Congratulations, Seattle! The Space Needle just topped a list of America’s biggest tourist traps — and not in a good way. According to a new study analyzing over 155,000 TripAdvisor reviews, the landmark is more “meh” than marvel, with visitors calling it overpriced, overrated, and a great place to spend $35 to see... the tops of other buildings. 

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Researchers crunched the numbers on 230 of the country’s most popular paid attractions, looking specifically at low-rated reviews filled with phrases like “not worth it,” “too expensive,” and the ever-popular “giant waste of time.” 

And the results? Here are the top contenders in the world of tourist disappointment:  

Top 10 U.S. Tourist Traps (aka Places Where Regret Comes with a Ticket Stub):

Rank      Attraction     Location     % of Reviews Saying "Why Did I Pay For This?"

1.      Space Needle     Seattle WA     4.03%

2.      Busch Gardens   Tampa, FL     3.79%

3.     Colonial Williamsburg     Williamsburg, VA     2.92%

4.     Graceland     Memphis, TN     2.86%

5.     Georgia Aquarium     Atlanta, GA     2.55%

6.     The Island     Pigeon Forge, TN     2.43%

7.     Biltmore Estates     Ashville, NC     2.35%

8.      Monterey Bay Aquarium     Monterey, CA     2.19%

9.      Skydeck Chicago     Chicago, IL     2.13%

10.     One World Observatory     New York, NY     1.98%

To make the cut, an attraction needed to (a) charge admission, and (b) have at least 100 cranky reviewers giving it 1–3 stars. After that, the researchers combed through the gripes to find out which spots most consistently sparked wallet regret and existential vacation angst. 

Why It Matters 

Because travel isn't cheap anymore — and neither is disappointment. With the average family vacation now costing more than your first used car, tourists want more than a nice view and a long line. This list doesn’t just name names; it’s a public service announcement disguised as data. 

And if you’re looking for a good value? Apparently, The Haygoods Show in Branson, Missouri is the opposite of a tourist trap — with the lowest “overpriced” complaints in the study. Who knew? 

So next time you're planning that dream trip, maybe skip the elevator ride to the top of the Space Needle... and treat yourself to a scenic hike or a plate of overpriced airport nachos instead. At least those come with cheese.

A  study by FloridaRentals.com scanned TripAdvisor reviews to find the biggest tourist traps in the U.S. Researchers looked at 230 top attractions, focusing only on paid-entry spots with at least 100 negative reviews. They flagged places most often called overpriced, overrated, or just plain not worth it.