The Best US Cities for a Summer Staycation

Is your city one of America's best for a summer staycation? WalletHub recently analyzed more than 180 cities across the U.S. based on more than 40 key indicators of a fun and exciting yet wallet-friendly staycation, including public beaches, nightlife options and amusement parks per capita, among other important factors.

Honolulu ranks inside the top 10 in all three of the major categories WalletHub reviewed-recreation, food and entertainment and rest and relaxation-including tops for recreation, which takes into account the availability of golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, parks and playgrounds, trails, water and amusement parks, shopping centers and more. The Hawaiian capital is also home to some of the country's best beaches.

Orlando is the best summer staycation destination for food and entertainment, ranking first for most zoos and aquariums per capita as well as most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita. The Theme Park Capital of the World also ties for first in terms of most coffee and tea shops and spas per capita.

Only three other cities that WalletHub analyzed feature more swimming pools per capita than Chicago and the Windy City is tied for first nationwide in terms of most tennis courts and spas per capita, making it an ideal spot for both active and laidback summer vacations.

San Diego fares consistently well across the board, ranking 10th for recreation, eighth for rest and relaxation and 13th for food and entertainment. Similarly to Honolulu, San Diego is home to one of Dr. Beach's top 10 U.S. beaches for 2019 in the family-friendly Coronado Beach.

Perhaps a surprising entry in the top five, Portland checks in third for food and entertainment and sixth for recreation this summer. The hipster haven is tied for first for most beer gardens and coffee and tea shops per capita.

Charming Charleston ranks inside the top 10 for both recreation and rest and relaxation as it's close to some of the best beaches on the East Coast. The South Carolina city also boasts the most museums per capita, tying cities like New Orleans, New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.

The Emerald City trails only three other cities for food and entertainment and rates ninth for recreation so residents and visitors alike will have plenty to do besides enjoying the city's world-class coffee this summer.

A summer spent in Fort Lauderdale is all about time spent outdoors on the beach and on the water as it ranks second in the nation for recreation and rest and relaxation. The South Florida hotspot is just middle-of-the-pack in terms of food and entertainment though, ranking 81st among the 182 cities analyzed.

Elsewhere in the Sunshine State, Tampa trails only four other cities in the country in terms of rest and relaxation offerings and places a solid seventh for food and entertainment. The city is not only within close proximity of some of Florida's most beautiful beaches but boasts an excellent craft beer scene.

The Bay Area rounds out WalletHub's top 10 for 2019, ranking fifth and sixth for recreation and food and entertainment, respectively. San Francisco is tied for the most museums, coffee and tea shops per capita, WalletHub's research found.

Virginia Beach is a popular summer vacation destination but it turns out there's none better for rest and relaxation, according to WalletHub's research. The category considers seven key metrics, including massage and beauty salon costs, public beaches and spa and wellness centers per capita, cost of house-cleaning service, idealness of summer weather and presence on TripAdvisor's "Top 25 Beaches" list.

The Entertainment Capital of the World trails only Orlando for food and entertainment. Las Vegas is tied for first nationwide in terms of most zoos, aquariums, spas, coffee, tea, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita.

Recreation is Atlanta's worst category but even then it places 27th. It cracks the top 20 for both food and entertainment and rest and relaxation, so it's the ideal place to unwind and treat yourself this summer.

Portland of the East also makes the top 15 in 2019, ranking fourth for recreation. Only Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Lauderdale fare better. Portland even bests 23rd-ranked Boston for the title of best summer staycation spot in New England.

Lively Austin ranks fifth in the country when it comes to food and entertainment and it's no wonder as the Texas capital boasts one of the best BBQ and live music scenes you'll find anywhere in the world.

New York City will be the place to be all summer long as the city is second to none in terms of marquee events and experiences. Nonetheless, it trails 15 other American cities in WalletHub's Summer Staycation study in large part due to its 105th-place rating for rest and relaxation, a critical element to any successful vacation.

Recreation, food and entertainment offerings are Salt Lake City's strong suit this summer but you might want to look elsewhere for rest and relaxation as the Utah capital ranks just 72nd among 182 cities in that area.

Minneapolis ranks inside the top 30 in all three categories, including 20th for recreation, 25th for rest and relaxation and 30th for food and entertainment. The summer months are also the best time to visit as temperatures soar and the sun shines bright.

Miami checks all the boxes for the ultimate summer staycation as it offers gorgeous beaches, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of awesome food and attractions. It's tied for first in terms of most zoos, aquariums, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita.

Denver's vast collection of beer gardens help propel it into WalletHub's top 20 summer staycation destinations as it ties places like Portland, New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia for the most per capita in America.