Most visited US cities About This Page:

[Ashli]

Did it say how they decided on these cities? Because I, too, am very surprised that Washington DC is not listed.

[Huntermom]

I've done all but Atlanta and Chicago (although I have been to both airport-Chicago too many times to count.

I have thought of doing a weekend to Chicago but never get around to it. Never really thought about Atlanta.

I agree that Washington, DC should be on the list-one of favorite US cities.

[DopeyGirl]

1) Orlando ----- Is this where I say "Well, DUH!"
2) New York ---- Yes, twice!
3) Chicago ----- Yep, went to Navy boot camp nearby and visited once.
4) Anaheim/Orange County ----- Yes, MANY times!
5) Miami ----- No . . . closest I have gotten is Ft. Lauderdale
6) Las Vegas ----- Yes, once when I was 10
7) Atlanta ----- Yes, a few times as DH has family that live there
8) Houston ----- No
9) Philadelphia ----- Yes, we have friends there that we've visited a couple of times
10) San Diego ----- YES! I was born and grew up there.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Lemap760

Only Orlando, New York and Philadelphia. Philly is an easy one since it's only 30 minutes away. I'm surprised D.C. isn't on the list.

I was amazed not to see DC on the list as well. I thought it would be in the top five. It's a shame it's not in there.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by eff051102

I've visited all but Philly. I'm surprised Houston is on the list.

I thought DC would be on the list and not Houston....

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Ashli

I've been to all of them but Miami and Las Vegas. The Miami thing makes me chuckle (that I haven't been there) because I lived in Tampa for 13 yrs! I guess I never went southeast when I lived there. LOL As for Las Vegas, I've never had the slightest interest in going there, so I guess it'll be off my list for a while. Do I get bonus points for having lived in #10?

you get bonus points for that, but then you lose them for living in Tampa for 13 years and never making it to Miami!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Ashli

Did it say how they decided on these cities? Because I, too, am very surprised that Washington DC is not listed.

This is what the Forbes site says:

To compile our list of America's most-visited cities, we used 2009 statistics in the country’s top 20 markets, as defined by Smith Travel Research. A market is defined as a geographic area composed of a Metropolitan Statistical Area, a group of Metropolitan Statistical Areas or a group of counties. A market must contain a sufficient number of hotels to permit further subdivision into submarket and price segments. Cities were judged on the number of foreign arrivals as reported by the Department of Commerce; occupancy rates as determined by Smith Travel Research; and the U.S. Travel Association’s information on tourism’s economic impact. The list was then narrowed by the total number of 2009 visitors, as provided by the cities’ individual visitors and convention bureaus.

[shnewell]

Originally Posted by chezp

This is what the Forbes site says:

To compile our list of America's most-visited cities, we used 2009 statistics in the country’s top 20 markets, as defined by Smith Travel Research. A market is defined as a geographic area composed of a Metropolitan Statistical Area, a group of Metropolitan Statistical Areas or a group of counties. A market must contain a sufficient number of hotels to permit further subdivision into submarket and price segments. Cities were judged on the number of foreign arrivals as reported by the Department of Commerce; occupancy rates as determined by Smith Travel Research; and the U.S. Travel Association’s information on tourism’s economic impact. The list was then narrowed by the total number of 2009 visitors, as provided by the cities’ individual visitors and convention bureaus.

This helps explain Houston a little bit. We do a lot of convention business here, even though it's not on most people's list of places to vacation. With that said, it IS the 4th largest city in the nation, so surely there are some folks that want to come here?!?

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by chezp

you get bonus points for that, but then you lose them for living in Tampa for 13 years and never making it to Miami!

Ok I can live with that! I guess Orlando was too much of a temptation when I lived in Tampa for me to go anywhere else!

[Huntermom]

I have actually started to enjoy going to Houston to visit my son (although I do like Austin better). We always find a lot to do-especially the museums and zoo. For me the secret was to go when the weather is decent, which is usually when it is beyond frigid up here.

I also think it has a pretty good restaurant scene and I love the ethnic variations (am addicted to Vietnamese sandwiches).

I also wonder if Washington, DC isn't on the list because there are other cities nearby that share its tourism. We always fly into BWI and often stay a little out of the city.

[Starbright]

Considering I am from Canada, this can be abit . I wonder what cities in Canada are the most visited???

1) Orlando -yes
2) New York -no but would love to
3) Chicago-no but heard good things about it
4) Anaheim/Orange County -yes, twice
5) Miami -nope.
6) Las Vegas -Waaay back in the 70's if that counts. I don't want to go again though.
7) Atlanta-might in the future if we have a connecting flight. Kinda nervous about this city though,
8) Houston -nope
9) Philadelphia -have a friend there that I always e-mail if that counts. But not there physically
10) San Diego-twice

[shnewell]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

I have actually started to enjoy going to Houston to visit my son (although I do like Austin better). We always find a lot to do-especially the museums and zoo. For me the secret was to go when the weather is decent, which is usually when it is beyond frigid up here.

I also think it has a pretty good restaurant scene and I love the ethnic variations (am addicted to Vietnamese sandwiches).

I also wonder if Washington, DC isn't on the list because there are other cities nearby that share its tourism. We always fly into BWI and often stay a little out of the city.

Yes, despite being snubbed by the current season of Top Chef, we have a fantastic restaurant scene here. Houstonians eat out, on average, more than folks in any other major city and at one point, we had more restaurants per capita than New York!

[Shawnam1868]

1) Orlando - yes
2) New York -Drove through once when I was 12, flying to Las Vegas out of JFK next month though, so I plan on spending the day there before my flight.
3) Chicago -Nope
4) Anaheim/Orange County - Nope
5) Miami - One time
6) Las Vegas - 4 times, 5th next month
7) Atlanta - Nope
8) Houston - Nope
9) Philadelphia - Twice, but only the airport. I have no desire to ever go there again, due to having nothing but issues when I have a stopover there.
10) San Diego - No

I'm surprised to see DC and Boston aren't on the list. As a Bostonian, I am constantly amazed to see how many people vacation in Boston.

[Tigger71]

1) Orlando - yep but not often enough!
2) New York - not yet hopefully in 2013
3) Chicago - just a stopover
4) Anaheim/Orange County - yes- several times
5) Miami - close but not yet
6) Las Vegas - yes - 8 or 9 times
7) Atlanta - no
8) Houston - stopover only, would love to go back!
9) Philadelphia - no
10) San Diego - yes twice

[cubfancolleen]

Whoo who! I've been to all 10 (lived in Chi-town until I got married), and if you add DC, I live there now! But agree, that seems more of a destination than Houston. Especially in the spring when it seems that every high school class trip in the country has descended upon us!