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The more research you put into planning your vacation itinerary, the more you’ll get from your trip. Plus, you’ll manage to dodge some places that just aren’t worth visiting despite them being in every guide book you’ve read.
That’s because sometimes the most-hyped places are more about the publicity machine behind them, and successful marketing just means you’ll be lost among an uncomfortable crowd. Delving into reviews can help somewhat, but analyzing the reviews can help even more. That’s why HawaiianIslands.com conducted a study to show some attractions are just a lot more fun for folks who don’t live in the area.
For example, while the over two million annual visitors to Mount Rushmore rate the monument 4.60/5 stars on average, locals give an average rating of 4.17/5 – the largest differential of any major U.S. attraction.
To determine the U.S. attractions that tourists and locals disagree on the most, we ranked attractions by the difference in the average TripAdvisor rating among in-state locals and out-of-state tourists.
The team aggregated the average ratings of every attraction across reviews from local users whose locations are within the state of the attraction in question, as well as tourist users whose location is outside the state of the attraction in question. Only attractions with over 980 out-of-state tourist reviews and 20 in-state local reviews that were included in TripAdvisor’s list of the 20 most popular “Things to do” in a given state were considered in our analysis.
The data was collected in April 2022.
The Top Attraction in Every U.S. state According to Tourists
The wide range of attractions rated highest by travelers in every U.S. state highlight the rich diversity of America’s cultural offerings. In 16 states, the highest-rated attraction is a museum. Other popular attraction types include historic sites, parks, and zoos. Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, home to the Green Bay Packers, is the only stadium to rank as the most beloved tourist destination in a state.
The Top 10 Attractions in the United States According to Tourists
The ten attractions rated highest on TripAdvisor by tourists stretch from Maine to Hawaii and vary in type of activity. The most beloved attraction – the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, with an average rating of 4.94/5 stars – is one of three military sites in the top 10. Art museums, natural sites, a church, and an island are also placed in the top 10.
The Top Attraction in Every U.S. States According to Locals
The attractions rated most highly by locals in every state include historical sites, art museums, nature parks, military memorials, cathedrals, zoos, and more. With an average rating by locals of 4.81/5 stars, the Maker’s Mark plant in Loretto, Kentucky, stands out as the only distillery to rank as the attraction most loved by locals within a state.
The Top 10 Attractions in the United States According to Locals
Over two million people visit Bryce Canyon annually, including locals and tourists. Locals may purchase an annual park pass for $70, just twice the one-time entry cost. Locals rate Bryce Canyon 4.96/5 stars on average on TripAdvisor, the most of any U.S. attraction. Other major attractions loved by locals include military memorials, other nature parks, and a lighthouse.
The Attraction in Every U.S. State That Tourists and Locals Disagree on the Most
While visitors to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha rate the attraction 4.50/5 stars on TripAdvisor, citing the scenic views and lovely walks it facilitates, locals rate it just 4.12/5 – decrying the “bridge to nowhere” as a waste of taxpayer money. Just as locals and visitors in Nebraska disagree about the Bob Kerrey Bridge, every state is home to at least one attraction that divides locals and tourists.
The U.S. Attractions That Tourists and Locals Disagree on the Most
While the over two million annual visitors to Mount Rushmore rate the monument 4.60/5 stars on average, locals give an average rating of 4.17/5 – the largest differential of any major U.S. attraction. On the other hand, LA locals rate Venice Beach an average of 3.95/5 stars, far more than the 3.63/5 star average among tourists – the most significant differential of any U.S. attraction favored by locals.
