Today’s blog looks at top places in the world for summer travel, as well as Trip Advisor’s lists of top world and top U.S. attractions. I also have an update on tourism in New York (which garnered four spots in the Trip Advisor list of the top ten attractions in the States).
THE INDEPENDENT’S TOP PLACES TO TRAVEL IN JULY: CANADA TAKES TOP PRIZE
The Independent (UK) has come out with a nice list of the top places in the world to visit in July. Canada came out on top. The Independent cited Canada Day fireworks in Niagara Falls and Ottawa, as well as the Calgary Stampede, visits to Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park in British Columbia, and more.
Takakkaw Falls is a fantastic area of Yoho National Park in British Columbia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Here’s the full top six.
- Canada
- Slovenia (I’ve consistently suggested this great European country as a fine place to visit)
- Montenegro
- Norway (never been, but fits the bill for cool climate travel in summer)
- Jersey (UK)
- Puglia, Italy (not sure I’d go to southern Italy in July, but that’s just me)
TOP WORLD ATTRACTIONS: ODD LIST FROM TRIP ADVISOR
Trip Advisor has come out with a strange list of the world’s top attractions. Coming out on top was the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, followed by the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Here’s their full list.
- Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh (quite enjoyed my visit a few years back, but not sure it ranks above Sagrada Familia or the Eiffel Tower)
- Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (definitely deserving)
- Gardens by the Bay, Singapore (very cool place)
- Empire State Building, New York City (still going strong after so many years, and rightfully so)
- Cayman Crystal Caves, Cayman Islands (vaguely recall hearing about this place in the past but have never been)
- Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh (nice place I visited a few years ago, but I wouldn’t put it in the top 25 things I’ve seen around the world)
- Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany (never heard of it)
- Eiffel Tower, Paris (can’t beat it)
- Sun Studio, Memphis (haven’t had the pleasure, but love the music)
- Cochoeria Boca de Onca waterfall, Brazil (also never heard of it)
The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. JIM BYERS PHOTO
It’s nice they’ve highlighted some cool things that don’t always make these sorts of lists, but what about Angel Falls in South America or Easter Island? Where is the Great Wall of China or Angkor Wat? Where are the Swiss Alps? Where is Banff? Where is the Sydney Opera House?
Like I say, this is an odd one.
TOP U.S. ATTRACTIONS FROM TRIP ADVISOR
This Trip Advisor list of top U.S. attractions s a bit more conventional, but still has some surprising entries. Note that New York City (see my entry below on Big Apple tourism) came away with four spots in the top seven, which is quite something.
- Empire State Building
- Sun Studio, Memphis
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida Keys (nice spot, but shouldn’t be quite this high)
- Central Park, New York City (one of the world’s great urban parks)
- National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado Springs (don’t know anything about it)
- Brooklyn Bridge, New York City (remarkable)
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City (ditt0)
- Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle (not a huge fan of his art, but okay)
- Alcatraz, San Francisco (exceptionally cool place to visit)
- Garden of the Gods, Colorado (don’t know anything about it)
Alcatraz island in San Francisco. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I also note that Iolani Palace in Honolulu, the only royal palace on U.S. soil and a terrific place to learn about Hawaiian history, came in at number 19.
NEW YORK CITY TOURISM UPDATE
New York City tourism officials were in Toronto this week to talk about travel to the Big Apple. Canadian visits were at nearly 1 million in 2024, but that number dropped roughly 19% last year, falling to 796,000. That’s not a drop in the bucket, but NYC Tourism’s Britt Hijkoop told me it’s much better than some U.S. destinations.
NYC Tourism is projecting a 5.5% increase in Canadian visits this year, which would take the city to 840,000 Canadian visitors. They’re hoping for more business visits, as well as more pleasure visits.
The New York-New Jersey area will host eight World Cup games this summer, including the final game on July 19.
“It’s a huge moment for New York City,” Hijkoop said. “And you don’t need a ticket to be part of it, because we’ll have free fan experiences in all five boroughs.”
New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge. Trevor Hayes/Unsplash
Air Canada recently trimmed its flights from both Toronto and Montreal to New York’s JFK airport on Long Island due to a shortage of jet fuel, but Hijkoop noted the cut is only through October 25. She also noted Air Canada will offers 34 flights a day from various Canadian cities to LaGuardia and Newark airports, which is astonishing. There are also regular flights from both WestJet and Porter Airlines.
“We’re here and ready for Canadians whenever they’re ready to visit New York City again,” Hijkoop said.
The U.K. in 2025 sent 1.o77 visitors to NYC, followed by Canada at 796,000 and Italy at 745,0000.
I’ve probably been 25 or 30 times by now, and there are few things as thrilling as coming into the city and seeing that magical skyline. The energy in New York City is something you have to experience to believe, and the wide array of things to see and do, let alone places to stay and dine, are truly astonishing.
New stats from the U.S. show that five states; New York, California, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts, made up 59% of international visitor spending in the States in 2024. Topping the charts was New York at $32.1 billion, followed by California at $26.9 billion and Florida at $25.2 billion.
