Leisure Trend Group, a consumer research company in Colorado, announced on December 15, 2010, that a survey of active Americans pronounced Hawaii to be their favorite holiday "dream destination".
According to the article "Active Americans Name Hawaii Top Dream Destination," Leisure Trend Group polled its Most Active Americans Panel (MAAP), a group of 2.1 million affluent outdoor-oriented consumers, about their favorite travel destinations. The survey asked members to list where they would take their "favorite person on vacation over the holidays if money were no object". Hawaii received 9 percent of the vote, while Australia and New Zealand each received 5 percent of the responses.
Other top vote getters included spots with cold weather climates. In another article, “Hawaii #1 ‘Dream Vacation’ for Active Americans,” at leisuretrends.com, Alaska, Colorado and Switzerland each received 3 percent of the votes.
Experiential Gifts Versus More Stuff
The survey used an open-ended questionnaire, which may have prompted people to give easy and familiar answers. However, many people stated that they would like to give or receive more experiences and give or receive less "stuff". Here are other responses from the Most Active Americans Panel, when asked about what they might do in lieu of gifts:
- One woman said, “(I) did a trip with my mom instead of buying a gift.”
- Another answer was about “Taking a trip to Jackson Hole.”
- One person answered that they were “Going to Palau or Thailand for diving.”
It seems somewhat surprising that Hawaii would get more votes than Australia or New Zealand, as many Americans have already been to Hawaii at least once in their lives. Are Americans less adventurous than they appear to be?
Wouldn’t most people who are unafraid to take up wild activities like hang-gliding and heli-skiing, be more inclined to opt for unknown experiences that are electrifying, astonishing, and unknown, like jetboating in New Zealand or schussing in Zermatt? There is quite a lot of information in this study that advertisers and tourism boards of various countries should use to prop up their local tourist industries.
Outdoor Activities in Hawaii
On the other hand, there are many options for outdoor activities in our 50th State. As a one-time Kailua High School student and, later, an adult Kama'aina, this author will admit her undying love for the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Fabulous active adventures in Hawaii include: hiking along dramatic cliffs overlooking the cobalt ocean, swimming next to waterfalls, surfing at Waimea or the North Shore, sailing catamarans or Hobie Cats, biking Haleakala on Maui, limited snow skiing on the Big Island, SCUBA diving or snorkeling at Molokini, windsurfing in Kailua, and horseback riding at Parker Ranch. And, no one should overlook the simple pleasure of a Mai Tai at a beachfront bar in Waikiki.
Other High Ranking Dream Destinations
The panel's list included 11 main destinations. In descending order, the answers were: Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, traveling through Europe, Italy, Alaska, Colorado, Switzerland, any ski or snowboarding resort, Mexico, and going on a cruise. Hey, all of those sound good right now. To get more specific information, travel bureaus and businesses must contact Leisure Trends Group (jday@leisuretrends.com) in Boulder, Colorado, for a full report.
More Info:
Baby Boomers' Europe: Cruise Ships vs Hotels
Best Sites for Cute Women's Travel Sun Hats
Sexy Plus Size Resort Wear & Evening Wear
Best Flattering Swimsuits for Women Over 40 & 50
All-Inclusive Resorts: Hawaii Honeymoon
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
Join the Conversation