Gen Z is reshaping the US travel landscape: rather than major cities, young travellers are increasingly opting for small towns with local legends, unusual histories and places not featured in standard guidebooks. Airbnb calls this trend “lore-tripping”.
- Gen Z is increasingly choosing to live in small towns.
- The new trend has been dubbed “lore-tripping”.
- The main attraction is the local legends and stories.
- 90% of the Gen Z respondents find such trips appealing.
- Almost half of the trending destinations are small towns.
What is lore-tripping?
Lore-tripping — these are trips to little-known places that attract visitors not because of their famous landmarks, but because of their own legends, curious stories and local culture.
Airbnb reports that, in the autumn of 2026, it is precisely these destinations that are increasingly featuring in the plans of American travellers Generation Z. Rather than large cities, they seek out places with an unusual history and the thrill of discovering something little-known.
According to a Focaldata survey commissioned by Airbnb in July 2026, 90% out of 183 Gen Z respondents in the US They said that small towns and lesser-known tourist destinations were appealing to them this autumn. Around half of the respondents cited more affordable prices, authentic local culture and unusual attractions as the main reasons.
Which cities is Gen Z looking for?
This trend is already evident in Airbnb’s search statistics.
The number of property searches among Gen Z in Twentynine Palms in California increased by more than 50%. In Hot Springs, Arkansas — on 30%, and in Helen in Georgia — by 15%.
Certain destinations are particularly appealing because of their history.
У Point Pleasant in West Virginia Tourists are drawn to the town by the legend of the Mothman — a winged creature first reported by locals as far back as 1966. Today, the town has a museum, a statue and an annual festival dedicated to this legend.
Gibsonton in Florida It once served as a winter base for circus performers and carnival workers, and the town still draws on this unusual history as part of its local identity.
У Bemidji, Minnesota Tourists are greeted by giant statues of the folk hero Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Beabe.
Young tourists want to be the first to arrive
Another Airbnb survey revealed a similar trend.
74% Gen Z travellers in the US They said that over the next year they were prepared to choose a small or little-known town rather than a major tourist destination.
At the same time, 63% respondents said that the chance to be one of the first among their friends to visit a particular place is seen as a kind of status symbol. More than half also stated that they avoid overly popular tourist destinations because of the crowds.
Airbnb notes that almost half of the destinations currently gaining popularity amongst Gen Z for autumn trips in the US are small towns.
Autumn journeys are getting shorter
Lore-tripping is developing in parallel with something else a travel trend — a shift from long holidays to short autumn breaks.
According to an Airbnb survey of 2,000 American adults, 60% are planning a short weekend trip in the autumn of 2026. The company also notes that in the autumn of 2025, Americans took more weekend trips than in any other season.
There is also growing interest in seasonal search queries relating to autumn trips, the changing colours of the leaves, driving routes and visits to farms.
As a result, for some members of Gen Z, the typical autumn holiday is no longer a week in a big city, but a short trip to a small town with its own history and atmosphere.
