Rob Baedeker
Ranking the most popular attractions
The Forbes Traveler 25 Most Visited U.S. Tourist Attractions list pits the spectacles of nature against the drama of the man-made. While our list includes the thundering falls of Niagara, it also features the harrowing water-chutes of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
Our research suggests that tourists appreciate renowned art collections and sunny beaches in equal measure. Each year, roughly the same number of visitors (about 4.5 million in 2006) explore the hallowed halls of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art as wile away their days off on the sands of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach...
Ranking the most popular attractions
The Forbes Traveler 25 Most Visited U.S. Tourist Attractions list pits the spectacles of nature against the drama of the man-made. While our list includes the thundering falls of Niagara, it also features the harrowing water-chutes of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
Our research suggests that tourists appreciate renowned art collections and sunny beaches in equal measure. Each year, roughly the same number of visitors (about 4.5 million in 2006) explore the hallowed halls of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art as wile away their days off on the sands of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach...
Rob Baedeker Ranking the most popular attractions The Forbes Traveler 25 Most Visited U.S. Tourist Attractions list pits the spectacles of nature again... more
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Created 06/07/08
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1
Times Square, New York City, N.Y.
35 million
This Manhattan crossroads of commerce topped Forbes Traveler's global tourist attraction list, so it's no surprise that it's number one here, too. A study cited by the Times Square Alliance estimates an average of more than 2,000 pedestrians traversing a block of 7th Avenue during a 15-minute weekday period. On New Year's Eve, more than one million revelers pack Times Square.
2
The Las Vegas Strip, Nev.
31 Million
The "Neon Trail" that comprises the heart of Sin City is also part of the federal government's National Scenic Byways Program, which designates roads based on "archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities." Hard to say which of these qualities best describes Vegas, but we can disqualify "natural." The NSBP's number for Strip cruisers is 31 million, about 80 percent of the city's total (39.2 million) visitors.
3
National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C.
24 million
Many of the nation's iconic public landmarks are found in the 1,000-plus acres of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, including the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Memorials, and the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans Memorials. The Smithsonian Institution's 19 museums are also adjacent to The Mall; last year the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History alone drew 7.1 million visitors.
4
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Mass.
20 Million
Built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, a wealthy Boston merchant, Faneuil Hall served as a commercial center of the city for centuries and a site for famous orations, like Samuel Adams' independence-rallying speech to colonists. Faneuil also includes the restored 19th-century Quincy Market. Today, shoppers account for a large share of visitors, and while we've excluded pure shopping malls (like Minnesota's Mall of America) from this list, Faneuil's historic significance vaults it to the status of cultural attraction.
5
Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
17.1 million
The most popular of Disney's Florida attractions saw a 2.5 percent increase in visitation compared with 2006, according to the TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report. The Magic Kingdom is the most popular of Disney's Florida attractions, followed by Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and we've used it as a watermark for traffic to Disney's "destination complex."
6
Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif.
14.9 million
With nearly 15 million visitors last year, the original Disney park (opened in 1955), had a record season according to the TEA/ERA. The new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and the Pirate's Lair (renovated after the "Pirates of the Caribbean" blockbuster films) were big hits with guests.
7
Fisherman's Wharf/Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Fran
14 million
The city by the Bay receives approximately 15.8 million visitors a year, and Fisherman's Wharf is its top visitor attraction. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes the famous orange bridge along with numerous other spaces throughout the Bay Area, draws 14.3 million visitors annually.
8
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
12 million
The Falls, which straddle the U.S.-Canadian border, have been a tourist mecca since the mid-19th century. Using the bridges that connect both sides, the thundering waters are visible from observation towers, by boat and from various hiking trails and, on the Canadian side, from the Whirlpool Aero Car, an antique cable car. With statistics from the Niagara Falls Tourism Bureau and Niagara Falls Brige Commission, visitors are approximated at 12 million a year.
9
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tenn./N.C.
9.4 million
America's most visited national park is neither the Grand Canyon (which comes in at number 20 on our list) nor Yosemite. With more than 800 miles of protected trails, this natural wonder hosted nearly 10 million hikers, birders and drivers last year.
10
Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.
8.6 million
Opened in 1916, this Chicago landmark on the shore of Lake Michigan has served as a campus and military training facility. Today it hosts 50 acres of shops, restaurants and exposition facilities. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Chicago Children's Museum are here, along with a full calendar of nighttime fireworks shows.
[source: https://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/most-visited-us-tourist-attractions-story.html ]
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