Illinois’ Favorite Travel Destination is Filled with Pizza and Wine

If you had to pick one incredible place to travel to this year, would you head to the land of pizza and wine? Looks like most of Illinois would absolutely love to travel to Italy in 2024. 

My bucket-list isn't very long, but on the top of that list it says, 'Go to Italy!' I'm working on it... hoping to see Calabria, Naples and Rome in 2025, and apparently I am in good company.

Italy is the most popular travel destination for Illinois and the entire country!

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Travel information site, Places to Travel, granted Italy this title thanks to research involving Google Trends data.

Italy was the most popular travel destination in ten states: Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Arizona, Connecticut Hawaii, Kentucky and Ohio.

The second most popular travel destination according to this study is Hawaii (which I can vouch for, it's amazing... you should go there). Hawaii only 'lost' to Italy by one state, which is pretty comical since Hawaii was on the Italy list.

Other notable travel destinations that made the list include: the Caribbean, Bali, Japan and Ireland.

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Now, some of these destinations sound pretty fancy and expensive, so if you're looking to travel somewhere a little cheaper and closer this year... might I recommend some of my favorite places.

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Michelle's Top Five Travel Destinations

• Phoenix, Arizona (especially for Spring Break)
• Las Vegas (I hear it's even more fun than the last time I was there)
• New York City (but don't go in August, it's sweaty and smelly)
• Napa Valley (ok, this isn't that much cheaper, but it's worth is)
• Wrigley Field (the closest and cheapest option!)