Florida: Our Most Searched Tourist Attraction Is Surprising

To coincide with World Tourism Day last week, Bank Locations detailed the most searched attraction in every state, and in Florida, the result was not what you would expect.

Bank Locations analyzed Google search data of over 150 tourist attractions in America. "The results showcase the diverse preferences of Americans, ranging from iconic landmarks, amusement parks, museums, and the natural beauty of national parks and breathtaking landscapes," Bank Locations stated.

As a result, this study found that national parks are the most searched attractions in the country. Sixteen total states aligned to residents seeking out such parks. Geographical attractions and national landmarks ranked second as a category. Then, the outliers came to the forefront. This includes particular beach sites, amusement parks, and historical sites.

Bank Locations found Niagara Falls is the most common tourist attraction among the states.

It appears Floridians have Sin City on their mind. Florida was the only state where Las Vegas was the most searched attraction. If you are looking for what's new in Vegas, Lavish Vegas recently offered a preview, from restaurants to Formula 1. Though casinos, glamorous shows, and expensive restaurants are hard to pass up, being in Las Vegas also allows you to be close to other landmarks.

For example, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area is within 20 miles. Right off the strip is the new Sphere venue. This immersive experience is just east of the Venetian. Furthermore, Las Vegas is the home of the NHL Stanley Cup champion, Golden Knights. If you are looking to plan your trip to to Vegas, the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing at the Golden Knights on March 19. Two months prior to that, we will see a Stanley Cup finals rematch. The Florida Panthers play in Las Vegas on January 4.

We are officially one week into National Golf Month. To celebrate this and inspire you to hit the links, Home To Go published a report that details the most affordable golf destinations and three Florida courses made the list.

"The ranking explores the affordability of green fees, golf carts, club rentals and nearby accommodations, so you can stay on the green and out of the debt bunker," they explain. To compile this information Home To Go analyzed these four categories and then compiled a list of the 40 most affordable rounds. Furthermore, they listed that the Naples and Marco Island area has the most golf courses per capita in the country. There are 69 golf courses in that metro area.

The sport of golf has many unique components that separate it from many other activities. Hitting the links can be a casual day out among friends, or a highly competitive tournament. Either way it certainly takes practice and skill to master. Furthermore, there are traditions to the game that are respected widely across the globe. In addition to proper golf attire and etiquette, golfers are expected to follow the guidelines each course lays out. Many of these are standard, but different course layouts and features then factor into what the cost to play is.

In Florida, the three courses that named among the 40 most affordable golf destinations in America are actually in two locations. To clarify, two of these course are along the same east coast club grounds. They are among a group of 30 PGA courses that the pros play, and then are open to public usage. Then, if you head about 225 miles south, you will come across the third Florida course to make the list. This popular destination is only an hour outside the Tampa area.

Golf excursions can get quite expensive. So, if you are understandably budgeting your next golf trip to Florida, these three destinations are worth considering given their overall affordability.

"The Players Championship" club in Ponte Vedra has both of their courses listed among the most affordable. The first is Sawgrass coming in at #14. Local accommodations average $94.23. The green fee here is $175 and includes a golf cart. If you'd like to rent clubs, that will cost an additional $80, but your total will still be under $350.

The second TPC Sawgrass course to be featured here is Stadium. While the local accommodation and club rental fee are the same as Dye's Valley, the green fee is the different. That will run you $450, which aligns Stadium to the 34th most affordable.

Streamsong has become a very popular destination for golfers looking for memorable getaway with friends and family. It's about 65 miles southeast of Tampa and comes in at number 17. Here, the local accommodations are expected to be relatively inexpensive at $44. The green fee is as well, at approximately $179, however, this does not include a golf cart ($35). Lastly, if you don't want to travel with your clubs, a rental set will cost you $100.