PRNewswire
NEEDHAM, Mass.
(NASDAQ:EXPE)
NEEDHAM, Mass., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel community, today announced the top 10 attractions in the U.S. according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors.
1. Magical Mecca: Orlando, Florida
Orlando combines such an incredible wealth of great attractions that the
entire city made number one on our list. Between Universal Studios, Sea
World, Discovery Cove and the home of a particularly famous mouse, Orlando
is the Mecca of attractions. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "Orlando is
the best vacation destination for anyone. There is no place like it and it
is so magical!"
2. Circus Atmosphere: Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, Nevada
A contemporary and hip circus, sans animals, Cirque du Soleil combines
highly skilled contortionists, acrobats and trapeze artists to create a
one-of-a-kind experience. Hailed by some as the modern circus, new shows
are frequently added on the Strip, bringing the crowds back for more. As
one TripAdvisor traveler said, "Cirque has its share of bizarre costumes,
worldly music and fantastic and daring acts of contortion."
3. Hawaii 6-0: Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
A 60-mile stretch connecting Hana to Maui, Hana Highway stuns with its
spectacular views and natural adornments, including magnificent
waterfalls, beaches and the "Seven Sacred Pools" - just make sure to keep
your eyes on the road. One TripAdvisor traveler commented, "We went with
an open mind and were blown away by the scenery. It is truly paradise."
4. Grand Plans: Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
One of the "Seven Natural Wonders of the World," the Grand Canyon is
perhaps the most famous hiking destination in the U.S., with outstanding
hiking trails to the base of the canyon. Theodore Roosevelt summed it up,
declaring the Grand Canyon the "one site every American should see." One
TripAdvisor traveler said, "The Grand Canyon has to be seen to be
believed. No explanation, pictures or video can possibly do it justice."
5. Park Place: Central Park, New York City, New York
One of the nation's first landscaped public parks, Central Park covers 843
acres or six percent of Manhattan. Central Park has several interesting
attractions and activities, including a zoo, carousel, reservoir, and
boathouse, not to mention some of the best people watching in the world.
As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "How can you not love Central Park? It
has everything; ice skating, romantic carriage rides, a science center,
and even free concerts!"
6. Rock Show: Alcatraz, San Francisco, California
Notorious for housing some of the country's most infamous criminals,
including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, until it was closed in
1963, Alcatraz Island or "The Rock" now exists as an attraction in the
middle of San Francisco Bay. For an eerie visit, take the night tour and
listen to the sounds of disgruntled inmates banging their cups against
cells. "The sounds of the prison are brought to life with the audio tour
and complete the Alcatraz experience," one TripAdvisor traveler said.
7. Perch Above the Peacock: Top of the Rock Observation Deck, New York,
New York
One of the Big Apple's newest and coolest attractions, the Top of the Rock
Observation Deck in Rockefeller Center offers phenomenal views of New York
City. With glass partitions, the observation deck offers unobstructed
panoramic views, and an amazing vantage point for gazing at the Empire
State Building. According to a TripAdvisor traveler, "It knocks spots off
the Empire State Building. They have glass panels instead of wire mesh so
you get amazing views."
8. Seaing is Believing: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Bay, California
The largest marine sanctuary in America, Monterey Bay Aquarium is located
in a former brewery and sardine cannery. View stunning California Giant
Kelp that reside in the first tank in the world to simulate tidal currents
on a large scale. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "This aquarium is
fantastic - the jellyfish tank was unbelievable - we could have sat and
watched them all day."
9. Water-ful: Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
For a peaceful attraction on the Strip, head to the Bellagio Fountains and
appreciate the synchronization of the music and the water as it changes
color to familiar tunes from musicals and movies. With a vibrant display
every 15-30 minutes, the Bellagio Fountains are the most affordable show
in Las Vegas. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, "The fountains are
unbelievably high and who knew that water could really dance?"
10. Animal Kingdom: San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California
Featuring more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals, the San Diego Zoo
has the largest collection of Grant Pandas outside of mainland China. To
explore the zoo, take a guided bus tour or ride on the overhead gondola,
providing an aerial view of the natural and cage-free settings. As one
TripAdvisor traveler said, "I was amazed at how close I was to the rhinos,
elephants, and giraffes."
"Although Orlando's attractions top the list again in 2007, there are some newcomers to the top ten this year, including Central Park, Alcatraz and the Bellagio Fountains," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor's Top 10 European Attractions
1. British Airways London Eye, London, United Kingdom
2. Tower of London, London, United Kingdom
3. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
4. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
5. Colosseum, Rome, Italy
6. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7. Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
8. State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
9. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
10. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts more than 24 million monthly visitors (source: comScore Media Metrix, Digital Calculator Report, March 2007) across eight popular travel brands, TripAdvisor® sites, bookingbuddy.com ™, cruisecritic.com™, independenttraveler.com™, seatguru.com®, smartertravel.com™, travel- library.com™ and travelpod.com™. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 20 million monthly visitors, six million registered members and 10 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 260,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr/) and Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de/). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry, worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
TripAdvisor, TripAdvisor.com, bookingbuddy.com, cruisecritic.com, independenttraveler.com, seatguru.com, smartertravel.com, travel-library.com and travelpod.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor, LLC, in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: TripAdvisor
CONTACT: Consumer: Brooke Ferencsik, +1-781-444-1113, Ext. 275,
brooke@tripadvisor.com, or Trade-Business: Brian Payea, +1-781-444-1113,
Ext. 388, bpayea@tripadvisor.com, both of TripAdvisor
Web site: http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/
http://www.tripadvisor.fr/
http://www.tripadvisor.de/
