The United States is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. Millions of tourists flock to the US each year to visit popular cities, parks, and attraction sites. In fact, prior to the COVID19 breakout and the ensuing lockdown in 2020, the US tourism industry contributed around USD 1.1 trillion to the US economy. Here, we bring you the most visited and popular states in America to make planning your next trip to the States after the pandemic ends a little easier.
California
California is known as the Golden State, as the discovery of gold in the state fueled much of the development and population growth in the region. Today, it is the third most populous state in the United States and is an important agricultural state, producing around 99% of several crops. In fact, it is also home to the avocado capital of the world, Fallbrook, where millions flock to celebrate the Avocado festival every year.
Almost half of the state’s land is federally owned and dedicated to the preservation of nature. Millions of tourists flock to the state to visit the parks, beaches, historical sites and national monuments. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Golden Gate Bridge, Death Valley (the hottest and driest place on Earth), Hollywood Bowl (the largest outdoor amphitheater in the world), the Hollywood sign, Disneyland, Yosemite National park, and more.
Florida
The Sunshine State has much to offer tourists, including vast beaches and parks. Visit South Beach, Art Deco, and Little Havana in Miami or get lost in a fairytale world in one of the many theme parks in Walt Disney World Resort. You can also visit Orlando Universal Studios or enjoy a relaxing vacation in Palm Beach, the famous resort town. Florida is littered with tourist attraction sites, recreational amenities, historical sites and beautiful, and scenic places for tourists to visit.
Nevada
Nevada is home to one of the most entertaining and popular cities in the world, Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and there is plenty to do in Vegas. Here, you will find some of the best clubs, as well as gambling and entertainment spots in the country. Other popular attraction sites include the Valley of Fire State Park, Hoover Dam, and Lake Tahoe.
Texas
Texas is the second largest and most populous state in the United States. The Lone Star State is truly diverse in every way, shape, and form. The state’s landscape ranges from deserts to beautiful coastlines to mountainous regions to lush forests. It is a quirky state, offering a little something for people of varying interests.
You can visit the Cadillac Ranch to view the sculptures of 10 Cadillacs, visit Lajitas Ghost town to get insight, but this one is topped with a cowboy hat to give it the Texas twist.
Other tourist attraction sites include the Alamo, Big Bend National Park, San Antonio River Walk, Palo Duro Canyon Park, and more.
New York
We are actually quite surprised to see New York come in as the fifth most visited and popular state in America, granted how well known its popular tourist attraction sites are. Thanks to the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S., not many people are unaware of central park.
Other sites to visit include Times Square, the Empire State building, the National Monument of the Statue of Liberty, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art.
Virginia
If scenic views are what you seek, then Virginia is the place to go. The state spread from Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains, offering visitors the best of both worlds. Whether you are a mountain person or a beach person, Virginia has you covered.
Popular tourist attraction sites include the Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah Valley, Busch Gardens, Luray Caverns and other historic landmarks including remains of several original colonies in the area.
South Carolina
South Carolina is the state of the parks, the beaches and the gardens. If you want a nice, peaceful vacation, consider visiting the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, the Congaree Gardens, Brookgreen Gardens, or the Joe Riley Waterfront Park. You can also visit one of the famous beaches, such as Skywheel Myrtle Beach.
Broadway at the Beach is another popular attraction offering an outdoor shopping and entertainment complex. History buffs, adventure seekers, vacationers looking for peace and relaxation can all find attraction sites to suit their varying interests in South Carolina.
Arizona
Arizona falls in at number 8 in our list of the most visited and popular states in America. It is home to one of the most well-known tourist attraction spots across the world, Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon Skywalk and Grand Canyon Village. Millions of visitors make their way to the state to visit this wonderful and awe-inspiring natural formation.
Other must visit sites include Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley, Desert Botanical Garden, Saguaro National Park, and Petrified Forest National Park. The state is littered with various historical sites and national monuments, all of which attract millions of tourists from around the world.
Georgia
Georgia is home to Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which provides visitors insight into the African American leader’s early life. However, that is not what Georgia is famous for. It is known as the peach state and is famous for being the top producer of Vidalia onions, peanuts, and pecans.
Visitors to Georgia enjoy a varied set of tourist attraction sites, including the World of Coca-Cola Park, the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain, Centennial Olympic Park, Piedmont Park, and Forsyth Park.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the only state in the United States to be located in the tropics. The island state is dubbed by many as heaven on earth because of the scenic views, crystal blue waters, and word class resorts scattered around the state. Other attraction sites, beside the beaches include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Diamond Head, which is a dormant volcano and an iconic landmark, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Waimea Canyon State Park, Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, among others.
Concluding Note
Here, you have the most visited and popular states in America. You may want to look into these most visited states if you are planning a trip to the States anytime soon and are looking for popular tourist spots. You also may want to stay away from Alaska, Wyoming, and Delaware as these are the three least visited states in America.
