It's not hard to find a common characteristic among Forbes Traveler's top 15 North American vacation spots: sun, sand and sea clearly dominate the leisure-destination favorites.From the sprawling, desert-oasis swimming pools of Las Vegas to the golden sands of Maui, warmth and water rank high on the list of features sought after by vacationers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
We gathered data on flights, hotels, vacation packages and customer preferences from six major travel organizations and agencies.
The Carlson Wagonlit travel agency network, and Cruise Lines International Association, Inc.) to present a snapshot of the hottest vacation hangouts during the past year.
While tropical climates comprise the lion's share of our list, not all preferred vacation paradises are perpetually sun-soaked. Some sites, such as the famous sands of Oahu's Waikiki Beach or the theme-park mecca Orlando, Florida, were warm-weather shoo-ins. But others—like the decidedly un-tropical metropolises of New York or Chicago—appealed to travelers with their urban charms.
The vacations division at Carlson Wagonlit Travel has seen a roughly 35 per cent increase in clients booking vacations to North American cities this year, said Gerard Bellino, the company's Vice President of U.S. Leisure. New York, San Francisco, and Orlando top Carlson Wagonlit's best-seller list for 2009—and all three ranked highly on the lists of the other agencies we polled.
"Orlando has historically been a popular family vacation destination," said Bellino. "However, the increased popularity of New York and San Francisco is likely because hotel pricing is more affordable this year, making these normally pricey destinations much more attractive and affordable for vacationers."
Other travel experts echoed Bellino's findings about budget-conscious trends in recent travel. "A driving vacation or a regional vacation is looking more attractive this year than last," said Genevieve Brown, senior editor at Travelocity, who added that "value-added promotions are more plentiful this year. We're seeing an abundance of deals."
Travelocity's findings lined up with top-sellers at other agencies we polled—Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles and New York City led the online travel agency's best-seller list. And Brown pointed out some of the top-selling vacation activities within those markets: Blue Man Group, the multimedia theatrical performance, was the top Travelocity seller for Las Vegas and Chicago, while Broadway shows were the most popular activity for vacationers in New York City, and Disneyland drew tourists visiting Los Angeles.
The top destinations at Travel-Ticker looking for inspirational or leisure-focused travel") also revealed a mix of urban and tropical destinations. Las Vegas, Chicago and New York led the online agency's list of best-sellers for the past 12 months, but balmier destinations were well-represented: Among Travel-Tickers most popular vacation packages were waterfront San Diego resorts, four-star Orlando resorts near Disneyland, Big Island (Hawaii) and Waikiki condos, and resorts in the Bahamas.
Overall, the Forbes Traveler list is distinctly ocean-colored, and the Caribbean was home to many vacationers' favorite stops. (We’re pushing the boundaries of “North America,” but we felt that much of the Caribbean belonged on the list because of north-of-the equator location and proximity to the U.S. and Mexico.) A 2008 Cruise Lines International Association survey found that the Caribbean/Eastern Mexico was the most popular cruise destination (43% of respondents listed it as the destination they were most likely to go to on their next cruise vacation).
The Caribbean and Eastern Mexico also figured prominently on several other agencies' top-seller lists. Cancun and the "Mayan Riviera," the stretch of coastline along the Caribbean side of the Yucatan Peninsula, made the top 15 on the Expedia.
Sunbathing and water sports, such as snorkeling and scuba diving in the spectacular Great Maya Reef, fill up travelers' itineraries in the resort-lined beaches along the coast of the Mexican state Quintana Roo. From golf to shopping to fine dining to cultural and historical riches, the vacation destinations on our list will appeal to a wide variety of travelers. Read the slideshow to see which destinations made the cut.


















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travelers. As a matter of fact ATLANTA has redone itself again. This city had managed to get hold on the national spotlight it the 1995 Summer Olympics as the host, it has transformed itself into a pedestrian-friendly metropolis in full party mode. This city is a place which fills itself with the stories of the past, the Civil War and the Civil rights movements. While on the other hand it’s a place that treats the youth with such tenderness. There are many attractions for them from which Georgia Aquarium, called the world's largest, that opened in late 2005 with a beginning of $200 million plus.
In the spring and summer evenings, enjoy the cafés and restaurants as they begin to spill into the streets and squares. Greece, and particularly Athens, is notorious for its boisterous and tireless nightlife. The Port of Piraeus comes to life as many vacationers head out for their island excursions from this historic cove. Athens is the perfect place to become immersed in Greek culture and life before taking a ferry ride to one of the surrounding tranquil, historic or party islands – the choice is yours. The port itself is also of particular historic interest. One of the oldest in the world, the port was heavily used during the Peloponnesian Wars in the 4th century BC and remnants of the long Themistoclean Walls, which fortified the port and Athens together during this time period, still survive today.
1. Walt Disney World – This vacation spot is no secret to anyone but it continues to be one of the most ideal vacation destinations for families. For young children it is the trip of a lifetime getting to see and meet all of the popular Disney characters. Young children will simply be in heaven the second they step foot in Disney World. It is also a popular vacation spot of older children because of the exciting rides. They may not be excited about seeing all the Disney characters, but you can be sure they will love all of the theme parks.
do on one small island it is a top choice for any family vacation. Children, young and old, will have the vacation of a lifetime while they play at Waikiki Beach. Old children can venture to the north shore to do some surfing, while the entire family can enjoy a tour of Pearl Harbor. Mix in an eco-tour and attending a luau and you have one amazing vacation the entire family will remember forever.
















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