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 Travel & Outdoors | May 2007 
Travel Tips: 15 Places to Avoid
 Jon Douglas - MSN Travel
Every city seems to have a section where chain burger joints and tacky T-shirt shops rule the streets like neighborhood thugs loitering on the corner. And every town has one or two attractions that get all the hype but offer none of the payoff. After months of watching your spending and saving up your vacation time, you deserve more. Take our advice and be a better traveler: Stay away from these tourist traps that aren't worth your money - or your time.
1. San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf
The mother of all tourist traps, this crowded stretch of waterfront from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 39 is dominated by countless souvenir shops, chain restaurants and street hawkers. Aside from the hundreds of barking sea lions that loll on a floating dock, we don't see much reason to spend time here. Instead, hop a ferry to Alcatraz and take a fascinating tour of the former prison that offers spectacular bay views.
2. Chicago: Sears Tower
We can't decide what our least favorite thing is about the 103rd-story Skydeck. Is it the elevator ride that'll give you claustrophobia? The throngs of noisy people who'll try your patience? Or the $11.95 price tag that'll bust your budget? And if that's not enough to keep you away, consider the saga of our friend who waited for hours in line on a January afternoon only to get a fantastic view … of the clouds. Be sure to check the weather forecast - and if the skies are clear, head over to the Hancock Observatory, where the crowds are thinner and the vistas are better.
3. Washington, D.C.: International Spy Museum
Although the exhibits here might appeal to espionage buffs, we didn't see enough to warrant a $15 ticket price. After hearing so much hype about the museum since its opening in 2002, we expected fewer artifacts and more interactive exhibits. And we suspect that kids might get bored long before the exit sign comes into view. Unless you have a deep interest in spies, a nearby (and free) alternative is Ford's Theatre, where you can learn about the conspiracy that led to Lincoln's assassination.
4. Las Vegas: Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
Lose your money at the blackjack table, not at the fish tank. We don't see why anyone would pay $15.95 to see the sea creatures that are housed in a remote corner of this casino, especially when there are so many great aquariums around the country. For a true taste of Vegas, head off the Strip and check out the remarkable Liberace Museum, where you'll get a guided tour of the showman's gaudy costumes, cars and pianos.
5. New York City: Times Square
Sure, we'll concede that every first-time visitor to Manhattan ought to spend a few minutes staring at the neon lights on 42nd Street, an amazing spectacle matched by only Vegas and Hong Kong. But you'll see very little here that provides insight into authentic New York. Today's Times Square is a Disney-fied playground of national chains like Virgin Megastore and Applebee's. Stop by to see the glitz, then hop the subway downtown where you can hear some jazz in Greenwich Village or eat like a local in Little Italy or Chinatown.
6. London: Changing of the Guard
The good news is that the ceremony marking the arrival of the watchmen at Buckingham Palace is free. The bad news? It's overrun by tourists, it doesn't happen every day and it's sometimes cancelled at the last minute. Frankly, we didn't find it all that interesting, either. If you'll be in London between now and late September, we think you're better off shelling out for a ticket to see the inside of the palace, where you can tour the State Rooms and see an exhibit of the reigning Queen Elizabeth's evening dresses and jewelry.
7. Seattle: Experience Music Project
The interior of this museum doesn't fulfill the promise of its unconventional building - a Frank Gehry design. We brought friends here recently, expecting the exhibits to be as edgy as Seattle music in the '90s, but came away disappointed. For $19.95, you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about “Louie, Louie” and see some historic guitars. Instead of spending your time with the Jimi Hendrix memorabilia, we suggest you immerse yourself in the modern Northwest music scene. Head over to one of the many clubs downtown and hear a local band playing live.
8. Boston: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
When we lived in Boston, we tried to steer clear of this plaza, which attracts more tourists than a picnic does mosquitoes. We still don't see the appeal: Quincy Market is dominated by an overpriced food court, and the two market buildings to its side feel like an outdoor mall. OK, we suppose that Cheers aficionados might want to stop by the bar that replicates the set of the popular TV show. But if you really want to go where everybody knows your name, cross over to the North End and try one of the many Italian restaurants that dot the neighborhood.
9. Los Angeles: Hollywood
Sure, it can be thrilling to see the names of famous stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But the surrounding area is largely tacky and run down. Stay away from hackneyed attractions like the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum and Ripley's “Believe It or Not” Museum. Instead of wasting your time here, make arrangements for a studio tour at Warner Bros. or Sony Pictures. That's where you can visit classic movie sets, peek in on the filming of current productions - and if you're lucky, catch sight of a star or two.
10. Dublin: Guinness Storehouse
Most travelers to Ireland say that Guinness tastes better in the Emerald Isle. We're inclined to agree, but we don't think you need to visit the exhibits at the Guinness Storehouse to prove the theory. If you've ever been on a brewery tour, you probably won't learn anything more here. The building itself is shaped like a giant glass of stout; your patience is rewarded when you reach the head on the seventh floor, where you can quaff a “complimentary” pint while enjoying panoramic views of the city. But unless your heart is set on drinking from the source, just walk down almost any Dublin street. Raise a glass in one of the city's many neighborhood pubs - and save yourself the price of admission, approximately $18.
11. Orlando: Animal Kingdom
We're bound to raise the hackles of Disney-lovers with this choice. But we can't help feeling like $67 (the price of a one-day adult admission ticket) is too much to pay for a theme park that, aside from a couple of shows and roller coasters, is essentially just a zoo. If you're going to plunk down that much cash for your family at Disney, we think you're better off at the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. And for kids who are interested in animals other than the Mouse, we recommend the Central Florida Zoo, where you'll see hundreds of critters for under $10 per person.
12. Italy: Leaning Tower of Pisa
Take our word for it: The Leaning Tower really does lean. If you're only in Italy for a short time, we don't think Pisa has enough to offer to warrant a daylong side trip. (And besides, do you really need a picture of yourself pretending to hold up the tower?) When we visited a few years ago, we took a train from Florence, 90 minutes each way, and had to fight through crowds to even get near the architectural icon. If we had to do it all over again, we would have stayed in Florence another day so we could lap up another dish or two of gelato. Our trip to Pisa didn't leave nearly as good a taste.
13. Chicago: Navy Pier
Kids of all ages will love riding the 15-story Ferris wheel. But aside from that and a stained-glass gallery, there's little else here that's particularly worthwhile for tourists. We found the shops and restaurants uninspiring and the prices astoundingly high. If what you're after is a skyline view, we recommend taking a cruise on the Chicago River. Sure, tickets are expensive ($25 during the week, and $27 on weekends). But if the weather's pleasant, there's no better way to see the Windy City's famous architectural landscape.
14. Las Vegas: Stratosphere Tower
We certainly don't mind plunking down our credit card to get a bird's-eye view of a destination, whether it's from the top of the Empire State Building or the crest of the London Eye. But we don't think it's worth spending $9.95 to have that experience in Las Vegas. While the views are spectacular, there are cheaper ways to get the same thrills. Go for a drink at the Stratosphere's Top of the World Lounge, or linger on one of the skybridges that connect hotels across the Strip. Or, if you're willing to press your luck after a few days in Vegas, hope for clear skies and a window seat on your plane out of town.
15. London: Madame Tussaud's
True, many travelers find the celebrity wax figures remarkably lifelike. And, depending on your tolerance for gore, you might think that the Chamber of Horrors is ghoulishly fascinating. But we think that Madame Tussaud's, now a five-museum chain with branches in New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, is another attraction that's not worth your time or your money. You'll spend about $43 to wait for an hour or more, and then you'll have to jostle the crowds as you tour the exhibits.
Looking for an offbeat attraction in London? Pay a visit instead to Sir John Soane's Museum, a house of quirky architectural details that's packed to the gills with an eclectic art collection. Not only is admission free, but we guarantee you won't see anything like it back home. In our view, it's this sort of one-of-a-kind experience that makes travel worth doing at all.
MSN Travel Editors contributed to this article. |
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