In the mood for a ‘staycation’? These California cites rank among the best spots in US
Summer is finally here, and travelers all over the country are looking for the best destinations to visit. But what if the best place to unwind and relax is closer than you expected?
Two California cities are among the top 10 best places in the U.S. to take a “staycation,” or a trip that doesn’t require travelers to venture far from home, according to a WalletHub report. Many of the 180 cities the website analyzed are in California, with San Francisco and San Diego landing in the 7th and 9th spots on the top locations list.
They were followed by several other California cities – for instance, Los Angeles ranked 25th and Sacramento ranked 44th.
The personal finance website evaluated more than 150 of the most populated U.S. cities by using 44 relevant metrics, according to the report’s methodology section. WalletHub determined the quality of their recreational activities, food and entertainment scene, and rest and relaxation offerings, the report said.
Some of the metrics used to calculate recreational opportunities included how many hiking trails, tennis courts, basketball hoops or shopping centers a city had — a category that helped top-ranking city of Honolulu, Hawaii score so well.
San Francisco saw its best score in the food and entertainment scene, which was evaluated through metrics like the average price of a movie ticket, a cocktail or a restaurant meal. Meanwhile rest and relaxation offerings were tops for San Diego, when measuring for things like like the number of beaches in the city or how ideal its summer weather is.
The prospect of going on a staycation may be especially appealing right now, as travelers may be itching to get out of the house but could also be wary of venturing too far from home amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers might also still be recovering from the economic toll of the pandemic and could be looking for inexpensive ways to enjoy summer and have new experiences, WalletHub said.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 12:50 PM with the headline "In the mood for a ‘staycation’? These California cites rank among the best spots in US."