.
Seemingly colossal in photographs, the Mount Rushmore stone sculpture is, in fact, just 60 feet tall. While still impressive, many tourists feel disappointed by the memorial’s size and isolated location.
Read also: Must-Visit US Landmarks
The Space Needle (Seattle, Washington)
If 360-degree views of Seattle are what you’re after, then a visit to the 605-foot-tall observation tower may be worth its substantial wait times and price tag.
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Unimpressed visitors cite the Space Needle’s lack of knowledge as a drawback. Once you arrive at the top, there is little to no information about the surrounding buildings or the structure’s significance.
Read also: US Destinations for Art Lovers
Niagara Falls State Park (New York State)
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Niagara Falls is a natural wonder, but you can expect to pay top dollar for everything from water to parking. Visit the falls but skip the tourist-centric attractions in the park, such as Maid of the Mist basin tours and the Observation Deck.
Read also: Incredible American Landscapes
Salem Witch Museum (Salem, Massachusetts)
Not all tourists find this landmark bewitching. Housed in a historic New England church, the Salem Witch Museum takes visitors on a journey to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
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Many see the experience as sensationalist and describe it as a staged display of witchcraft gimmicks and commercialism. Nevertheless, if lore is your thing, this archive of wizardry may cast a spell.
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Waikiki (Honolulu, Hawaii)
While the white shorelines and turquoise waters of Honolulu’s iconic beaches are breathtaking, they are not secret. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, more than four million visitors descend on the exquisite two-mile stretch of sand each year.
Tourists can engage in water sports and activities, such as surfing, paddleboarding, and canoeing, while taking in the Diamond Head volcano on the adjacent island of Oʻahu.
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Why watch out for this tourist trap? Finding a spot to relax for the day can feel like navigating a wall-to-wall maze of beach towels, especially when seeking a patch of solitude by the ocean.
Read also: Secret Beaches in the US
The Alamo (San Antonio, Texas)
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This historic mission played a significant role in the fight for Texan independence, drawing crowds for its considerable past.
While the Alamo’s fame makes it a popular tourist destination, those looking for a quieter yet equally historical experience might find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park—comprising four lesser-known missions—a peaceful alternative.
Read more: Historical US Cities
Navy Pier (Chicago, Illinois)
One of Chicago’s most visited tourist attractions, Navy Pier offers captivating views of Lake Michigan and several entertainment options. While the pier hosts free programs and events throughout the year, its notoriety as a tourist trap is a byproduct of its averageness.
Its food hall boasting “authentic Chicago food” is riddled with chain restaurants like Potbelly Sandwich Shop, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Ben and Jerry’s. Home to the Centennial Wheel, Navy Pier also has boat cruises, rides, and tours, but each amusement will set you back a penny or two.
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It is costly to ride the Ferris wheel. Families or small groups should prepare to shell out big time when spending a day on the lake.
Read more: Surprising US Cities with a Vibrant Nightlife Scene
SeaWorld (Multiple Locations)
A longtime magnet for family fun and marine life enthusiasts, SeaWorld has three US locations in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio.
Single-day tickets in Florida start at over USD 100, and visitors can add all-dining bundles and skip-the-line privileges for even more per person. Such steep price tags make this one expensive family outing.
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Over the years, SeaWorld’s treatment of animals has come under scrutiny, leading the park to stop using orcas in park shows. As a result, tourists have increasingly questioned SeaWorld’s educational value and authenticity, making it a pass for many.
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Lower Broadway (Nashville, Tennessee)
Lower Broadway, a major thoroughfare in Nashville’s Broadway Historic District, is the mecca of the city’s country music scene. The street is bustling with honky-tonk restaurants and bars like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, where Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Kris Kristofferson got their start.
You’ll also find premium-priced restaurants, museums, and live music venues like the famous Ryman Auditorium here, making Lower Broadway a quintessential tourist trap.
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Visitors should be prepared to shell out top dollar for food and drink, admission fees, cover charges, souvenirs, and parking. Plus, litter and garbage pile up quickly, given the foot traffic on Lower Broadway, especially after dark.
Read also: US Destinations for Art Lovers
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Amanda Fayer is a professional foodie, travel enthusiast, expert sleuth, content strategist, and journalistically-trained copywriter, in that order. She’s also one of the few native New Yorkers to realize life exists outside Gotham. You can now find her living in the nation’s capital.
