When you jet off on your vacation this year with the kids, you may have plans to visit a theme park or choose a more cultural attraction for the adults to enjoy. These trips can make your vacation extra special.
But which comes out as tourists’ favourite attractions when we dive deep into visitor ratings and reviews?
The Family Vacation Guide’s latest research has us take a look at the US’s most popular attractions to reveal which are rated the highest based on TripAdvisor reviews.
From Walt Disney World to Central Park, here are the four highest-rated tourist attractions across the US.
Chicago, Illinois (open year round)
Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Navy Pier encompasses over 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities and is one of the top destinations in the Midwestern United States, drawing over nine million visitors annually. It is one of the most visited attractions in the entire Midwest and is Chicago’s second-most visited tourist attraction.
New York City, New York (open year round)
On the East River. Under the Brooklyn Bridge. Downtown’s downtown. A historic neighborhood reborn. Cobblestones. Row houses. Waterfront views. Raw history imbued by contemporary culture.
The Seaport has endured centuries of change. With The Howard Hughes Corporation as its steward, the neighborhood continues to evolve, with an eye on the future.
Home to rooftop extravaganzas. Hidden alleyways. The city’s largest outdoor bar. Its oldest lightship. Culinary experiences. Musical happenings. Art encounters. Year-round community programming. NYC history immortalized.
Boston, Massachusetts (open year round)
Located in downtown Boston, steps away from the waterfront, Faneuil Hall is alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation’s fathers proclaimed it “The Cradle of Liberty.” Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location – Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market.
Over 70 retailers and 40 office tenants occupy the 200,000 square feet of retail and 160,000 square feet of space on Boston’s iconic mixed use festival marketplace.
Customers enjoy unique, locally loved, and nationally recognized shops while indulging in the worldwide cuisine at their restaurants, pubs, and in the world-famous Quincy Market Colonnade.
The cobblestone promenades are filled with the music and jaw-dropping routines of world-renowned street performers and musicians.
Concord, California (closed Nov – mid May)
Six Flags Hurricane Harbour in Concord, California, is ranked at the top of our list of the world’s highest-rated attractions.
Hurricane Harbor is Northern California’s biggest waterpark, so it’s easy to see why. In fact, it’s often regarded as one of the best waterparks in the state.
Hurricane Harbor sees over 32 million thrillseekers pass through its gates every year and has excellent visitor reviews (79%).
The fun-filled waterpark has over 35 world-class thrills, such as heart-pounding waterslides, the region’s largest wave pool, and Northern California’s longest lazy river, so there’s something for the whole family to enjoy and escape the Cali heat.
It offers great amenities for family and friends, with private poolside cabanas and picnic groves for birthday parties, family reunions, and get-togethers.
Six Flags suspended operations in March 2020 before opening its doors to visitors again in 2021. That was the first season for the waterpark to not operate since its opening in 1995.
Click here to see the full rankings and where the US attractions stacked up to the rest of the world.