Hot travel trend has people 'townsizing' by visiting quaint American towns
Priceline released its annual travel trends report for 2025 — and one trend, "townsizing," is giving some under-the-radar destinations the limelight.
"Americans are seeking simplicity and will travel to find it," the press release notes. People are opting "for quaint, comfy respites in America's small towns."
"The trend toward small towns offers different benefits for different generations," it adds.
"While boomers are most likely to feel that small towns are more relaxing, Gen Z is 'townsizing' as a way to indulge in the charming, quaint moments depicted in their most comforting movies."
Gen Z is 89% more likely than average travelers to seek out a vacation that offers a "Nancy Meyers lifestyle," according to the report.
Destinations such as Old Saybrook, Connecticut; North Wildwood, New Jersey; and Cape Cod in Massachusetts are examples of quieter towns that encompass the coastal movie charm in many of Meyers' movies.
The report adds that 67% of Gen Z are "more likely to see a vacation as an opportunity to live out their small-town fantasies."
"These types of trips are for people who want to sit back, relax and take their time exploring the local shops and restaurants of a quiet area - away from the hustle and bustle of a big city," Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation, told Fox News Digital.
Indiana-based travel adviser at Travelmation, Amy Thomasson, told Fox News Digital she is seeing the trend spark near her home.
"The New Baden/French Lick area is a perfect example of townsizing," said Thomasson.
"These travelers are less interested in ticking off the boxes of what everyone says they should do on vacation and instead turning to more experiential trips where they can make memories in a new and exciting location," she added.
Thomasson says she's noticed the trend become very popular with more clients seeking easy weekend getaways.
"They are looking for a place they can easily drive to that has good hotel options and fun things to do. They want to go off the beaten path but not be inconvenienced," she said.
Thomasson says the trend also allows travelers to save money and avoid the hassles of flying — giving people a more relaxed pace for their vacation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Toll Brothers Apartment Living® Breaks Ground on The Airedale, a New Luxury Apartment Community in Charlotte
The three-story, 348-unit community is Toll Brothers Apartment Living's first luxury multifamily development in North Carolina CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers Apartment Living®, the rental subsidiary of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL), the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of The Airedale, a new three-story, 348-unit luxury multifamily community in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Airedale will be Toll Brothers Apartment Living's first rental community in the state. The community is being developed as part of a joint venture with International Capital, LLC and financed through a construction loan facility from TD Bank. The recent groundbreaking celebration was attended by Toll Brothers Apartment Living leadership and The Airedale's development partners. The Airedale is anticipated to open in fall 2026. 'We are excited to officially break ground at The Airedale, our first multifamily community in North Carolina,' said John McCullough, President of Toll Brothers Apartment Living. 'Toll Brothers Apartment Living is known for building extraordinary communities in thriving locations, and The Airedale will set a new standard for luxury living in Charlotte.'The Airedale will offer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. Each apartment home will include luxury finishes and upscale features, including quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, soft-close cabinetry with under-cabinet lighting, and kitchen islands. The apartment homes will also feature modular closets, private balconies, and smart home technology. Residents will enjoy an 8,200-square-foot clubhouse, adjacent to an expansive pool and sundeck with cabanas, an outdoor grilling and dining area, a hammock garden, and green space with lawn games. The community will offer a 24/7 fitness center with individual workout pods and an outdoor fitness lawn, a catering kitchen and a private dining room, a coworking suite with individual work pods and a conference room, a pet spa and a half-acre pet park, and a coffee and hydration bar as well as on-demand beverage taps. Additional community amenities will include a grab and go market, a package room with cold storage, and community-wide Wi-Fi. 'The Airedale represents our commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed communities with elevated living experiences,' said Michael Skena, Managing Director of Toll Brothers Apartment Living in the Mid-Atlantic region. 'With modern residences, best-in-class amenities, and a location that puts the best of Steele Creek and Charlotte within reach, The Airedale will offer residents a community defined by comfort, style, and convenience.' The Airedale is situated on a 19.75-acre site located at 13607 Choate Circle in Charlotte. This vibrant area boasts ample dining and shopping, including the RiverGate Shopping Center and Steele Creek Crossing, as well as proximity to outdoor recreation. The Airedale is located near Interstates 77 and 485, and South Tryon Street, giving residents easy access to South End, Uptown, and regional employment centers. To learn more about The Airedale, visit TOLL BROTHERS APARTMENT LIVING®Toll Brothers Apartment Living® is the apartment development division of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL), an award-winning Fortune 500 company, and the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. Toll Brothers Apartment Living brings the same quality, luxury, and service for which Toll Brothers is known to its exceptional rental and mixed-use communities in select markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, DC. Toll Brothers Apartment Living communities combine the energy of vibrant locations with unparalleled amenities, resident services, design, and the expertise of America's Luxury Home Builder®. In 2024, Toll Brothers Apartment Living was named to the National Multifamily Housing Council's Top 25 Largest Developers list, the fifth year it has been so recognized. The firm has completed over 10,000 units nationally, with more than 18,000 units in production. For more information visit ABOUT TOLL BROTHERSToll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 58 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'TOL.' The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. Toll Brothers has been one of Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Companies™ for 10+ years in a row, and in 2024 the Company's Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron's magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit From Fortune, ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
12 minutes ago
- New York Post
Las Vegas tourism is sinking — and younger Americans could be to blame
The latest statistics confirm the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a dramatic low, with some even calling Vegas an experience of the past. Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Advertisement Social media users have called out the high prices of everything from dining to parking, citing these and other reasons for staying away. Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of 'The Robby Starbuck Show,' told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas. 'Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online,' Starbuck said this week. 'I don't know one person under 40 who goes to Vegas regularly to bet or play slots,' he added. Advertisement 'This trend will continue with younger people because, honestly, our minds are wired differently.' The U.S. online gambling market in 2024 was estimated at $12.68 billion, according to Grand View Research. Tom Reeg, Caesars Entertainment CEO, said it would be a 'soft summer' on a recent earnings call, according to local reports. 3 The latest statistics confirm the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a dramatic low. lucky-photo – Advertisement Starbuck said generational differences also could be pushing down the popularity of visiting Las Vegas. 'Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction, while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences,' he said. 'The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in,' said Starbuck. He added, 'The typical casino feel and marketing just won't be as successful with young people who have 40 options to gamble on their phones from the comfort of their own home.' Advertisement 3 Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year. SvetlanaSF – An additional generational difference, Starbuck pointed out, is that younger generations are ditching the bottle. 'Younger generations drink alcohol at lower rates than older generations did at their age. That's going to have a material impact on the Vegas business model if young people drink less,' he said. The number of people in their 20s who chose to abstain from alcohol more than doubled between 2001 and 2019, going from 9% to 22%, according to a 2019 National Drug Strategy Household survey. And a recent Gallup survey found that roughly 38% of adults under age 35 now identify as fully abstaining from alcohol. In addition, more than a quarter of Gen Z respondents felt 'very concerned' about the potential health effects of drinking alcohol, according to Civic Science. Hotel rates down, too The hotel industry is also feeling the burn of fewer visitors. Occupancy rates dropped 6.5%, while average daily room rates have lowered to $163.64 – down 6.6%, according to the LVCVA. Advertisement Meanwhile, a 43-story hotel and casino has been put on an indefinite pause, SF Gate reported. The property has a prime location on the Vegas strip and will remain an empty lot for parking for now. Starbuck said he's been to Las Vegas a number of times in his life and doesn't see himself visiting again unless there is a change. 3 The hotel industry is also feeling the burn of fewer visitors, according to reports. Kristof – Advertisement 'If it feels like a place where I can see the future and bring my whole family, then you'll see me in Vegas again,' he said. 'Without that kind of transformation, Vegas is in trouble in the coming decades,' he predicted. 'If Vegas wants to win with young people in the future, it's going to have to transition to a must-see destination that makes you feel like you have just entered the future.'
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Chef-Inspired Steak Hack Delivers Accurate Results Every Time
Is there anything more heartbreaking -- in the kitchen at least -- than shelling out for a gorgeous, thick-cut steak and then accidentally overcooking it? Even if you think you've mastered checking for doneness by touch, it can be a gamble when you're relying on multiple variables with the stovetop or grill to deliver a perfect medium rare to a thick-cut piece of meat. Best Meat Delivery Services for 2025 See at Cnet Some methods call for starting a steak on the stovetop or grill for a beautifully caramelized exterior crust and then finishing in the oven for more even cooking. But a simple, chef-inspired hack says the opposite: literally, reverse that. Reverse searing is a method frequently used by chefs that delivers consistent results when it comes to cooking thick steaks to perfect doneness, no matter how you prefer them. I tried it, and now I'll never do it any other way again. What is reverse searing? Reverse searing involves cooking meat at a low temperature for even, gentle cooking and then finishing on the stovetop or grill for a caramelized crust. Low-and-slow cooking is often favored to deliver tenderness to tough cuts. Imagine what it can do when you start with something that is already tender. "By cooking at a lower temperature, you let the marbling and collagen of the beef break down slowly, resulting in something that's extra meaty and juicy," says Danny Ganem, Culinary Director of Gioia Hospitality Group, which includes the newly-opened Daniel's Steakhouse in Miami. "It's great for melding flavors and adding even more tenderness to a thick cut of steak." Read more: Reddit Agrees, the '137 Club' Is the Best Way to Make Steak. Here's How It Works High heat is reserved for the end of the process after the meat is perfectly relaxed, "to achieve that beautiful mahogany crust," says Ganem, without it seizing up due to the sudden temperature difference when you put a cold steak on a hot pan. This also keeps the natural moisture content of the meat -- its juices -- more evenly distributed during the cooking process. What do you need for a reverse sear? Chefs will often apply a sous vide technique for a reverse sear, but you don't have to get that technical to accomplish it at home. "The best tools are a temperature-controlled oven that can achieve consistent temperatures of under 180 degrees Fahrenheit, a sheet pan with a wire rack, and a good cast iron (or heavy-duty stainless steel) pan where you can finish your steak at a high temperature," says Ganem. (Food writer hack: If you don't think you already have the necessary wire rack -- check your toaster oven.) An oven-safe thermometer with a temperature alert is also helpful for tracking the internal temperature of the meat in the thickest part while it cooks. I highly recommend this over an instant-read thermometer, which requires you to repeatedly open the oven to check. If you're relying on timing or other cues rather than precise temperature tracking, you're potentially losing the accuracy that this method can ensure. What cuts are best for reverse searing? Reverse searing works best with thick cuts of steak. Anything under an inch and you don't have enough thickness to get an accurate temperature reading in the center of the steak, so look for grocery store steaks that are cut to at least 1.5" to 2" thick, or ask your butcher for those dimensions, or even thicker. This method can even apply to thick cuts from pork or lamb. Certain steak cuts are naturally limited in their thickness, so this method doesn't apply to every cut. "My personal preferences for reverse searing are big and thick cuts like a Porterhouse, Côte de Boeuf, (bone-in ribeye) or a beautiful Prime Rib," says Ganem. I tried it with a 1.5-inch thick ribeye from the grocery store. (Spoiler alert: Never has a grocery store cut seen a better outcome.) Reverse searing method You will need: Thick cut steaks (at least 1.5-inch thick) Salt and pepper High-heat cooking oil and butter (optional) Sheet tray with wire rack Oven-safe thermometer Cast iron or heavy-duty stainless steel pan (nonstick not recommended for this) Directions: Assemble equipment and preheat oven to 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit Season steaks liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Place steaks on wire racks over a sheet tray, and insert an oven-safe thermometer into the thickest part of the steak, as centered as possible. Cook until temperature reaches desired doneness. This may take 30 to 40 minutes or more, depending on the consistency of your oven temp and the desired temperature: If you're watching the temperature increase with an oven-safe thermometer, you'll have a sense of when your steaks are about to come out of the oven. In the last minute or two, heat oil (with optional butter) in pan until nearly smoking. Once out of the oven, sear steaks on both sides for about 1 minute per side, making sure the entire surface of the steak is in contact with the pan. You may choose to rest the steaks momentarily when done cooking, but with the reverse sear method, this is less important, as the consistency of the lower temperature early in the cooking process helps with the even distribution of juices. Benefits and drawbacks for reverse searing Because the reverse sear method takes much more time than simply searing on the stovetop or grill, "the biggest drawback is time consumption and planning," says Ganem. "You can't simply pull a steak out of the fridge and cook it fast." I found this to be a bonus, however, in terms of preparing the whole meal. While the steak was in the oven I was able to use the stovetop to prepare other components without having to keep a close eye on the meat, which were then ready to go when the steak came out for its last couple minutes of searing and I could give it my full attention. Not having to rest the meat also means that you get to enjoy it hotter, a bonus which cannot be understated. Regardless of effective "tenting" during the rest period that other methods require, your steak is going to lose some of its heat while it waits to be cut. Solve the daily Crossword
