Poll: Most Americans Want to Take a Summer Vacation; Hawaii Most Popular Dream Destination
By WILL LESTER
The Associated Press
May. 27, 2005 - Black sand beaches, warm Pacific breezes, bubbling lava and the waves of Waikiki top the list of Americans' vacation fantasies. If time and money are no object for vacation planning, Hawaii rules. Only half of the people in this country say they are planning to take a vacation trip this summer, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll found.
But 79 percent of those surveyed said they would travel this summer if they could afford it and had the time. When people were asked to name any place they would want to go on vacation if they had the time and the money, Hawaii was the choice of 14 percent, more than any other specific place.
The attraction of Hawaii is easy to understand for Edward Harsh, a 41-year-old car salesman from Phoenix who lived on the Hawaiian island of Oahu last year.
"It's probably one of the most secluded places on Earth," Harsh said. "You can go anywhere in your shorts and flip-flops. People go to church in their flip flops. In Hawaii, the most dangerous thing there is a rogue wave that could carry you away."
On the vacation wish list, places mentioned specifically most often in the poll:
Hawaii
Europe
Italy (singled out from other European locations)
Alaska
the Caribbean
Florida
ABC News/Associated Press
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