Don’t make yourself a tacky traveler! Here’s a list of five of the worst U.S. based tourist traps you should avoid at all costs on your next road trip!
Do you have a big trip coming up? Are you trying to decide which attractions you want to visit during that trip?
When you’re searching for all the attractions a city or state has to offer, it’s easy to find lists of the most popular tourist sites. It’s important to note, though, that the most popular sites are often so loaded with tourists that you can barely see what you came there to see in the first place.
If you want to avoid tourist traps and actually enjoy your vacation, be sure to skip out on these five sites during your travels.
1. Times Square; New York, New York
Ask any native New Yorker and they’ll tell you that Times Square is one of the worst tourist traps in the country.
New York City is loaded with a diverse food scene and tons of great attractions. But, you still ought to steer clear of Times Square.
No matter what the season or time of day, Times Square is loaded with tourists. In fact, millions of people visit every year, and more than 300,000 people walk through it every single day.
2. Bourbon Street; New Orleans, Louisiana
Bourbon Street is a popular street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It’s become a must-see for tourists looking to enjoy the city’s nightlife.
Of course, this makes Bourbon Street an awful place for New Orleans residents, who are getting fed up with the chaos that takes place on a nightly basis.
Bourbon Street is also not an ideal spot for people who want to have a relaxing vacation away from crowds of rowdy people partying all night long.
3. Cloud Gate; Chicago, Illinois
Cloud Gate, also known as the Bean, is a sculpture located in Chicago.
Tourists love to gather around it and have their pictures taken. But, it’s almost always crowded and it’s difficult to even get a good picture without being photo-bombed by dozens of travel-weary selfie-takers.
The crowds of tourists also make Cloud Gate a very irritating place for folks who work in the city.
4. Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico is known as the place where aliens were allegedly found and captured in 1947.
It might be located in the middle of nowhere, but Roswell has become a major tourist trap over the last few years.
It’s loaded with museums, stores, and restaurants centered around talking up the UFO conspiracy. This city is nearly always crowded, and locals loathe it.
5. The White House; Washington D.C.
No matter who’s in office, the White House is a hot spot for tourists visiting Washington, D.C.
It receives between 70,000 and 100,000 visitors every month. As a result, it’s very difficult to navigate the streets surrounding it on foot or in cars.
If the idea of elbowing your way through thousands of people fills you with dread, stick to some of D.C.’s other, less-frequented sites instead.
Skip the Tourist Traps
Clearly, there are some places in the U.S. that are better than others to visit.
Now that you know which tourist traps to avoid, it’s time to figure out where you should go instead. Not sure which cities you ought to visit?
Try checking out the travel section of our site to learn about the best travel destinations both at home and abroad.
