The United States is filled with thousands of tourist attractions. Most of these attractions are worth visiting, from historic baseball stadiums to jaw-dropping skyscrapers! Unfortunately, some well-known attractions have reputations for being total time-wasters. Recently, men and women met in an online discussion to reveal the top U.S. attractions that aren’t worth the hype.
1. The White House
When visiting the White House, you have two options: Take pictures of it from afar like so many tourists do, or pay big money to tour parts of the inside of the historic building. Paying to take a tour means you’ll only have access to “tourist-friendly” parts of the White House; don’t expect to be rubbing elbows with the First Lady or anything! In the eyes of many tourists, the White House is labeled a “must-avoid.”
2. The Statue of Liberty
Seeing the Statue of Liberty is a must when visiting New York City. However, according to one expert, visiting Ellis Island and seeing the status up close leaves much to be desired. “There are perfectly good views of the statue from Battery Park,” he explains. “Even better, witness it for free on the Staten Island Ferry, which also takes in gorgeous views of lower Manhattan, Governor’s Island, and Brooklyn Heights.”
3. The Liberty Bell
As someone who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, I was subject to many field trips to the Liberty Bell. Unfortunately, every trip was the same in that I was shocked at the small stature of the Liberty Bell. It’s much smaller than people realize! In a town with as much history as Philadelphia, any traveler is better off exploring other parts of the city than visiting the Liberty Bell.
4. The Mall of America
Countless visitors flock to the Mall of America in hopes that it is something more than “just a mall.” Unfortunately, it is just that: An oversized mall designed to extract as much of your hard-earned cash as humanly possible. The Mall of America is too big and consumer-centric, and even unique attractions like the roller coaster are ultimately underwhelming for tourists.
5. Four Corners Monument
I don’t know what marketing genius thought that people would visit a placard noting the intersection of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, but that’s where American tourism is in 2023. “The reality is that you’ll find yourself in the middle of nowhere, far away from anywhere you’d ever want to be, and all you’ll have to show for it is a cheesy photo next to a concrete slab that’s that’s allegedly 1,800 feet from the actual intersection of those four states,” laments one woman.
6. The Washington Monument
The people have spoken: The Washington Monument is boring. It’s true; people are near-unanimous in their assessment of this historic American landmark. It’s tall, skinny, and, well, that’s about it. Fortunately, plenty of other attractions in the National Mall area are worth visiting, like the Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial.
7. Gondola Rides in Las Vegas
There are a thousand better ways to spend your money in Las Vegas than taking an underwhelming “Italian-style” gondola ride. “It might sound quaint, but Venice, this is not,” confesses one expert. “You float through chlorinated, blue pool water through what is essentially a shopping mall for less than 15 minutes as gamblers and intoxicated party-goers stumble by. Even worse, a private gondola for two will set you back around $116.” Talk about a waste of money!
8. Plymouth Rock
Let me spare you the hassle of traveling to Plymouth Rock and instead offer up an apt description of it: It’s a small rock surrounded by a fence. That’s it. That’s all Plymouth Rock is. Google a photo of it, and I promise you’ll appreciate it as much as you would if you visited. It’s arguably the most pointless U.S. “attraction” on this list!
9. The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is showing its age in 2023, and visiting it seems pointless when you can see countless other historic landmarks in the Big Apple. “The Empire State Building is overrated,” declares one woman. “It’s crowded and touristy, ticket prices are high, and once you’re outside, peering through metal bars, it feels cramped and utilitarian.”
10. The Hollywood Walk of Fame
On television and in film, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is portrayed as a luxurious homage to hundreds of entertainment legends. Unfortunately, many visitors discover the truth about the Walk of Fame: It’s located in a downtrodden, filthy section of Los Angeles! It’s anything but luxurious, and although it’s free, many people consider it a waste of time. I advise hiking the Hollywood sign trail instead, a short distance from the Walk of Fame.
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