worst tourist traps in florida

10 Tourist Traps In Florida To Skip, Plus Alternatives To Visit Instead

Avoid these popular tourist traps in Florida and opt for any of their alternatives instead without the crowds and hefty price tags!

There are plenty of popular Florida tourist traps and alternatives instead; for example, skip expensive Naples and head to Bonita Springs for a more affordable and laid-back beach experience.
Snorkel in Crystal River instead of visiting Discovery Cove for a budget-friendly wildlife interaction.
Avoid the crowds and high prices at Walt Disney World and visit Orlando's ICON Park for a variety of attractions at a lower cost.

Florida's tropical climate, sandy beaches, and breathtaking landscapes make this state one of the best vacation destinations in the United States. Locations like the many Florida Gulf Coast beach towns , the Florida Keys, and Walt Disney World in Orlando keep thousands of tourists flocking to the Sunshine State every year to experience a fun family vacation. However, because the state is a major tourist destination, there are naturally some big and some small tourist traps in Florida that visitors should not waste their time and hard-earned money on!

While some touristy destinations and theme parks can be a fun experience, there are plenty of tourist trap alternatives in Florida that give visitors better value for their money and a better overall experience, typically with far fewer crowds. Here are several tourist traps in Florida to avoid and better alternatives to substitute!

Related: 10 Florida Cities With Bustling Downtown Areas Worth Visiting

Head 30 minutes north to Bonita Springs instead for more affordability

Naples, located on the western side of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, is a large coastal city known for its upscale hotels and expensive restaurants. Although Naples is beautiful, it's easily the most expensive holiday destination in Florida . Steer clear of overpriced souvenirs and overly expensive boat tours and drive 30 minutes north to Bonita Springs instead.

Bonita Springs is a fantastic alternative to Naples; it's a beautiful beach town with plenty of delicious local eateries, fun water sports, and very friendly locals. Visitors can paddleboard and kayak with dogs at Bonita Beach Dog Park , go parasailing, lay out on Bonita Beach, and walk up to Doc's Beach House for fresh seafood and drinks. The laid-back local vibe is heavenly and the activities are at a fraction of the price they would be in Naples.

Things To Do in Bonita Springs: Bonita Beach Dog Park , Bonita Jetski & Parasail , Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille
Cost: Bonita Jetski and Parasail cost between $85-100
Hours Of Operation: Bonita Beach access between 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

9 Discovery Cove

Consider snorkeling in the crystal river instead to avoid crowds.

Florida is home to multiple theme parks and waterparks that offer wildlife interactions and water-themed fun. However, many of the waterparks in Florida can quickly become expensive and have visitors shelling out hundreds for every activity. One park that comes to mind is Discovery Cove .

At Discovery Cove, visitors can swim with dolphins and sharks, interact with stingrays, go snorkeling, and swim at the day resort for upwards of $200 and more . That's why those on a budget could opt to go snorkeling in Crystal River instead, home to one of the most unique and fun activities in Florida : manatee swimming! Swim with the friendly manatees in Crystal River , kayak, and paddleboard in the clear water, all for under $100!

Things To Do in Crystal River: Swim with Manatees , snorkeling, Copp Brewery and Winery
Cost: Manatee Tour Experience is around $85
Hours Of Operation: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

8 Walt Disney World

Visit orlando's icon park instead for lower prices.

This might be a controversial take, but Walt Disney World has slowly turned into a large tourist trap in Florida over the years. Due to its ever-increasing prices ($20 for a cocktail?), Disney World is sometimes viewed more as a super expensive tourist trap by travelers on a budget than "the most magical place on Earth." Instead, families wanting to save some money without compromising on a good time should venture to Orlando's ICON Park .

ICON Park offers visitors access to free parking, over 50 shops and rides for kids and adults, and dozens of entertainment and events. Visitors also have access to different combo deals and packages based on the attractions that they want to visit. Travelers won't have to overpay for attractions they're not interested in and can spend less than $100 making fun memories.

Things To Do at ICON Park: The Wheel , Orlando Starflyer , SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Cost: Tickets and packages vary between $19.99-89.99
Hours Of Operation: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

Related: Skip Disney World And Explore These Hidden Gems In Orlando

7 South Beach

Opt for key biscayne 30 minutes away for fewer crowds and serene views.

South Beach, Miami is an incredibly popular tourist destination that's always overcrowded and overpriced with scammers constantly looking to hustle tourists. For fewer crowds, more serene views, and more laid-back restaurants, opt instead for Key Biscayne , which is just 33 minutes south of South Beach.

Key Biscayne has spectacular emerald beaches, state parks, and a nearby coastal barrier reef that's easily accessible and free from large crowds. Vacationers won't need a car here in Key Biscayne and can choose to walk or bike around the island.

Things To Do in Key Biscayne: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park , Key Biscayne Beach, Nixon Beach Sandbar
Cost: $8 Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park fee
Hours Of Operation: 8 a.m. til sundown daily

6 Blizzard Beach

Make a splash for less at wekiwa springs state park instead of walt disney's waterpark.

Blizzard Beach is one of Walt Disney World's two waterparks where visitors are expected to pay $63 per adult and $57 per child to go swimming and ride some water slides. Travelers are bound to have an equally enjoyable experience for less money at Wekiwa Springs State Park's natural springs .

The springs are cold and refreshing year-round and travelers can bring their own floats, snorkel gear, and coolers, and enjoy a day of swimming in Wekiwa Springs - and the best part is that it's only $4-10 !

Things To Do in Wekiwa Springs: Paddleboarding, swimming
Cost: $4-6 Wekiwa Springs State Park fee
Hours Of Operation: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Visit Santa Rosa Beach 32 minutes away for fewer crowds and better views

Destin, another city residing on the Gulf of Mexico, is a hip happening place for tourists! Sandy, emerald beaches, colorful boardwalks, entertainment, and shopping are what make Destin a hit destination in Florida. However, Destin is filled with tourist traps; henna tattoo artists, overpriced souvenir stands, and dolphin boats are all over the place.

To bypass this, opt for Santa Rosa Beach , about 32 minutes inland! Travelers have access to four state parks , panoramic views of the coast, live music, entertainment, and fine dining all without the hassle of crowds and scammers. Here, tourists can enjoy a nice Florida vacation in a more secluded and breathtaking area.

Things To Do in Santa Rosa Beach: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park , Blue Mountain Beach, Village of Baytowne Wharf
Cost: $6 Topsail Hill Preserve State Park fee

4 Siesta Key Beach

Try venice beach instead for less crowds, dog-friendly beaches, and shark tooth hunting.

Travelers who are looking for a more laid-back, peaceful, yet fun vacation in Florida will find it in Venice Beach rather than Siesta Key Beach. Siesta Key Beach is very popular, which means loads of crowds, overpriced restaurants, and even more crowds. Head 30 minutes south to Venice instead.

Venice Beach is filled with beautiful, dog-friendly beaches devoid of crowds and lots of adventurous watersports and is actually known as the shark tooth capital of the world ! Venice, Florida, doesn't get as much attention, which makes it the perfect relaxing option for a beach getaway.

Things To Do in Venice Beach: Venice Fishing Pier, North Jetty Beach, Venice Farmer's Market
Cost: Kayak rentals start at $25 per person
Hours Of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Related: 18 Small Beach Towns In Florida That Are Laid-Back & Low-Key

3 Volcano Bay

Dive into devil's den spring instead for lower prices and epic snorkeling and scuba.

Volcano Bay in Orlando, Florida is a popular water-themed park that offers a wide range of fun activities like water slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool. However, with high admission fees ( $80 for adults and $75 for children ), expensive food, and long waiting lines, it can quickly become just another Florida tourist trap to avoid. Instead, visitors should go to Devil's Den in Williston, Florida .

Devil's Den is a unique natural spring that offers a unique scuba diving and snorkeling experience. Visitors can spot turtles, fish, and other marine life in the underwater cave called "The Devil's Eye." For only $38, tourists can enjoy a much more authentic and thrilling experience diving in Florida's natural springs rather than swimming at an overpriced waterpark.

Things To Do in Devil's Den Spring: Swim and snorkel , Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens
Cost: Snorkeling Devil's Den costs $38 per person
Hours Of Operation: Devil's Den is open Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m

Visitors should note that there's no swimming at Devil's Den; only snorkeling and scuba diving are allowed ).

Marvel at the Titanic Museum instead and take a trip back in time (for far less cost!)

One of the four major theme parks in Walt Disney World and what Business Insider claimed as the worst tourist trap in Florida is the famous Epcot. Epcot is widely known for its World Showcase featuring pavilions that look like countries from around the world. With only 11 rides and ridiculously overpriced food , Epcot is quickly becoming one of of the popular Florida tourist traps to skip. Plus, for those who argue that Epcot's World Showcase is relatively close to actually traveling the world... respectfully, no.

Instead, take a quick 30-minute trip to the Titanic Museum and Artifact Exhibition in Orlando! This exhibition brings tourists back to April 1912 by guiding them through an immersive tour and one-of-a-kind interactive experiences. Guests will also be able to witness over 300 artifacts from the Titanic while learning more about the ship.

Things To Do At The Titanic Museum: Guided tour , Titanic Dinner Gala , Titanic Teatime
Cost: Ticket prices vary from $17-74.95
Hours Of Operation: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

1 Gatorland

Venture to lake jessup instead to see alligators for free.

Those who aren't strangers to the southern states of the US may know that Florida is home to over 1 million alligators ! Moreover, Orlando's Gatorland is home to about 2,000 of them, but why pay $41.99 to see alligators at Gatorland when it's possible to see them at Lake Jessup for free?

Lake Jessup is one of the most alligator-infested lakes in Florida and is also free to visit. The Black Hammock offers free live alligator exhibits plus a lakeside bar that offers a stunning view of the lake and discounts on drinks!

Things To Do At Lake Jessup: Overlook Park , Black Hammock Lazy Gator Bar
Cost: Lazy Gator Boat tours are $25.95 per person. Buffet starts at $10.99 per person
Hours Of Operation: Open 24 hours

Skip These Florida Tourist Traps (And Where To Visit Instead), According To Travelers

The Sunshine State is a mecca of tourism in more than just one city. According to Visit Florida , the state's tourism department, over 137 million travelers visited the state in 2022. Popular attractions like South Beach in Miami or Walt Disney World in Orlando need no assistance drawing visitors in. However, travelers seeking authentic Floridian experiences may not know what their options are beyond the popular experiences that, more often than not, have turned into tourist traps.

We won't just leave you hanging by sharing with you what to pass over on your next trip to Florida. In addition to our "skips," we include recommendations on what to do in place of those tourist traps. By combining our own experiences, researching expert commentary online, and reading traveler comments, we've narrowed down our list of the most common tourist traps in Florida. You can read more about our methodology at the end of this article. Here are a few places you should make every effort to avoid in Florida and where you should consider going instead.

Skip water parks, visit Florida's natural springs

While the allure of slides and wave pools is undeniable, theme park water parks across the U.S. are similar enough to one another that their cost often outweighs their benefits. Water parks are pricey, especially if you don't qualify for discounted tickets. The regularly priced entrance fee for Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is $74, and Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay entrance fee is $70. Themed water parks can also have restrictions on what you can bring into them. Not only will you have paid for an expensive ticket, but you'll also be expected to purchase food, drinks, and possibly even a towel if you forgot yours.

Instead, visit Florida's natural springs and rivers for a refreshing and budget-friendly alternative. Many of these locations are in Florida state parks that charge one fee per vehicle, not per person, and those fees can be as small as $6. These natural wonders offer a serene escape with the flexibility to bring your own floaties and picnic, not to mention the support you'll be providing to national and local park services.

Skip the aquariums, visit Crystal River

Aquarium visits can quickly add up, especially with added costs for animal interactions. Like themed water parks, aquariums are typically the same across the U.S., so unless you can find a discount for admission, your budget will thank you for skipping them. Crowded venues can detract from the experience, and some aquariums do not follow humane practices when it comes to their animals. A recent Tripadvisor review of Gulf World Marine Park said, "Although the dolphin show is nice everything else is outdated and lame. Even the playground is a waste of space."

As an alternative, visit and swim with manatees in Crystal River . This unique experience allows you to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat, and in many cases, the cost for the experience helps support conservation efforts. You can even add a Florida Everglades airboat tour to your swim with the manatees and knock out two activities at once.

Skip South Beach, visit North Miami Beach

Will Smith famously rapped about partying "all night on the beach till the break of dawn" in his hit song "Miami," and travelers know those lyrics about one of the world's most famous beaches aren't far from the truth. Known for its vibrant party scene, South Beach can sometimes become overwhelming. It's not only one of the most expensive places to vacation, but also one of the more crowded beaches in Florida . In addition to the high prices and crowds, South Beach is known for its aggressive street vendors and performers who push travelers into paying for things they may not want.

Enjoy the same scenery as South Beach without all the hoopla at North Miami Beach and Miami Beach. These beaches are near a more residential part of Miami and thus provide a laid-back atmosphere. They are also a lot less crowded, and dining options are more affordable.

Skip alligator farms, visit Lake Jesup

With Florida's abundance of alligators in the wild, paying to see them in captivity is unnecessary. One such place that rated poorly on multiple travel articles we researched was Gatorland. "There were hundreds of gators crammed into a tiny little space. The Jumparoo show was probably the worst part, forcing those poor gators to jump for tiny meat scraps," one Tripadvisor reviewer wrote. While some reviewers left more positive comments, the issue of paying to see alligators in captivity remains. Even after paying to enter, visitors will still have to pay for extras such as photos or food to feed the gators.

Visit nearby Lake Jesup to see gators in the wild instead. The alligators can be seen at Lake Jesup without paying any fees, but there are also affordable airboat tours and wildlife expeditions. These tours offer a more authentic and ethical viewing experience.

Skip Ripley's Believe It or Not!, visit the Orlando Science Center

This chain attraction can be found in multiple states and might not offer as much educational value as expected. Ripley's Believe It or Not! began as a cartoon strip in 1918 by Robert Ripley who was drawing for The New York Globe at the time. Though Ripley passed away before the formation of the company bearing his name, its commitment to highlighting strange and unusual things in our world lives on. With global communication at high rates of speed thanks to the internet, the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museums are not as fascinating as they once were. Many of the items in each museum location are replicas of items once owned by Robert Ripley, so visitors are not even seeing the real versions of these oddities.

Visit the Orlando Science Center instead, where engaging hands-on exhibits and demonstrations await. If you are a member of your local science center, admission to other science centers is often offered at a lower cost or potentially for free.

Skip Siesta Key Beach, visit Venice Beach

Located in the Sarasota area, Siesta Key Beach is a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine. However, its popularity has led to crowded shores and inflated prices at restaurants, bars, and nearby lodging. The main attraction here is the sand — many Tripadvisor reviewers describe it as "powdery white" or "soft and cool," which is appealing when temperatures rise and just walking on beach sand can hurt. A review from October of 2023 said, "This beach is beautiful...but way too crowded."

If you're concerned about the crowds, head a few miles down the road to Venice Beach for a change of pace. Thirty minutes south of Siesta Key Beach, Venice Beach offers free parking, dog-friendly areas, and a unique opportunity to hunt for shark teeth. In fact, this beach is so full of shark teeth that it has been dubbed the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World."

Skip Destin Beach, visit Santa Rosa Beach

Another victim of its success, Destin Beach has grown to be known as a haven for the rowdy spring break crowd. In recent years, Destin has begun to feel overcrowded and commercialized. Shopping, dining, and beautiful beaches are the perfect draw for tourists, and crowds flock to the panhandle beach every summer. As with most other locations on this list, businesses in Destin know when tourists will be coming, and prices rise accordingly.

To get the most bang for your buck, keep driving down the road to Santa Rosa Beach. Just over 30 minutes east of Destin, Santa Rosa Beach will give you that quieter beach day you've been looking for. Not only is it quieter, but the beach has access to four beautiful state parks, like Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park , and there is less pressure to participate in all the activities around the area.

Skip Florida's orange groves, visit the strawberry fields

Oranges are the fruit most commonly associated with Florida, but they aren't the only fruit the state has to offer. While its orange groves are iconic, some of the tours can be underwhelming. A Tripadvisor user recently shared their thoughts from a visit in January of 2024. "The truck ride was a SHORT 45 minutes and does not encompass the 2500 acres of the property like they make it seem when you read about it. There is little to do after you complete the truck ride. I would say it is not worth the 40 dollars we paid to take the short monster truck ride," they wrote.

Another sweet way to experience Florida would be to attend the Florida Strawberry Festival . The festival began in 1930 and is now considered one of the top festivals in North America. It starts in February and lasts for several weeks, so there are plenty of opportunities to visit on a less crowded date. Not only can you pick your own strawberries, but the festival has classic carnival rides, concerts, and all kinds of strawberry-focused foods to try.

Skip the Daytona 500, visit the Grand Prix in St. Pete

Nascar's premier racing event, the Daytona 500, occurs annually in Daytona Beach. While you may be tempted to attend this iconic American car race, our advice is to skip it. The event brings high crowds and high prices for everything from restaurants to shops to hotels. Because of Daytona's policy of allowing cars on the beach, there is really no escape from the crowds either. If you want to enjoy Daytona Beach, don't go when the Daytona 500 crowds are in town.

If you simply must see a professional car race, give the Grand Prix in St. Petersburg a try. Amy Daire from Business Insider wrote, "The Grand Prix, while more expensive to attend, is in downtown St. Pete, and set against the water with beautiful views. Plus, if you can snag a spot in one of the hotels or condos that overlook the race course, there's no reason to splurge on tickets."

Skip Panama City Beach, visit Mexico Beach

Panama City Beach, or PCB for short, is another beach with a reputation for rowdy, spring break crowds. When crowds aren't the problem, one Tripadvisor reviewer said access to the beach was still an issue. "The beach is beautiful. But access to the beach could be better. Unless you are staying in a hotel on the beach, you have to find access points and parking," they wrote. Other reviewers mentioned in June reviews, which is during peak season for many beach towns, that double red flags flew for long enough that it made their vacations unenjoyable. A double red flag indicates that the beach is closed to the public, which can certainly ruin a beach-focused trip.

Avoid the crush and crowds by traveling down Highway 98 just a little further until you come upon Mexico Beach, Florida. This small town is free of high-rise condos, chain restaurants, and boisterous crowds. We have visited Mexico Beach multiple times over the years, and the residents are always welcoming and friendly. It truly feels like an untouched piece of paradise.

Skip Duval Street in Key West, visit Bahama Village

As the main artery of Key West, Duval Street is the go-to for many travelers who plan a visit to Key West . Because of its popularity, Duval Street can get crowded and its shops and wares become less authentic each year. Although it currently has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor , many of the most recent reviews compared it to a "mini Bourbon Street, but less rowdy." One visitor shared that the street was, "Nothing special, but it's something to do when not on a beach."

If you're looking for a more authentic taste of Caribbean culture and cuisine, head over to Bahama Village. This area of town offers a more relaxed and enriching experience. It covers 12 blocks and includes a village market where you can shop for local merchandise, dining options with authentic Caribbean foods, and island music like reggae, calypso, and "junkanoo," which has distinctive, rhythmic drum beats.

Skip Medieval Times, cisit Orlando Shakes

Medieval Times is the same, no matter where you see it. One of the most popular dinner show experiences, Medieval Times involves a tournament between "knights" who are cheered on by audience members who feasts on a four-course meal during all of the action. While most reviews of the show are positive, it does cost quite a bit for a family to attend the festivities. Adult admission is around $68, while children 12 and under can get in at just under $41. For a family of two adults and two children, that cost is over $200.

For a little more culture and theatrical endeavors, plan an evening at one of Orlando's finest performing arts venues. Orlando Shakes was founded by University of Central Florida Professor Stuart Omans in 1989. In cooperation with the university, the theater company produces "classic, contemporary, and children's plays, while showcasing William Shakespeare's legacy as the cornerstone of the company." Not only will you be supporting a local theater company, but your show ticket also helps support their mission of education and service to Central Florida schools.

Skip Florida malls, visit flea markets and antique centers

Malls offer a uniform shopping experience nationwide. Considering the ease of online shopping, many malls no longer hold the appeal they once did. In major cities like Orlando, Tampa, and Miami, malls are overcrowded with locals and tourists alike and many even charge for parking spots close to their buildings. While indoor malls may be a pleasant escape from the heat and humidity, there is not much difference between your local mall and the ones in Florida. Some malls may even charge a slightly higher price for the same items you could find at home just because they are in a mall in a tourist destination.

Instead, we found an incredible shopping spot just north of Orlando in the Mount Dora area. Renninger's Florida Twin Markets is a combination of an outdoor flea and farmer's market and an indoor antique center. It's a unique shopping adventure with treasures from bygone eras and fun booths to explore. Plan ahead for your visit, as the flea and farmer's market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and the antique center is only open Friday through Sunday.

Skip Ocean Drive in Miami, visit Sunset Harbor

Ocean Drive is the place to be when visiting Miami . Harry Stewart, a contributing writer for Hotels.com , wrote, "Ocean Drive is famous for its eclectic ensemble of art deco architecture. Development boomed here during the height of the movement (the 1920s and 1930s), and many of the original buildings remain proudly on display." Visitors flock to this area for the beautifully preserved buildings and architecture as much as they do the club scene.

If you'd rather go somewhere without exorbitant cover charges or wall-to-wall people, head over to Sunset Harbor on the bay side of Miami. This area has become known for its trendy yet quieter alternative to the Ocean Drive club scene. That isn't to say you can't find fun nightlife — it just may be more laid back and less expensive than its counterparts over in South Beach. Sunset Harbor is also a great place to enjoy a South Florida sunset away from the crowds and other tourists.

Methodology

By choosing these alternatives, travelers can enjoy a more authentic, enjoyable, and often more affordable Floridian experience. Our recommendations came from a collaboration of our own experiences, expert writer commentary, as well as traveler reviews on Tripadvisor.

The worst tourist trap in every state

There's tons of sightseeing to do in the US but some spots have become tourist traps .
Avoiding overcrowded landmarks like New York City's Times Square and New Orleans' Bourbon Street is recommended.
Offbeat attractions like Nebraska's Carhenge or Maine's "desert" also aren't worth the hype.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

Maybe you're touring the US as a citizen out to see your homeland. Or maybe you're coming from afar to see what America has to offer. Either way, you probably want to make the most of your travels .

While some tourist spots across the country have become legendary landmarks that everyone should see , others are just disappointing tourist traps . Some are blatant attempts to make money, others are plain weird, but either way, they should be avoided at all costs.

Save your time, money, and sanity by skipping these 50 tourist traps.

Amy Daire contributed to a previous version of this piece.

ALABAMA: Ave Maria Grotto

This miniature city was built out of cement and trash by brother Joseph (formerly Michael Zoettl), a hunchbacked Benedictine monk. The little village is often referred to as "Little Jerusalem," and features 125 tiny religious statues, grottos, and holy locations.

It's essentially a wacky, four acre holy shrine — you might be better off going to Legoland.

ALASKA: The North Pole

Did you really come this far, to one of the most beautiful, untouched, wild and untamed states , to see a fake little Christmas village?

On top of that, the North Pole is freezing in the winter, and actually really hot in the summer, and swarming with mosquitos.

ARIZONA: The Four Corners

Of course it sounds cool to technically be in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, all at the same time , but you'll find yourself in the middle of nowhere, far away from anywhere you'd ever want to be, in a sweltering desert, and all you'll have to show for it is a cheesy photo. EVEN BETTER, it's really just a brass, CD-like disk that's allegedly 1,800 feet from the actual intersection of those four states.

ARKANSAS: Crater of Diamonds State Park

While the idea of digging for diamonds sounds cool — the park is apparently the only source of natural diamonds in the US that's open to the public — the reality is a 3 7 ½-acre plowed field of dirt. It's been open since 1906, so the chances of finding a diamond seem pretty slim to us.

CALIFORNIA: Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood walk of fame has become one of the biggest hotspots for tourists visiting California. Sadly, the stars that celebrities are so proud of are on a dirty, crowded sidewalk, surrounded by tacky street performers, and far from anything else worth a visit.

COLORADO: Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum

Sure, it's the grave of one of the world's most famous cowboys — and outstanding hunter and accomplished showman — but a grave is a grave is a grave.

Plus, the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum opened in 1921, and hasn't changed much since.

CONNECTICUT: Wild Bill's Nostalgia Store

People from all over the country stop at this quirky roadside pop culture reliquary , which is most famous for being home to a (terrifying) Jack-in-the-Box that's said to be the world's largest. A sort of cabinet of curiosities where most curiosities are for sale, the shop is a little like a hyped-up flea market.

DELAWARE: Rehoboth Beach boardwalk

Not technically overrated, but certainly overcrowded, Rehoboth Beach's boardwalk makes this list for being jam-packed with tourists, and chock-full of tchotke's aimed at them. Apparently, finding a parking spot is about as rare as spotting a unicorn, and many complain about inflated prices, and call the boardwalk "average," or even "extremely average."

FLORIDA: Epcot

Of the four Disney parks in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Epcot is easily the most underwhelming. Unless you're a college student looking to "drink around the world" (for hundreds of dollars 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.

GEORGIA: World of Coca-Cola

This huge tourist attraction in the middle of Atlanta brings in millions of visitors every year. Guests can see how the soda is bottled, take their picture with the famous polar bear, and taste several of the company's other drinks.

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.

HAWAII: Waikiki Beach

Waikiki was basically designed with tourists in mind, and is a strip of luxury hotels, expensive stores, and chain restaurants flanked by an overcrowded beach. It looks like most of the rest of America, and is not representative of the stunning, tropical island paradise Hawaii really is.

IDAHO: Craters of the Moon

While the name evokes a surreal, alien-like landscape, the reality does not quite live up to it.

While it is quite pretty, it's only interesting for about 10 minutes. After all, how much time can you spend ogling volcanic rocks?

ILLINOIS: Chicago's Magnificent Mile

We're not sure what's so magnificent about a street that has a few shops and restaurants, but hey.

INDIANA: NCAA Hall of Champions

With surprisingly little memorabilia on display and in dire need of a renovation, you'll be in and out of this museum , which pays homage to student athletes, in 30 minutes or less. If you want to learn about Hoosier basketball, you're better off heading 50 miles east to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle.

IOWA: Captain James T. Kirk's future birthplace

Trekkies the world over make the trek to this tiny town in Iowa, to a private yard behind a small house, to look at a gravestone-like plaque commemorating the "Future Birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, Karch 22, 2228."

Now obviously that's not true, since "Star Trek" is fiction, but to add insult to injury, it was really just the doing of an intrepid Trekkie mayor who, upon reading "Making of Star Trek," saw that Kirk would be born in an unnamed small town in Iowa. He figured, 'Why not Riverside?' and plopped the plaque in the middle of town, declared it Kirk's future birthplace, and the rest, as they say, is history (or the future).

KANSAS: The World's Largest Ball of Twine

It’s a ball of twine.

KENTUCKY: Ark Encounter

Last year, this life-size arc and biblical theme park opened in Williamstown, Kentucky. The grounds feature a zip line, because what would a biblical theme park be without one?

The fact that this attraction is an ode to one of the most famous biblical stories ever isn't the trap, though. It's their outrageous prices that should make you think twice: tickets are $40 per adult and $28 per child, and zip lining costs at least $50 on top of that.

LOUISIANA: Bourbon Street

New Orleans is a beautiful, historic town filled with culture, and Bourbon Street just doesn't do it justice. It's essentially like Cancun during Spring Break — neon signs advertising cheap, tacky bars line a street that's full of drunk people throwing plastic beads at your head — when they aren't throwing up.

You're better off going to a jazz bar or something that will let you drink and experience a little local culture.

MAINE: The Desert of Maine

Despite its appearance, this block of land is not actually desert. The empty plot is a glacial silt surrounded by thousands of Maine's pine trees. People can gawk at the natural phenomenon that created a desert in the middle of New England, but with plaster camels and plastic sand-related souvenirs, it's hard to imagine what draws in 30,000 tourists every year .

MARYLAND: Ripley's Believe It or Not!

There are several Ripley's Believe It or Not! "museums" all over the country. However, in a historical city like Baltimore where there is actual art and history to see, it's baffling why anyone would spend time in a place full of replicas and gimmicks.

MASSACHUSETTS: Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

Sure, it's been open since 1742, but these days it's a glorified food court teeming with tourists that sells mediocre food and tacky souvenirs. Do like a local and avoid it.

MICHIGAN: Mystery Spot

There's a maze, mini golf, and a zip line, but their main attraction is several crooked shacks built into hillsides that trick kids into thinking everything is gravity defying. It's a cheap roadside tourist trap with gaudy billboards along the highway to prove it.

MINNESOTA: Mall of America

This mall is the largest shopping center in America, with 520 stores and so many square feet that the Yankee Stadium could fit inside of it nine times. But there's much more to do than just shop — there's an indoor theme park, a miniature golf course, and and aquarium — but all that adds up to is sensory overload.

The fact that it is crowded with hundreds of tourists each and every day ( 42 million visitors each year) makes it all the worse.

MISSISSIPPI: Birthplace of Elvis

It's a two room shack. The King may have been born there, but it's no palace.

MISSOURI: Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail and Museum

This giant pile of rocks is essentially a mound of nuclear waste.

To be precise, it's 1.5 million cubic yards of hazardous waste entombed to create a small mountain that marks the spot that was home to the country's largest explosives factory turned uranium ore processing plant until 1966. After being left abandoned for over two decades, the US Department of Energy decided to cover it with rocks. Now, it features a museum and covered up TNT, asbestos, mercury, radium and radioactive uranium. Enjoy!

MONTANA: 50000 Silver $ Bar

This Montana bar is home to over 50,000 silver dollars, and thus one of the largest coin collections in America. There's also a motel, tons of RV parking, a casino, and Montana's largest gift shop.

NEBRASKA: Carhenge

This quirky roadside site is one of the highest-rated attractions in the state , though it's little more than 39 cars stacked to resemble England's famous Stonehenge.

Sadly, this isn't the only ode to Stonehenge you'll see on this list.

NEVADA: The Venetian gondolas

While the entire city of Las Vegas could arguably be considered a tourist trap, the one place you should really steer clear of while you're there is The Venetian's gondola rides .

It might sound romantic, but once you see the gamblers and shoppers strolling by as you float through what is essentially a shopping mall in a chlorine blue pool water for less than 15 minutes, you might think differently. Even worse, a p rivate gondola for two will set you back $116.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Clark's Trading Post

Locals who have been going here for years seem to love it (and the fact that it hasn't changed at all). However, tourists who don't feel the nostalgia will likely feel differently.

Their lackluster attractions include bumper boats, Segways, and a steam train, but their money maker is the trained bear shows, which many consider ethically questionable.

NEW JERSEY: Atlantic City Boardwalk

Like a second-rate Vegas, Atlantic City's good ole days are long gone. All that's left are gaudy casinos, tacky souvenirs, and overpriced taffy.

NEW MEXICO: Roswell

The town of Roswell prides itself in being the alleged site of an alien crash landing in 1947, and has created an entire tourist industry around it.

The town is now a giant gimmick, where everything that could possibly be shaped like an alien or UFO, is. It's full of creepy alien toys, and all of them pretty low budget.

NEW YORK: Times Square

Locals avoid this spot at all costs, and so should you. Not only is it overcrowded, it's also full of expensive souvenirs and tacky chain restaurants that you can find anywhere else in the country.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Blowing Rock

The views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful, to say the least. People rave about the sights you can see from your car or on trails throughout the many parks. However, The Blowing Rock, which gets a lot of praise for its stunning views and interesting rock formation, is a miss.

It costs $10 dollars per person to visit, which might not break the bank, but why pay anything at all for a view you could see for free?

NORTH DAKOTA: The Enchanted Highway

This collection of scrap metal sculptures stretches across 32 miles on a southern North Dakota highway. You'll see giant grasshoppers, families of fish, towering humans, and an all-seeing eye made of geese (yup). If you happen to be driving down the road, it might ease some road trip boredom, but it's certainly nothing to drive out of the way for.

OHIO: "A Christmas Story" House

There are hundreds of ways you can celebrate the holidays. Waiting in a line and paying money to see the filming location of "A Christmas Story" should not be one of them. While the movie may be great, the basic house it was filmed in and the museum dedicated to it aren't anything to stop your car for.

OKLAHOMA: J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

A majority of the ~50,000 artifacts in the museum are firearms from a private collection that dates back to the 14th century. The West might have been wild, but this glorified gun museum is wilder.

OREGON: Undersea Gardens

This underwater room holds tourists for about half an hour as they watch divers interact with the natural wildlife. The realistic view (murky water and five fish, if you're lucky) is hardly worth paying for, especially when there are sea lions right above the surface that you don't even need to pay to see.

PENNSYLVANIA: The Liberty Bell

This American history classic is the definition of underwhelming. After learning about it year after year in school, you'd think it'd be a large, spectacular bell. In reality, it's small and broken (obviously), not to mention surrounded by tourists.

RHODE ISLAND: Mysterious Viking Tower

If you have an affinity for mysterious landmarks, then you might enjoy the tiny tower that sits in the middle of Newport.

Unfortunately for most, these mysterious remains aren't that exciting. No one really knows who built it, but legend says that it was the Vikings, which would make it one of the oldest buildings in America. Most beg to differ. Either way, the speculating gets old quick.

SOUTH CAROLINA: South of the Border

South of the Border is nothing more than a large gift shop and adjoining restaurant. The "attraction" sits right below the border that separates North and South Carolina, and is intentionally tacky.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Wall Drug

This blatant tourist trap makes over $10 million a year , but how they do it is a mystery. The drugstore turned makeshift mall became famous for offering free ice water back in 1931, and doesn't charge for attractions such as their snake pit and giant road side sculptures (see the dino, above). They do reel in tourists and road trippers with over 300 billboards throughout the state, though.

TENNESSEE: Graceland

Elvis was a true prodigy, but touring his house for a minimum of $30 is a strange way to honor him. While the grounds are beautiful, there are far better ways to spend your time in Tennessee.

TEXAS: The Big Texan Restaurant in Amarillo

The Big Texan restaurant is crawling with so much Texas décor you may go into sensory overload. With dead animals all over the walls, a souvenir shop with every kind of tacky Wild West memorabilia you can think of, and, of course, a Texas-sized 72 ounce steak eating challenge , this place is one big Texas cliché .

The food is also extremely mediocre, and many customers have complained on Yelp that the steak is tough and dry. For a real, authentic Texas experience, head to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where you can shop for genuine Texas souvenirs, watch bull riding, and chow down on delicious fair food.

UTAH: Moqui Cave

The sandstone erosion "cave" is touted as an ancient landmark and natural history museum, but it's not even a cave that was built or used by Native Americans.

Even if you don't mind the ruse, people who have been claim that it's just a glorified gift shop.

VERMONT: Rock of Ages

You can tour this giant granite quarry for a small price, but looking down into a hole that isn't the Grand Canyon is hardly worth it. The tour is provided by a company that mostly makes tombstones, which puts a damper on everything, and their gift shop sells overpriced granite gifts and jewelry.

VIRGINIA: Foamhenge

Like Stonehenge, but styrofoam. No further explanation necessary.

WASHINGTON: Gum Wall

This brick wall attraction near Seattle's Pike Place Market was covered in 15 years worth of gum until 2015, when it was removed to preserve the brick. The tradition of sticking used, germy chewing gum on the wall picked back up shortly after, and it is now almost back to its original, grimy glory.

WEST VIRGINIA: The Congressional Bunker

For $34 a person, you can see where all the beloved (and not so beloved) politicians in America would have lived post-apocalypse. The bunkers, which were hidden in a hotel at first, opened for tours in 1995 after someone spilled the beans about the secret hiding place.

The idea is pretty cool, but there's no real need to spend 90 whole minutes and over $30 for a tour of wooden bunk beds, canned food, and white cinder block walls.

WISCONSIN: Mars Cheese Castle

Wisconsin is known for its amazing cheese, and really, anything involving cheese can do no wrong. However, Mars Cheese Castle, which beckons tourists driving down I-94, is a pretty obvious trap. The gaudy building should be warning enough, but if it isn't, the inflated prices on the hundreds of cheeses, sausages, condiments, and crackers they sell might be.

Despite it being an obvious tourist trap, tourists and locals alike don't seem to mind at all .

WYOMING: Frontier Prison

This old prison is basically a museum of torture the whole family can enjoy. It's no Alcatraz, but tour guides do let you sit in old gas chambers and see the "Punishment Pole," both of which will likely cause nightmares.

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10 biggest tourist traps in florida (and where to go instead).

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Learning to budget a vacation and avoid expensive tourist traps properly is one of the simplest ways to step up your travel game .

Yet, those vacation bills can add up if you plan to travel to Florida to escape the cold this winter (or to embrace the heat this summer).

To keep you on budget, here are 10 of the worst and most expensive tourist traps in Florida and where you should go instead to save some cash and avoid big crowds.

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Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach is a Disney water park, and like all things Disney, it comes with a hefty price tag.

Visitors can expect to pay $74 per adult and $68 per child (under age nine) just to spend the day in the park.

Where to go instead: Wekiwa Springs State Park

At Wekiwa Springs State Park, just minutes from downtown Orlando, visitors can swim, snorkel, or simply relax among natural beauty.

Instead of spending hundreds taking a whole family to a water park, you'll pay just $6 per vehicle.

Discovery Cove

There's plenty to do at Discovery Cove, from swimming with dolphins to snorkeling among beautiful tropical fish and then kicking back on beautiful beaches.

Unfortunately, one day at the resort can get quite pricey (starting at $149 per person, which doesn't include swimming with dolphins). And it's pretty crowded.

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Where to go instead: Crystal River

Crystal River tends to run cheaper and offers guests the opportunity to swim with manatees (from $64), explore beautiful lakes and rivers, fish, enjoy incredible food, and more.

It’s a great option that can be just as fun for those trying to conserve cash on vacation.

South Beach

Many people who visit Miami head straight for South Beach. It has a reputation for attracting revelers of all sorts — and with that popularity comes big crowds and hefty prices.

Where to go instead: North Beach

In North Beach, a Miami Beach neighborhood, visitors can enjoy stunning architecture and beautiful, relaxing beaches without running into big crowds or paying $30 for one cocktail.

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Gatorland has all sorts of alligators and crocodiles, from adorable babies to 14-foot beasts. There’s plenty to do at the park, from checking out an animal show to visiting the petting zoo.

However, Florida is full of gators, and you shouldn’t need to pay Gatorland’s admission price, which starts at $31.99 for adults to see them.

Where to go instead: The Everglades

Florida Everglades airboat rides and alligators

Visitors can check out alligators in their natural habitat by visiting the famed Everglades National Park.

While there is a fee to enter the park, it’s $20 per person or $35 per carload, which is cheaper than your standard gator park (plus, there are fewer gimmicks to waste money on inside).

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Ripley’s has three locations around Florida — Orlando, St. Augustine, and Panama City Beach.

While it may make for a fun excursion for those who enjoy odd tales and exhibits, tickets to visit the “odditorium” are $27.99, and adding any extras can raise that price significantly.

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Where to go instead: Orlando Science Center

Tickets for Orlando Science Center are a bit cheaper, and as an interactive museum with many fascinating exhibits, labs, and workshops, it can be a much more hands-on experience.

Siesta Key Beach

Siesta Key is a beautiful Sarasota beach, and there’s plenty to do in nearby Siesta Key Village, but that reputation tends to bring large crowds — and with the crowds comes price hikes for food, shops, and more.

Where to go instead: Venice Beach

You'll likely find fewer crowds at Venice Beach, just south of Sarasota

Visitors can enjoy a beautiful shoreline, concessions, volleyball courts, free parking, and pretty much everything you need for an ideal, relaxing beach day.

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Medieval Times

Sure, there’s no place like Medieval Times, with its knight battles, feasts, and competitive fun.

However, the price of admission for adults is nearly $70 (and $40 for kids), and that’s before you add extras like a souvenir or a beer.

Where to go instead: Orlando Shakespeare Theater

At Orlando Shakespeare Theater, you can likely see a show for about half the price, and with a stacked lineup of plays and performances, there's a little something for everyone at the theater.

Miami’s Ocean Drive

Ocean Drive is the spot to see and be seen in Miami. It's lively and packed, with tourists looking to eat, drink, and party.

Unfortunately, you'll most likely have to shell out a whole lot of cash to do any of that.

Where to go instead: Sunset Harbour

Perhaps lesser known than Ocean Drive, quieter but just as fun, is Sunset Harbour. This trendy spot is known for its unique shops, delightful restaurants, and stunning views.

For many visiting Miami, scoring top-notch Cuban food is part of the itinerary.

This Miami staple has been around for five decades and tends to attract many hungry tourists.

Where to go instead: Rio Cristal

For excellent and authentic Cuban eats, experts claim Rio Cristal is the place to go.

With a cheap menu featuring all your classic Cuban dishes, from the empanadas down to the flan, Rio Cristal is a local favorite.

Duval Street

Many Key West tourists head right to Duval Street, and while there's undoubtedly a reason for that, any high-traffic tourist area will come with gimmicks and overpriced goods and services.

Where to go instead: Bahama Village

Visitors can get a taste of Caribbean cooking and culture in historic Bahama Village, which stretches about 12 blocks and includes a market with many restaurants, bars, and shops.

Bottom line

Unfortunately, some top Florida destinations, like Disney World or Universal Studios, offer unique experiences that are hard to replicate or replace with cheaper options.

However, using one of the top travel credit cards to get your plane tickets can help you plan your trip and save money. Avoiding these tourist traps can also help keep you on budget.

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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10 Weird And Wonderful Tourist Traps In Florida That Actually Live Up To The Hype

Victoria is a native Floridian and writer for OIYS. She also makes art, jewelry, and other things for her shop, The Gilded Gator .

More by this Author

Florida has lots of tourist attractions, but they don’t always live up to your expectations. These Florida attractions are pretty popular with tourists, but you won’t disappointed if you decide to see them for yourself:

Did You Know Florida Is Home To More Natural Springs Than Anywhere Else In The World?

This Weekend Marketplace In Florida Has Everything You Need For A Day Trip Adventure

The Incredible Flower Road Trip Through Florida Is The Ultimate Spring Adventure

What do you think? Do you know of any other Florida tourist traps that totally live up to their hype?

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

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Orlando is full of hundreds of amazing and fun attraction options. It doesn’t matter what you love doing — mini golf, eating, riding rides, playing games — there’s something you’ll enjoy. It’s the tourist capital of America, and one day there is enough to see why.

One day in Orlando is also enough to see that not all attractions are created equal. For every awesome themed land and museum, there’s also an awful, trashy tourist trap. For every genuine thrill, there’s also a slightly-too-real fright. For every exciting instagram opportunity, there’s also a tacky knock-off.

You might enjoy the things on the following list — and you know what? That’s totally fine! Different strokes for different folks, and all of that. But, hey, this is my list.

After visiting the area dozens of times, I think I’ve finally landed on a list of things I’ll either never do or won’t try again.

Helicopter Rides

Image: Michel Curi, Flickr ( license )

Chartering a small plane or a helicopter and flying high above the Orlando tourist zone is something that seems exciting in theory. After all, there are quite a few accounts and websites that cover Disney and Universal who’ve made their name by doing just that.

But, at the end of the day, this thrill is maybe a bit too real. Small helicopters like the ones in Orlando’s tourist district are perfectly safe — really, they are. That said, come on! I’m not one who’s general scared of heights or even of flying — but a helicopter ride taking off next to a fast food joint on I-Drive isn’t quite what I have in mind.

On top of that, what exactly do you intend on seeing from up above? Florida is as flat as a crepe, and even the exciting areas — like Disney World and Universal — are meant to be seen from surface level. High above, yes, you’re greeted to a unique perspective. Unfortunately, that perspective is mostly just industrial show buildings and parking lots that have been hidden from view.

Try Google Earth instead. It’s cheaper (read: free), and you won’t have a pit in your stomach the whole time.

Dinner Theater

Image: kissheartoffl, Flickr ( license )

At the risk of blaspheming, here’s the thing: The very best dinner theater production in Florida is the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue. And it is, at best, fine. The food is good, yes! But, you can get it next door at the Trail’s End Restaurant — so, really, the show is the main event. And it is totally fine — but hardly broadway.

I get that it’s iconic, and I get that many of you are going to stop reading right here and grab your pitchforks. But hey, I actually don’t dislike the Hoop-De-Doo Revue. My bigger issue is that, like I said, that is as good as it gets . If this was the only show in town, that’d be great. Sadly, it’s not.

Dinner theater is a way of life in Orlando. There are tons of options: Medieval Times, a dinner murder mystery, a 1930s gangster dinner show, a pirate show. There are so many, but the all have that highly kitschy vibe and overpriced entry cost.

Theater is great. Dinner is also great. I understand the impulse to want to combine them — but the whole is far worse than the sum of its parts. Go watch a show at one of the major parks and then do dinner afterward.

Senor Frog’s

Image: Senor Frog's

Either you are a Senor Frog’s person, or you are not. I am, decidedly, not.

If you’ve never been and have a kind of morbid curiosity about the experience — with its debaucherous spring break antics and free-flowing alcohol — I can sort of get the appeal. After all, it’s the sort of drunken, ne’er-do-well sibling of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. That kind of escapism can be fun.

But the reality is far more dire. The food is intensely mediocre, the drinks are overpriced, the vibe is headache inducing. There are other places in the area that offer a similar experience without the stress. I cannot recommend them enough.

If you are a Senor Frog’s person, that’s great! Enjoy! If you don’t yet know if you are one, you probably aren’t — and it’s best to avoid.

Dakota has been visiting Walt Disney World since before he can even remember. His favorite things are Space Mountain, Disney's BoardWalk Resort, and those massive Mickey-shaped cookies dipped in chocolate. When he's not waiting in line at Ample Hills Creamery, he lives in New York where he works professionally as an editor for a sports website.

Yes! You did it. 100% wrong in every single word! Congrats, Dakota!

I suppose this article was always going to have to potential to be met with conflicting opinions. I would be interested to know what you like about these places and the reasons? I guess we all like and dislike different things and that what makes the world such a fascinating place. We always love hearing our readers ideas, thanks for reading and commenting.

Do.nt know who wrote this but senior frogs in Orlando Florida is a good place d good food mice people . The dinner shows are fun too some are pricey but fun . Never did a helicopter ride

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Old, weird Florida: Sunshine State roadside attractions that are still worth a visit

The arrival of Walt Disney World in 1971 and the interstate road system pretty much put an end to the golden era of Florida roadside tourist attractions, when the state's main north-sound roadways were lined with mom-and-pop gator wrestling stands, concrete dinosaurs and Wild West shootouts. But not all of them have been driven into the history books. There are still a handful of attractions that have been around for decades, and a few interesting new ones pop up every now and then. We asked USA TODAY Network reporters from around the state to pick out attractions that are still worth a visit, even if you're not a tourist.

Old Florida: Roadside attractions have been separating Florida tourists from their money for decades

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Bucket list: 55 fun things to do in Florida including restaurants, bars, beaches and more!

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; 941-355-5305; sarasotajunglegardens.com

A gorgeous getaway located just off U.S. 41 and only a few miles north of downtown, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is where children of all ages go to hand-feed free-roaming pink flamingos, get their picture taken while petting an alligator, and explore tropical trails spread across 10 acres in a classic Old Florida setting.

Other fun things to do include holding a parrot, watching ring-tailed lemurs at play, and feeding a giant tortoise. A Sarasota landmark dating back to 1939, Jungle Gardens is 90 percent outdoors with the popular animal shows held throughout the day in a covered, open-air amphitheater. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

10 best places to visit in Sarasota: And what to do when you get there!

Everglades Wonder Gardens

27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs; 239-992-2591, wondergardens.com

Nestled along the Imperial River, the Everglades Wonder Gardens for years has lured nature lovers and those fascinated with Florida creatures. The attraction opened in 1936 as the Everglades Reptile Garden, and is the oldest roadside attraction in Southwest Florida. It sits along Old 41 Road, part of the original Tamiami (Tampa-to-Miami) trail that has fascinated curiosity seekers ever since. It was a prime destination for those traveling south along the Trail (which eventually became the wider, and easier-to-travel U.S. 41). They came to see the gators and flamingos, along with snakes, otters and other animals. And in 2017 the botanical garden and refuge for more than 300 rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable birds and reptiles received a historical designation by the Bonita Springs Historic Preservation Board. — Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News/Fort Myers News-Press

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala; 352-245-8661, garlits.com

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits was the man in the sport of drag racing in the 1970s, becoming the first driver to 170 mph, 180 mph, 240 mph, 250 mph and 270 mph in a quarter-mile. One of his Swamp Rat dragsters is in the Smithsonian, but a bunch of his other cars are on display at this museum, just off I-75. There are more than 120 cars — including many made famous by drivers other than Garlits — on display in two buildings, one dedicated to dragsters and the other to antique vehicles. Big Daddy himself, who turned 90 this year, still shows up to lead tours for an extra fee. The museum is also home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. — Tom Szaroleta, Florida Times-Union

Tallahassee Automobile Museum

6800 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee; 850-942-0137, tacm.com

If you are ever in the capital city and have some time to kill, this is the place to do it. The Tallahassee Automobile Museum does, in fact, have an impressive collection of automobiles, more than 150 of them, including several Batmobiles, some sweet muscle cars and a few oddities that make you wonder what the designer was thinking that day.

But the cars are just the start. The place has huge collections of Steinway pianos, fishing lures, pocket knives, adding machines, watches, cash registers, fans, dolls. boat motors and other stuff most of us would never think of collecting in the first place. Every inch of the huge building just off I-10 is so crammed with shelves and displays that the experience can be a little overwhelming. — Tom Szaroleta, Florida Times-Union

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

9600 Oceanshore Blvd., St. Augustine; 407-563-4701, marineland.net

Marineland has been drawing visitors to dolphin shows since 1938, when it opened as Marine Studios. By the 1950s, it was known as Marineland of Florida and was pulling in up to half a million visitors every year. Nellie, an Atlantic bottlenose born at Marineland in 1953, became one of the most famous dolphins on the planet. In 2006, it was renovated and reopened as Marineland’s Dolphin Conservation Center, with a focus more on conservation than entertainment. Today, it is known as Marineland Dolphin Adventure and still offers daily shark feeding and dolphin training presentations, but the biggest draws are the swim-with-dolphins packages, which allow visitors to get in the water and interact with Marineland's most famous residents. — Tom Szaroleta, Florida Times-Union

14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando; 407-855-5496, gatorland.com

Gatorland has been a fixture on Orange Blossom Trail near Kissimmee since 1949. Though guests no longer walk through the giant blue-and-white gator jaw entrance, built in 1962 by the son of Gatorland's founder, to enter the park, it's still around for photo ops.

Once inside, it's a bit of a bit of sensory overload: Look at that monster! How big do you think that guy is? It's coming our way!

Well-fed gators slice lazy paths across the surface of murky water viewed from a boardwalk. This is just the tip of the gatorberg.

Gatorland was one of Florida's first big attractions, and now includes an expansive wildlife habitat with gators, crocodiles, snakes, birds and other critters.

Paths through the park take guests past gators stretching 14 feet and longer; young gators by the dozen, napping in a pile on a covered dock; and eerie white albino and leucistic gators, hanging out in the shade, looking like prehistoric ghosts.

Gatorland also offers ziplines over the gator pits, a Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure and various gator shows. — Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAY

More about this attraction: Gatorland adventure let us play tourists in our own back yard

Lion Country Safari

2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee; 561-793-1084, lioncountrysafari.com

Providing an up-close look at exotic animals since 1967, and believed to be the first cage-less zoo in the United States, Lion Country Safari has been named the fifth best safari park in the country in USA Today's "10 Best" Readers' Choice 2022 poll.

A panel of zoo and travel experts along with several 10 Best editors came up with the initial top 20 list. The final 10 were chosen by popular vote.

In addition to allowing guests to drive through the park as the likes of zebras, giraffes, rhinos and — yes, lions — roam just a few feet away, the park also participates in many conservation and breeding programs (called Species Survival Plans) for threatened species, including rhinoceros, zebra, oryx, siamangs, and more.

Lion Country visitors have an opportunity to feed the giraffes from a platform that puts you closer to eye level with these gentle giants. The park also offers a kids area with a tiny train ride, carousel, a flying elephant ride and a splash pad water sprayground. — Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post

Venetian pool

2701 de Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305-460-5306, coralgables.com/venetianpool

This beautiful, unique and very large pool is well worth a visit. Called the Venetian pool or Venetian Casino, it's the only public pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan) swam there in the 1930s, and Esther Williams backstroked through the pool for the 1944 film “Bathing Beauty.”

Aquifer-fed, the pool was carved out of a coral rock quarry in 1924 and has two waterfalls and a grotto. It also features loggias, porticos, palm trees, and a signature bridge.

Owned by the city, the pool holds 820,000 gallons of water that are drained and refilled daily in the spring and summer months. It's smart to get advance tickets online at playgables.com, as they turn people away once the pool reaches capacity. — Tracy Allerton, Palm Beach Post

Key West Travel Guide - Visitor Information for Key West, FL in the Florida Keys

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5 Tourist Traps to Avoid on Your Key West Vacation

Avoid these 5 tourist traps to keep your Key West vacation relaxing and enjoyable

One thing really annoys us: tourist traps. Shady businesses that prey upon people on vacation.

There are five Key West tourist traps that we suggest you avoid (or, at least, enter with skepticism and awareness.)

T-Shirt Shops

For years, Key West had a well-documented problem with Duval Street t-shirt shops. Aggressive salesmen were fleecing customers with last minute charges, especially on “custom” iron-on shirts. Stories of customers who had paid hundreds of dollars for a few t-shirts were common. As a result, the City of Key West passed an ordinance regulating their behavior, including requiring written estimates of how much a custom t-shirt is going to cost. Regardless, those shops are still in business and not where we suggest you shop.

Our Suggestion: If you are looking for a souvenir t-shirt, avoid the shops with the zillion iron-ons and packed with trinkets. Instead, try COAST on Whitehead & Petronia Street. They offer original designs, higher quality shirts, and fair prices.

Many of the shady t-shirt shops have tried a new line of attack – the $5 store. For some reason, an unusually haggard individual holds up a sign reading $5 at the store’s entrance. Inside you’ll find the same tacky merchandise and pushy salespeople.

Jewelry Stores

The Today Show’s Rossend Reports recently published an article detailing their experience shopping in a few of Key West’s tourist jewelry stores. Investigators purchased diamond stud earrings at two different stores. Both pairs turned out to be of dubious quality and vastly overpriced. While the particular Key West stores weren’t named, we suggest avoiding “duty free” jewelry stores.

Solution: Better to buy diamonds and emeralds from your reputable, hometown jeweler.

Shady Art Galleries

One of the many galleries in Key West that rely on pushy sales and inexperienced buyers

But watch out for the factory art galleries whose merchandise is often mass produced – and their salespeople a little too slick. Most of these galleries rely on warm lighting, hidden prices, a private room to view artwork, and a well-rehearsed sales pitch. Novice art buyers and the tipsy can easily be taken. We question the motives of any gallery that does not display prices. Be especially wary of salesmen mentioning appreciating value & price, offering big savings, or expressing urgency that a “limited-edition” is running out.

Solution: Here are a few reputable galleries we recommend: Jag Gallery (1075 Duval St), Key West Art Center (on Front Street), Gingerbread Square Gallery (upper Duval Street), Greene Street Gallery (on Greene Street), Salt (on Fleming Street), and 7 Artists & Friends Gallery (on Simonton Street)

Cosmetic Shops

Cosmetic shop on Duval Street - known for overpriced and pushy sales

Solution: Visit Besame Mucho, on Petronia Street nearby Blue Heaven). They sell high-quality products, including some cosmetics, lotions, and shampoo for men and women.

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Don’t Waste Your Money at These Worst Tourist Traps in Every State

T he 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. )

Sponsored: Double The Power of Your Dollar: Stretch Your Money With These Perks

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.

I’m a Luxury Travel Agent: 10 Destinations My Wealthy Clients Are Booking for 2024

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.

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.

Virginia Gil USA Editor

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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.

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The 11 worst tourist traps in Florida
The 11 worst tourist traps in Florida and where to go instead
The 11 worst tourist traps in Florida and where to go instead
The WORST Tourist Traps in Orlando You Should NEVER Visit
10 Weird And Wonderful Tourist Traps In Florida That Actually Live Up
The WORST Tourist Traps in Orlando You Should NEVER Visit

VIDEO

Stone Crab Traps Florida Keys
Stone Crab Traps Florida Keys- we've been robbed!
The Liberty Bell is OVERRATED

COMMENTS

The 11 worst tourist traps in Florida
The 11 worst tourist traps in Florida — and where to go instead. Amy Daire. 2017-05-22T20:44:00Z An curved arrow pointing right. Share The letter F. Facebook. An envelope. It indicates the ...
10 Biggest Tourist Traps in Florida (And Where To Go Instead)
To keep you on budget, here are 10 of the worst and most expensive tourist traps in Florida and where you should go instead to save some cash and avoid big crowds. Earn Points and Miles: Find the ...
10 Tourist Traps In Florida To Skip, Plus Alternatives To ...
Here are several tourist traps in Florida to avoid and better alternatives to substitute! Related: 10 Florida Cities With Bustling Downtown Areas Worth Visiting. 10 Naples ... One of the four major theme parks in Walt Disney World and what Business Insider claimed as the worst tourist trap in Florida is the famous Epcot.
Skip These Florida Tourist Traps (And Where To Visit Instead
By Sarah Gilliland / April 1, 2024 6:45 am EST. The Sunshine State is a mecca of tourism in more than just one city. According to Visit Florida, the state's tourism department, over 137 million travelers visited the state in 2022. Popular attractions like South Beach in Miami or Walt Disney World in Orlando need no assistance drawing visitors ...
The Worst Tourist Trap in Each State
The worst tourist trap in every state. Disney's Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Shutterstock. There's tons of sightseeing to do in the US but some spots have become tourist traps. Avoiding ...
10 Biggest Tourist Traps in Florida (And Where To Go Instead)
To keep you on budget, here are 10 of the worst and most expensive tourist traps in Florida and where you should go instead to save some cash and avoid big crowds. If you're over 50, take advantage of massive travel discounts and trip-planning resources
Tourist Traps to Avoid in Every State
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. Publish this story. Stacker looks at tourist traps to avoid in every state.
10 Weird And Wonderful Tourist Traps In Florida That Actually Live Up
9. Solomon's Castle, Ona. Flickr/Sam Howzit. This DIY castle is one of those weird and wonderful roadside attractions that Florida was once famous for. Its creator used reclaimed materials to build this unconventional home and art gallery, and it is full of his creative and often humorous work.
The WORST Tourist Traps in Orlando You Should NEVER Visit
The WORST Tourist Traps in Orlando You Should NEVER Visit. Monday, October 21, 2019 - 04:59. Orlando is full of hundreds of amazing and fun attraction options. It doesn't matter what you love doing — mini golf, eating, riding rides, playing games — there's something you'll enjoy. It's the tourist capital of America, and one day ...
Ten South Florida Tourist Traps That Actually Don't Suck
1. Coral Castle. When people talk about tourist traps, they probably mean bizarre roadside attractions, usually giant statues of fruits, animals, or other inanimate objects that dot the American ...
25 Orlando tourist traps and where you should go instead
Skip this 'has been' of a tourist trap and instead go explore an actual old town. Winter Garden is a safe bet. With great food, unique shopping and a full calendar of events, this city offers ...
How to Spot the Worst Tourist Traps (and When to Just Give in and Visit
The world's worst tourist traps. Website Casago recently compiled a massive list of the world's biggest tourist traps. They dug through Trip Advisor's user reviews and determined the place ...
These quirky Florida attractions recall golden age of tourist traps
Marineland Dolphin Adventure. 9600 Oceanshore Blvd., St. Augustine; 407-563-4701, marineland.net. Marineland has been drawing visitors to dolphin shows since 1938, when it opened as Marine Studios ...
The 19 Worst Tourist Traps in America To Stay Away From
12. Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Plymouth Rock marks the spot where the Mayflower's Pilgrims first landed in Massachusetts in 1620. It is located in Plymouth, 40 miles south of Boston ...
5 Tourist Traps to Avoid on Your Key West Vacation
One thing really annoys us: tourist traps. Shady businesses that prey upon people on vacation. There are five Key West tourist traps that we suggest you avoid (or, at least, enter with skepticism and awareness.) T-Shirt Shops. For years, Key West had a well-documented problem with Duval Street t-shirt shops.
Don't Waste Your Money at These Worst Tourist Traps in Every State
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 ...
The 10 worst tourist traps in America, according to disappointed travelers
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 ...
Floridians, what is the worst tourist trap in the state? : r/florida
And the worst part is it isn't even all that great of a tourist trap. Wisconsin Dells is a better tourist trap than I-drive. Reply reply. Mastodon31. •. Ok but everything else around it is Wisconsin. Reply reply. roj2323. •.
What's the biggest tourist trap in your state?
The following are the attractions named the biggest tourist trap in each state by Casago. Alabama: Lulu's Gulf Shores in Gulf Shores. Alaska: Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Arizona: Grand Canyon ...
10 Worst American Tourist Traps You Should Avoid
Thankfully, we now have sites in which people can leave reviews — aka warnings so that other travelers don't make the same mistakes. Based on Tripadvisor reviews, these are the 10 worst tourist traps you should avoid when traveling in the U.S. Cafe du Monde and the Hollywood Walk of Fame are among the attractions travelers think should be ...
The Most Boring Tourist Trap in Every U.S. State
Location: BloomingtonClaim 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.
The Biggest Tourist Trap in Every State
Larry Porges/Shutterstock. Ironically, the first tourist trap on this list isn't the biggest. Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama is actually one the smallest as a miniature landscaped village. Per the grotto's website, the miniature town includes 125 tiny stone and cement structures made by Benedictine monk, Brother Joseph Zoetl, O.S.B. of St. Bernard Abbey.
18 Worst Tourist Traps in America
Wall Drug in South Dakota is one of 18 tourist traps that made our list. 24/7 consulted ten different travel blogs and websites to find the worst tourist traps in America.
30 Worst Tourist Traps in America
Wall Drug is known for being the "home of free ice water," which was probably great in the days before insulated water bottles, but today this cowboy-themed shopping complex is a tourist trap of stuff. The 76,000-square-foot warehouse features a drug store and labyrinthine gift shop selling a $10 bottle of Black Hills honey and a $30 magnetic map.

10 Tourist Traps In Florida To Skip, Plus Alternatives To Visit Instead

Head 30 minutes north to Bonita Springs instead for more affordability

9 Discovery Cove

8 Walt Disney World

7 South Beach

6 Blizzard Beach

Visit Santa Rosa Beach 32 minutes away for fewer crowds and better views

4 Siesta Key Beach

3 Volcano Bay

Marvel at the Titanic Museum instead and take a trip back in time (for far less cost!)

1 Gatorland

Skip These Florida Tourist Traps (And Where To Visit Instead), According To Travelers

Skip water parks, visit Florida's natural springs

Skip the aquariums, visit Crystal River

Skip South Beach, visit North Miami Beach

Skip alligator farms, visit Lake Jesup

Skip Ripley's Believe It or Not!, visit the Orlando Science Center

Skip Siesta Key Beach, visit Venice Beach

Skip Destin Beach, visit Santa Rosa Beach

Skip Florida's orange groves, visit the strawberry fields

Skip the Daytona 500, visit the Grand Prix in St. Pete

Skip Panama City Beach, visit Mexico Beach

Skip Duval Street in Key West, visit Bahama Village

Skip Medieval Times, cisit Orlando Shakes

Skip Florida malls, visit flea markets and antique centers

Skip Ocean Drive in Miami, visit Sunset Harbor

Methodology

The worst tourist trap in every state

ALABAMA: Ave Maria Grotto

ALASKA: The North Pole

ARIZONA: The Four Corners

ARKANSAS: Crater of Diamonds State Park

CALIFORNIA: Hollywood Walk of Fame

COLORADO: Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum

CONNECTICUT: Wild Bill's Nostalgia Store

DELAWARE: Rehoboth Beach boardwalk

FLORIDA: Epcot

GEORGIA: World of Coca-Cola

HAWAII: Waikiki Beach

IDAHO: Craters of the Moon

ILLINOIS: Chicago's Magnificent Mile

INDIANA: NCAA Hall of Champions

IOWA: Captain James T. Kirk's future birthplace

KANSAS: The World's Largest Ball of Twine

KENTUCKY: Ark Encounter

LOUISIANA: Bourbon Street

MAINE: The Desert of Maine

MARYLAND: Ripley's Believe It or Not!

MASSACHUSETTS: Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

MICHIGAN: Mystery Spot

MINNESOTA: Mall of America

MISSISSIPPI: Birthplace of Elvis

MISSOURI: Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail and Museum

MONTANA: 50000 Silver $ Bar

NEBRASKA: Carhenge

NEVADA: The Venetian gondolas

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Clark's Trading Post

NEW JERSEY: Atlantic City Boardwalk

NEW MEXICO: Roswell

NEW YORK: Times Square

NORTH CAROLINA: The Blowing Rock

NORTH DAKOTA: The Enchanted Highway

OHIO: "A Christmas Story" House

OKLAHOMA: J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

OREGON: Undersea Gardens

PENNSYLVANIA: The Liberty Bell

RHODE ISLAND: Mysterious Viking Tower

SOUTH CAROLINA: South of the Border

SOUTH DAKOTA: Wall Drug

TENNESSEE: Graceland

TEXAS: The Big Texan Restaurant in Amarillo

UTAH: Moqui Cave

VERMONT: Rock of Ages

VIRGINIA: Foamhenge

WASHINGTON: Gum Wall

WEST VIRGINIA: The Congressional Bunker

WISCONSIN: Mars Cheese Castle

WYOMING: Frontier Prison

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