4 U.S. Landmarks People Photograph More Than The Vegas Strip

A list of the U.S. Landmarks people photograph the most just came out. The Las Vegas Strip made the top five, but just barely. According to Instagram photos, there are four places more popular when it comes to tourist photos.

A student travel company called Rustic Pathways provided the information for this list. Which they compiled by collecting hashtag terms on Instagram that accompanied photos of landmarks. Looking for hashtags like #LasVegasStrip, they found which landmarks had the most photos posted by visitors.

While Vegas locals would love to think that our beloved Strip is the most picture-worthy place on the planet, we know that's not the case. And Instagram users agree, according to what Rustic Pathways discovered. Here are the top four landmarks people are posting pictures of on the social media platform.

During the timeframe of the study, 8,329,774 photos were found with the hashtag #centralpark. It's no doubt that popular shows like Sex And The City and Friends have made people want to visit the iconic Manhattan landmark. And with 843 acres of picturesque landscape, Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are a lot of photo opportunities there.

Spoiler alert: New York dominated the list of landmarks people photograph the most. Taking three of the top five spots. Times Square was number two. With 5,196,085 photos on Instagram posted with the hashtag #timesquare. And no doubt a lot of those came from New Year's Eve where the iconic ball drops. Between that and Broadway, it's a hard place to compete with .

A well-deserved recognition goes to the third of the most popular landmarks people photograph. That's the Brooklyn Bridge, with 3,942,484 hashtags on Instagram. Not only is the iconic landmark an important part of history, but it's gorgeous architecture makes it the perfect backdrop for any photo.

Okay, technically, New York took the top four spots, but this one is away from the city part of the state. On the border of New York and Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls has been the subject of photos for years. The natural wonder is a hot spot for marriage proposals, offers exciting adventures like the Maid of the Mist, and has something for everyone. It's a bucket list item for sure. Which is probably why 3,894,954 photos with #niagarafalls were posted on Instagram during this study.

The Las Vegas Strip landed at number five on this study. But there's a lot to do in Vegas besides just walk around taking photos. So we're going to chalk up our fifth place spot (and not #1) to the fact that our visitors are having too much fun to remember to post pics on social media. And we're okay with that.

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Las Vegas shopping is fun, to say the least.

From the uber-expensive luxury stores that crawl across The Strip to the locally owned businesses across the valley, Vegas offers amazing shopping experiences for anyone and any budget.

There are a few shopping centers that have historical ties to the start of Las Vegas. The Historic Commercial Center is the oldest "shopping center" in Las Vegas, according to 8 News Now. Recently, the shopping center had a little makeover that added art galleries, dining and entertainment to the area.

The first enclosed mall in Nevada is the Boulevard Mall, which is still in operation today. The Boulevard Mall has gone through the ups and downs of a growing city. But, this mall deserves an honorable mention.

Recently, the mall added a Mercado section. The Mercado has multiple different vendors that range from clothes, nail supplies, traditional Mexican attire, Mariachi supplies, Latin American produce, and so much more. There is even a food court that has mariscos (seafood), traditional Mexican dishes, vegetarian options and famous street food like elotes, juices and more.

In each major hotel on The Strip, there is usually an area dedicated to ritzy and luxury retailers. Stores like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Philipp Plein, Dior, Maison Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and so much more are plentiful in Vegas.

I had a good friend, who works at a Louis Vuitton store on The Strip. He says that he has a large swath of clients who are from overseas. But, he also said that a a majority of his clientele are local or based in California.

Even if you're not a luxury type of person, it's still fun to explore the shopping malls of each casino and window shop through the stores.

For this list, we will focus on malls and discount stores rather than luxury retailers. This list will also focus on family-friendly places that are accommodating for children as well. So scroll down below to see where to shop until you drop in Las Vegas!

The Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Las Vegas is a wonderful place, and it's a Vegas favorite. The Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Las Vegas is an indoor market with tons of vendors. It's truly your one-stop shop for clothes, jewelry, home goods, knick-knacks, plants and more. The entrance fee is $1, and the line of vendors goes on throughout the massive building.

The items are affordable and the tagline of the market also says that they "fight inflation." The entrance fee is $1 for the entire day. There are also food vendors that serve delicious agua frescas, fresh coconuts, tacos, hamburgers and more. Another fun part about the Indoor Swap Meet is the vintage market that has different antiques, furniture and collectibles. It's a fun way to spend a weekend because the aisles are endless, and there are so many things that captivate attention. 

The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets are loved by locals. At these malls, you can find discounted designer items, expensive perfumes on sale, and amazing high-quality makeup on a bargain. Even if you don't plan on buying something, you'll most likely end up purchasing an item because the stores have great deals that are hard to pass up. 

The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall, and the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets is an indoor mall. I think the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets have a slightly better selection to shop from, featuring couture houses, mid-range and high-fashion designers at outlet prices. However, it does get very hot during the summer. So if you plan to adventure around the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets then definitely bring water and a handheld fan -- you'll thank us later.

There are food courts in both outlets, and many people prefer the South Premium Outlets during the summer because it's an indoor mall. Both are great if you have family coming in. The Deuce bus shuttles right to the outlet malls from properties on The Strip.

This is the most popular mall on our list. But, we had to add this in case someone still wasn't aware about the beautiful Fashion Show Mall. This is the mall located right on The Strip. From designer to more affordable brands, this mall truly has it all. It's three levels, and it's simply gorgeous to walk around in. This iconic mall use to have weekend fashion shows that were free, and the shows were works of art with a runway that raised from the ground and LED lights.

However it seems that after the pandemic, the mall halted the fashion show. Now, the mall uses the runway space for revolving "interactive experiences," that make for great photo opportunities.

From beloved retailers to local Las Vegas entrepreneurs, this is a must-visit for anybody that is taking a trip to Las Vegas. Some of our favorite stores are the Bite Beauty Lip Lap; where you can make your own lipstick, Casino Quest; which has gaming classes and souvenirs, and the Hello Kitty Café is simply amazing. Although there's not a kid's play area, there are many things and activities that can entertain children like the Fantasy Lab and Happy Camper Pizza

.

Broadacres Marketplace is a Las Vegas tradition. This is a famous outdoor, open-air swap meet has over 1,000 vendors, according to the market's social media.

There's a food hall with rows of delicious food like tortas, machetes, agua frescas, coconuts, and so much more. The famous micheladas are a must-try if you go. You can get anything that you dream of at this market. From furniture, mattresses, home goods, artisanal mexican goods, toys, makeup and more, Broadacres has it all.

During Friday nights, the market has live music and bands that usually play regional Mexican music. The market stays open later on Friday nights, so people can dance and party. It's truly a fun time, and I love going with my friends and family to this market. The entrance fee ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 depending on the day and time you attend. There's also an area for kids with slightly sketch carnival rides, but the kids always have a blast when they attend.

During summer, it may get a little hot. So the best time to attend is during the cooler months. But, if you plan on attending Broadacres during the summer, we recommend bringing plenty of water and a fan, too. Plus, the agua frescas will cool you down.

The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas made out list for one reason: The Gondolas. 

This attraction is what makes The Venetian so special and memorable for many people who visit. The added element of having canals weave throughout the mall is why this casino shopping area made our list in comparison to other casinos. Children adore the gondolas, and the mall transports you to the streets of Italy with the décor and the ceiling painted with clouds and cosmic colors.

The stores are pretty high-end or mid-range with some souvenir shops scattered throughout the mall. The dessert shop is always a kid's favorite, and the entire mall is more of an "experience." I think everyone should ride the gondolas at least once with their family because it's fun to glide around the casino while riding the boats.

Other honorable mentions when it comes to malls inside casinos are the The Forum Shops at Caesars and the Miracle Mile Shops.

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