This Is the Most Disappointing Tourist Attraction in the U.S., According to a New Study
What was once an incredible US landmark is now an underwhelming waste of time.
It’s a tale as old as time: What was once an incredible US landmark is now an underwhelming waste of time. Well, that’s at least the sentiment of many Tripadvisor and Google reviewers when it comes to the historical Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida—a NASA field center that still operates as a major hub of American spaceflight launches and research, as well as an expansive visitor complex packed with space-related amusements.
According to a new study conducted by Jeffbet, Kennedy Space Center is the most disappointing tourist attraction in the country. This less-than-favorable ranking was determined by looking through which of the US’s most popular tourist traps garnered the highest percentage of one–three stars via Tripadvisor and Google reviews. Specifically, the survey paid attention to low-star reviews that referenced disappointment, bad experience, and unenjoyable.
It wasn’t hard to find such reviews ourselves. On Google, one-star ratings included blistering critiques like “waste of time and money,” “unprofessional and unfriendly staff,” “terribly underwhelming exhibits,” and “overall a dull experience.” Most of the comments also mention the high admission price—$75 per adult, $65 per child.
On the other hand, the Kennedy Space Center subReddit is full of fans praising the destination. From “it’s an amazing place to see” to “it’s closer to a museum/science center than a thrill park. The rockets and spacecrafts are stunning to see up close.” They also suggest trying to sign up for the Chat With An Astronaut meet-and-greets, where visitors can talk and take a photo with NASA astronauts. And, of course, TikTok has your back when it comes to helpful tips to optimize your trip.
Essentially (and in the least helpful fashion possible), our takeaway is that the Kennedy Space Center could be underwhelming to some and fascinating to others. If you do plan on visiting, we suggest arriving early, on a weekday, and after summer ends, when schools are back in session.