Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  Image 1 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  10. Mount Shasta region: Lonely Planet says this "deeply spiritual place ... also offers family-friendly fun, great dining and fantastic hiking." Pictured: Brewer Creek carries snowmelt from the Wintun and Hotlum glaciers down the east side of Mount Shasta.  Image 1 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  10. Mount Shasta region: Lonely Planet says this "deeply spiritual place ... also offers family-friendly fun, great dining and fantastic hiking." Pictured: Brewer Creek carries snowmelt from the Wintun and Hotlum glaciers down the east side of Mount Shasta.  10. Mount Shasta region: Lonely Planet says this "deeply...spiritual place ... also offers family-friendly fun, great dining and fantastic hiking."...Pictured: Brewer Creek carries snowmelt from the Wintun and Hotlum...glaciers down the east side of Mount Shasta.  Image 2 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  9. Duluth, Minn.: Dubbed "the Midwest's premier outdoors hotspot" by Lonely Planet, the city is also the perfect starting point for a road trip inspired by Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.  Image 2 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  9. Duluth, Minn.: Dubbed "the Midwest's premier outdoors hotspot" by Lonely Planet, the city is also the perfect starting point for a road trip inspired by Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.  9. Duluth, Minn.: Dubbed "the Midwest's premier outdoors...hotspot" by Lonely Planet, the city is also the perfect starting point...for a road trip inspired by Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited,"...marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.  Image 3 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  8. Oakland: Lake Merritt and neighborhoods such as Uptown, Rockridge and Temescal, as well as the citywide dining and arts scene, are among the top reasons Lonely Planet recommended its home base as a top U.S. destination in 2015.  Image 3 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  8. Oakland: Lake Merritt and neighborhoods such as Uptown, Rockridge and Temescal, as well as the citywide dining and arts scene, are among the top reasons Lonely Planet recommended its home base as a top U.S. destination in 2015.  8. Oakland: Lake Merritt and neighborhoods such as Uptown,...Rockridge and Temescal, as well as the citywide dining and arts scene,...are among the top reasons Lonely Planet recommended its home base as a...top U.S. destination in 2015.  Image 4 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  7. Greenville, S.C.: Sara Benson, coordinating author of Lonely Planet’s "USA's Best Trips" guidebooks, says this "manageable small city" is also a "much less crowded, overlooked base camp for the Blue Ridge Mountains."  Image 4 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  7. Greenville, S.C.: Sara Benson, coordinating author of Lonely Planet’s "USA's Best Trips" guidebooks, says this "manageable small city" is also a "much less crowded, overlooked base camp for the Blue Ridge Mountains."  7. Greenville, S.C.: Sara Benson, coordinating author of Lonely...Planet’s "USA's Best Trips" guidebooks, says this "manageable small...city" is also a "much less crowded, overlooked base camp for the Blue...Ridge Mountains."  Image 5 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  6. Indianapolis: With the Children's Museum of Indianapolis among its attractions, the city is "a great place for a laid-back family vacation," says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "It's a relaxing, friendly and not too crowded Midwestern city."  Image 5 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  6. Indianapolis: With the Children's Museum of Indianapolis among its attractions, the city is "a great place for a laid-back family vacation," says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "It's a relaxing, friendly and not too crowded Midwestern city."  6. Indianapolis: With the Children's Museum of Indianapolis...among its attractions, the city is "a great place for a laid-back...family vacation," says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "It's a...relaxing, friendly and not too crowded Midwestern city."  Image 6 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  5. North Conway, N.H.: The scenic New England village will mark its 250th anniversary in 2015. An enticing destination for cross-country skiers, the town also "serves up year-round activities and adventures, regardless of skill level," according to Lonely Planet.  Image 6 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  5. North Conway, N.H.: The scenic New England village will mark its 250th anniversary in 2015. An enticing destination for cross-country skiers, the town also "serves up year-round activities and adventures, regardless of skill level," according to Lonely Planet.  5. North Conway, N.H.: The scenic New England village will mark...its 250th anniversary in 2015. An enticing destination for...cross-country skiers, the town also "serves up year-round activities...and adventures, regardless of skill level," according to Lonely...Planet.  Image 7 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  4. Colorado River region: A "controversial proposal for large-scale development" in Navajo land gives visitors an urgent reason to experience the "epic travel adventure" of rafting on the Colorado River there sooner rather than later, according to Lonely Planet. Other pristine stretches of the river that starts in the Rocky Mountains (pictured) also invite exploration.  Image 7 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  4. Colorado River region: A "controversial proposal for large-scale development" in Navajo land gives visitors an urgent reason to experience the "epic travel adventure" of rafting on the Colorado River there sooner rather than later, according to Lonely Planet. Other pristine stretches of the river that starts in the Rocky Mountains (pictured) also invite exploration.  4. Colorado River region: A "controversial proposal for...large-scale development" in Navajo land gives visitors an urgent...reason to experience the "epic travel adventure" of rafting on the...Colorado River there sooner rather than later, according to Lonely...Planet. Other pristine stretches of the river that starts in the Rocky...Mountains (pictured) also invite exploration.  Image 8 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  3. New Orleans: The approaching 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is a timely reason to see just how much the city has revived, says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "Some travelers still have the impression that New Orleans isn’t really ready for full-scale tourism and obviously the city is dealing with some after-effects, but it’s been 10 years," she notes. Along with the city's new options for visitors, Benson says, "some of the things that everyone knows and loves are still going strong, like Jazz Fest,"  Image 8 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  3. New Orleans: The approaching 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is a timely reason to see just how much the city has revived, says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "Some travelers still have the impression that New Orleans isn’t really ready for full-scale tourism and obviously the city is dealing with some after-effects, but it’s been 10 years," she notes. Along with the city's new options for visitors, Benson says, "some of the things that everyone knows and loves are still going strong, like Jazz Fest,"  3. New Orleans: The approaching 10-year anniversary of...Hurricane Katrina is a timely reason to see just how much the city has...revived, says Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson. "Some travelers still...have the impression that New Orleans isn’t really ready for...full-scale tourism and obviously the city is dealing with some...after-effects, but it’s been 10 years," she notes. Along with the...city's new options for visitors, Benson says, "some of the things that...everyone knows and loves are still going strong, like Jazz Fest,"  Image 9 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  2. Western South Dakota: This remote region offers "vast natural beauty," such as the view from Harney Peak Trail in the Black Hills (pictured), "quirky small-town charm and Native American cultural sites," per Lonely Planet. Next year also brings the 50th anniversary of the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  Image 9 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  2. Western South Dakota: This remote region offers "vast natural beauty," such as the view from Harney Peak Trail in the Black Hills (pictured), "quirky small-town charm and Native American cultural sites," per Lonely Planet. Next year also brings the 50th anniversary of the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  2. Western South Dakota: This remote region offers "vast...natural beauty," such as the view from Harney Peak Trail in the Black...Hills (pictured), "quirky small-town charm and Native American...cultural sites," per Lonely Planet. Next year also brings the 50th...anniversary of the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and the 75th anniversary...of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  Image 10 of 10 |Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  1. Queens, N.Y.: The Big Apple's biggest secret may be its biggest borough. As with New Orleans and Oakland, Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson says, "it's a combination of what’s new, what’s hip and happening, but also the strength of its ethnic diversity and its traditions and heritage -- the combination of old and new." Subway access makes it a relatively affordable, much less crowded base for exploring Manhattan, while Rockaway Beach gives Queens added appeal in summer.  Image 10 of 10 - Lonely Planet's Top US destinations 2015  1. Queens, N.Y.: The Big Apple's biggest secret may be its biggest borough. As with New Orleans and Oakland, Lonely Planet editor Sara Benson says, "it's a combination of what’s new, what’s hip and happening, but also the strength of its ethnic diversity and its traditions and heritage -- the combination of old and new." Subway access makes it a relatively affordable, much less crowded base for exploring Manhattan, while Rockaway Beach gives Queens added appeal in summer.  1. Queens, N.Y.: The Big Apple's biggest secret may be its...biggest borough. As with New Orleans and Oakland, Lonely Planet...editor Sara Benson says, "it's a combination of what’s new,...what’s hip and happening, but also the strength of its ethnic...diversity and its traditions and heritage -- the combination of old...and new." Subway access makes it a relatively affordable, much less...crowded base for exploring Manhattan, while Rockaway Beach gives...Queens added appeal in summer.
Queens is not only the new Brooklyn, it's the new hotspot for domestic travel, according to Lonely Planet's Top 10 list of U.S. destinations for 2015, officially released this morning.
 
 The list is put together by 10 Lonely Planet authors, experts in different regions,  who are &quo