1. Times Square, New York City
The world’s most visited tourist attraction, hosting over 39 million visitors annually. Approximately 300,000 people pass through Times Square daily. This Manhattan crossroads of commerce retains the top spot on our list, thanks to increased visitation to the Big Apple in 2008 despite the economic turndown. According to the Times Square Alliance, “80% of visitors to NYC make it a point to visit Times Square.” Times Square, the most bustling square of New York, is known for its many Broadway theatres, cinemas and super signs. It has all sorts of fun, exciting and informative tours to explore other parts of the city. You can Choose from walking, bike, bus, food, limo, TV, landmark, ethnic or water tours.
2. Las Vegas Strip
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." Last year, total visitors to Las Vegas numbered 37.5 million; a poll by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found that an average of 80% of visitors had either stayed overnight or gambled on the Strip, giving us our visitor estimate of 30 million.
Source: Forbes Traveler estimate based on figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C
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 network of free museums drew more than 25 million visits.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, The Trust for the National Mall, Pressroom of the Smithsonian Institution
4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
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 shopping-only malls (like Minnesota's Mall of America) from this list, Faneuil's historic significance vaults it to the status of cultural attraction.
Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
5. Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fl
The core of the WDW Resort, Magic Kingdom has just opened the first of the attractions in its new Fantasyland, which more than doubles the size of the “land” that caters to the youngest guests. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is designed to make you feel like you’re part of the Little Mermaid film. Use the FastPass service to minimize waits in the world’s most popular theme park. And don’t miss classic experiences like the Disney character parade down Main Street, USA, each afternoon and the fireworks that light up the sky many nights.
Source: Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM
6. Niagara Falls, NY
The Falls, which straddle the U.S.-Canada border, have been a tourist mecca since the mid-19th century. 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 Bridge Commission, visitors are approximated at 12 million a year.
Source: Niagara Falls Tourism (Visitor and Convention Bureau) and Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
7. Florida Keys
The coral archipelago in southeast United States, the Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain of tropical islands curving around the base of the Florida peninsula, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. They have become a popular destination looking for a tropical vacation without leaving their own country. The most spectacular bridge, the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, has been frequently used as a location for films including True Lies and Fast 2 Furious. US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” runs from Key Largo, Islamadora, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally to Key West, the most distant and most famous island.
8. Kilauea
Kilauea is a shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. It is a very low, flat shield volcano, vastly different in profile from the high, sharply sloping peaks of stratovolcanoes. The volcano became a tourist attraction from the 1840s onward and local businessmen such as Benjamin Pitman and George Lycurgus ran a series of hotels at the rim, the most famous of which is the Volcano House.
The world’s most visited tourist attraction, hosting over 39 million visitors annually. Approximately 300,000 people pass through Times Square daily. This Manhattan crossroads of commerce retains the top spot on our list, thanks to increased visitation to the Big Apple in 2008 despite the economic turndown. According to the Times Square Alliance, “80% of visitors to NYC make it a point to visit Times Square.” Times Square, the most bustling square of New York, is known for its many Broadway theatres, cinemas and super signs. It has all sorts of fun, exciting and informative tours to explore other parts of the city. You can Choose from walking, bike, bus, food, limo, TV, landmark, ethnic or water tours.
2. Las Vegas Strip
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." Last year, total visitors to Las Vegas numbered 37.5 million; a poll by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found that an average of 80% of visitors had either stayed overnight or gambled on the Strip, giving us our visitor estimate of 30 million.
Source: Forbes Traveler estimate based on figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C
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 network of free museums drew more than 25 million visits.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, The Trust for the National Mall, Pressroom of the Smithsonian Institution
4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
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 shopping-only malls (like Minnesota's Mall of America) from this list, Faneuil's historic significance vaults it to the status of cultural attraction.
Source: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
5. Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fl
The core of the WDW Resort, Magic Kingdom has just opened the first of the attractions in its new Fantasyland, which more than doubles the size of the “land” that caters to the youngest guests. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is designed to make you feel like you’re part of the Little Mermaid film. Use the FastPass service to minimize waits in the world’s most popular theme park. And don’t miss classic experiences like the Disney character parade down Main Street, USA, each afternoon and the fireworks that light up the sky many nights.
Source: Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM
The Falls, which straddle the U.S.-Canada border, have been a tourist mecca since the mid-19th century. 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 Bridge Commission, visitors are approximated at 12 million a year.
Source: Niagara Falls Tourism (Visitor and Convention Bureau) and Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
7. Florida Keys
The coral archipelago in southeast United States, the Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain of tropical islands curving around the base of the Florida peninsula, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. They have become a popular destination looking for a tropical vacation without leaving their own country. The most spectacular bridge, the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, has been frequently used as a location for films including True Lies and Fast 2 Furious. US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” runs from Key Largo, Islamadora, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally to Key West, the most distant and most famous island.
Kilauea is a shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. It is a very low, flat shield volcano, vastly different in profile from the high, sharply sloping peaks of stratovolcanoes. The volcano became a tourist attraction from the 1840s onward and local businessmen such as Benjamin Pitman and George Lycurgus ran a series of hotels at the rim, the most famous of which is the Volcano House.
The Most Popular Tourist Attractions In USA