By Heather Schindler
about.com
about.com
Now that the holiday season is coming to a close, it's time to
start thinking about the year ahead. One of the best ways to start 2016
off right (and get through the winter) is to plan some exciting trips,
or even just make a travel wishlist for fun. When thinking about where
you want to go, looking at where other people are choosing to vacation
is an easy way to find out about enjoyable destinations. At the end of
2015, Google released Google's 2015 Year in Search,
which is a collection of topical lists that highlight "trending"
queries, the searches that had the highest spike in traffic over a
sustained period in 2015 as compared to 2014. The top trending travel
searches may surprise you, but they will give you many ideas of where
you should go next.
San Diego
The fourth most trending travel question was "when is whale watching
season in San Diego?" The people searching this phrase were onto
something, as, each year between December and March, 26,000 gray whales
pass by San Diego on their annual migration.
[post_ads_2]
The best way to see these majestic animals is by taking a whale watching cruise, but if you're looking to save money you can also see them from many places on land, such as Cabrillo National Monument.
St. Louis
The
sixth most trending travel question was "what to do in St. Louis?"
While this riverside city is chock full of great things to do, its most
famous attraction, the Gateway Arch,
should be first on your list. At 630 feel tall, the arch is the
country's tallest national monument. If you don't mind tight spaces, you
can ride to the top in a tiny tram to catch incredible views of the
city, the Mississippi river, and even the neighboring state of Illinois.
Tickets to the arch also include admission to the Old Courthouse, which played host to important trials like the one involving Dred Scott and now contains exhibits on westward expansion.
Missoula
"What
to do in Missoula, MT?" was the seventh most trending travel question
of this year. Although Missoula is Montana's second-largest city, you
may have never heard of it before. It should be on your radar, though,
as it offers everything from gorgeous mountain scenery to world-class
galleries. One of the most interesting draws, though, is the Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper Center.
There, you'll learn about elite firefighters who parachute into remote
sections of national forests to battle raging blazes. The center uses
dioramas and videos to help visitors understand the danger the
smokejumpers face. As a plus, it operates on donations, so you can
choose how much you pay to enter.
Louisiana
The
eighth most trending travel question was a little different, as it
reads "what to do in Louisiana?" While this vibrant southern state
boasts countless attractions, its crown jewel is its largest city, New Orleans.
It is impossible to list everything that this city is known for, as its
wrought-iron architecture, celebrated beignet desert, and Mardi Gras
celebrations are only the beginning. If you aren't already convinced,
the New York Times just named New Orleans on its list.
Albuquerque[post_ads_2]
This
southwestern city also piqued Google users' interest this year, as
"what to do in Albuquerque?" was the ninth most trending travel
question. In addition to striking desert landscapes and rich
multicultural history, it is also home to one of the United States' most
famous festivals, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
During this nine-day event, brightly patterned hot air balloons appear
in a variety of competitions and shows. If you're worried about
suffering from balloon overload, the festival also features fireworks,
musical performances, and many other forms of entertainment.
Yellowstone National Park
The
tenth most trending travel question was "where is Yellowstone National
Park?" Stretching into Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, this national park
is the 4th most visited in the nation, and for good reason. It has
everything from steep mountains to unsoiled forests to endangered
wildlife, but its most renowned attraction is Old Faithful,
a geyser that shoots boiling water 140 feet in the air every 60-110
minutes. Don't worry if you can't make it to Yellowstone to see this
natural wonder, though, as the National Park Service live streams its
eruptions by webcam, allowing you to take a virtual vacation whenever you feel like getting away.
