Maine, also known as “Vacation Land,” is no stranger to tourists and “tourist traps,” but which “traps” are the worst?
Maine is one of the top resort states in the country, so Mainers are very familiar with tourism. They joke about tourists, but the truth is, they depend on them. The local economy depends on the tourist dollars, so sometimes they wish they’d go away, but they’re grateful they do come.
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
But before we dig deeper, we should first establish some basic knowledge: what exactly are “tourist traps”?
According to Merriam-Webster’s definition, a tourist trap is a place that attracts and exploits tourists. These spots often use glitz and hype to attract tourists, who may end up spending more money than they intended.
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Maine has many tourist attractions, both inland and along the coast, and we welcome those who come “from far away” and hope they spend some money while they’re here.
So how do we determine what is the “worst”?
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Cheapism, a publication dedicated to “saving money, time and sanity while retaining your sense of humor,” recently compiled a list warning people to “beware of these tourist traps in all 50 states.”
To do so, Cheapism combined the opinions of travel bloggers, industry experts and online reviews to identify tourist pitfalls in each state. Cheapism considered factors such as whether an attraction is overstated, colorful, quirky or mysterious, and whether visitors feel “a bit cheated” after visiting.
The definition of tourist rip-offs was left somewhat vague, recognizing that the attractions we’re talking about today may still be beloved by locals. Cheapism also acknowledged that some attractions that are considered tourist rip-offs are still popular and draw visitors from all over the country.
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
So, what are the worst “tourist scams” in Maine?
Cheapism’s pick for a “must watch” tourist store in Maine is Land’s End Gift Shop on Bailey Island.
Credit: Google Maps
Credit: Google Maps
Cheapism had this to say about Land’s End Gift Shop:
The totally touristy Land’s End gift shop sells everything from lobster pants to lobster key chains and bumper stickers. They also sell calendars depicting beautiful New England scenes, stuffed animals (including lobsters, of course), mugs, hats, and a variety of other gifts to help you remember Maine. Save your money for a real lobster.
Credit: Google Maps
Credit: Google Maps
That’s a bit cruel, isn’t it? What do you think about the tourist traps and traps that Cheapism chose to “watch out for” in Maine?
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