California ranked as the second-best state to visit in the United States — coming in just after New York — in a recent survey by the website BookRetreats.
BookRetreats wrote: “California’s diverse landscape spans from dramatic coastal cliffs to ancient redwood forests, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert in between. And in the cities, the sights are equally as impressive.”
Here’s how California’s most famous tourist spots fared on the survey.
Best California cities, places to visit
BookRetreats declared San Francisco the third-best city in the nation, describing it as a “hotspot for architecture enthusiasts and history buffs.” The city scored high marks for several famed sites, including Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island, which all made the top 50 list as some of the best places to visit.
Related:Best things you need to do in San Francisco
The only cities to fare better in the study were New York City and Washington D.C. Central Park in New York City and the National Mall, which came in as the first and second best places to visit in the nation, respectively.
San Diego’s Balboa Park was ranked the third-best place to visit in the nation, while the city’s USS Midway Museum was ranked the 25th-best attraction in the nation.
Are these California attractions tourist traps?
On the flip side of the study, several California attractions rated in the bottom 10 of the survey:
- The Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the worst tourist attractions in the United States. From BookRetreats: “More than 20% of reviews described the attraction as “dirty” or “run down.” Other complaints mentioned the strong “smell of urine” and the increasing number of “homeless people” and “addicts” wandering the streets which left several visitors feeling unsafe.”
- SeaWorld San Diego was second to worst on the survey, with respondents knocking the park for value and cleanliness. The issue of animal welfare is also an underlying concern for visitors, according to the study.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita finished fourth worst on the survey, with respondents knocking on the park for value, having long wait times, crowds, and poor park management.
- Disneyland Park in Anaheim finished six worst on the survey, getting knocked for affordability and wait times.
Top 10 attractions to visit in the United States
Here are the top 10 places to visit in the United States, according to BookRetreats.
- Central Park, New York City
- National Mall, Washington D.C.
- Balboa Park, San Diego
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
- Times Square, New York City
- Rockefeller Center, New York City
- Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
- Magic Kingdom Park, Orlando, Florida
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City
Methodology of the study
To rank these spots, BookRetreats evaluated key factors for tourists, such as place popularity, overall experience, average hotel costs nearby, price complaints, and state safety. The dataset covered over 7,500 visitor reviews, 380+ hotel price points, and the latest state-level safety rankings. These criteria were combined into a 5-point rating system, with higher scores indicating more worthwhile attractions.
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