SFT Project evaluated Google search data to identify the top popular tourist destinations in each state within the past year.
Overall, Americans were most interested in visiting national parks and outdoor settings surrounded by nature, with consumers in 30 states looking for these types of visits more than any other tourist location.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, swept aside the competition for the top destination most Americans desire to visit.
Residents from eight states—Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia—were most enthused about booking beach chairs along the Carolina coast.
Many Americans sought a unique aquatic adventure by driving to Niagara Falls in the Great White North to experience its majesty.
People from Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington, and Wisconsin were most drawn to the waterfalls.
The Grand Canyon was the third most searched tourist attraction, with residents from Idaho, Indiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and South Dakota expressing their interest in seeing the wide natural wonder.
Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon aren’t the only national parks that draw Americans.
In fact, national parks are the most popular destination among Americans, trailing only national landmarks, geographical attractions, and beaches.
Residents in seven states (Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Florida, and Massachusetts) sought thrills at amusement parks and attractions such as Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, and Silver Dollar City in Missouri.
Meanwhile, residents in New York, California, Michigan, and West Virginia were more likely to visit historic and cultural landmarks such as the Museum of Modern Art, Alcatraz Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Mount Rushmore.
For the ranking, thousands of city people were polled about the “food, culture, and nightlife scenes in their city and how their city makes them feel.”
The findings were combined with insights from 100 Time Out staff writers and editors located in cities throughout the world.
Time Out named New York as this year’s greatest city “for its quality of life for locals and its global appeal for visitors.”
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and American Museum of Natural History are among the city’s major attractions, according to the publication. It also houses the MoMA, the Guggenheim, and a number of other must-see galleries.