Ever wondered which are the most-visited tourist attractions in the U.S.? In a quest to find the top domestic draws, researchers at Forbes Inc. determined, first, to define a tourist attraction. They narrowed their scope to discrete sites of historical or cultural interest, to natural phenomena and landmarks, and to delimited/officially designated spaces of entertainment and recreation. Standalone shopping malls and casinos were excluded, or Minneapolis' vast Mall of America, with 40 million annual visitors, would have topped the winners.

Very partial to lists — of bests, worsts and all the gradients in between — I am pleased to detail 15 of America's most popular sites for 2007 and 10 of the runners-up. The list indicates, perhaps surprisingly, that man-made sites can compete successfully with the beauty and bounty of nature for the attention of tourists.

1. Times Square, New York City, 35 million visitors — A study cited by the Times Square Alliance estimates that this Manhattan crossroads of commerce averages more than 2,000 pedestrians traversing a block of Seventh Avenue during a 15-minute weekday period. On New Year's Eve, more than 1 million revelers pack Times Square. It is the most visited attraction on the globe.

2. The Las Vegas Strip, 31 million — The "Neon Trail" that constitutes the heart of Sin City is also part of the federal government's National Scenic Byways Program that designates roads based on "archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities." Natural does not come to mind when envisioning the Strip.

3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C., 24 million — Many of the nation's iconic public landmarks are found in the 1,000-plus acres of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, including the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans memorials. The Smithsonian Institution's 19 museums — the Nation's Attic — are also adjacent to The Mall.

4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, 20 million — Built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, a wealthy Boston merchant, Faneuil Hall served as a commercial center of the city for centuries and a site for famous orations, like Samuel Adams' independence-rallying speech to colonists. Faneuil also includes the restored 19th-century Quincy Market.

5. Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 17.1 million — The Magic Kingdom, pre-eminent among global theme parks, is the most popular of Disney's Florida attractions, followed by Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

6. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif., 14.9 million — The original ever-popular Disney theme park, opened in 1955, had a record season last year.

7. Fisherman's Wharf/Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, 14 million — These sites — an atmospheric wharf district and a gorgeous natural environment sporting the famous orange Golden Gate bridge — are the City by the Bay's top tourist attractions.

8. Niagara Falls, N.Y., 12 million — The Falls, which straddle the U.S.-Canada border, have been a tourist mecca since the mid-19th century. Using the bridges that connect both sides, the thundering waters are visible from observation towers, by boat and from various hiking trails and, on the Canadian side, from the Whirlpool Aero Car, an antique cable car.

9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tenn./N.C., 9.4 million — America's most visited national park is neither the Grand Canyon (which ranks No. 20 on the Forbes list) nor Yosemite. With more than 800 miles of protected trails, this natural wonder hosted nearly 10 million hikers, birders and drivers in 2007.

10. Navy Pier, Chicago, 8.6 million — Opened in 1916, this Chicago landmark on the shore of Lake Michigan has served as a campus and military training facility. Today it hosts 50 acres of shops, restaurants and exposition facilities. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Chicago Children's Museum are here, along with a full calendar of nighttime fireworks spectaculars.

11. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Ariz./Nev., 7.6 million — Thirty miles southeast of Las Vegas lies the U.S.' largest man-made lake and reservoir, a recreational mecca for boaters, swimmers, fishermen and naturalists. But Lake Mead, which is formed by the Hoover Dam's interruption of the Colorado River, may not stay on this list for long. It's a major source of water for the southwestern U.S. and according to researchers, if consumption patterns and climate change continue at their current pace, the lake may be dry by 2021.

12. Universal Studios Orlando/Islands of Adventure at Universal, Orlando, Fla., 6.2 million — Like its rival Disney, Universal houses a mammoth "destination complex" in Orlando where two theme parks, Universal Studios Orlando and Universal's Islands of Adventure, vie for thrill-seeking tourists.

13. SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla., 6 million — This watery theme park features Shamu Stadium and the Whale and Dolphin Theatre among its many marine spectacles.

14. San Antonio River Walk, Texas, 5.1 million — The paths along the San Antonio River wind by shops, restaurants and the passion-arousing Alamo. The River Walk proclaims itself the "Number One entertainment destination in Texas" and is host to colorful events throughout the year.

15. Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, 5 million — The Mormon church's headquarters are here, but Temple Square is more than just a destination for Latter-day Saints: It is Utah's top tourist destination.

The remaining 10 on Forbes popularity list, garnering from 4.8 million to 4 million visitors last year, include Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Penn./N.J.; Universal Studios Hollywood, Calif.; Waikiki Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i; Metropolitan Museum, New York City, N.Y.; Grand Canyon, Ariz.; Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, Fla.; Cape Cod National Seashore, Mass.; SeaWorld San Diego, Calif.; American Museum of Natural History, New York City, N.Y.; and Atlantic City Boardwalk, New Jersey.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.