2024 is soon coming to a close, and what a year it’s been on Daily Passport. We’ve introduced you to the world’s smallest towns, highest mountains, oldest buildings, happiest countries, and hundreds of other fascinating places in nearly every corner of the globe. All those stories got us wondering: What were the places you loved discovering the most? To recap the year in travel, here are 12 of the most-clicked destinations by Daily Passport readers in 2024.
Favorite U.S. Small Town – Frankenmuth, Michigan
Not up for the long flight to Europe? Americans craving a slice of the European lifestyle can head to Frankenmuth as a worthy alternative. You could easily mistake your location for Germany once you step foot in this Michigan town, which was settled by German immigrants in 1845. The sight of the Holz Brücke (wooden bridge) is the first sign you’ve arrived, while the charming Bavarian architecture, year-round German festivals (like the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest and the World Expo of Beer), and German cuisine served at many restaurants all add to the atmosphere. You can even attend a Sunday service at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church entirely in German.
Read the rest of the story: 11 of the Quirkiest Small Towns in the Midwest
Favorite Booming U.S. City – Charleston, South Carolina
It’s tough to call Charleston anything other than charming — which is perhaps why so many Americans are moving to this coastal South Carolina city. Charleston’s colorful architecture and historic cobblestones are a draw for anyone who appreciates aesthetic appeal, but the city is also known for its refined culture. It is home to notable institutions including the Gibbes Museum of Art and the Charleston Museum, and hosts annual gatherings such as the Charleston Food and Wine Festival that draw thousands of attendees. Charleston’s temperate climate is appealing to boaters, beachgoers, and anglers, while history buffs flock to landmarks like Fort Sumter and the Charleston Battery.
Read the rest of the story: 9 of the Fastest-Growing Cities in America
Favorite U.S. Island – Padre Island, Texas
Stretching 113 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, Padre Island in southern Texas is the world’s longest barrier island. The island — located about a 30-minute drive from Corpus Christi — is connected to the mainland by Park Road 22, which leads to the JFK Causeway. That makes it quick and easy for visitors to access its miles of pristine beaches and warm waters year-round.
Padre Island National Seashore offers excellent opportunities for camping, stargazing, hiking, and bird-watching within a pristine and protected area of the isle. Both Padre Island and its sister island, South Padre, are popular spring break destinations, so it’s advisable to avoid visiting in March unless all-night parties are on your agenda.
Read the rest of the story: 5 U.S. Islands You Can Drive To
Favorite Natural Wonder – Rotomairewhenua, New Zealand
Rotomairewhenua — better known as the “Blue Lake” — is frequently cited as the clearest lake in the world. In 2011, a group of scientists studied the remote lake and discovered some of the cleanest waters on the planet. Surrounded by 15 other lakes in New Zealand’s Nelson Lakes National Park, Rotomairewhenua reaches 252 feet deep, and visitors can see well into its watery depths, thanks to the glacial waters that feed it, keeping it clean and clear.
In order to reach Rotomairewhenua, you can either hike through the wilderness for four to seven days, or take a water taxi to Lake Rotorua, and then hike approximately 5 miles to Blue Lake Hut, which provides bunks for overnight travelers. Because the lake is a sacred body of water to the area’s Indigenous peoples, swimming is prohibited to keep Rotomairewhenua in its pristine, natural condition.
Read the rest of the story: 6 of the Clearest Lakes in the World
Favorite Architectural Wonder – El Peñón de Guatapé, Colombia
Guatapé is a small, colorful town located 50 miles west of Medellín, making it a popular day trip or weekend destination for those seeking a slower pace. The town is famous for its bright facades (known as zócalos) painted on the sides of homes and storefronts, but, most of all, for El Peñón de Guatapé, a 650-foot rock that towers above everything else.
A brick staircase with 740 steps is embedded into a large crack that runs the height of the rock, transporting climbers in a zigzag fashion all the way to the peak. On average, the climb to the summit takes about 30 minutes. But those efforts will certainly pay off — at the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the expansive lake system and rolling emerald hills surrounding Guatapé.
Read the rest of the story: Climb to the Top of These Famous Staircases Around the World
Favorite Nostalgic Vacation Destination – Niagara Falls, Canada/U.S.
Alongside its reputation for daredevil feats and shocking stunts throughout the 19th century, Niagara Falls also emerged as a honeymoon destination around the same time, billing itself as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World.” In the early 1800s, famous figures like Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother Jerome Bonaparte and American socialite Theodosia Burr, daughter of future Vice President Aaron Burr, celebrated their nuptials with a getaway to this (still highly popular) natural wonder.
These high-profile honeymooners inspired others of the same social ilk, and while the destination initially remained exclusive to the wealthy, the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 helped make it more accessible for middle-class honeymooners, too. The popularity of Niagara Falls as a honeymoon destination endured for generations, but it began to dwindle with the dawn of the early 1960s jet age, when international air travel started to become a reality for the average American. Still, the falls retain a nostalgic charm today, and honeymooners can easily find accommodations with vintage heart-shaped hot tubs for their romantic getaway.
Read the rest of the story: 7 Places Your Grandparents Loved To Vacation
Favorite Historic City – Dubrovnik, Croatia
Overlooking the glittering waters of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is the dazzling jewel of Croatia’s coastline. Its walls were designed to be indestructible, a human-made rock face more than 80 feet high and up to 20 feet thick. These days, they don’t do so well in repelling advances, as cruise ship passengers and overnight visitors arrive en masse to experience one of Europe’s most spectacular walled cities, dating back to the seventh century.
Walk atop the walls to get your bearings and gaze out over a sea of terracotta tiles before getting lost in Dubrovnik’s winding alleyways. At some point, you’ll find yourself in front of the ornate carved masks that adorn Onofrio’s Fountains, the graceful arches of the Sponza Palace, or the 15th-century Gothic-Renaissance Rector’s Palace, which hosts the city’s Cultural History Museum. A word of advice: Come in the off-season (November to February) if you want a bit of breathing space.
Read the rest of the story: 13 Unbelievably Charming European Medieval Walled Cities
Favorite Historic Hotel – Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan
There’s no grander welcome to Mackinac Island (pronounced mack-in-awe) and its 4 square miles of carless tranquility than the front porch of the Grand Hotel. In fact, the hotel’s 660-foot-long front porch framed by towering white Colonial Revival columns is the world’s longest porch. It extends more than two football fields in length and is filled with dozens of rocking chairs inviting you to take a seat and gaze out over the Straits of Mackinac, located between Michigan’s two peninsulas. The hotel — a National Historic Landmark — is the crown jewel of this enchanting island. Since 1887, its guest book has been signed by five U.S. presidents, as well as luminaries ranging from John Jacob Astor III and Mark Twain to Robert De Niro and Madonna.
Open seasonally from May through October, the Grand Hotel maintains about 400 guest rooms, no two of which are alike. Each is decorated in a distinct panoply of pleasantly clashing colors and patterns. When dinner comes around, patrons are encouraged to dress for the occasion at the 14 in-house restaurants and bars. And once you’re finally ready to leave the hotel and see what the island has to offer, you might as well continue on the yesteryear theme by touring it in a horse-drawn carriage.
Read the rest of the story: 9 Must-Visit Historic Hotels That Are a Destination Themselves
Favorite Road Trip – Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake National Park’s 33-mile Rim Drive encircles a caldera that was formed over 7,700 years ago. When the volcano erupted and collapsed, it resulted in a crater that became the deepest lake in the U.S. and the seventh-deepest in the world.
The Rim Drive offers wide-open vistas of the lake’s deep blue waters and surrounding mountains, including the park’s two highest peaks, Mount Scott and Hillman Peak. Visitors can pull over at 30 designated lookouts that were designed to highlight specific views. These include distinct geologic formations, like the Wizard Island cinder cone, or the region’s subalpine meadows, some of which bloom in bright red fleece flowers in the short summer season. The high altitude makes this one of the snowiest places in the inhabited U.S., so it’s best to check park conditions for frequent road closures before planning your trip.
Read the rest of the story: 5 of the Most Beautiful Drives Through U.S. National Parks
Favorite Roadside Attraction – Iowa 80 Truckstop
2024 was a big year for this roadside trucking mecca, as it celebrated its 60th year in operation. Over those six decades, the Iowa 80 Truckstop has earned its reputation as the “World’s Largest Truckstop,” and for good reason — there are more than 900 parking spots for trucks alone.
Truckers can venture inside the truck stop — located alongside Interstate 80 in the town of Walcott, just a few miles west of the Iowa-Illinois border — and take advantage of a wide array of unexpected amenities. They range from dentistry to laundry, an in-house chiropractor, a barber, and even a movie theater. But you don’t have to be a professional long hauler in order to visit — the Iowa 80 Truckstop serves 5,000 customers a day from all walks of life. Grab a bite at the family-owned Iowa 80 Kitchen or buy some merchandise at the expansive gift shop to commemorate your visit.
The highlight of this wacky highway oasis, though, is the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, a vast exhibit hall loaded with antique memorabilia and vintage trucks, showcasing the storied history of the American trucking industry. While the museum is open year-round, July is a particularly popular time to visit and attend the annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree. Highlighted by truck beauty contests and the Trucker Olympics, this popular event celebrated 45 years of festivities in summer 2024.
Read the rest of the story: 7 of the Quirkiest Road Stops in the U.S.
Favorite Train Trip – The Canadian, Canada
Inaugurated in 1955, the Canadian is an epic transcontinental rail journey from Toronto to Vancouver. Over four nights and 2,775 miles, passengers will experience the spectacular natural landscapes that make Canada famous. From Ontario in the east to British Columbia in the west, the train visits five diverse provinces, with the scenery shifting from the shimmering Great Lakes and thick deciduous forests of Ontario to the sprawling prairies of Manitoba, the big blue skies and bright-yellow canola fields of Saskatchewan, and the majestic Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
The Canadian offers three seating classes, with the Prestige Class featuring a concierge service and suites with domed, glass windows to enjoy the scenery. A la carte meals are available to all, and there’s even an onboard wine tasting, too. For those preferring to break up the journey, the Canadian can easily be turned into a hop-on, hop-off rail adventure. Overnight stays are possible in destinations like Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Jasper.
Read the rest of the story: The Best Long-Distance Rail Trips Around the World
Favorite Airport View – Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
Airplane enthusiasts from all over the world flock to Maho Beach, on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. What makes this particular stretch of sand so special are the unforgettable views of planes as they arrive at Princess Juliana Airport. The airport’s runway is just over 7,500 feet in length and reaches almost to the sand, forcing pilots to come in low across Simpson Bay and use nearly the entire length of the runway. And when the planes take off, the force results in waves of white sand kicked up by their powerful jet blast. Plane spotters set up in the sand with chairs, binoculars, and (hopefully) ear protection to get unbelievably close views of jets as they make their thrilling low-altitude approaches.
Read the rest of the story: 10 of the World’s Most Extreme Airports
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