BY ALISSA MILLER

Travel + Leisure 2024 World’s Best Awards: Top U.S. Destinations To Visit

How do you know the best places to travel? That’s easy — Travel + Leisure magazine just announced the winners of the 2024 World’s Best Awards, an annual compilation of the best travel destinations and organizations around the world. There are 125 categories in the World’s Best Awards, but the category you’re probably most interested in is Best U.S. Cities. You’ll be thrilled to hear that five of the top 10 cities Travel + Leisure listed have either a Club Wyndham or a Club Pass resort. So which ones made the list? Read on to find out.

Santa Fe, New Mexico — #2 On The List

Who wouldn’t want to visit a city that has an average of 325 sunny days each year? That’s Santa Fe, and there are many more reasons to pay “The City Different” a visit. Unique in its blend of Spanish and Native American culture, Santa Fe is world-renowned as an art hub with more than 250 galleries and 20 museums. The country’s oldest capital city, Santa Fe was founded in the early 17th century, and is surrounded by more than 1.5 million acres of federally protected national forest. Here are your top three Santa Fe “musts” while you’re there:

Must Visit: The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s collection of more than 3,000 original drawings, paintings, sculpture and more by the famous artist, in the American Modernist style.
Must Taste: Biscochito, traditional New Mexico cookie made with butter, sugar, cinnamon, and anise, typically shaped like a star.
Must Explore: The Santa Fe National Historic Trail, an historic trail in the Santa Fe National Forest, originally used by pioneers, wagons, and livestock.

Where To Stay: WorldMark Santa Fe (Club Pass)

Honolulu, Hawaii — #4 On The List

Famed worldwide for its beautiful beaches, multicultural historic sites, and ideal climate, Honolulu is a vacationer’s paradise. Hawaii’s capital city is the surfing mecca of the world, and is also one of the safest cities in the U.S. With its fusion of Polynesian, Asian, and American cultures, Honolulu is a magical destination where you can still visit a former Hawaiian royal palace, see a traditional luau, and embrace the warm and friendly spirit of aloha. Make sure to sample traditional Hawaiian cuisine while you’re there. Here are your top three “musts” for visitors to Honolulu:

Must Try: Surfing, especially on the north shore of Waikiki Beach, traditionally recognized as the birthplace of recreational surfing.
Must Watch: An authentic Hawaiian luau, a hallmark of Hawaiian culture that includes traditional food, music, costumes, and dance (and sometimes fire!).
Must Explore: The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, to learn about the tragic history of the major event that spurred the United States to enter World War II.

Where To Stay: Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk®, Club Wyndham Royal Garden at Waikiki, Club Wyndham Waikiki Marina Resort at the Ilikai

New Orleans, Louisiana — #5 On The List

Affectionately nicknamed “The Big Easy,” New Orleans is a fan-favorite among lovers of food, music, history, and culture. Known for its haunted sites and voodoo history, New Orleans is a port city celebrated for its well-preserved Antebellum architecture, vibrant nightlife, and a plethora of restaurants and cafes that serve unique Cajun and Creole cuisine. Explore historic sites, visit a museum or two, or just enjoy the city’s fun-loving Mardi Gras spirit. Make sure to check out these top three “musts” while you’re there:

Must Hear: Live jazz music in the city that birthed the jazz movement, especially at jazz clubs like the Spotted Cat or Preservation Hall.
Must Do: Join a New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire Walking Tour to see a different side of the city, including some of the more macabre parts of its dark past.
Must Taste: Traditional Cajun or Creole cuisine like gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, étouffée, or muffuletta — or pretty much anything made with crawfish, okra, and lots of spice!

Where To Stay: Club Wyndham Avenue Plaza, Club Wyndham La Belle Maison

San Antonio, Texas — #6 On The List

Originally founded in 1718 as a Spanish outpost and colonial mission, San Antonio is home to five historic frontier missions which collectively make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its warm weather plus its Tex-Mex culture and cuisine make San Antonio a friendly place that welcomes visitors to its legendary landmarks — the Alamo and the River Walk. Multiple theme parks (SeaWorld, Six Flags, and LEGOLAND, among others), deliver family-friendly fun for folks of all ages. For travelers to San Antonio, these are your top three “musts” while you’re there:

Must Taste: Tex-Mex staples like fajitas, tamales, nachos, and chimichangas all taste better in San Antonio, the Tex-Mex capital of the world.
Must Explore: The San Antonio River Walk, a beautifully landscaped riverfront area full of restaurants, shops, night clubs, galleries, and bars.
Must Visit: The Alamo, a historic Spanish mission and compound that will forever be remembered as the site of a pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution of 1836.

Where To Stay: Club Wyndham La Cascada, Club Wyndham Riverside Suites

New York City, New York — #8 On The List

From Brooklyn to the Bronx, New York City is one of the world’s most beloved cities. “The Big Apple” is the city that never sleeps, never gets old, and never grows up. With iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, and Times Square, you’ll never run out of things to see or do in New York. It’s a melting pot of cultures, with more than 800 spoken languages and a never-ending menu of ethnic cuisine — you can travel around the world without leaving the city limits. When you visit the largest city in the U.S., give these top three “musts” a try:

Must Do: Walk through Central Park and explore the park’s top sites like Belvedere Castle, Shakespeare Garden, and Seneca Village.
Must Visit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, aka the Met, one of the world’s most important art museums, which currently houses more than 1.5 million works of art.
Must Watch: A live theatrical performance at one of the 40+ theaters on Broadway, New York’s world-famous theater district.

Where To Stay: Club Wyndham Midtown 45

BONUS! World’s Best U.S. National Park Award: Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was named the Best U.S. National Park, and for good reason. Yellowstone contains more than half of the world’s active geysers and a massive collection of unique geothermal features like bubbling hot springs and steam vents. With a myriad of canyons, forests, and rivers, its scenic landscapes and vistas will leave you breathless. Add in the park’s wildlife from bears to bison and so much in between, Yellowstone is an outdoor adventure just waiting to happen. Here are the top three “musts” at this astounding national park:

Must Visit: Old Faithful, a highly predictable cone geyser that erupts on average once every 45 minutes to two hours.
Must Explore: Mammoth Hot Springs, a large collection of hot springs that was created over a period of more than 1,000 years.
Must Try: Whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River through class 1 through 5 rapids, for a distinct view of the park’s geography.

Where To Stay: WorldMark West Yellowstone (Club Pass)

BONUS #2! World’s Best Domestic Destination Spa Award: Sundara Inn & Spa

The award-winning Sundara Inn & spa is located within Club Wyndham Sundara Cottages at Wisconsin Dells.

That’s a wrap on this year’s best places to travel. If you’re curious which other places were featured in the Travel + Leisure 2024 World’s Best Awards, read the full list. In the meantime, book your next Club Wyndham vacation at one of these top destinations right here!