New Data Reveals That This US City Is One Of The Happiest Vacation Destinations

When booking your dream vacation, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. While you want to experience all the sights, landmarks, and delicious cuisine, there is another factor that may be even more important. That factor is the vibes. That’s right, the data now suggests that people prioritize the “feel-good factor” over everything else when booking a vacation. If you are looking for a place with a lot of that “feel-good factor,” this US city was recently named one of the happiest vacation destinations.

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The Details: The NY Post shared that “BookRetreats.com recently released its Holiday Happiness Index, which combined science and data to find the holiday destinations that make people feel their best.”

The data indicated that most people seek relaxation during their vacation.
The study focused on five “feel-good factors, which included:
- Natural sunlight
- Quality sleep
- Healthy diet
- Time in nature
- Physical exercise

This US City Is One Of The Happiest Vacation Destinations

As an American, I am honored that one of our cities makes the list of the happiest vacation destinations. As an avid Disney lover, I am even more ecstatic that that destination happens to be Orlando, Florida. For me, it makes complete sense, after all, Orlando is the home of Walt Disney World, which is the most magical place on earth.

However, not everyone is a Disney adult like me, so what is it about the US city that is drawing people in and making them smile?

Orlando is the theme park capital of the world.

One of the things that draws people to this destination is the thrilling theme parks that it offers. Not only do these parks, such as Universal or Disney World, provide fantastic rides, but they also hit several of the items on our checklist from above. The Holiday Happiness Index shares the following:

“The city [Orlando] ranks among the greenest in the United States, with 258 m² of green space per person, more than ten times that of Los Angeles and the highest figure in our index.”
“This greenery stretches across more than 148 parks, gardens, and recreation areas. “
“Orlando also basks in 2,930 hours of sunshine a year, creating ideal conditions for outdoor activity. “

As you enjoy amazing thrill rides, you are also soaking up the sunshine and spending ample time surrounded by greenery. Those are two of the key factors on the “feel-good factors” list. Granted, it doesn’t rank the highest with healthy dining options or quality sleep, but the ample amounts of sunshine and outdoor time appear to make up for it.

How Does It Rank Across The Globe?

Although this US city is one of the world’s happiest vacation spots, it didn’t claim the top spot. Lisbon, Portugal, holds the number one slot on the list. This also doesn’t surprise me, given how many of the “feel-good factors” it addresses. According to the Holiday Happiness Index, Lisbon addresses the following:

Healthy Diet: “Nearly 10% of Lisbon’s restaurants are considered healthy, the second-highest share in our index, outperforming global gastronomy hubs like Paris, Tokyo, and New York.”
Green space: “Lisbon’s urban green space may not rival the likes of Helsinki, but it still offers 49 m² of green area per person, nearly four times more than Madrid. Nature is never far away.”
Sunshine: “Add 2,828 hours of annual sunshine, and it’s easy to see the city’s mood-boosting appeal.”

The Final List: Here is the complete list of the world’s happiest vacation destinations.