I love to travel for vacation. A staycation doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me.

Don't get me wrong, I've been on staycations but when I vacay, I want to go somewhere I have never been before.

man swimming in an inflatable water pool, indoors
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That's why I've always had a hard time wanting to spend too much time in Wisconsin. Not that there's anything wrong with the Badger State, it's just Illinois adjacent that's all.

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ILLINOIS FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL THIS SUMMER

So when Zippia published Each State's Top Travel Destination for Summer I was heartened and surprised to see Italy as Illinois' top choice.

Three happy young women friends tourists with bikes waving hats at Colosseum in Rome, Italy at sunrise.
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However, Illinois wasn't alone in its love for a summer vacation in Italy.

Zippia:

People from across the United States were interested in a trip to Italy – from Kentucky and South Carolina in the south to Illinois, New York, and Minnesota in the North.

I made it to Paris, France in 2022 and that was the first time I had ever been to Europe. I fell in love with the city and want to return, but Italy is near the top of the list too.

Female tourist looking the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Canale Grande in Venice, Italy
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WHY GO TO ITALY?

Kyle on Via Travelers shared 12 reasons why we should all go to Italy this year.

Here's their best reason, "food to die for."

All that roaming and trekking calls for some delicious meals, and what’s a better place than Italy for that? With such a rich culture and history, it is bound to have some exceptional food. Hence, mouth-watering dishes are another reason to visit Italy.

Have you been to Italy? Is it worth the time, money, and effort to travel there?

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Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang

The Definitive List of The Oddest, Strangest and Downright Filthy Town Names In Every State

We combed through list after list of the oddest, strangest and somewhat naughty-sounding town names in every state. From Smut Eye to Ding Dong, you can learn unbelievable facts about each of these towns below.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll