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11. Lake Mead National Recreation Area,
Ariz./Nev.:
7.6 million
Thirty miles southeast of Las Vegas lies the U.S.'s largest man-made
lake and reservoir, a recreational mecca for boaters, swimmers,
fishermen and naturalists. But Lake Mead, which is formed by the
Hoover Dam's interruption of the Colorado River, may not stay on
this list for long. It's a major source of water for the
southwestern U.S. and according to researchers, the lake may be dry
by 2021. |
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12. Universal Studios Orlando/Islands of
Adventure at
Universal Orlando, Fla.:
6.2 million
Like its rival Disney, Universal houses a cluster of attractions in
Orlando, where two theme parks, Universal Studios Orlando and
Universal's Islands of Adventure, vie for thrill-seeking tourists.
Among Universal Studio's attractions are Shrek 4-D and a
"psychological thrill
ride," Revenge of the Mummy. |
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13. SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla.:
5.8 million
Shamu Stadium and the Whale and Dolphin Theatre are among the marine
spectacles on display at this Orlando oasis. The TEA/ERA puts
SeaWorld's 2007 attendance at 5.8 million. |
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14. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation
Area, Penn./N.J.:
5.13 million
River-focused recreation is what attracts droves of tourists to this
appalachian-ridge park on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
But there are several
historical attractions here, too, including Native American
archaeological sites and colonial villages. In 2008,
visitation increased to 5.1 million (from 4.8 million in 2007). |
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15. San Antonio River Walk, Texas:
5.1 million
The River Walk proclaims itself the "Number One entertainment
destination in Texas," with 5.1 million visitors a year. Paseo del
Rio's Executive Director Greg Gallaspy says that number stayed
constant in 2008, with more than 900,000 people attending events
produced by the association including the Fiesta de las Luminarias
when the walkway is aglow with candle-lit bags, a mariachi festival,
and
a floating Mardi Gras Parade. |
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