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United States of America Tourist Traps

Grumpy Joe's - United States of America
Grumpy Joe's
by Basaic
Tips and photos of United States of America tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and United States of America locals.
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United States of America Tourist TrapsTips 1 - 10 of 57  
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Stadium Cuisine
  • Tip Rating:
    • b1bob
  • Updated By b1bob on August 29, 2006
  • United States of America Page by b1bob
    • canteens at the Diamond: Richmond, VA - United States of America
    canteens at the Diamond:
    Richmond, VA
    by b1bob
    Sport stadiums and arenas often serve at least fair to middling cuisine at stadium restaurants and/or concession stands. The trouble is, vending contracts with the owners of the stadium or arena often allow them to charge confiscatory prices. For example, at Richmond's Diamond (where the minor league Richmond Braves play), a simple soft drink costs $3.50. Folks, that dog won't hunt. The drink had better be gold-plated for me to spend that much. If that isn't enough to curdle your nacho cheese, part of the agreement between the stadiums and the concessionaires prohibits folks from bringing large containers into the stadium so you can't smuggle in your own food. This captive audience phenomenon enables them to gouge the public. The last time I went to the Diamond, the drinking fountains were also disabled to hoodswankle folks to the concession stands.

    A little strategic preplanning (see below) should keep you from having to pay the confiscatory prices.

    There are a couple of ways you can get around this. First, eat a big meal at home before you go or at a restaurant near your local stadium or arena. Second, have a tailgate party in the parking lot a couple of hours before the sport event begins.

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    Self flushing toilets.
  • Tip Rating:
    • kiwi
  • By kiwi on November 14, 2003
  • United States of America Page by kiwi
    • 3 seconds. - United States of America
    3 seconds.
    by kiwi
    I'm not used to self flushing toilets and when I first encountered one, rising up from the seated position, I swung around to see who had flushed it for me!! I was scared out of my skin for a split second.

    Well I guess Americans get used to them and then have to be reminded that they are not always available, therefore need to flush their own toilet.
    I risked being thought very wierd when I began taking flash photos in the ladies loo at a public place!! I checked to see if you could read the words, on my digital, and had to have three goes before getting a successful pic. You can imagine the strange looks as I emerged from the cubicle to face the queue of onlookers in the Ladies!!

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    South of the Border
  • Tip Rating:
    • b1bob
  • Updated By b1bob on August 18, 2003
  • United States of America Page by b1bob
    • South of the Border - United States of America
    South of the Border
    by b1bob
    South of the Border is the quintessential American tourist trap. Located just south of the North Carolina-South Carolina line, this collection of gaudy restaurants, shops, and even 300 motel rooms, takes the "South of the Border" theme to the hilt. It is garish by my standards (my easy chair is orange) during the day, you should see it lit up at night. Furthermore, it is advertised by billboard as far away as Florida! The one thing I like about it is that its Mexican caricatures are unapologetically politically incorrect in an age where some folks mistakenly believe in a right never to be offended.

    address:
    3346 US Highway 301 & I-95
    Dillon, South Carolina 29536

    telephone:
    (843) 774-3544

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    The Red Dog Saloon in Juneau
  • Tip Rating:
    • Paul2001
  • By Paul2001 on July 16, 2003
  • United States of America Page by Paul2001
    • The Red Dog Saloon, Juneau, Alaska - United States of America
    The Red Dog Saloon,
    Juneau, Alaska
    by Paul2001
    The Red Dog Saloon is the first place that you see once you disembark from your cruiseboat(providing that is how you got to Juneau). It is set up to look like a historic bar with all kinds of old photos, posters and stuffed animal littered about the bar but alas do not be deceived. There is nothing historic about it. It is overcrowded with tourists who are simply here for half a day and will see no more of Juneau than its main street.

    If you are going to come here for a drink make sure that the tourist cruiseboats are out. Then it is quite.

    Unfortunately there are few respectable places where you like to go for a beer in Juneau. It's one flaw!

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    Meteor Crater
  • Tip Rating:
    • horsinround2
  • By horsinround2 on April 27, 2004
  • United States of America Page by horsinround2
    • The meteor crater off of I-40 is just a big hole in the ground. Nothing spectacular and not worth your money or the time you'll spend trekking up endless stairs to look down and determine that you're seeing a giant hole in the ground. Spend some extra time at the Grand Canyon instead.

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    Land of the unimaginable! Tourist trap #1
  • Tip Rating:
    • TropicGirl77
  • By TropicGirl77 on March 14, 2003
  • United States of America Page by TropicGirl77
    • 6-legged steer - United States of America
    6-legged steer
    by TropicGirl77
    Tourist Traps USA. Well, they abound! But now they wouldn't be here if there weren't so many of us gullible folks who let the better of their curiosity get them! This is the six-legged steer we followed signs to in Kansas.

    The fun behind falling for a tourist trap is being able to laugh and admit that you "fell for it!" Don't be bitter, but rather enjoy it as a unique experience.

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    More Signs Sometimes Means Beware
  • Tip Rating:
    • Basaic
  • By Basaic on August 3, 2007
  • United States of America Page by Basaic
    • Bowlin's - United States of America
    Bowlin's
    by Basaic
    It seems that here in the United States, at least along the highways, the more signs you see advertising souvenirs the more likely you are to get ripped off. Along I-10 in New Mexico you will find a couple of shops run by the Bowlin's people. If you want to get authentic Native American crafts try the reservations. Not Bowlin's.

    Feel free to stop and look; but you may want to buy elsewhere. The Bowlin's on the continental divide offers a free liter of water so try that one. At least you get some water.

    Buy your Native American crafts and souvenirs from a reputable place on or near a reservation.

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    Campgrounds in National Parks
  • Tip Rating:
    • DPando
  • Updated By DPando on December 4, 2007
  • United States of America Page by DPando
    • Yosemitee valley from 4 mile trail - United States of America
    Yosemitee valley from 4 mile
    trail
    by DPando
    I thought would be easy..get there and take a place for my tent and lets go ..but buffff such a deal !! I mean so so hard to get a place in a campground (Yellowstone, Yosemitee) almost unaffordable, acutally i couldnt and i slept inside my car (into the camping as illegal)... i guess the best option is make the reservation beforehand.. not many space, so many people and there arnt the usual staff as many other campgrounds (a reception stall) .. u have to pay in a wood box and take ur paper with the reservation.. so weird !! but u must do this at 7am or so early in the morning to avoid lanes ..and i was there 2nd and 4th week in september..!! i dont want to figure out how could be in July or August.. so take a look on the webpage and reserve there!!

    other weird thing that Rangers dont allow is overnight in the national park except in a lodges or campgrounds.. and i say what a load of bollocks.. its impossible to get a place in a camping and u neither can sleep in the national park.. so under their stupid point of view you have to go out and go in every day!!! so i didnt.. i didnt mind their rules.. and i slept in a car parks located in visitors centers like in Yellowstone or a small resort at the end of the valley in Yosemitee. Grand canyon was a liitle bit tricky to get a place because i watched so many rangers patrolling.. so i quit for a night but i didnt have any problems in Wyoming or California

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    Cars
  • Tip Rating:
    • DPando
  • Updated By DPando on November 20, 2007
  • United States of America Page by DPando
    • United States of America Tourist Traps
    by DPando
    Its not real or i dont think so that gas in US are cheaper than in Europe or other places.. the point is that a gallon is 3.8 litres and the normal cost in northern states or California are 3 bucks as average.. ok sounds good just reading that !! But the reality is that a normal car (not a 4wd) like i had (Hyundai sonata) with 16 valves and 2 exhausting pipes consumed so so much.. i couldnt drive fast for this reason.. so u can figure out that is not so cheap as we think abroad.. a 4WD or a RAM with more than 300 horse powers (usual) can consume so much even.. among 6-8KM/litre !! insane !!!

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    Tourist Shops in Sedona, Arizona
  • Tip Rating:
    • Basaic
  • By Basaic on July 27, 2007
  • United States of America Page by Basaic
    • Grumpy Joe's - United States of America
    Grumpy Joe's
    by Basaic
    Okay, I'm not sure if this should be in Tourist Trap or not; but there are numerous tourist shops along the main road in Sedona. There does not seem to be much difference in a lot of them except the people inside. I have no doubt the prices are higher in Sedona than you would pay for the same thing elsewhere. I don't know if the guy inside was named Joe but he did not seem that grumpy.

    Buy your Sedona specific souvenirs here and your general Arizona and Native American souvenirs elsewhere.

    It's fun to at least walk through the shops and look. The shop in the picture caught my eye.

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