9 US Tourist Attractions That Actually Live Up to the Hype
Some famous attractions disappoint, but these standout spots are even better in person
There’s a fine line between tourist attraction and tourist trap. I’ve learned this firsthand: The Hollywood Walk of Fame sits in one of the grittiest parts of LA; just three cows showed up the last time I visited the Fort Worth Stockyards; and even the Mall of America, while impressive in scale, didn’t match the grand image I had going in. While expectations, weather, and timing can all shape a travel experience, every so often, a famous attraction simply doesn’t justify the hype.
Wondering which tourist attractions are worth your time and money? In my humble opinion, these nine absolutely deliver the goods.
The High Line: New York City
They say the best things in life are free—though in NYC, that’s rarely true. That’s part of what makes the High Line such a standout: a 1.5-mile leafy, art-filled elevated park that winds along Manhattan’s West Side. It’s a free and stunning way to see the city, with affordable attractions nearby at either end, including the floating park Little Island (also free) and the honeycomb-like Vessel (from $15 per person).
Architectural boat tour: Chicago
Chicago isn’t just a lakefront metropolis; it’s also a river city. Ravaged by fire in 1871, Chicago has transformed its downtown throughout the last century and a half into an urban marvel and envy of others. Pick a balmy day and set sail down the Chicago River on a 90-minute, docent-led Chicago Architecture Center river cruise. Along the way, marvel at how masterful city planning helped influence a nation.
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum: Key West
Even if you failed American lit, you’ll still love The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, where island gossip and polydactyl kitties run amok. Hemingway called this Spanish Colonial-style stunner—one of the largest private homes in Key West—home for much of the 1930s. These days, volunteer docents spin delicious tales of the volatile writer’s life while descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed cat relax in the sun.
Café Du Monde: New Orleans
Regrettable decisions come easily in New Orleans, so when you’re done making them, stroll to the French Market and make a delicious one. At Café Du Monde, order a trio of sweet, fluffy beignets (fried dough) covered in an avalanche of powdered sugar, along with a hot cup of chicory coffee (cash only). If you’re lucky, jazz musicians will be busking out front. Little has changed since it first opened in 1862.
Prada Marfa: Marfa, Texas
The strange byproduct of an artsy town nestled in the Texas high desert, this roadside artistic installation actually delivers. This haunting full-size rendering of a Prada store by artists Elmgreen & Dragset offers a hybrid of pop and land art featuring luxury goods staged inside the installation—actual shoes and handbags donated by Miuccia Prada. Visit at dusk when the installation illuminates the barren landscape.
The Neon Museum: Las Vegas
What happens in Vegas stays there, though you’ll be blabbing to everyone you know back home after a visit to The Neon Museum. Housed in a giant downtown boneyard, this evolving museum is where many of the city’s razzle-dazzle neon signs end up. Book a docent-led tour at night (when signs are lit), and discover tales of mob rule, Rat Pack hijinks, and fortunes won and lost.
Alcatraz: San Francisco
Referred to as “The Rock,” Alcatraz Island combines a boat ride, national park site, and house of horrors into one unforgettable visit. The ferry ride over dazzles with jaw-dropping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island, while self-guided audio tours (voiced by former inmates) reveal bleak tales of the prisoners doomed to confinement—and those who dared to attempt escape.
Pike Place Market: Seattle
The largest public market on the West Coast checks a lot of tourist boxes—see fish be hurled by workers in orange overalls, visit the irresistibly icky “gum wall,” and queue up for coffee at the original Starbucks. But the 9-acre Pike Place Market is also home to more than 500 independent retailers and is a stellar place to snag a locally made meal for less than $20.
The Magic Castle: Los Angeles
If you can snag an invite (a stay at the Magic Castle Hotel guarantees one), you’re in for a real treat. A former private residence turned members-only club in 1963, the goth-inspired Magic Castle delights and surprises with its secret entrance, “ghost-led” player piano, interactive phone booth, and byzantine hallways leading to rooms where world-renowned magicians will make your jaw drop.
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We don’t always like to admit to being a tourist, but after a day spent at one of these attractions, you’ll wear the term like a badge of honor.