Texas ‘tourist traps’: Which ones aren’t worth the trip?
(NEXSTAR) — Everything’s bigger in Texas — including our tourist attractions. But are there any that just aren’t worth the hype? Let’s take a look at what some Texans say.
Business Insider previously named Amarillo’s The Big Texan restaurant as Texas’ most overrated attraction, with the outlet calling the food “extremely mediocre” and opining that the whole affair felt like an inauthentic cliché. Business Insider dislikes the attraction so much, it also named it one of the state’s worst tourist traps years earlier, even recommending tourists visit a booth at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for a better experience.
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Recently, the question, “What is the worst ‘tourist trap’ in all of Texas?” was posed in the Texas subreddit. Below are a few of the most popular/up-voted responses.
Downtown Aquarium
This downtown Houston attraction, located at 410 Bagby St., was among the highest-mentioned Texas attractions that many say isn’t worth the trip. Houston’s Downtown Aquarium features a variety of marine exhibits, rides and food — but some Texans say the 500,000-gallon aquatic location is all washed up.
“The ‘Aquarium’ in Houston is just a subpar restaurant with a big fish tank and some sad cats in captivity,” wrote one Reddit user. “It sucks. Visitors are surprised to learn that the real aquarium can be found in Galveston.”
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Another user felt just as strongly: “It’s both the worst restaurant in Houston and the worst aquarium in North America.”
Some Texans recommended a few alternative visits, including the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi (“beyond fantastic,” according to one Redditor) and the Dallas World Aquarium.
Magnolia Market/The Silos
Sorry, Chip and Joanna lovers.
HGTV power couple Chip and Joanna Gaines may have built their decor/lifestyle empire from the heart of Waco, but not everyone is a fan of the furniture store, food, shopping and wait times at Magnolia.
“I 100% do not understand standing in a line for two hours in Waco to eat overpriced chicken salad sandwiches,” one Redditor opined. “It’s all so incredibly dumb.“
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While many acknowledged that the Gaines’ presence and investment in the area has been great for local business, overall, those in the Texas subreddit find the attraction underwhelming for the time it takes.
“Driving to a rebranded Williams and Sonoma with an AstroTurf seating area to occupy the kids is just beyond me,” one Texan quipped, while another called it an “overpriced knick knack hall.”
Alternative Waco attractions recommended by Redditors include the Dr Pepper Museum, the Waco Mammoth National Monument, and the Mayborn Museum, Baylor University’s natural science museum.
6th Street
Austin’s most iconic party street is known in Texas and all over the world as a place to let loose if you’re a college student, a spring breaker or on a bachelor/bachelorette weekend. But for many Texans, the party on Sixth is very much over.
The often chaotic — and sometimes dangerous — area of Austin is typically packed with people walking across closed streets, with live music bumping from nearby. Over the past few years, locals have also likely noticed a heavy police presence in the area.
“It’s dirty, dangerous, overpriced and the music isn’t really that great,” said one Redditor.
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In a separate Reddit thread a few months ago, many Texans gave Sixth Street alternatives, including the East Austin area (and East Sixth Street) and the East Cesar Chavez area. Additionally, several bars on Webberville Road — including the poolside outdoor Kitty Cohen’s — were recommended.
The Big Texan
We’re not gonna beat up on this Amarillo restaurant too much, as it was already highlighted by Business Insider up above. However, the restaurant — home to the 72-Ounce Steak Challenge — was also among the tourist traps named as skippable by Redditors.
Despite its mention in the subreddit, there were some defenders, or at least some who enjoy elements of the staple.
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One user replied: “I think the whole charm of The Big Texan is delirium from driving… I’m sure there are tremendous food options in Amarillo, The Big Texan has the vibe that we’re looking for after eight hours on the road. And the food is…not the worst.”
“This is accurate!” agreed another poster. “A cold beer and OK food is a godsend and way better than the fast food we had eight hours prior.”
Alternatives offered for The Big Texan include Calico County Restaurant, which is also located in Amarillo and serves homestyle plates.
Buc-ee’s
There are a handful of things that many Texans can agree on — and Buc-ee’s, Texas’ beloved gas station chain, is usually one of them. Whether you’re looking for the company’s famed clean bathrooms or the plethora of treats ready to eat, there’s something for everyone at a Buc-ee’s stop.
But it turns out, not everyone is so hot on the beaver.
“I used to enjoy Buc-ees 10+ years ago before it got popularized on social media,” said one Redditor. “Now they stay insufferably crowded all day every day, I don’t even think about stopping at them anymore.”
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Another replier echoed the crowdedness of the road stops, even adding complaint about the behavior of the stores’ bustling crowds. The user quipped: “It always seems full of people that have never been to a shopping center before. Like the way traffic patterns work there are unlike any shopping mall or retail store I’ve ever been to.”
One highly up-voted alternative was Woody’s Smokehouse in Centerville. Other alternative stops include Prasek’s Family Smokehouse (which has one location off U.S. Highway 59 in El Campo and another off SW I-10 in Sealy) and Potter Country Store in Schulenberg.
The Alamo
Last but certainly not least, we remember The Alamo.
It may be one of Texas’ most recognizable and world-famous landmarks, but the San Antonio site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo — a losing battle for independence against Mexico — can fail to live up to expectations.
“The Alamo was certainly less impressive that I thought it would be,” one Redditor noted. “Kind of smallish and tucked into a downtown square with ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’ type s— right across the street.”
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Another Texan agreed, adding: “The other missions in San Antonio are way more impressive architecturally. They have museums and exhibits inside that reflect mission life, local Tejano/indigenous culture and artifacts, and [can be] free to visit.”
One suggestion for a historical tourism experience include the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which offers a tour of four local Spanish missions — Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, Mission San José and Mission Espada — in addition to Ranger-led educational programs. According to some Texas Redditors, the missions included in the national park are “a more ‘preserved historical’ type-experience” with less modern locations and more sprawling surroundings.
A few other famed Texas locations mentioned as being overrated: West Texas desert destination Marfa, Hill Country wine weekend hub Fredericksburg, and the Texas Renaissance Festival.
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