Want to add some excitement to your next vacation? A study conducted by Westgate Branson Resorts analyzed nine key indicators that make a destination ideal for an adventurous vacation. These indicators include the number of hiking trails, national parks, nature reserves, and other factors that contribute to exciting outdoor experiences. Here's a breakdown of the top ten states in the U.S. for adventure vacations, based on their overall scores.
Texas
Texas State starts the top 10, earning an overall score of 61.38 out of a possible 100 points. The study revealed that Texas is the main destination for adrenaline junkies, with the second largest number of skydiving opportunities in America.
Missouri
Missouri ranks ninth, with a score of 61.40 out of 100. From the scenic beauty of the Ozark Mountains to canoeing and kayaking on the state's rivers, there's plenty to explore for outdoor enthusiasts. The state ranks highly across the board, especially for skydiving, as it ranks seventh with the highest number of skydiving opportunities.
Massachusetts
Claiming eighth place is Massachusetts. Notably, Massachusetts ranks sixth in number of wildlife areas nationwide and seventh in number of nature preserves in the country, which contributed to its final score of 61.99.
wisconsin
Wisconsin ranks seventh, with a score of 64.16 out of a possible 100 points. The state offers a range of adventurous activities and scores highly on all metrics analyzed but most notably for the number of skydiving opportunities, ranking fourth on this metric.
Pennsylvania
The research revealed that Pennsylvania ranks sixth as the best state to visit for an exploratory vacation. With an overall score of 64.76, Pennsylvania ranked highest on the nature preserves factor, with the fourth-highest number of nature preserves in the United States.
Home to diverse wildlife, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy bird watching, wildlife photography, and nature walks in places like the Pennsylvania Wilds Area or Hawk Mountain Preserve.
Ohio
The study revealed that Ohio State ranked fifth, with a total score of 65.16 out of 100 possible points. The state boasts high scores across the board, ranking in the top five for factors such as the number of skydiving opportunities and the number of wildlife. Areas and hiking trails available.
Notably, Ohio ranks fifth among the most popular states on Instagram for an adventure-filled vacation. The state has a total of 147,794 hashtags for adventure-related hashtags, such as #OhioNature and #OhioWildlife.
Virginia
Following closely behind, Virginia received an overall score of 65.45, making it the perfect fourth state for an action-packed vacation. Most notably, Virginia has the second-most number of hiking trails in the state and has the fifth-largest number of nature preserves in the United States, with 164.
New York
New York ranked third. Beyond the busy streets of New York City, the state offers outdoor enthusiasts a number of opportunities, such as hiking in the Adirondack Mountains, kayaking in the Finger Lakes, and exploring the scenic Hudson Valley.
Despite not showing a significantly strong performance in many metrics, New York excelled with an overall score of 65.56.
California
In second place came the state of California, as it is the second best state for an exciting holiday this year, as it obtained 70.82 points. A haven for adventurers, California has the largest number of national parks of all states, with nine. California offers a wide range of adventure activities including surfing, skiing, hiking, camping and exploring national parks such as Yosemite and Joshua Tree.
California also ranked second for the number of TripAdvisor reviews for state activities that include the keywords adventure.
Florida
Florida is emerging as a top choice for an adventure vacation in the US, according to research. Florida took the top spot due to its impressive index score of 78.09 out of 100, and came out on top for a number of factors the study analyzed. For example, the state ranked as the most Instagrammed state for an adventure vacation, with more than 604,000 posts aggregated under hashtags like #FloridaNature, #FloridaCamping, and #FloridaHikes.
Additionally, Florida ranked first in the TripAdvisor category studied, with the highest number of adventure and/or nature-related terms used in reviews of state activities on TripAdvisor, such as “hiking,” “road trip,” and “wilderness.” .
Wrapping up the best states to visit for an adventure vacation
Mark Waltrip, COO of Westgate Resorts Branson, commented on the findings, saying, “The United States is overflowing with great adventure travel destinations. Whether you gravitate toward hiking, mountain biking, climbing, camping, or other outdoor activities “There are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy your favorite adventure.” However, not all states offer the same level of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts, as some have an advantage over others. This research provides valuable insights into the best states to visit this summer for those looking for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
“Interestingly, Missouri ranks first in the top 10. Missouri is a destination of endless excitement, blending entertainment with thrilling outdoor adventures. Nestled in the heart of the mountains, Westgate Branson Woods Resort offers newly renovated, spacious luxury villas with Stunning views of the surrounding Ozark Mountains Conveniently located near Branson's top vacation spots, Westgate Branson Woods puts families at the heart of the action, including popular attractions like. Silver Dollar City, Dolly Parton StampedeAnd much more.”
Many thanks to our friends at Westgate Resorts Branson for compiling this research and allowing us to publish it!
Hello! We are Jane and Ed Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
