Google, where do Americans want to go?
Anna Spanish and her team analyzed Google search results to determine the most searched-for tourist attractions in each state over the past year.
Overall, Americans are most interested in visiting national parks and natural outdoor locations, with people in 30 states searching for these types of trips more than any other destination.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, won the race for the top spot as the place Americans most want to visit.
Residents of eight states — Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — were the most excited to reserve beach chairs along the Carolina coast.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, takes the top spot as the place Americans most want to visit. Getty Images
Seeking a different kind of water adventure, many Americans have considered driving to the border of the North American continent to see the beauty of Niagara Falls.
Those most fascinated by the falls were residents of Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington and Wisconsin.
The Grand Canyon continues to demonstrate Americans’ love for the great outdoors, becoming the third most searched-for tourist attraction, with residents of Idaho, Indiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and South Dakota most interested in exploring the vast natural wonder.
Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon are not the only national parks that fascinate Americans.
Many Americans have also considered driving north to the border to see the beauty of Niagara Falls.
In fact, visiting a national park is the top destination Americans consider booking, behind national historic sites, geographical attractions, and beaches.
Thrill-seeking residents of seven states (Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Florida and Massachusetts) searched for amusement parks and other entertainment attractions, including Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland and Silver Dollar City in Missouri.
Continuing America’s love affair with nature, the Grand Canyon was the third most searched-for tourist attraction. Getty Images
Meanwhile, people living in New York, California, Michigan and West Virginia were more interested in visiting historical and cultural attractions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Alcatraz Island, the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore, respectively.
New York City also won Time Out magazine’s recent ranking of the top 50 best cities in the world.
The list was compiled by surveying thousands of city dwellers about “their city’s food, culture, nightlife and overall impressions.”
The results were combined with insights from 100 of Time Out’s staff writers and editors based in cities around the world.
Time Out magazine named New York this year’s best city, citing “the quality of life for locals and its global appeal for visitors.”
The publication cited the city’s cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the American Museum of Natural History, as major attractions, along with the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and numerous other must-see galleries.
