Ever wondered how travel trends have shifted over the years? The New York Times’ iconic “Places to Go” list has been a January tradition since 2005, and to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Travel team decided to dive deep into its history. But with 914 destinations, 300,000 words, and countless trends to unpack, they needed more than just human effort—enter artificial intelligence. The list began almost by accident. Back in 2004, the Travel team noticed a surge of New Yorkers visiting Bhutan. This sparked curiosity about other emerging destinations, leading to the first “Where to Go” feature in January 2005. Over time, it evolved into the now-famous “52 Places to Go” list, spotlighting one destination for each week of the year. To analyze 20 years of data, the team used A.I. tools to sift through the massive amount of information. The findings were fascinating—914 locations across 145 countries, 366 cities, and 41 U.S. states, plus major events like the 2024 total solar eclipse. The technology helped identify patterns, shifts in travel preferences, and even the rise of new hotspots. This milestone not only highlights how travel has changed but also showcases how technology can uncover hidden insights in decades of data. As A.I. continues to shape our world, it’s clear that even the art of travel storytelling can benefit from a little digital help. ---