This Southern City Will Be The Most Visited Place For U.S. Travelers This Thanksgiving

Holiday travel can be a headache, but it can also be kind of great. With all the muss and fuss that goes into celebrating the holidays, sometimes a getaway is exactly what you need to truly enjoy the season. And while Thanksgiving travel is often thought of as mostly road trips and flights home to see family, a new Google study indicates something different.

What Will Be The Most-Visited Thanksgiving Destination?

There’s one destination that U.S. travelers are itching to visit this Turkey Day, and it’s Orlando, Florida.

Why Is Florida So Popular?

Data pulled from Google Flights showed that Orlando, Florida was the most searched for destination for flights leaving from U.S. airports between November 24 and December 1.

Another Florida destination, Miami, came in at number 6, while the remaining top five spots went to Cancun, New York, Tokyo, and London—in that order. The only other Southern city to make the list was Dallas, which snuck in at number 19 on the list of 20.

Why Orlando Is a Great Destination?

As far as why travelers are so keen on visiting Orlando for Thanksgiving, there are a few obvious reasons—one having to do with a certain mouse—and a few that are not so predictable.

• Disney World kicks off their annual holiday extravaganza on November 12 this year, which means Thanksgiving (on November 28 this year) is one of the first chances folks will have to experience the magnificent décor, cheery character sing-a-longs, and over-the-top parades and fireworks shows. There are plenty of discounts on stays in Disney resorts between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which makes visiting during this time of year more affordable for families on a budget. There’s also the small fact that Orlando can be quite the scorcher in the summertime. Average high temperatures in November, however, hover in the high 70s, while lows seldom dip below 60 degrees. Dare we say, it’s the perfect environment for spending all day (and night!) in a theme park.

• Rest and relaxation: Outside of the obvious draw of Orlando’s many amusement parks, Orlando is an excellent off-season destination for all kinds of travelers. There are dozens of resorts like the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, The Alfond Inn, Reunion Resort, and JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes that would play great hosts for a relaxing, pampered holiday break. The restaurant inside the Four Seasons even offers a gourmet Thanksgiving buffet so you don’t have to worry about cooking in a hotel or finding somewhere to get the traditional turkey and dressing.

• Culinary scene: Orlando is also home to an excellent culinary scene; a vibrant arts culture that features a first-rate performance arts center and wonderful galleries; and great shopping in nearby Winter Park. Outdoor enthusiasts must make a trip to see the crystal-clear blue waters of Wekiwa Springs State Park or book a swamp airboat tour.

The Best Time to Book

If you’re starting to consider a Thanksgiving trip to Orlando and want to look into flights, the same Google study provided some helpful tips for the ideal time to book. For domestic trips around Thanksgiving, prices are typically lowest around 45 days before departure, with the low-price window extending from 26 to 59 days out. That means if you plan to fly right before or after Thanksgiving Day, early October is an ideal time to book a ticket. Happy planning!

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.