** Sorry, applications have closed! **
Congratulations to our winner Jeanne T. and family in Eau Claire, WI!

Since we started Trips To Discover back in 2014 our mission has been to help millions of our site visitors find their next destination and provide the tools to get them there. We aim to inspire you to travel more — but 2020 definitely had its own plans. We know most of us were not able to explore a new dreamy destination last year, but we’re keeping hopes high for 2021. In addition to last year’s cancelled plans, we all also dealt with a serious case of digital overload. It’s hard to fight the urge to keep on “doomscrolling,” and your mental health surely pays the price.

At Trips To Discover, we think a little break from digital devices for some peace and quiet will do the mind and body good. That’s why we’re heading up a search for a brave individual, couple or family willing to unplug from electronics in an effort to refresh after a difficult 2020. In order to do that, we’ll send them to a secluded, top-rated Airbnb within driving distance of their home for some much needed peace and quiet.

Credit: Dreamstime

Here’s How It Works:

The winner will receive 3 nights in the best secluded Airbnb ultimately chosen by them, a $200 stipend for gas, and a special delivery of snacks to enjoy during their stay. In addition to going completely screen free on your trip, we want you to complete a handful of mindfulness exercises, journal the experience, and snap some fun shots on a single-use camera we will also provide. When you’re done, we’ll give you a $200 cash bonus for succeeding. It’s only fitting that the whole package is valued up to $2,021.

The big catch?…no screens whatsoever.

You read that right. Yes, even if your secluded Airbnb is equipped with them. The winner will need to be brave enough to trade their digital devices (aka. vices) for 72 whole hours. Are you up to the challenge?

How to Apply:

The application process is simple, just complete the short form below and include an explanation of why you would benefit from unplugging on this personal escape. Tell us why you need this trip the most. Tell us what type of impact you feel a total unplug will have on your mood going into 2021.

After the winner is selected, Trips To Discover will get in touch to recommend the top Airbnbs close by, but the final decision is up to the winner.

The Rules:

• Leave digital devices of all types in the car and avoid any within your Airbnb
• Keep a simple, daily journal of your experience
• Complete a short mindfulness exercise each day (we’ll pass along the expert advice)
• Snap shots of your favorite moments with a handy single-use camera (provided by us)
• You’re a U.S. resident over age 18 and agree to the Terms & Conditions

Applications open until January 31st, 2021.

** NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS **

Thank you for all of the applications. Congratulations to our winner Jeanne T. and family in Eau Claire, WI!

Disclaimer: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. All applicants acknowledge that the 2021 Refresh Challenge is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or affiliated with Airbnb, Inc. or any of its affiliates.
READ FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We went on the search to discover America’s top vacation destination in 2020, and decided to go straight to the source. We asked our 1.5 million monthly readers and our 900k+ Facebook fans  — and the results are in! We ranked the U.S. states by overall votes. We also collected feedback about why that state is at the top of the list, and which city within that state people are heading to.

Top 10: U.S. States with the Most Overall Votes

1. Hawaii
2. California
3. Colorado
4. Florida
5. Louisiana
6. Alaska
7. New York
8. Oregon
9. Arizona
10. Washington

Hawaii

Sitting at the top spot of the list is Hawaii. Honolulu received the greatest number of votes when asked for a specific city, but Maui came in a very close second.

Reasons for Going: 73% of Hawaii respondents said it has been on their list for a long time, with 20% claiming they had been there before.
Activities: The activities were unsurprisingly all related to the outdoors with hiking, snorkeling, camping, sightseeing and “relaxing,” all common answers. Many “Bucket List” activities made the cut as well, including “tour a volcano,” “take a helicopter ride,” “swim with dolphins,” and “skydiving.”
Likelihood of Going: 17% who chose Hawaii claimed they will “Definitely Go” in 2020, but 29% said there is a “Very Small Chance.”

California

California snagged the #2 spot, and Los Angeles was the top city named by those who chose California, with San Diego and San Francisco coming in second and third, respectively.

Reasons for Going: 36% of participants said they had family in California, and, 31% said they have been to the state already and love going there.
Activities: 8% of those who chose California listed “Surfing” as the activity they had in mind when making their choice, and another 8% said the various theme parks were on the agenda. 
Likelihood of Going: The percentage of those who say they “Definitely will visit” is higher for California than Hawaii at 34%.

Colorado

Rounding out the top three is Colorado. Its capital, Denver, received the most overall votes for any city in our survey.

Reasons for Going: 58% of those who chose Colorado included “I’ve heard there is plenty to see and do,” in their list of reasons for visiting, and 23% said they have been before and it’s one of their favorite destinations. Other reasons listed include researching a potential move at 5%.
Activities: The Colorado activities were predominantly outdoorsy including skiing, whitewater rafting, and 36% specifically stated hiking as their main activity. Checking out the food scene and visiting breweries made a showing as well at 7%. 
Likelihood of Going: 15% said they will “Definitely Go,” in 2020.

Top 10 U.S. Cities with the Most Overall Votes:

1. Denver
2. New Orleans
3. Portland
4. Honolulu
5. New York City
6. Seattle
7. Maui
8. Los Angeles
9. Las Vegas
10. Nashville

These cities may not correspond with the top states that received the most number of votes, but they were the clear winners among surveyed users. This indicates that the top states have a less concentrated amount of visitors to one particular area when compared to the states with the top cities.

As previously mentioned, Denver received more votes than any other city. And while Louisiana took the 5th place spot in our results, New Orleans was the second most named city.

Other highlights from our survey:

• 6% of those surveyed said they hadn’t decided to which specific city they were headed
• 20% of those surveyed overall listed “hiking” as a reason they chose their destination
• 24% of those surveyed said they are “Definitely” traveling to the state they chose

*Prefer glamping? Try these top glamping spots in Florida instead!

Whether you’re planning a move, a vacation, or a day trip, here are things to do in Orlando besides go to a theme park!

*Weather conditions can affect the dates any of these locations are open. Be sure to check with each establishment yourself to make sure they aren’t subjected to flooding or any other hiccups in the season.

Fun fact: This is just one of over 10 unbelievable ice hotels in the world!

There is no universal Visa to travel the world, so when you’re venturing off to a new place, be sure to do your research and see if you need to apply for a Visa. To take away the guess work, we’ve got a quick list for you to follow.

Let’s take a closer look.