New York City

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It's not hard to find a common characteristic among Forbes Traveler's top 15 North American vacation spots: sun, sand and sea clearly dominate the leisure-destination favorites.

We gathered data on flights, hotels, vacation packages and customer preferences from six major travel organizations and agencies (Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, Hotwire's Travel-Ticker.com, Vacation.com, the Carlson Wagonlit travel agency network, and Cruise Lines International Association, Inc.) to present a snapshot of the hottest vacation hangouts during the past year.

In Pictures: See All Top 15 North American Vacation Spots

1. Orlando (Walt Disney World / Universal Orlando), Fla.

A cluster of perennial tourist favorites surround this mid-Florida metropolis. It got votes as a top-selling vacation destination from all of the travel agencies we polled. The allure of Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and a host of other theme parks—not to mention the balmy Florida weather—make this city a prime holiday hot-spot.

2. New York City

As with Orlando, travel agencies unanimously reported that New York City was one of their best-selling vacation destinations during the past year. Leisure opportunities within the city are virtually endless, but Travelocity's poll of its marketing managers found that "Broadway shows" topped its list of vacationers' Manhattan destinations.

3. Las Vegas

The city of perpetual indulgence welcomed more than 37 million visitors in 2008 and is home to 17 of the biggest hotels in the U.S. The city's casinos, shows, fine dining and warm desert air put it at or near the top of the list as a best-selling vacation destination for a majority of the travel organizations we surveyed.

4. San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, world-class museums and restaurants are among the draws of this West Coast destination, which attracts more than 16 million visitors annually. Travel-Ticker customers preferred deals on hotels near the waterfront or Union Square.

5. Los Angeles

The entertainment capital of the world is also surrounded by inviting beaches and mountains—and is located a short drive from tourist-magnet Disneyland. Cultural, sight-seeing and shopping opportunities abound; new attractions include the Annenberg Space for Photography (opened this Spring) and Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood (scheduled to open summer 2009).

6. Cancun and Cozumel, Mexico

Cancun and Cozumel are among the popular destinations on Mexico's "Mayan Riviera," the stretch of coastline along the Caribbean side of the Yucatan Peninsula. Beach and ocean activities are the order of the day here, especially snorkeling and scuba diving in the spectacular Great Maya Reef.

7. Chicago

Travelocity's marketing managers found the Blue Man Group to be the best-selling Chicago attraction for their customers, but the Windy City is home to myriad vacation draws, from its architectural wonders to high-profile sports franchises to a thriving theater scene and numerous lakefront leisure activities.