For everyone who has missed travelling, it’s time to rejoice. As the world slowly opens, we’ve got so many options to choose from that it might get overwhelming. So it’s important to ask yourselves what do you want from a vacation this year? Are you craving fresh air, a mountain breeze, and cold dew at your feet? Maybe you want to feel the hot sand between your toes and smell the salty ocean breeze. Or perhaps you’re looking to make friends with a new tranquil town and its culture.

Whatever it is you’re looking to gain from your travels, there’s definitely something out there for you. If you need some inspiration, check out the new report from RENTCafé. The apartment search website found that people are back on the vacation train and ready to kick back and relax. After a period of restrictions and limited vacation options, Google searches for vacation destinations during March and April saw a 224% rise compared to the same period last year.

The East Coast dominated the top, with many destinations near major hubs making for perfect weekend getaways. Beaches and nature destinations also ranked among the most searched for travel spots this year.

Top Comeback Travel Destinations

Cape May, NJ, topped the list with an increase in searches of 470%. This beach destination is perfect for a quick getaway, offering travelers a perfect spot for relaxation: America’s oldest seashore resort. Newport, RI, is another beach getaway Americans are looking forward to this summer: searches for Newport rose 458% compared to March and April of last year.

Florida stands its ground as a favorite vacation destination, with 5 entries in the top 10 comeback destinations. Among the state’s champions we find Kissimmee and Destin, with a 446% and a 434% spike in searches, respectively, as well as Miami Beach and Panama City Beach, both with increases of over 400%.

Nature Destinations Are Still Favorites

During the pandemic, people started craving nature more than ever. Mountain areas and nature spots saw a 288% increase in travel searches, the highest spike among all destination types.

Lake George, NY, is the champion of nature destinations, having seen a 393% increase in travel searches. It’s no wonder, seeing how this gorgeous retreat has everything from fresh air to jaw-dropping views. For mountain lovers — and there seem to be many out there — the Smokies are the preferred destination. Gateway Pigeon Forge, TN, takes the second spot in the top comeback nature destinations, with a 386% increase in travel searches.

9- minutes away from Atlanta are 2 gems that caught the eye of American travelers: Blue Ridge and Helen. The two towns that offer plenty of outdoor activities saw a rise in travel searches of 362% and 359% respectively.

The Ocean Calls

Many beaches already showed up in the top destinations to make a comeback, which speaks to their undying popularity. However, searches for sandy destinations rose 277% overall. The highest increases were seen by Cape May, NJ; Destin, FL; and Ocean City, MD, among others.

Small Towns Make Big Comeback

To avoid big crowds last year, people turned to quaint small town destinations, and it seems the trend is here to stay. There’s something special about discovering and exploring a charming community, where time slows down and you can really enjoy it. Among the small towns to make a big comeback this spring are Newport, RI, Galena, IL, and Wisconsin Dells, WI, all with increases in travel searches of over 350%. Midwest’s favorite vacation destination, Branson, MO, comes in fifth with a 333% increase in Google searches.

Hottest Destinations

When it comes to the number of travel searches, large Sun Belt Cities turn out to be the most Googled destinations in spring of 2021. Orlando and Miami take up the first two spots in the top, followed by Nashville, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

With traveling picking up slowly, the eagerness to visit new places and experience new adventures might carry us to any of these destinations. It’s exciting to see which spots will end up marking our new (re)found freedom.

Last year brought some perspective on the things we sometimes take for granted, and traveling might be one of those. Now, after we’ve learned to stay in place and make the most of every moment, it’s time to take that lesson with us in our travels. Let’s be present and mindful every step of the way, to truly enjoy the new adventures and marvel at the places we’re going to see next.