Where do travelers want to go in 2022? Key West and Miami Beach, Tripadvisor reports

The travelers have spoken, and we are not surprised by what they have to say: Everybody wants to come to Key West and Miami Beach.

Tripadvisor has just released its 2022 Travelers’ Choice Awards for Destinations, and as you might expect, Key West and Miami Beach are two of the most popular destinations in the U.S. Key West ranks No. 4, with Miami Beach a little behind it at No. 8.

Despite ongoing interference from COVID, travelers are ready to roll this year. In a recent survey, 71 percent of Americans said they are likely to travel for leisure in 2022. And a lot of them are looking south.

Even Tripadvisor gets a little moist-eyed over Key West and indulges in Florida Keys cliches; something about all that water and sky and adult beverages brings out the poet in all of us.

“Does time ever pass in the Florida Keys? Everyone and everything in Key West seems to go at its own pace, right down to the ice melting slooooowly in your margarita glass,” the website says, suggesting that visitors to the island book a snorkeling trip or a sunset cruise.

They can also visit the Hemingway Home & Museum, recently named one of the most beautiful stately homes in the country by home-ware site Living Cozy, and the famous Southernmost Point buoy, which was recently defaced by random knuckleheads and then restored by the city.

As for Miami Beach, Tripadvisor writes that “visitors can swim, surf and jet ski in the warm and crystal-clear Atlantic waters. You can also nap on the white sands, work on a tan or simply watch the beautiful people.” If you’re roaming Ocean Drive at the right time, you also have a 50-50 shot of watching a drunken fight break out. Keep your phone handy.

The most popular travel destination in the U.S. was Las Vegas, followed by Oahu and Maui, Hawaii. The rest of the top 10 list: New York City; New Orleans; Savannah, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and Sedona, Arizona. The only other Florida city in the top 25 was St. Augustine at No. 12.

Miami Beach’s restaurant scene also got a shoutout by Tripadvisor voters; for the first time, the city was ranked No. 4 on the list of Destinations for Food Lovers.

There are also some indications travelers are considering new destinations in Florida. On the Trending Destinations list, which provides a focus for up-and-coming spots that aren’t quite as big or popular, Fort Myers Beach (5), Naples (6) and Clearwater (9) made the top 10.

Oddly, on Tripadvisor’s Best Destinations for Sun Seekers list, the only Florida city that showed up was land-locked Orlando. While we suppose it’s true that you’ll get plenty of sun as you bake in long lines for rides, we’re pretty sure that’s not what sun-loving vacationers have in mind.

To create these rankings, Tripadvisor analyzes quality and quantity of reviews and ratings specific to each award subcategory from travelers on Tripadvisor for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do from Nov. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021.

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