Roswell, New Mexico
Conspiracy theorists and fans of outer space should be at least familiar with the town of Roswell, New Mexico. In the 1970s, conspiracy theorists and extraterrestrial experts popularized the notion that this town was the site of an alien spaceship crash landing in 1947. They maintain that the US military is trying to cover up the sightings by claiming it was a crashed weather balloon. In response to all this attention over the last few decades, Roswell has leaned into the "alien crash site" persona.
That's where Roswell's interests unfortunately end. There are plenty of alien-themed buildings, amusements, and memorabilia to get on your trip to Roswell, but the novelty very quickly wears off when you realize it's no more exciting than visiting any other themed attractions worldwide.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Has Become a Ghost Town
Found in New Jersey, the Atlantic City Boardwalk was once the center of attention for anyone with an eye for glitz and glamor. Casinos, amusements, and old mobster history and themes were what once attracted many tourists here, but a lack of upkeep has really worn out the shine. The beach has long since become run-down, and the tourist traps have become tacky and outdated, like out-of-place reminders of what once was.
Decades of tourists have worn down the boardwalk, and the lack of recent tourism has turned it into an eyesore of a ghost town. This is during the warmer months, too, mind you, as it gets even worse in the winter.
Moqui Cave, Utah
Found in southern Utah, Moqui Cave is a location that looks far more interesting on the internet than it does in person. Online, you can read about its history, where the Anasazi people once used it as a food store and occasionally, when it was later used as a speakeasy during the 1920 Prohibition. In the 1950s, the site was purchased by Laura and Garth Chamberlain, who opened a tavern, dance hall, and museum, but that's essentially where the interest ends.
Much of its history was warped by the Chamberlains in order to drum up attention for their museum and tavern, and while we now know more of the truth, with the museum displaying interesting natural and history pieces collected from the area, it's a pretty small blip on the radar.
The Market Theater Gum Wall Is More Disgusting Than Interesting
Art is, of course, subjective, and when it comes to communal pieces that grow with every visitor, you'd think that this would be a great tourist option. However, the massive Gum Wall in Seattle, Washington's Market Theater is really quite disgusting when you think about it for more than a second. The tradition started when theatergoers would stick pennies to the wall with their used chewing gum, and when others saw this and replicated it, the practice exploded in popularity.
As you can imagine, the idea of millions of pieces of chewed-up gum covering entire walls that stretch down pathways doesn't spark any notions of cleanliness. In fact, the Gum Wall is considered to be in the top five most germ-riddled tourist attractions in North America.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Boston, Massachusetts, is a vast historical city filled with many landmarks to visit and learn about the early days of America. However, with so much to see, you might want to consider crossing Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market off your list. Long gone are the days when Bostonians would come here to do their market shopping, mingle, and celebrate their communities, as it's largely been overtaken by tourist attractions.
Nowadays, the markets are crowded with visitors rather than Boston natives, and you'll even find the same chain stores you would find anywhere else in the country offering their products. While they might be interesting for what they once were, the markets have become nothing but tourist traps.
Ave Maria Grotto Has Long-Since Been Outgrown
Cullman, Alabama, is home to the Ave Maria Grotto, a park on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey. The peculiarity that draws many visitors here is the 125 miniature replicas and reproductions of various religious structures from around the world. While those interested in religious history might gain something from a trip here, anyone would soon realize that it might have just been better to visit the actual places themselves.
The replicas are all tiny, meaning that, while they are detailed, there is no sense of excitement or wonder. A large part of religious sites is their presence and the weight of faith that you feel when around them. While intricate, these novelties are more curiosities for those who regularly visit the cathedral for service.
The "A Christmas Story" Home
The 1983 film A Christmas Story is a timeless classic and one many break out every year when the holiday season rolls by. While it has many fans, it's hard to believe that any are die-hard enough to want to visit the very house and museum for the film. The museum might have some interesting items for those who are into film history, but the house is just that - a regular Ohio house.
Compared to where you could be instead, such as William Taft's old home, now a museum, or the Cincinnati Music Hall, visiting a regular house featured in a beloved Christmas movie seems a bit of a waste.
Rhode Island's Mysterious Viking Tower
One peculiar tourist attraction in Rhode Island is the Mysterious Viking Tower. It's known for being mysterious, as no one actually knows who built it or how it got there. It's a seemingly random structure that stands out amongst the backdrop of Newport. If you thought there would be some exciting build-up to a conclusion, however, you'd be sorely mistaken. Since nobody knows its origins, there's nothing actually interesting going on here.
In theory, if we could say for certain that vikings did build this tower, it might be interesting from a historical standpoint, as it would be one of the oldest buildings in the entire country. However, it might just have quickly been built by an eccentric with money to throw around, so it falls flat as an attraction with nothing going for it.
The Busy, Busy Mall of America
The largest mall in the entirety of The United States, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, boasts over 500 stores, an entire theme park, an aquarium, and dozens of attractions to get as much foot traffic through its doors. And yet, for all its size and options of things to do, it still manages to suffer from many tourists' worst nightmare: overcrowding. It's so busy that you won't reliably be able to find a "quiet" day to visit if you want to take some time shopping since everyone is always on the move to cover as much ground as possible.
This sensory overload of a mall isn't without its perks, of course. There are plenty of stores that cater to anything you could ever need, but that isn't exactly special. The novelty quickly wears off when you realize it's just a giant mall.
Times Square Is Both Overwhelming and Underwhelming
Times Square, New York, is one place that every tourism guide recommends, but it might not be all that it's cracked up to be. In the middle of Manhattan, at a massive intersection, you'll be blasted by the massive, moving crowds, constant advertisements, and blaring noise as people constantly try to get your attention as they put on a show. The issue is that the very thing that attracts people here is the thing that turns them away: it's not that special.
Times Square is an experience because it's a crossroads of many busy lives, but the individual things to do there aren't exactly unique. The advertisements are all on TV, and the stores can be found anywhere else.
Buffalo Bill's Grave
Considered to be one of America's first-ever superstars, you'd think that the grave of Buffalo Bill, found in Golden, Colorado, would be a bit more exciting. However, it's pretty much just a grave like any other. Sure, it has a fence and is perhaps a bit more done up compared to the average person, but it's hardly the tourist attraction many make it up to be. Instead, if you're interested in his history, you should visit the nearby Buffalo Bill Museum.
Perhaps the most interesting part about his grave is that this might not even be where he was actually buried. If you believe the legend, his body was subject to a bodyswap, and he's actually buried in Cody, Wyoming.
The Mars Cheese Castle Is a Strange Money Grab
It's not a secret that Wisconsin loves its cheese, but the Mars Cheese Castle found in Kenosha is a bit extreme. Known as a "cheese landmark" and famous for its cheesehead hats, the Cheese Castle is popular because it's strange. Cheese is what it's known for, and they have plenty of options alongside the popular things you'd enjoy with cheese, such as sausages, wine, or specialty condiments. It's also seriously overpriced for something so clearly a novelty for its strangeness.
Of course, if you're really into cheese, there might be something exciting about the Mars Cheese Castle for you, but you'd have to be a serious enthusiast not to be immediately bored. After all, it's just cheese.
Craters of the Moon, Idaho
Craters of the Moon is a fantastic name for a national monument and preserve in Snake River Plain, Idaho. The exciting name is essentially where the interest ends for those who aren't interested in the area's geology, which consists of three lava fields and steppe grasslands broken up by massive rift cracks, one of which is the deepest known on Earth. While this is all interesting from a natural history point of view, the average tourist would hardly be interested, with the awesome name leading to many disappointments.
Despite being listed as a national monument, it's largely a barren landscape broken up by volcanic rock, which isn't exactly exciting to most. Even if you are slightly interested, the excitement hasn't lasted long for many.
Beale Street Is Out of Touch
Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee, is significant in its cultural history, as it was once the hub of blues music in the 1920s. As the musical movements grew in popularity, with more clubs and restaurants opening, and eventually festivals and concerts becoming commonplace. While the historical aspects are undoubtedly interesting, the unfortunate reality is that Beale Street has lost that original culture that made it famous in the first place. Now, the street is lined with various corporations that pretend to tap into that culture.
Overpriced restaurants, busy streets filled with hawkers, and soulless buildings have long replaced many of the clubs and concert halls that made Beale Street famous.
Las Vegas' "Venetian" Gondolas Are Far From Authentic
Las Vegas, Nevada, is famous for its thousands of tourist traps. From the many hotels, clubs, and casinos, the city is basically demanding your attention and money. However, one particular aspect that many advertise in travel logs to Vegas is the gondola rides. While the gondolas of Venice might be famous and worth the experience, these Vegas imitations are so far removed from their inspiration that it's almost comically dismal.
The rides are barely 15 minutes long on average, and there are no sights to see other than the stores or gamblers that are meandering about. The water itself is basically highly chlorinated pool water, and the steep price pretends this ride is in any way glamorous.
The Desert of Maine
When one thinks of Maine, we picture coastal communities, dense forests of deep green, and lakes. However, they do have a particular attraction: the strange Desert of Maine. This natural curiosity is a barren expanse of glacial sand in Freeport, Maine. This privately owned area is more sad than exciting, however, since it's really just an area of sand surrounded by pine trees. As out of place as it is, its existence is more a testament to the hubris of humankind.
The entire area would be far more lush were it not for poor farming practices de-vegetating the area and causing it to be damaged beyond repair, turning our past mistakes into a very poor-looking tourist attraction.
Niagara Falls Looks Better From Our Neighbor's Perspective
The massive series of waterfalls known as Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls: Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil Falls. The latter two falls are the ones that fall under US jurisdiction, and they happen to be the least exciting of the three. Canada managed to win big with their Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three, which is a large contributor to why the Niagara Falls city in Ontario fares far better tourist-wise than its New York sibling city.
The reason is simple: the larger waterfall is brighter, louder, and more popular, so more people want to see it. Knowing that Niagara Falls looks better from the Canadian side makes the American side feel overrated.
Graceland, Tennessee
Elvis' legacy has persisted long after his passing, and The King is still widely known. However, that doesn't exactly make his Graceland mansion any more exciting. Even die-hard fans of Elvis Presley will struggle to be excited to visit the icon's once-home, as this tourist attraction is really just a fancy house. Essentially, you'll be paying a steep price to visit, which amounts to a showing of an expensive house that isn't up for sale.
While some fans might have fun spotting particular items of note around the house, the price isn't really worth it when you can simply save your cash and visit somewhere with a little more substance to show.
The Hall of Champions Is Desperately Underdeveloped
Sports fans might theoretically have a good time touring the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indiana, but you'd have to be seriously enthusiastic about collegiate-level play. Even if you are serious about college sports, the Hall of Champions suffers immensely from being undersupported by the NCAA to the point that it's become less and less popular over the years. This disappointing news makes it that much more bittersweet when you consider how much money the NCAA has.
The lack of funding has left the Hall scrambling for anything that will attract attention, with the displays let down by a lack of memorabilia and appearances.
Liberty Bell
One of the most historic items on this list is the famous Liberty Bell that hangs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Famous for being rung after the reading of the Declaration of Independence, it has a massive historical relevance and can be potentially interesting for those who are serious about their American history. For most, however, it's just an important bell with a crack down the center. The bell itself is mostly a symbol and an object for tourists to take pictures with.
While anyone can appreciate the symbology and historical significance, you have to ask yourself if it's really worth going out of your way to see a piece of metal hanging from rotting wood.
Epcot Is Easily Skippable
Epcot is one of many parks in Orlando, Florida's Walt Disney World. Many consider it the most underwhelming, considering the other areas around it. The main attractions are the food and drinks and the disappointingly few rides. Divided into the Future World and World Showcase pavilions, you're afforded the opportunity to try out different cultural cuisines from around the world. However, these are admittedly more Disney-fied stereotypes rather than authentic recipes.
Given everything there is to do in Disney World, Epcot is a park that is barely held together by the few people that still visit. Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are infinitely more worth your time if you have to consider your options.
Santa Claus' House
Christmas lovers will likely know of and consider visiting the Santa Claus house in Alaska's North Pole. First opened in 1952, the attraction is all things Christmas, with reindeer, a massive Santa Claus statue, and the chance to get photos with Mr and Mrs Claus themselves. While that might be exciting, you have to ask yourself: Why are you going to the middle of nowhere to visit what is essentially a Christmas-themed gift shop?
There is nothing at the Alaskan Santa Claus house that you wouldn't be able to find at other similar attractions. The out-of-the-way nature also doesn't do it any favors, especially when you consider the price tag for entry.
Rock of Ages Is Just a Quarry
With a name like "Rock of Ages," you might expect something a bit more extravagant. However, that's just the name of the company that owns the largest "deep hole" granite quarry. While there are many who might be interested in the process and workings of the quarry, as well as the sights with the tiered granite walls and famously bright blue water, you'd have to be seriously invested in going on the nearly hour-long tour of the facilities.
Rock of Ages is far from the prestige its name would suggest, as it's nothing like the Grand Canyon, for instance. Any excitement for the views will quickly wear off once you spot the machinery and quarry workers.
Kentucky's Creation Museum
Petersburg, Kentucky, is home to the Creation Museum, which has displays covering the significant events of the Earth's biblical creation. The biggest attraction here is the massive 510-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, 51-foot-high recreation of Noah's Ark. The Ark serves as a museum of its own that can, given its enormity, take a few hours to fully complete. Inside are hundreds of fake animals on display, which really makes you realize that this is a weird novelty, not a zoo.
The structure's sheer size draws most people to the museum. Once inside and partway through, the novelty begins to wear off, as you realize you paid $50 or more just to go through a massive ark-shaped building full of fake animals.
The Last Shell Service Station Is a Massive Disappointment
The Shell Service Station, found in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the last of its kind. Eight in total were built around 90 years ago, with distinctive bright yellow shell-shaped buildings. While the others have since disappeared, this last remaining one was kept for the sake of history, and it's actually registered as a National Historic Place. However, the fun appearance is where all the excitement ends.
This landmark is fun to look at, but there isn't really anything to do. The building serves as a satellite office now, as well as a partial museum for Preservation North Carolina.
Crater of Diamonds State Park
The only diamond-filled site fully open to the public is the Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas. Open since the early 20th century; the last hundred years ensured that most of the good stuff has already been taken. Still, many come here in the hopes that they'll hit a big one that was somehow missed, with would-be treasure hunters digging in the dirt. While it might be fun for a novelty trip, and you might possibly get lucky, one has to wonder why you couldn't just try a Vegas casino instead.
The Crater of Diamonds is a massive field of people digging up dirt, sparse trees, and abandoned cabins from past diamond diggers. Unless you're eager to dig for nothing, there isn't much for anyone here anymore.
The Hollywood Walk of Disappointment
The internet has largely overblown the Hollywood Walk of Fame and made it seem far more grand than it really is. The Walk of Fame is actually only two blocks long, far tinier than many expect, and the novelty quickly wears off when you realize you're just walking down the sidewalk staring at the ground. More than that, you've likely seen all the important names you care about before.
To make matters worse, the entire area is always overcrowded with tourists who come to take pictures. This has led to a significant spike in pickpockets who prey on those who are too busy looking for squares in the ground.
South of the Border
One of the most overrated items on this list has to be the South of the Border gas station in South Carolina. This joint gas station and restaurant sits on the border of North and South Carolina, and decided that the fact that it is just south of the actual border will be its one and only defining trait. The entire thing is intentionally overly campy, but for many, it leans so far into the irony that it's no longer enjoyable or ironic.
If you plan on stopping here, hopefully, it's just for a refill on gas and a pit stop for some food before moving on somewhere more interesting. At the end of the day, it's just a gas station.
The Corn Palace Is Uniquely Bittersweet
The Corn Palace in South Dakota has a unique aura. It draws an average of half a million visitors per year and is entirely dedicated to corn. It has murals of corn and grains and a giant corn statue and is used for many different events, such as concerts, exhibits, and sporting events. The bittersweetness comes from people visiting almost immediately realizing that there is simply nothing going on here other than the events that it hosts.
Inside is a simple conference center that is used when there aren't any events drawing attention. Most people visit for less than 10 minutes, simply taking a picture and then moving on after realizing what they stopped for.
The Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign is synonymous with Hollywood itself. It's one of the first pictures to pop into your mind when you think of the place, and it's one thing many visitors to the area always try to see. However, not many also know that it's illegal to touch it, and the area around it is cordoned off. The closest you can get is by going through certain hiking trails that pass nearby, though you'll never be truly close to the sign. This, unfortunately, relegates it to an attraction that can only be enjoyed from afar.
At that point, it's not too different from seeing it in a picture online. Your time spent in Los Angeles would be much better spent visiting any of the many museums, restaurants, or other attractions.
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk Is Like Any Other
Rehoboth, Delaware, boasts a boardwalk of its own. Connecting to a mile-long street full of stores and attractions designed to lure tourists in, the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is a pretty significant tourist trap. The only issue is that it's hardly unique in any regard. Their boardwalk is just like any other, with the only thing to remind you that you didn't go to any other boardwalk is an overpriced, infamously poor-quality souvenir.
Not only is it overrated, but the boardwalk suffers from being wildly overcrowded since there isn't anything quite like it for quite a ways. While it may hardly be the worst option on this list, it's undoubtedly very middling.
Statue of Liberty Ferry
The Statue of Liberty is one of America's most recognizable icons, and if you have the chance to see it, it's well worth it. However, it might be best to avoid the famous ferry that takes passengers back and forth to the statue itself. Getting up close and personal and getting inside might seem like a good time, but ticket prices are horribly overpriced for what amounts to a decent view of the city.
There are many other ways to get a good view of New York City, and even if you just want a better look at the Statue of Liberty, there's a different, free ferry ride that goes to Staten Island, designed entirely for visitors to get a good picture with Lady Liberty.
Carhenge Is Nowhere Close to Stonehenge
England's Stonehenge can be pretty underwhelming to see in person, and Alliance, Nebraska's parody of the ancient structure happens to be even more of a letdown. A replica known as Carhenge was created here by Jim Reinders as a memorial to his father in 1987. The vintage cars that were spray-painted gray to match the color of stone is certainly an interesting piece of art, but it's pretty underwhelming in person too.
Like many smaller tourist traps, It's little more than a roadside attraction, and is hardly worth the extra mile to specifically go and see. This is also taking into account the fact that, unlike Stonehenge, people are constantly climbing the cars and making their own "artful" additions.
The Alamo Mission
San Antonio, Texas, was the staging ground of one of the many battles that would lead to Texas' independence from Mexico. Built to commemorate the historic battle, the Alamo Mission is a local monument that has become a tourist attraction for those interested in learning more about American history and, specifically, the Battle of the Alamo. While that's certainly interesting for those enthusiastic about Texan history, the actual monument itself is a bit lackluster in person.
While it's certainly beautiful in pictures online, it falls into the same category as many other tourist spots: It's more for taking a picture with friends and family and then moving on. Thankfully, the nearby San Antonio River Walk offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to break away.
The Four Corners in Nowhere, USA
The Four Corners Monument is a fun, novelty tourist location that allows people to fool around and say that they're in four different states at once. The monument lies directly on the edges of the states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, with the only real significance being that it's the only place in The States where four come together in some way. The only issue is that, since it's on the corner of four states, it's also in the middle of nowhere.
There isn't anything to do there except laugh about the States for a few minutes, take a picture, and leave. It's so far removed that there isn't any cell service or Wi-Fi in the area, and there have even been claims that it's not accurate to the actual state borders.
SeaWorld Is Just Sad
The modern perception of attractions like SeaWorld makes it easy to realize why the place is overrated. Even if you were to discount the inherent guilt you feel by attending and watching the shows, knowing the conditions that these wild animals are kept in, there are also outrageous prices for both tickets and food. Coupled with the fact that the company itself has also been struggling more and more, as people have become more aware of the way the captive orcas are treated, the prices are likely only to go up.
SeaWorld is more than likely on its way out, following many other novelty aquariums that went under thanks to people's lack of support for keeping marine animals captive. It might even be for the best.
The Largest Ball of Twine Is a Joke That Stopped Being Funny Years Ago
The world's largest ball of twine is found in Cawker City, Kansas, and is one of the fun local attractions that locals always recommend seeing. Taller than a person, the story goes that someone decided they wanted to make a big ball of twine, and others found the idea funny and started contributing to the joke. Eventually, the entire community was in on it. While it would have undoubtedly been fun to have seen it when it was popular, nowadays, the ball of twine just feels like an old joke that won't stop being told.
The ball has been around since the 1950s, for context to its age. The fact that it's still holding itself relatively well together is quite impressive, and the story behind it might be funny to some, but it's hardly worth the ten-minute detour unless you have some time to kill.
Chicago's Magnificent Mile
The largest shopping district in Chicago, Illinois, is the Magnificent Mile, and with a name as extravagant as that, it's certainly a letdown. Featuring many famous stores, restaurants, museums, hotels, and other attractions, this is very much like Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. That also means it's full of expensive options that are probably not worth the price tag. This is made worse by the fact that, after walking for a while, you'll realize that there's hardly anything new here that you wouldn't do elsewhere in Chicago, let alone the state or nation.
If you happen to be in Chicago and are looking for something to do, the Magnificent Mile isn't the worst thing you can explore. However, you'll likely have more fun seeking out specific attractions, like Millennium Park.
Georgia's World of Coca-Cola Has Fallen Flat
World of Coca-Cola is a museum devoted to showcasing the history of the company that creates the world's most popular soft drinks. While others have since opened up, the Georgia branch is the original, and so you'd think it would be the most comprehensive, but that's shockingly not the case. One of the biggest complaints about the museum and tours is the lack of any actual history of the company, particularly after the famous Coca-Cola formula was created.
World of Coca-Cola has devolved from what could have been an exciting museum on the company's history and the many iterations of the soft drink to what is essentially a glorified commercial advertising a drink that's already at the top.
Waikiki Beach
Hawaii is at the top of many people's lists for vacation spots, and for good reason. However, as the native population has given a great deal of pushback to stop people from coming to the islands, certain areas like Waikiki Beach have become almost designated tourist spots in an effort to funnel the attention of tourists. For the Hawaiian population, this wasn't exactly a solution, and for tourists, it also lets you know where to avoid, as Waikiki Beach is one highly overrated place.
Waikiki Beach isn't too different from other US beaches, but as it's become more of a tourist trap, the prices of all the luxury stores and hotels have shot up to create the illusion of exclusivity. There are many other places to visit to actually get a better sense of Hawaii's uniqueness, such as the Na Pali Coast and Lanai Lookout.