Used to be, places like Paris, London and Rome were at the top of Americans' lists when it came to travel, according to Airbnb. But with travel restrictions a side effect of the pandemic and social distancing a key to combating the coronavirus, we've traded mega cities and jet-set vacations for family road trips to places like national parks.
The Great Smoky Mountains, already the most-visited national park in the nation, is at the top of the list for travelers during the pandemic as well, Airbnb data shows. Which makes sense considering that it's within a one-day drive of half the United States' population.
And synonymous with the Great Smoky Mountains - and social distancing - are cabins.
In its 2021 Trend Report, Vrbo notes that demand for cabins increased 25% over last year.
"This is a trend we have seen as well," says Liz DeBold Fusco, public policy and communications officer for Airbnb.
That site's 2021 U.S. Travel Report also notes a trend in unique offshoots of the cabin experience: "Guests are expanding their horizons and seeking unique travel experiences by staying in one-of-a-kind stays on Airbnb. The top trending space types among U.S. travelers next year (2021) include a variety of spaces known for using less energy and producing less waste, including treehouses, yurts, barns, cycladic houses and domes."
Among Airbnb's most wishlisted stays, topped by lists including "Cottages," "Living in the Outdoors," "Camping with the Stars" and "Cabin Fever," is this cabin in nearby Candler, North Carolina, which encompasses all of this year's travel trends.
Pisgah Highlands Off Grid Cabin
Sleeps 2
$96/night
Incorporating things like a solar generator for charging cellphones, an outdoor shower with a solar shower camping bag, a two-burner propane cooktop and charcoal grill for making dinner, and a propane heater for cold nights, this cabin gives new meaning to the word "escape," which is only enhanced by its mountaintop setting on a private 125-acre retreat which backs up to Pisgah National Forest.
Yet it's still just 25 minutes from downtown Asheville.
An easy trail leads guests along a creek into the forest, or they can make the scenic four-mile drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and connect with a network of popular hikes. The fire pit back at the cabin is the perfect spot to regroup over s'mores and suds.
But guests can also connect with nature without ever leaving the cabin - the roll-up glass garage door means you can be soothed to sleep by the forest's nocturnal symphony, and a two-person hammock swing offers a new perspective on the lush surroundings.
Airbnb lists these as the top destinations last year:
* Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
* Breckenridge, Colorado
* Davenport, Florida
* Palm Springs, California
* Tulum, Mexico
Prior to the pandemic, the top destinations based on nights stayed in the second half of 2019 were:
* Barcelona, Spain
* Lisbon, Portugal
* London, England
* Los Angeles, California
* Madrid, Spain
* New York City, New York
* Paris, France
* Rome, Italy
* Seoul, South Korea
* Toronto, Canada