The United States boasts numerous famous tourist spots worldwide, with many local landmarks drawing millions of visitors each year. From the lively urban landscape of New York City to the glistening waters of the Bay Area, these locations are definitely worth exploring despite the high number of people you may encounter.
We have analyzed 5 of the most popular destinations in the US to determine which ones are a must-visit and which ones are simply tourist traps. Below is our ranking of the most-visited tourist attractions in the United States and whether or not they're truly worth a visit. Let's delve into it together!
So what are those top tourist destinations in the United States?
1. Central Park – Manhattan, New York
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Central Park in New York City holds the top spot on our list due to its peaceful atmosphere amidst the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. Despite a staggering 42 million annual visitors, it remains easy to find a tranquil spot to connect with nature. Spanning across 843 acres, Central Park offers ample space to explore, including beautiful green spaces, bike trails, vendors selling hot dogs, and historic buildings.
Sheep Meadow stands as one of the park's most popular attractions. Once a grazing area, it now serves as a gathering place for picnics, frisbee games, and other outdoor activities, particularly on sunny summer days. Another notable section is the Ramble, a 36-acre woodland landscape renowned for its winding paths and dense forestation. Those seeking exercise will find running around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, a 106-acre body of water that was once the largest man-made lake in the world when it debuted in 1862, an ideal choice. These are just a few of the remarkable features that make a visit to Central Park a must for anyone exploring New York City.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – North Carolina and Tennessee
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Situated on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the United States, attracting over 13 million visitors annually. The best part is, there is no entrance fee, making it accessible for everyone to discover and appreciate the fascinating natural history of this country.
One of the main highlights within the park is Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains, standing at an impressive height of 6,643 feet. It's advisable to wear sturdy hiking boots and start your journey early, as the path tends to get busy as the day progresses. The park is also renowned for its vibrant display of wildflowers during the warmer months, captivating visitors. In the autumn, it transforms into a paradise for leaf peepers, offering breathtaking scenic views. In addition, there is a rich human history within the park, with archaeologists unearthing artifacts, such as stone tools and ancient pottery, dating back as far as 10,000 years.
3. Las Vegas Strip – Las Vegas, Nevada
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The Las Vegas Strip is one of the most easily recognizable places in the entire country, attracting over 40 million visitors annually. This lively street is a hub for gambling, entertainment, and exquisite cuisine. It's famous for its vibrant lights and replicas of well-known landmarks, like the smaller-scale Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas hotel, the Sphinx replica at the Luxor, and the half-sized Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York hotel.
Speaking of accommodations, the Las Vegas Strip is home to more than half of the world's 20 largest hotels, providing a total of over 150,000 rooms for tourists. What sets Vegas apart is the incredible range of activities available. You can test your luck at blackjack or catch a thrilling Vegas Golden Knights hockey game. For the more adventurous, there is the option to ascend the Stratosphere Tower, which stands at an impressive height of 1,149 feet. From this magnificent observation tower, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and even partake in exhilarating thrill rides, such as the X-Scream roller coaster that extends 27 feet over the tower's edge.
4. Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California
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The Golden Gate Bridge and the adjacent Golden Gate Park are highly popular attractions in the United States. Each year, the bridge attracts more than 10 million visitors, while the park welcomes an astounding 24 million tourists. The bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in America, with its towering 746-foot-tall orange-painted towers. What's great is that there are numerous opportunities for tourists to capture their memorable visit with the bridge as a backdrop on both sides of the bay.
On the other hand, Golden Gate Park provides a completely different experience. It's the third most-visited park in the country and is renowned for its wide variety of plant life, boasting over 7,000 species spread across its grounds. The park also features notable attractions, such as the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden and the historic Conservatory of Flowers, which dates back to 1879. It would be difficult to find a more stunning location anywhere along the West Coast.
5. Magic Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
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Whether you have a love for Disney or not, it's difficult to deny the sheer magnificence of Orlando's Magic Kingdom theme park. Situated in the center of Walt Disney World, this park attracts over 17 million visitors annually, slightly surpassing the yearly numbers of Disneyland in California. As soon as you step foot in the park, you'll be in awe of the majestic Cinderella Castle, soaring 189 feet into the sky and hosting breathtaking fireworks displays.
Even if you're not well-versed in every Disney movie, you can still have a thrilling and delightful experience at the park. There are numerous iconic rides that are worth trying, like Space Mountain, where you'll zoom through a roller coaster in complete darkness, and the enchanting It's a Small World. And for the thrillseekers, the newest major attraction, TRON Lightcycle Run, is visually stunning and definitely worth a ride.
Upgrade your airport experience: save big with PNA's smart parking choices!
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Have you ever heard something about off-site parking? If not, we recommend you take a closer look at this part of the article, as this information will be handy for those who prefer to travel by air and get to the airport by their own car.
Most people suppose that parking at the airport is the fastest and most convenient option for them. However, it's not actually true. We'll explain to you why.
To be true, being in a terminal parking lot isn't convenient at all. Although on-site airport parking is the nearest place where you can leave your vehicle for the period of a trip, you can face the following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service.
Sounds not good, right? However, we found an excellent solution for you – in this case, off-site parking can become a savior for you. So if you're trying to find a parking spot with great service nearby the airport you're flying from and don't want to leave there the most significant part of your budget, pay attention to this option.
How does it work?
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Obviously, people who chose a car as a way to get to the airport want to leave their vehicle safely while traveling and not to face the problems we described above. So what can off-site airport parking offer its customers?
Although a few miles usually separate such parking from the airport, you shouldn't worry about this. Off-site parking provides free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport. Thanks to this, it removes any worries about getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport during peak times. So all you need to do is choose the best time for you and inform the parking lot staff.
How does it work? Actually, everything is straightforward: when you come to the entrance, the staff will remove your luggage from your car and load it onto the shuttle, which will take you and your bags to the terminal. Then, the vehicle will be parked securely.
In addition, this type of parking is much cheaper, and this is good news, as nobody wants to waste money. Therefore, off-site parking is the perfect option to receive excellent service and save money at the same time.
Want to find some great offers? You don't need to go somewhere – just find it right here!
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We're glad to inform you that you can find this solution right here. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers the best prices on airport car parking and bundles hotel and parking packages. Besides, we provide the services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Our platform allows you to reserve a parking spot through a few clicks within the application. As a result, customers receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking spot upon arrival at the off-airport lot. Besides, if plans change, you can cancel hassle-free and receive a refund.
To understand it better, we would like to give you an example. Let's imagine that you live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. If you're planning a trip to Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, you can use the services of cheap parking near YYC Airport. If you're coming from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, the situation is the same – you can choose affordable Charlotte Airport valet parking. So it just depends on the place you're flying from.
Also, ParkingNearAirports.io offers its customers special airport parking coupons. With the help of these coupons, you can make the price for parking even two times less. So don't forget to use them to save as much money as possible.
You can find all the necessary and helpful information connected with the off-site airport parking on our official website. Enjoy traveling!
