Posted by: Adam McCann

You don’t have to go away to really “get away” if you’re in need of a summer escape. And we don’t mean getting lost in your imagination or a gripping novel, however far those things can transport you. Rather, a “staycation” might be in order, especially if you aren’t inclined to drive or fly long distances or simply can’t afford to use your vacation time, the unfortunate reality for many Americans who work.

There are certain places that offer plenty of options for entertainment and relaxation at the right price point, making those cities the perfect spots for staying local.

To help you decide whether to leave home or bring vacation to your front door, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities based on 43 key indicators of a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation. Read on for the full ranking, our methodology and useful staycationing tips from experts.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/4341/geochart-staycation.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2EGXfPh>

 

Best Places for a Staycation

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Recreation’ Rank	‘Food & Entertainment’ Rank	‘Rest & Relaxation’ Rank
1	Honolulu, HI	64.63	1	9	4
2	Orlando, FL	59.21	21	1	48
3	Chicago, IL	58.26	3	11	26
4	San Diego, CA	57.51	10	13	8
5	Portland, OR	56.57	6	3	57
6	Charleston, SC	56.36	7	20	9
7	Seattle, WA	56.27	9	4	32
8	Fort Lauderdale, FL	55.22	2	81	2
9	Tampa, FL	55.10	25	7	5
10	San Francisco, CA	55.04	5	6	81
11	Virginia Beach, VA	53.89	28	62	1
12	Las Vegas, NV	52.33	46	2	58
13	Atlanta, GA	51.75	27	15	18
14	Portland, ME	50.98	4	38	47
15	Austin, TX	50.93	22	5	83
16	New York, NY	50.23	11	23	105
17	Salt Lake City, UT	50.10	19	17	72
18	Minneapolis, MN	49.91	20	30	25
19	Miami, FL	48.60	31	8	93
20	Denver, CO	47.56	18	28	91
21	Boise, ID	47.39	38	42	17
22	Washington, DC	47.34	8	18	179
23	Boston, MA	46.98	12	46	112
24	Philadelphia, PA	46.27	15	22	161
25	Tucson, AZ	46.16	42	14	101
26	St. Louis, MO	45.87	55	10	99
27	Scottsdale, AZ	45.69	49	43	24
28	Cincinnati, OH	45.32	24	27	126
29	Los Angeles, CA	45.29	48	33	43
30	Springfield, MO	45.01	126	35	12
31	Pittsburgh, PA	44.99	52	12	115
32	Knoxville, TN	44.82	47	39	66
33	Norfolk, VA	44.78	26	113	23
34	Nashville, TN	44.74	51	32	46
35	Columbia, SC	44.50	138	25	34
36	Reno, NV	44.39	75	19	59
37	St. Petersburg, FL	44.35	43	69	30
38	Rapid City, SD	44.28	122	67	6
39	Madison, WI	44.06	14	79	132
40	Sacramento, CA	43.79	58	37	49
41	New Orleans, LA	43.78	36	16	160
42	Burlington, VT	43.23	17	78	100
43	Jacksonville, FL	43.10	44	47	84
44	Richmond, VA	42.67	39	24	151
45	Spokane, WA	42.66	96	68	20
46	Colorado Springs, CO	42.52	65	31	68
47	Omaha, NE	42.29	29	56	128
48	Cleveland, OH	42.24	50	52	79
49	Lincoln, NE	41.92	30	73	111
50	Cape Coral, FL	41.41	56	137	13
51	Albuquerque, NM	41.40	57	34	127
52	Milwaukee, WI	41.32	45	44	130
53	Long Beach, CA	41.02	71	98	19
54	Tempe, AZ	40.97	64	66	85
55	Chattanooga, TN	40.94	85	53	76
56	Amarillo, TX	40.90	164	74	22
57	Huntington Beach, CA	40.77	16	114	117
58	Glendale, CA	40.50	33	147	32
59	Grand Rapids, MI	40.46	89	60	80
60	Baltimore, MD	40.35	34	57	158
61	Tacoma, WA	39.93	150	51	50
62	Tallahassee, FL	39.74	61	72	116
63	Houston, TX	39.67	62	26	162
64	San Antonio, TX	39.65	100	21	129
65	Rochester, NY	39.40	104	29	152
66	Greensboro, NC	39.34	68	58	103
67	Kansas City, MO	39.19	99	65	63
68	Columbus, OH	39.07	84	48	97
69	Gulfport, MS	39.00	115	120	16
70	Raleigh, NC	38.60	82	36	133
71	Corpus Christi, TX	38.59	80	116	31
72	Dallas, TX	38.43	77	45	131
73	Peoria, AZ	38.34	23	158	69
74	Birmingham, AL	38.32	168	55	54
75	Overland Park, KS	38.27	133	106	42
76	West Valley City, UT	38.22	70	155	3
77	Little Rock, AR	38.19	93	86	92
78	Modesto, CA	38.07	163	112	15
79	Tulsa, OK	38.04	108	84	51
80	Jackson, MS	37.82	176	111	11
81	Charlotte, NC	37.79	79	59	123
82	Bismarck, ND	37.75	157	101	36
83	Sioux Falls, SD	37.73	171	76	37
84	Louisville, KY	37.71	66	50	150
85	Fargo, ND	37.58	161	91	56
86	Des Moines, IA	37.45	160	70	89
87	Huntsville, AL	37.43	87	90	106
88	Akron, OH	37.20	139	108	39
89	Indianapolis, IN	37.20	103	41	144
90	Shreveport, LA	36.91	180	82	40
91	Las Cruces, NM	36.87	178	126	14
92	Columbus, GA	36.82	116	136	28
93	Oklahoma City, OK	36.68	149	64	55
94	Nampa, ID	36.67	174	167	7
95	Henderson, NV	36.57	117	93	60
96	Wilmington, DE	36.57	124	103	77
97	Buffalo, NY	36.56	72	49	168
98	Chesapeake, VA	36.55	59	122	108
99	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	36.47	32	174	52
100	Lexington-Fayette, KY	36.36	125	87	67
101	Plano, TX	36.33	63	131	87
102	Providence, RI	36.33	73	77	163
103	Baton Rouge, LA	36.32	111	54	139
104	Cedar Rapids, IA	36.31	159	107	44
105	Anchorage, AK	36.21	53	85	173
106	Vancouver, WA	36.02	152	105	53
107	Mobile, AL	35.97	175	61	107
108	El Paso, TX	35.84	134	75	98
109	Casper, WY	35.79	181	124	10
110	Salem, OR	35.74	147	97	102
111	Newport News, VA	35.67	137	133	41
112	Billings, MT	35.54	151	63	153
113	Phoenix, AZ	35.44	97	71	147
114	Santa Clarita, CA	35.43	13	153	169
115	Fontana, CA	35.42	41	178	27
116	Winston-Salem, NC	35.34	102	121	71
117	Chandler, AZ	35.03	101	110	95
118	Glendale, AZ	34.80	54	149	136
119	Oceanside, CA	34.76	81	132	104
120	Missoula, MT	34.72	86	104	134
121	Garden Grove, CA	34.62	60	165	75
122	Juneau, AK	34.60	35	143	148
123	St. Paul, MN	34.50	37	100	181
124	Memphis, TN	34.45	130	80	124
125	Arlington, TX	34.37	94	129	94
126	Durham, NC	34.32	90	89	157
127	Columbia, MD	34.23	95	162	61
128	Mesa, AZ	34.23	105	88	137
129	Wichita, KS	34.08	153	40	156
130	Fort Worth, TX	33.78	131	95	125
131	Dover, DE	33.74	107	152	90
132	Stockton, CA	33.73	129	127	78
133	Toledo, OH	33.71	156	96	88
134	Bakersfield, CA	33.48	169	92	82
135	Fayetteville, NC	33.44	166	134	65
136	Ontario, CA	33.29	88	173	62
137	Manchester, NH	33.29	114	130	120
138	Montgomery, AL	33.24	172	135	64
139	Detroit, MI	33.23	112	109	135
140	Riverside, CA	33.13	119	117	121
141	Grand Prairie, TX	33.12	74	180	45
142	Irvine, CA	33.12	40	148	177
143	San Bernardino, CA	33.05	132	166	21
144	Augusta, GA	32.91	179	119	86
145	Charleston, WV	32.74	69	142	143
146	Huntington, WV	32.68	113	144	118
147	Moreno Valley, CA	32.62	76	159	119
148	Laredo, TX	32.49	109	161	73
149	Fort Smith, AR	32.48	177	145	29
150	South Burlington, VT	32.43	92	128	146
151	North Las Vegas, NV	32.29	144	168	38
152	Pembroke Pines, FL	32.26	118	172	70
153	Fort Wayne, IN	32.09	135	94	154
154	Fresno, CA	31.69	170	99	96
155	San Jose, CA	31.64	120	102	167
156	Gilbert, AZ	31.61	98	140	142
157	Garland, TX	31.52	136	156	74
158	Aurora, CO	31.46	110	139	141
159	Anaheim, CA	31.39	143	123	110
160	Newark, NJ	30.70	146	138	113
161	Santa Rosa, CA	30.66	67	160	155
162	Lubbock, TX	30.63	141	125	138
163	New Haven, CT	30.36	165	141	122
164	Cheyenne, WY	29.98	173	150	114
165	Warwick, RI	29.88	91	146	166
166	Brownsville, TX	29.73	182	175	35
167	Port St. Lucie, FL	29.31	148	115	174
168	Oakland, CA	29.31	128	83	182
169	Hialeah, FL	29.15	142	170	109
170	Fremont, CA	28.29	121	171	149
171	Worcester, MA	28.22	123	157	165
172	Nashua, NH	28.13	106	154	176
173	Jersey City, NJ	28.07	158	117	170
174	Lewiston, ME	27.75	162	169	145
175	Aurora, IL	27.48	83	177	159
176	Santa Ana, CA	26.70	145	151	175
177	Pearl City, HI	26.38	140	179	140
178	Irving, TX	26.18	127	164	180
179	Bridgeport, CT	25.42	167	163	178
180	Yonkers, NY	25.10	78	182	171
181	Oxnard, CA	24.08	154	181	164
182	Chula Vista, CA	23.93	155	176	172

Ask the Experts

There’s a difference between a staycation and business as usual in the context of staying local. And it all has to do with how you spend your time in the city you call home. For advice on making the best of your staycation, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are some tips for having a truly relaxing staycation?
2. What activities can families do locally without breaking the bank?
3. What is the best time of year to have a staycation?
4. In evaluating the best cities for staycations, what are the top five indicators?

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• Matt Vosler Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Ithaca College
• Gwendolyn S. Dawkins Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Jackson State University
• Kenneth Cohen Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies, SUNY Cortland
• Joseph T. Warning Ph.D., MS, CSCS – Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Indiana Tech
• Ingrid E. Schneider Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
• Lauren Duffy Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, Clemson University

More Experts Methodology

In order to determine the best staycation spots, WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Recreation, 2) Food & Entertainment and 3) Rest & Relaxation.

We evaluated those dimensions using 43 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for staycationers. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the “Number of Residents” in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Recreation – Total Points: 33.33

• Public Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Playgrounds per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Bike Rental Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Hiking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Running Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Walking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Water & Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
• Miles of Bicycle Lanes, Paths & Routes per Square Mile: Half Weight (~1.15 Points)

Food & Entertainment – Total Points: 33.33

• Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Average Price for Two Tickets to the Theater: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Bowling Costs: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Average Price of Party Ticket: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Average Cocktail Price: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Casinos per Capita*: Half Weigh (~0.81 Points)
• Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Museums per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Zoos & Aquariums per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Paintball Fields per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Arcades per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)Note: This metric measures the presence and prevalence of a city in TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List.
• Theaters & Concert Halls per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Beer Gardens per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants with 4.5+ Stars: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)
• Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.63 Points)

Rest & Relaxation – Total Points: 33.33

• Cost of House-Cleaning Service: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Spas & Wellness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Massage Costs: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Beauty-Salon Costs: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Public Beaches per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” List: Full Weigh (~4.76 Points)Note: This metric measures the presence and prevalence of a city in TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” List.
• Idealness of Summer Weather: Full Weight (~4.76 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.

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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Public Courses, Under Armour, Eventbrite, Numbeo.com, MassageBook, Trust for Public Land, League of American Bicyclists, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Expatistan, ImproveNet and WalletHub research.

Image: Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock.com

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