Five Irresistible Tourist Traps across the US

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Let’s face it: no matter how much we try to avoid clichés when traveling, we find it so hard to resist them. I mean, who doesn’t own a few dozen photos of a younger, over-excited variant of him/her, making faces in front of Eiffel Tower, Rushmore Mountain or Lady Liberty? As much as the experienced traveler confesses his contempt regarding the so-called ‘tourist traps’ (generally defined as extremely popular attractions, characterized by over-priced and kitschy souvenirs, chain fast-foods and endless queues), they each have their own particular charm.

Actually, these tourist traps are often part of the whole experience: they might ruin your mood for half a day, but they eventually turn into sweet memories. So here is a small selection of some United States unavoidable tourist traps:

Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

There are two ways in which you can look at the Fisherman’s Wharf: either as San Francisco’s most deceiving tourist trap, most stinky, dirty area, the sum of all evils – or just as a fun place to blend in, let yourself scared by the Bush Man and take pictures of the cute sea lions.

Wall Drug, South Dakota

Wee all know the story of Wall Drug, the little drug store in the middle the nowhere who became a national attraction for the simple fact that it offered free ice water to the thirsty travelers heading for Rushmore Mountain. Wall Drug looks a lot like a museum of kitsches right now, but here and there you can still find the rusty charm of the inter-war America. And who could say no to all that 5-cent coffee and the vintage billboards that have gone as far as the North Pole?

Las Vegas, Nevada

Visiting Las Vegas is a good opportunity to discover by yourself the undeniable truth in the affirmation that Sin City itself is noting but a huge tourist trap. No one will deny that Vegas’ mesmerizing lights, famous shows and outrageously cheap hotel rates aren’t meant at attracting more gamblers in its spacious casinos. But once you’ve set your foot on Vegas territory, you will discover the pure pleasure of having nothing to think about but your own entertainment.

Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

Unless you are an irreparable film buff, a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame will hardly get you all excited and teary. But just like Hollywood has its own recipe in bringing the best out of the same old clichés, so do all the small souvenir shops make you wanna own a of fancy wig, spider man costume and all sorts of weird gadgets.

Tour buses, Everywhere

The tourist areas of New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco will be packed with weirdly dressed ticket agents, trying to talk you into booking a tour bus. As most of them are speaking with and accent (just part of every big city’s cosmopolitanism) and can be very persistent, most tourist will immediately label a tour bus as a tourist trap. However, tour buses have they advantages: in exchange for the fee (and tip) they offer free transportation for two days in a row, and will help you make the most of your time when you’re there for a weekend break.

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