Vacation Destinations: New Jersey’s Favorite Vacation Spot

If you are like me, I am ready to take a vacation and that means getting out of New Jersey. The question is,  where is a good travel destination? New research has revealed the most searched travel destination in each American state. The research, conducted by the travel information site Places To Travel, analyzed Google Trends data to establish the top vacation destinations of each state throughout the nation.

 Jason Wilson, CEO of Places to Travel, revealed that Italy was the most popular travel destination in ten states, including New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Arizona.

Hawaii was found to be the second most searched travel destination across the nation, topping the searches of nine states, including New Jersey, California, Texas, Washington, and Alabama. 

Seven states had the Caribbean as their top-searched travel destination, including Tennessee, Louisiana, Oregon, Utah, and Nevada. 

Three destinations came in joint fourth – Bali, Japan, and Ireland, with each destination topping the searches in three states each.

Bali, Indonesia, was the most searched for in Arkansas, Kansas, and Mississippi. Wilson advises travelers to explore the neighboring islands of Bali, saying,

Japan topped the searches in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado. Japan is renowned worldwide for its famous gardens.

Ireland was the top-searched travel destination of Indiana, New Hampshire, and North Dakota.

Like the rest of the British Isles, Ireland is famous for its unpredictable weather, with Wilson explaining, “Be prepared for rain, but don't let it dampen your spirits. The ever-changing skies often add to the dramatic beauty of the Irish landscapes, creating a unique and unforgettable travel experience.”

Greece and Mexico come in at fifth place, each topping the searches in two states each.

New Mexico and Maine both had Greece as their top-searched destination.  Jason Wilson recommends exploring the ancient history of Greece, saying, “Exploring Greece means diving into the history of Western civilization. Start in Athens with the Acropolis, a symbol of ancient Greek architecture. Visit Delphi for its mythic Oracle and head to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Walk through the ruins of Mycenae and Epidaurus's ancient theaters. Greece's historical sites offer a direct connection to the roots of Western culture, revealing the foundations of democracy, philosophy, and athletic competition.”

Oklahoma and Vermont both had Mexico as their most searched for destination.

Mexico is known the world over for its street food, and Wilson recommends that travelers, “Dive into the vibrant world of street food in bustling markets and indulge in the hearty flavors of regional dishes, whether it's slow-roasted meat or rich mole.

Seven destinations make up the remainder of the top-searched destinations, with Banff, Dubia, France, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and Switzerland each topping the searches in one state each.

Banff, Canada was the most searched destination in Michigan, while Delaware was seen to have Dubai as its most searched destination.

France topped the searches in Wyoming, Iceland topped the searches in South Carolina, and Norway was the most searched for destination in Wisconsin.

Scotland and Switzerland were the most searched destinations in Idaho and Maryland, respectively.

Jason Wilson, CEO of Places To Travel, commented on the findings, saying:

“The study on travel brings to light interesting trends. It shows a variety of preferences across the nation, indicating diverse interests among Americans. From hot to cold climates, the findings highlight people's different choices regarding travel destinations.”

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.