The state has perfected the delicate balance of natural beauty and artificial pricing.
Here, you can pay museum admission to see empty cliff faces and restaurant prices for cafeteria food.
It’s capitalism with a scenic backdrop and a healthy dose of buyer’s remorse.
1. Mercury Redstone Rocket Replica, Concord
This space exhibit in New Hampshire’s capital city sounds impressive on paper. It’s just a replica of the real thing.
The actual Mercury Redstone Rocket sits just an hour north in Warren. That’s the vessel that actually carried Americans into space for the first time.
Visitors often leave feeling disappointed after paying admission fees. One reviewer called it “dull, uninteresting, and a complete waste of money.”
Why It’s On This List: You’re paying to see a fake rocket when the real historic spacecraft is nearby.
2. Clark’s Trading Post, Lincoln
This roadside attraction has been around for decades with the same tired formula. The main draw is trained bear shows that many visitors find ethically questionable.
Other attractions include bumper boats, Segways, and a steam train. These activities feel outdated compared to modern entertainment options.
Locals who grew up with it might feel nostalgic. But first-time visitors often wonder what all the fuss was about.
Why It’s On This List: The attractions feel stuck in the past and the bear shows raise ethical concerns.
3. Story Land, Glen
This fairy tale theme park targets families with young children. The rides and attractions are designed for toddlers and preschoolers.
If you’re traveling without small kids, you’ll find very little to entertain you. The ticket prices can feel steep for what amounts to a glorified playground.
That’s why many adults end up feeling like they wasted their money. The park works great for its target audience but disappoints everyone else.
Why It’s On This List: Adults without young children will find nothing engaging and still pay full admission.
4. Old Man of the Mountain Memorial, Franconia Notch
New Hampshire’s famous rock formation collapsed in 2003. Yet tourists still flock to see where it used to be.
The state has built viewing areas and memorials to commemorate the lost landmark. You’re essentially paying to look at an empty cliff face.
Some visitors find the memorial touching. Others feel cheated when they realize the actual attraction no longer exists.
Why It’s On This List: The main attraction literally doesn’t exist anymore, yet people still pay to visit the site.
5. Santa’s Village, Jefferson
This Christmas-themed park operates year-round in the White Mountains. The concept works well during winter months when snow covers the ground.
But visiting in summer feels bizarre and out of place. Seeing Santa in 80-degree weather breaks the magic for most visitors.
The rides are basic and the food is overpriced. You’re better off visiting actual Christmas markets during the holiday season.
Why It’s On This List: Christmas themes feel forced and awkward during warm weather months.
6. Flume Gorge Gift Shop, Franconia Notch
The natural gorge itself is genuinely beautiful and worth seeing. But the attached gift shop pushes overpriced souvenirs on every visitor.
You can’t exit the attraction without walking through displays of expensive trinkets. The prices are inflated well beyond what you’d pay elsewhere.
Many visitors feel pressured to buy something after paying admission. That’s why smart travelers skip the shop entirely.
Why It’s On This List: Captive audience pricing means you’ll pay tourist trap rates for basic souvenirs.
7. Mount Washington Cog Railway Gift Shop, Mount Washington
The train ride up Mount Washington is genuinely spectacular. But the gift shop at the summit charges outrageous prices for basic items.
A simple t-shirt can cost $40 or more. Snacks and drinks are priced like you’re at a major airport.
The shop knows you’re trapped at the summit with limited options. You’re better off bringing your own supplies and skipping their overpriced merchandise.
Why It’s On This List: Captive customers face extreme markup on basic items with no alternative shopping options.
8. Weirs Beach Boardwalk, Laconia
This lakeside boardwalk tries to recreate the classic seaside experience. But Lake Winnipesaukee isn’t the ocean, and the atmosphere feels forced.
The arcade games are outdated and the food stands serve mediocre fare at high prices. The whole area feels like a pale imitation of real beach boardwalks.
Summer crowds can make the narrow walkways uncomfortably packed. That’s why many locals avoid the area during peak season.
Why It’s On This List: It’s an artificial attempt to recreate ocean boardwalk culture on a lake.
9. Castle in the Clouds Gift Shop, Moultonborough
The mansion and grounds offer beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee. But the gift shop pushes expensive items that you can find cheaper elsewhere.
The shop specializes in “luxury” items with inflated prices. A simple coffee mug might cost $25 when similar items sell for $5 at regular stores.
Visitors often feel obligated to buy something after touring the expensive mansion. You’re paying premium prices for average quality merchandise.
Why It’s On This List: High-end pricing on ordinary items takes advantage of the upscale mansion setting.
10. Strawbery Banke Museum Shop, Portsmouth
This living history museum does excellent work preserving colonial-era buildings. But the gift shop charges museum prices for items you can find at craft stores.
Handmade soaps might cost $15 each when similar products sell for $3 elsewhere. The “authentic” colonial items are often mass-produced imports.
The museum itself provides real educational value. You’re better off enjoying the exhibits and skipping the overpriced shop at the end.
Why It’s On This List: Museum markup means paying premium prices for common craft items labeled as “authentic.”
11. North Conway Outlet Shopping, North Conway
These outlet stores promise designer brands at discount prices. Many items are made specifically for outlets with lower quality materials.
The “savings” often aren’t real when you compare prices to regular retail stores. Traffic congestion makes shopping here a frustrating experience during peak seasons.
You’ll spend more time sitting in traffic than actually shopping. That’s why locals avoid the area during tourist season entirely.
Why It’s On This List: Fake discounts on outlet-specific merchandise combined with terrible traffic make it a poor value.
12. Kancamagus Highway Scenic Overlooks, White Mountains
The highway itself offers genuinely beautiful mountain views. But the designated overlooks are often crowded with tour buses and RVs.
Finding parking can take 30 minutes during fall foliage season. The best views are blocked by crowds of people taking selfies.
You’re better off finding your own scenic spots along the route. The official overlooks have become Instagram photo ops rather than peaceful nature experiences.
Why It’s On This List: Overcrowding and parking nightmares ruin what should be peaceful mountain viewing.
13. Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Area, Hampton
The concert venue itself hosts quality entertainment. But the surrounding area has become a tourist trap of overpriced restaurants and tacky souvenir shops.
Parking costs $20 or more for events. Food vendors charge $15 for basic hot dogs and $8 for bottled water.
The beach is free and beautiful. Everything around the casino ballroom exists to separate tourists from their money.
Why It’s On This List: Extreme price gouging on food, drinks, and parking takes advantage of concert crowds.
14. Ruggles Mine, Grafton
This mica mine lets visitors dig for minerals and gemstones. The concept sounds exciting but the reality disappoints most people.
You’ll spend hours digging in dirt for tiny flakes of mica worth pennies. The “rare” minerals are usually planted by staff to keep visitors interested.
Children might enjoy the treasure hunt aspect. Adults often leave feeling like they paid money to do manual labor.
Why It’s On This List: You’re paying admission fees to dig in dirt for worthless mineral fragments.
15. Polar Caves Park, Plymouth
These natural granite caves formed during the last ice age. But the park has turned them into a cheesy tourist attraction with artificial lighting and railings.
The caves themselves are interesting geological formations. The commercialization ruins the natural experience.
You’ll pay admission to walk through caves that should be free natural areas. The gift shop pushes expensive “cave crystals” that aren’t even from the site.
Why It’s On This List: Natural caves are commercialized with artificial additions and overpriced admission fees.
16. Mount Monadnock Summit House Site, Jaffrey
Mount Monadnock offers excellent hiking with panoramic views from the summit. But the old summit house foundation has become a disappointing destination.
The building burned down decades ago, leaving only concrete ruins. Hikers expect to find facilities or at least historical information at the top.
Instead, you’ll find crumbling foundations and no amenities after a challenging climb. That’s why many hikers feel cheated when they reach the summit.
Why It’s On This List: Hikers climb for hours expecting summit facilities but find only abandoned ruins.
17. Annalee Doll Museum, Meredith
This museum showcases collectible dolls that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The dolls have limited appeal to modern visitors.
Most exhibits feature felt mice and other creatures in seasonal outfits. The displays feel dated and the dolls aren’t particularly valuable anymore.
Admission prices seem high for what amounts to a company showroom. You’re better off visiting actual art museums with broader appeal.
Why It’s On This List: Niche collectibles from decades past have limited interest for most museum visitors.
18. Diana’s Baths Parking Area, North Conway
The waterfall hike itself is beautiful and worth doing. But the parking situation has become a nightmare that ruins the experience.
Cars line the road for miles during peak season. You might walk two miles just to reach the trailhead from your parking spot.
The town charges for parking but provides no shuttle service. That’s why this natural attraction has become more frustrating than enjoyable.
Why It’s On This List: Parking chaos and fees turn a peaceful nature hike into a stressful ordeal.
19. Bretton Woods Canopy Tour, Bretton Woods
This zip line course charges premium prices for a basic outdoor experience. The course is shorter than advertised and the views are limited by tree cover.
You’ll pay $100 or more for 90 minutes of activity. Similar zip line experiences in other states cost half the price and offer better scenery.
The safety briefing takes longer than the actual zip lining. You’re paying resort prices for an average adventure activity.
Why It’s On This List: Premium resort pricing for a basic zip line experience that doesn’t deliver on promises.
20. Lake Winnipesaukee Dinner Cruises, Various Locations
These boat tours promise romantic dining with lake views. But the food is typically reheated banquet fare served on paper plates.
The boats are often overcrowded with poor acoustics that make conversation difficult. You’ll pay restaurant prices for cafeteria-quality food.
The lake views are beautiful, but you can see them for free from shore. You’re better off eating at a waterfront restaurant and taking a regular boat tour separately.
Why It’s On This List: High prices for low-quality food combined with overcrowded boats ruin the romantic atmosphere.