In every US state, a handful of attractions get a whole lot of hype – but do they always measure up to the fanfare? Not according to vacation rental company Hawaiian Islands. They studied more than 17,000 Tripadvisor reviews, analyzing how often the terms 'overrated' sprang up in attraction write-ups.
We've gathered together the most disappointing attractions across the country. Click through the gallery to discover the most overrated one in your state...
As its name suggests, this child-friendly attraction is centered on go-karting tracks, while it also pulls in families with its mini-golf course, bumper cars, and 110-foot Skycoaster.
However, some visitors think the park should kick things up a gear. Tripadvisor reviews complain that the attraction is overpriced and the service lackluster.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Inside Passage – a 500-mile waterway known for its glaciers and fjords – comes out as Alaska’s most overrated attraction. It’s a popular route for cruise ships, which make stops at destinations ranging from wild state capital Juneau to the sprawling, bear-filled Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
However, though Alaska’s natural bounty wows visitors, many complain of overpriced excursions and inattentive staff on several of the cruise ships.
Visitors flock to the Grand Canyon West area to brave the Skywalk, a soaring platform that rises over the red rocks and the Colorado River at 4,000 feet. It’s an impressive sight, but not all visitors say the attraction reaches the dizzy heights they expected.
Tripadvisor reviews complain that the site is overcrowded and that the views aren’t as spectacular as they’d hoped. They also claim that personal photos are not allowed.
This heritage railway should be a train-lover’s dream. You can pore over exhibits about steam locomotives or take a trip on the rails yourself – the Excursion Train rattles along a forested route with narration from a conductor, while the Lunch and Dinner Trains offer meals such as beef stroganoff and chicken primavera pasta.
However, Tripadvisor reviewers complain of dull views and mediocre food.
You’ll find Opus One Winery in Napa Valley, California’s most celebrated wine region. It’s known for its Bordeaux-style reds, with blends of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, cabernet franc, and malbec, and the pared-back estate buildings blend seamlessly into the vine-striped surrounds.
However, not all visitors are impressed – some reviews complain of frosty staff and dub the wine ‘mediocre.’
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A stone’s throw from Colorado state capital Denver, this cheerful resort has a geothermal swimming pool and a series of private baths, including some in a scenic cave. Visitors can also enjoy the day spa and overnight in rustic rooms and suites.
But the site doesn’t necessarily come recommended by Tripadvisor reviewers: some visitors describe the place as a little run-down, with outdated facilities.
This cheerful New England amusement park draws in visitors with its kid-friendly rides, thrilling roller coasters, and twirling water slides. There’s also a free summer concert series and a popular campground a stone’s throw from the site. However, a slew of negative reviews complain of long lines and overpriced amenities.
The Winterthur Museum is the estate of horticulturalist Henry Francis du Pont and the site holds an impressive store of artifacts collected by the late proprietor, including vintage cars. Some 90,000 decorative objects are on display, from evocative still-life paintings to ornate vases, while manicured gardens sprawl for 60 acres.
However, the treasure-filled site still came out as Delaware’s most overrated attraction. Some visitors were underwhelmed by the site’s historic home tour, while others suggest the attraction could be more organized.
The Sunshine State is probably the last place you’d expect to find a snow park – but Snowcat Ridge in Dade City (pictured) is exactly that. You’ll find giant snow tubing slopes, a cute Alpine-style village, and an 'Arctic Igloo' that houses a snowy play area.
Unfortunately, the reviews often fall short – surprisingly some complain that there’s not enough snow, while others say they don’t believe the place is good value for money.
You’ll find many treasure-filled house museums along the charming, oak-lined streets of Savannah and among them is this one, which was built for Hugh Weedon Mercer, a former US army officer and Confederate general.
Finished in 1868, the architecture is a blend of the Renaissance Revival style and Greek and Italianate influences, and the interiors are filled with chandeliers, period paintings, and ceramics. It was also made famous by the acclaimed John Berendt novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Yet, sadly, many Tripadvisor reviewers say they felt rushed on the tour.
Molokini is a volcanic, half-moon-shaped crater that’s seen from above in this striking shot. Located just off the coast of Maui, it's a popular spot for snorkeling and diving, with colorful marine life ranging from reef triggerfish to white-spotted puffer frolicking in the crystal-clear waters.
But it comes out as Hawaii's most overrated attraction – on Tripadvisor, travelers complain of overcrowding and seeing less sealife than they expected.
It's well worth visiting Yellowstone National Park to try to see Idaho's most majestic residents in the wild – but some travelers opt to visit them at Yellowstone Bear World, a drive-thru wildlife park about 90 minutes southwest of Yellowstone.
Sadly, some visitors complain of below-par animal welfare standards and overcrowding. Best stick to viewing animals in their natural habitats.
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center bills itself as the 'ultimate indoor LEGO playground,' with attractions including atmospheric dark rides, a virtual reality experience, a pirate-themed playground, and a 4D cinema. However, not all Tripadvisor users agree. Visitors complain of overpriced tickets and regular ride closures.
This family-focused amusement park in Indiana's northwest has all the usual trappings: dizzying roller coasters and thrill rides, twisting slides and a splash pad, plus plenty of cheerful shopping and dining options.
Yet the park has more 'terrible' ratings on Tripadvisor than it does 'excellent': guests regularly complain about poor customer service and closed rides.
It's Harrah's Hotel and Casino that gets bottom marks from visitors to Iowa. The main complaints are outdated rooms and casino areas, bad service, and restaurants that close too early.
The casino is located in Council Bluffs (pictured), whose other attractions include the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and flower-filled Bayliss Park.
Rhinos, giraffes, penguins, and a whole host of reptilian critters call this Wichita zoo home. However, not all visitors are impressed, with the 'pricey' entry fee and the concession stands garnering the most complaints. Best head to one of the 28 state parks to see native wildlife instead.
Visitors to this northern Kentucky attraction will find marine residents ranging from sharks to stingrays, plus a shipwreck home to eels and other rainbow-colored fish.
The reviews are often less than complimentary, though, with visitors lamenting 'outdated' displays, 'cramped' exhibit rooms, and an unworthy price tag.
This dinky museum in the Big Easy is dedicated to voodoo, with a tiny tangle of rooms filled with dolls, ceremonial masks, and artworks, plus information panels explaining the history and culture of the religion. Unfortunately, though, many visitors using Tripadvisor were disappointed with the museum's limited size.
It's a surprising choice for Maine's most overrated attraction: the quaint Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, occupying a craggy perch in breathtaking Acadia National Park.
The site is no stranger to lists of America's most eye-catching views, but many visitors say that the rocky path to the beacon could be dangerous, and state that parking is an issue due to overcrowding.
The steam and diesel locomotives on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad cut a bucolic path from the quaint city of Cumberland up to the mountain bolt hole of Frostburg, in the far northwest of the state.
Passengers can even opt for special journeys such as 'Moonlight on the Mountain,' which catches the sunset and includes live music. However, some passengers say the food and views are not worth the price tag.
It may be simple, but this boulder has great significance – it is widely thought to be the spot where early pilgrims disembarked the Mayflower ship in 1620. It's now part of the Pilgrim Memorial State Park and protected by a graceful portico.
Nevertheless, not all visitors are impressed. Many travelers say they found the rock underwhelming, particularly since there's no concrete historical evidence that this was the Mayflower's arrival site.
Another casino makes the list of America's most overrated attractions. This time it's the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, which sits right in the middle of Michigan's mitten. Tripadvisor includes complaints about service, food, and the cleanliness of the venue.
The Walker Art Center is often billed among Minneapolis' top attractions, but according to Tripadvisor users, the museum – which includes striking contemporary art displays and a sprawling landscaped sculpture garden – is overrated. Some visitors complained about a confusing layout, while others begrudged the $18 entrance fee.
It's another vote for a Harrah's Casino when it comes to Mississippi's most overrated attraction. Visitors can expect traditional table games such as blackjack and roulette, plus slot machines, shows, and classic all-American dining. But some reviewers say the rooms are lackluster and the service poor.
Several scenic railways made the list of America's most overrated attractions – and the Branson Scenic Railway doesn't manage to buck the trend. The brightly painted trains chug through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, winding through tunnels and vaulting over waterways.
Most negative Tripadvisor reviews revolve around the forest views, which users say are less spectacular than they had hoped.
Bozeman's Montana Grizzly Encounter – just an hour away from Yellowstone National Park – exists to rescue and rehabilitate bears who have been held in captivity and also educate the public about these majestic mammals.
However, Tripadvisor reviewers raise concerns about the bear enclosures, and some also complain of seeing fewer bears than they'd have liked to.
Nebraska's most overrated attraction is in its biggest city, Omaha, itself an underrated urban hub with top-notch museums and restaurants aplenty. However, the city's zoo – home to species including orangutans and elephants – isn't a hit with visitors. Reviewers say enclosures are poorly designed for viewing and that dining options are limited.
This overrated Sin City experience has actually closed since the release of this data – which suggests its placement was spot on. Previously, visitors could immerse themselves in the world of crime drama CSI by solving their own murder mysteries in makeshift crime scenes. However, guests say the quests are too easy and the price tag too high. Make for the iconic Vegas Strip (pictured) instead.
Though this eye-popping fall snap might make it hard to believe, the Conway Scenic Railroad came out as New Hampshire's most overrated attraction.
Trains rattle through the countryside of Mount Washington Valley and Crawford Notch, with special excursions including a fall jaunt to a pumpkin patch and a retro trip on a train with 1950s streamlined passenger cars. Yet visitors say that dense forest obscures what might otherwise be spectacular views.
Another gambling venue that falls short on Tripadvisor, Ocean Resort Casino is located in Atlantic City, the East Coast's answer to Las Vegas. The boardwalk strip is lined with restaurants and casinos, but visitors have a few complaints about this one.
Despite the casino's stellar oceanside location, some travelers say that service is lacking and that the property could do with a few updates.
Many painters were inspired by the beautiful city of Santa Fe, with its mountain backdrop and centuries-old missions – but most famous of all was Georgia O'Keeffe. There's a museum dedicated to her work in the city, and it's usually hailed as one of New Mexico's top tourist attractions.
However, it failed to impress the travelers showcased in this data. Negative Tripadvisor reviews say that the collection is smaller than expected and the gallery space too crowded.
Many maintain that this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building in New York City's Upper East Side is dazzling both inside and out. There's the striking white façade and, inside, a magnificent skylight as well as eclectic art exhibitions. However, some Tripadvisor users disagree, saying that, while the building is a head turner, the collection is not.
Tourist-facing railways don't fare well on this list, and the data bills the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad as the most overrated spot in North Carolina. Trains beat through the fabled Smokies, hugging the Tennessee and Nantahala rivers. However, some passengers complain about the quality of the food onboard and the price tag.
The data for North Dakota was inconclusive, according to the study – but we'd recommend skipping Bismarck's Dakota Zoo (resident tiger pictured) in favor of the Roughrider State's wild plains. Black bear, bison, elk, moose, and gray wolves all roam in North Dakota's rugged backyard.
This scenic railway is usually dubbed a top way to experience the bucolic Cuyahoga Valley, and The National Park Scenic Excursion is a favored outing: you'll sweep through the park in the vintage rail car drinking in forested views. Yet Tripadvisor reviewers say they wish there was narration onboard and that they tired of the woodland vistas.
Oklahoma's second city is rarely on the tourist circuit – but if you do manage to visit, Tripadvisor reviewers say you should avoid the River Spirit Casino Resort.
It's got all the usual table games and slot machines, plus poker – but guests advise that there are better casinos in the area, complaining of poor service.
The Mount Hood Railroad offers excursions through the city's stunning surrounds, with epic views of Mount Hood, orchards, and vineyards. Yet not all passengers are impressed. There is not a huge store of Tripadvisor reviews, but some say the journey is not worth the money.
On a sunny day, Pennsylvania's Idlewild and Soak Zone might seem like the ideal place to take the kids. It dubs itself 'Pittsburgh's best amusement park' and is complete with fun slides and wave pools, plus soft rides geared towards little ones and fast coasters for the bigger kids.
But not all reviews sing the park's praises – several say the site is in need of maintenance, while others claim it's not worth the price tag.
Newport is well-known for its glittering Gilded Age mansions, featuring rooms thick with chandeliers and grand staircases, and grounds dotted with fountains and topiary.
But not all Tripadvisor users are bowled over by the beauty of Rosecliff – various reviewers comment that the mansion is underwhelming and that there is less to see here than in other Newport homes.
Ripley's has attractions the world over, but Tripadvisor reviewers are largely unimpressed with the offering in Myrtle Beach. The coastal city is home to an outpost of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, a whimsical and family-friendly museum that focuses on curios and oddities.
However, a good slew of reviews say that the exhibitions failed to wow them and that the attraction is overpriced.
When it's eventually finished, this mammoth statue in the Black Hills will be the largest mountain carving in the world (and it's currently the biggest in progress). It depicts Lakota war hero Crazy Horse, and has been under construction since 1948, when the first blast on the mountain occurred.
However, some visitors say the gargantuan effigy is not worth the trip, lamenting the entrance fee and the fact that the monument still isn't completed.
Antique Archaeology is the brainchild of Mike Wolfe, a celebrity known from TV show American Pickers, in which Wolfe and co-star Frank Fritz go in search of all-American antiques and collectibles. The Nashville shop hawks all kinds of vintage pieces and American curios from inside the city's old Marathon car factory.
However, many Tripadvisor reviewers were underwhelmed. Customers say the shop is small with fewer genuine antiques than they expected.
It's another blow for the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, this time in the Grapevine Mills mall, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
The indoor playground has meet and greets with LEGO characters, a behind-the-scenes experience at the LEGO factory, and a series of themed, kid-friendly rides and amusements. However, a string of Tripadvisor reviews say it's not worth the money.
Southern Utah's Zion National Park has some of the country's most spectacular hiking trails, but Tripadvisor reviews say this one left them wanting.
A choice of routes lead through red rocks to a string of waterfalls and bright turquoise pools – however, hikers say that they don't pack as much of a punch as Zion's other dizzying treks.
You'll find this science and nature museum in Vermont's biggest city, Burlington. Displays are dedicated to everything from sprawling Lake Champlain to Indigenous peoples and their connections to the landscape.
There are also live animal exhibits. However, some reviews state that the venue is dated and that the admission fee is too high for the size of the place.
Williamsburg Pottery has a long history, having been established back in 1938 – and the retail outlet remains a one-stop shop for home goods, garden bits, and local gourmet eats.
Customers snap up Virginia wine and beer, plants, and patio furniture, as well as candles and lamps, but not everyone is impressed. The outlet has more 'terrible' reviews than all other categories, with punters saying that prices are too high.
The name of this park is fitting given its ranking in the data. Cape Disappointment State Park – whose name is actually a reference to Captain John Meares' failed voyage to the Columbia River – comes out as Washington's most overrated place. The park greets visitors with a historic lighthouse, trails through old-growth woodland, and views over the ocean.
In West Virginia we see yet another casino falling short. You'll find the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, a horse-racing facility in West Virginia's far east. Tripadvisor reviewers complain about the drink prices and a smoky atmosphere.
If you're in the Wisconsin Dells area, Tripadvisor reviewers suggest you needn't bother visiting Mt Olympus Water and Theme Park Resort.
There's an indoor and outdoor waterpark, with towering slides and a lazy river, plus roller coasters and a go-kart track at the outdoor theme park. However, visitors complain of high prices and overcrowding.
Old Faithful is one of Yellowstone National Park's most talked-about sights – the impressive geyser spurts water more than 100 feet into the air at regular intervals around 20 times per day. Yet many Tripadvisor visitors complain about the crowds and say the natural spectacle is overrated.