Colorado is the new California, and Denver is the place to go. The city is packed with amazing things to do, places to eat, and sites to see. The Rockies frame the western edge at all times. Art lovers will adore the city. Not only is there an amazing art museum in Denver, but there’s also a mural on pretty much every building. A record 31.7 million visitors came to the Mile High City.
Nashville is known throughout the nation as Music City, and it lives up to its name. There are over 150 venues that play music for free, and the music scene is so competitive that you can guarantee that you’ll be hearing something quality. 14.5 million visitors heard some swanky toons, an increase of nearly 50% over the past 10 years.
In recent years, Portland has really grown. It’s one city that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds. There’s a coffee shop on every corner and a food cart on every corner. With over 65 craft breweries, it’s considered one of the best beer cities in the world. Crater Lake is a breathtaking view just outside the city, but if you get the chance, stroll around the streets like the 8.6 million other yearly visitors do.
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The island of Hawai'i (not the state) is the third most-visited of the chain's six islands open for tourist visits. Just under 2 million visitors came to the Big Island, as part of the state's 9.3 million overall visitors.
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Between 3 and 4 million visitors visit the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, many of those in search of spiritual experiences. Over the past decade, tourism here has increased three fold.
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Yellowstone is one of America’s favorite national parks, and for good reason. It’s great for anybody who wants to visit. For people who aren’t too outdoorsy, there are plenty of sites to see, like Old Faithful. For the wilderness experts, there are miles and miles of untouched wilderness. You won’t be alone out there, though. Over 4 million visitors come each year!
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You won’t run out of things to see in Yosemite. The forest is full of massive, green trees that would dominate the landscape if they weren’t nestled in between cliffs thousands of feet tall. There are thousands of miles to explore in this massive park. Over 5.5 million visitors come to the park every year.
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Oahu is the most visited island in the state of Hawai'i. Around 5.7 million visitors soaked up the sun here, accounting for the bulk of Hawai'i's 9.3 million visitors overall.
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Saint Augustine estimates that about 6 million people visit the area each year. As the first (yes, older than Jamestown) European settlement in the U.S., the city has LOTS of history.
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Around 6 million visitors come to this city of Southern charm every year. It has been consistently named the #1 place in America where people should vacation by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazine year after year.
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The Grand Canyon is probably on more postcards than any other landmark. It’s not so popular without reason, though. At over a mile deep at its lowest point, the canyon lives up to its name. It’s hundreds of miles long and definitely worth the road trip for its 6.25 million visitors each year.
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While it may only have a population of around 11,500 residents, the Ozark city of Branson draws a little over 7 million visitors a year according to the Branson Tourism center.
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13.6 million visitors came to the Palm Springs area while spending $5.5 billion annually. Coachella, anyone?
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The Savannah Chamber estimates that just under 14 million visitors came to explore the city, almost 6 million of whom were daytrippers. They contribute almost $3 billion to the local economy.
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Miami tourism numbers set records in the past couple of years. Just under 16 million visitors came to the city, and they spent around $30 billion. All of that growth did crowd the main airport, however. Traffic there was down 1% year-over-year.
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The lowest metro city in the nation has bourbon street, drive-through liquor stores, amazing Jambalaya and Cajun food. The French Quarter is one of the most stand-out places in the nation. The food here is amazing, and you won’t want to do much else than restaurant hop while you visit. Just under 18 million tourists make it to the Big Easy each year.
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Every year, 20.8 million people flock to our nation’s capital. The city has some great food and plenty of opportunities to learn from and honor the past. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, so big that you won’t be able to see it all. The Air and Space Museum is also one of the world’s most popular museums.
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This Gateway to the West city hosts an estimated 26 million visitors a year. Between the arch, the City Museum, and the famed zoo, there's lots to do.
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San Francisco holds two of America’s most iconic sights: The Golden Gate Bridge and the city’s steep heels adorned with cable cars. The Redwood forest is right next door, Alcatraz is on an island in the bar, and San Fran’s Chinatown is unparalleled in the states. A little over 26 million visitors came to San Francisco's side of the Bay Area.
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Boston was founded almost 400 years ago, and it’s built quite a lot of character in that time. That's why 27.7 million visitors come to Bean Town each year. If you’re a history buff, the Freedom Trail will take you along the city’s historic sites. The Boston Red Sox are sure to put on a good game in front of their home crowd.
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Visit San Antonio estimates around 31 million people visit the city every year. Six million of those visitors are there for business trips.
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People love to visit Hawaii. It’s the most picturesque vacation spot in the nation. Maui has a dormant volcano to explore, national parks galore, and beaches for miles and miles. Why do you think over 2.7 million tourists came to visit?
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San Diego is probably best-known for its beaches, as it should be. The city claims more than 70 miles of white, sandy shores that no one can pass up. In addition to having some of the best American beaches, it also has one of the best zoos in the nation. That's why its 35 million visitors last year was another all-time record.
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Just barely under 40 million visitors toured the city of Seattle, an eighth consecutive record-setting year.
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Tourism is in Las Vegas's DNA. That's why the city welcomed 43 million visitors, a record. Also a record, the amount of money those visitors spent while in the city—an estimated $35.5 billion.
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The sunny weather of LA keeps drawing record numbers of tourists. The LA Tourism & Convention Board estimated that over 48 million people visited the city setting another annual record.
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Chicago is the biggest cultural hub America has that isn’t sitting on a coast. The Midwestern city is full of breathtaking architecture, world-class museums, and Michelin-star restaurants. Live entertainment is huge, with everything from the Cubs, Bears, and Bulls to live music venues and comedy clubs. We could go on and on, but 55.3 million visitors can't be wrong!
It should come as no surprise that the Big Apple is one of America’s most popular destinations. It’s seen as a cultural icon around the world. High-end entertainment paves the way on Broadway. The Empire State building literally brought the world to new heights. There’s a park in the middle of the city. It welcomes 62.8 million visitors a year!
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People don’t really visit Orlando for the city, although it’s a great city. They visit it for the parks. Disney World is here with its plethora of parks, including Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Universal is across the street with its Magical World of Harry Potter. And don’t forget about SeaWorld! That's why it was the first U.S. city to ever pass the 70 million visitor threshold (72 million to be exact)!
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