Map Shows Top Tourist Destination Neighborhoods in the US

In a search for “down to earth realism,” travelers in 2025 are keen to explore smaller areas within big cities to get a taste of the local flavor, new research has shown.

According to a study by travel booking website Priceline, which surveyed 3,039 adults aged 18 to 78 who traveled at least 100 miles from their home by plane or car within the last year, 37 percent of travelers said they “believe the neighborhood they stay in impacts their vacation experience.”

Young travelers love are embracing local life, preferring “the authentic vibes and activities” of neighborhoods over tourist-filled hotspots. More than one in three Generation Z (those born roughly between 1997 and 2012) and millennials travelers (those born roughly between 1981 and 1996) say that activities such as shopping in grocery stores allows them to experience how locals live, the survey found.

Christina Bennett, a travel expert at Priceline, told Newsweek: “Gen Z is opting for local, less commercialized travel experiences. They’re embracing ‘awayborhoods,’ exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations or specific neighborhoods within big cities that match their personal vibe.”

“They don’t just want to go to LA or Miami, they want to go to Silver Lake [in Los Angeles] or Wynwood [in Miami]. The shift to more personalized travel reflects a desire for authentic experiences that allow them to live like a local in areas that reflect who they are,” Bennett said.

Both Wynwood and Silver Lake are among the top 10 U.S. neighborhoods that travelers plan to visit in 2025, ranking in third and seventh, respectively, according to the Priceline survey.

Wynwood, which 19 percent of travelers said they’d like to visit this year, was topped by the French Quarter (42 percent) in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Capitol Riverfront (21 percent) in Washington, D.C., and was followed by North End (19 percent) in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Mission District (19 percent) of San Francisco, California.

In the second half of the ranking, Silver Lake (18 percent) and Ybor City (18 percent) in Tampa, Florida, were followed by South Congress (15 percent) in Austin, Texas, the Pearl District (13 percent) in Portland, Oregon, and the RiNo Art District (12 percent) in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to being drawn to specific neighborhoods, the Priceline study also found that young travelers are “townsizing” their travels, preferring laid-back small-town escapes over bustling city getaways.

Among the top trending small towns in the U.S. are Three Rivers in California, Panguitch in Utah, Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, South Yarmouth in Massachusetts and Ouray in Colorado in the top five rankings, based on hotel searches made on Priceline, the survey found.

Top 10 U.S. Neighborhoods Travelers Plan To Visit in 2025

1. French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana – 42 percent (portion of travelers who want to visit in 2025)
2. Capitol Riverfront in Washington, D.C. – 21 percent
3. Wynwood in Miami, Florida – 19 percent
4. North End in Boston, Massachusetts – 19 percent
5. Mission District in San Francisco, California – 19 percent
6. Ybor City, Tampa, Florida – 18 percent
7. Silver Lake in Los Angeles, California – 18 percent
8. South Congress in Austin, Texas – 15 percent
9. Pearl District in Portland, Oregon – 13 percent
10. RiNo Art District in Denver, Colorado – 12 percent

Source: Priceline’s survey of 3,039 adults aged 18 to 78 who traveled at least 100 miles from their home by plane or car within the last year.

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